Monthly Archives: September 2010

A change in coding style

Development

I’m a verbose guy when it comes to code. The compiler doesn’t care and it’s easier for me to read later on down the road. I’ve changed my style over the past few months, it started at Pelco because I was confusing folks with a particular syntax. I must admit, it even confused me on occasion.

When checking pointers I used to do this.

if (NULL != ptr)

That was confusing. I’ve since switched my tune back to a tried and true method of removing the NULL !=, like this

if (ptr)

Much easier for most to understand. I do, however, still check for explicit FALSE and NULL as the case may be, because I believe it to be a bit more clear. Here’s what that looks like.

if (NULL == ptr)

or

if (FALSE == value)

There is a statement some don’t like, that I love, and probably won’t switch away from. The ternary operator.

something = (value) ? value1 : value2;

My brain just likes it.

Movie line of the week

MLOTW

And.... ACTION!Good morning! Are we ready for a movie line? I thought so.

Ready, set, guess!

“He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans.”

Ok, quick, what movie! Send your guesses here.

It’s hard to believe October is a day away, my favorite season is upon us!

Using P8, the ping.fm Objective-C engine

Development, Uncategorized, ,

I just wanted to test a code highlighter plugin for WordPress, so I’ll use my open source ping.fm Objective-C engine as an example. Yeah, I know, shameless self promotion.

Here’s how to use P8 in your app…

[codesyntax lang=”objc”]

// Yes, you owe a Release later for P8 and
// TestDelegate. This example doesn't do it.
TestDelegate* del = [[TestDelegate alloc] init];
P8Engine* P8 = [[P8Engine alloc] initWithOptions:kP8APIKey appKey:kP8AppKey delegate:del];
if (nil != P8)
{
	// Post something.
	[P8 userPostStatus:@"Testing 1,2,3... Please ignore, http://f67.us/iam"];

	// Create a short URL
	[P8 urlCreate:@"http://rob.crabapples.net/"];

	// Resolve a short URL
	[P8 urlResolve:@"http://ping.fm/xeECl"];
}

[/codesyntax]

Ok, I don’t really like that.

Movie line of the week

MLOTW

Cut, cut, cut!Good morning movie liners! Are we ready to play? Good, here goes nothing!

“None of you seem to understand. I’m not locked in here with you. You’re locked in here with ME!”

Ok, quick, what movie! Send your guesses here.

Obvious, I know.

GOP means Grand Old Pirates

Life, ,

The White House Blog: “This is the same agenda that caused the deepest recession since the Great Depression, costing 8 million jobs, wiping out trillions in family wealth and setting middle-class families back. Instead of a pledge to the American people, Congressional Republicans made a pledge to the big special interests to restore the same economic ideas that benefited them at the expense of middle-class families.”

The parties are so far apart. One is for America, one is for the rich in America. I’ll let you decide who is who.

Rosetta + LEVEL

LEVEL, Life, Rosetta

A wonderful boquet of flowers.Rosetta + LEVEL: “With the acquisition, Rosetta will have estimated 2010 revenues of $215 million, more than 1,000 team members, 10 offices in the US and Canada, and unsurpassed expertise across all digital and direct touch points.”

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day here at LEVEL HQ. I look forward to learning, and working with, our new brethren in the east. Here’s to a bright future.

I’ve been asked what this means for me. Well, it means we’re bigger and we have bigger opportunities as a company. It’s all good. We’ve been growing at a pretty fast clip year over year. This is a good thing for LEVEL, Rosetta, and our collective family. Each studio brings a great set of people and skills to the table. It’s going to be a fun journey.

Good times!

P.S. – Yes, this is the third company I’ve worked for that’s been acquired. The last two, Visio and Pelco, went rather well. Third times a charm, right?

P.P.S. – Apparently Rosetta has a presence in Chicago and Boston? How do I get a trip to either one of those beautiful cities? I need to get to Chicago in the December, preferable with a weekend stay while the Bears are in town. Boston, well, I could deal with a trip there any time. With Boston it’s all about history for me. Smile, life is good!

Living the dream

Indie, Life,

Hello, Dr. Jones.Marco Arment: “After four years of my serving as Tumblr’s lead developer, Tumblr’s technical management needs have evolved to require types of experience that I don’t have, and my independent career has offered a lot of opportunities that I haven’t had the time to take full advantage of.”

Good luck Marco, and congratulations!