I was reminded of something today. Let me take you back to Macintosh System Software 6.0. (We’d retroactively call it Classic Mac OS 6 now.) Actually, this probably dates back before 6.0. And if you were around then, you probably know all of this. We’re going to talk about desktop database viruses. Before I go… Continue reading Desktop database viruses
How not to write shitty code: Intentional Conditions
I think this is probably going to be a series. I’ve read enough shitty code (including my own and that of coworkers I have a lot of respect for) that I think I can offer a few tips on how not to write shitty code. This is going to be the first, which I call… Continue reading How not to write shitty code: Intentional Conditions
Don’t install Zoom
BC School District 34 (Abbotsford) has approved Zoom and wants my son to install it, despite me saying I didn’t want it installed here. If enough of us stand against it, they’ll use something else. Zoom should be disallowed at the provincial level so districts can’t make the decision to use it.
Encryption Back Doors
There’s much dishonesty around “public requests” for Apple to unlock iPhones. I don’t want anyone thinking I think Apple should set up a back door. I think it would be stupid. But I also think it’s reframing the argument away from reality. (Technically, I’m sure it would be pretty easy to generate a master decryption… Continue reading Encryption Back Doors
No, it’s not worse
There’s an article in TidBITS I really enjoyed: Six Reasons Why iOS 13 and Catalina Are So Buggy. Unfortunately, while the actual points in the article are great, both the headline and introduction are… sensationalist. It’s a list with a headline designed to grab your intention.
Multithreaded Core Data
This year I worked on a Core Data application. All of the parts of its sync were in a single file, which as a result had too much state tracking. The result wasn’t just complicated, it was dangerous. Should a state change be missed, the operation would never complete.
15 months with my Apple Watch
Recently, CBC posted Still don’t own a smartwatch? You’re not alone. First, let me say I agree with the author that not everyone needs or wants a smartwatch. I certainly don’t need one, but did want one. I got an Apple Watch as an early birthday present last September or October. And I really do enjoy it.
We need better
Recently, a number of reporters have put on their very best nostalgic glasses to look at the history of Apple software. Walt Mossberg: In the last couple of years, however, I’ve noticed a gradual degradation in the quality and reliability of Apple’s core apps, on both the mobile iOS operating system and its Mac OS… Continue reading We need better
Info.plist for command line tools
In the past if you wanted to include data in your command line app, you could either include it in a separate file or do some linker trickery to embed it. Personally, I never really got into the linker trickery (though it’s probably the better solution of the two). For a while, though, Xcode has… Continue reading Info.plist for command line tools
How to fix UITableView rows changing size
Do you have an app where the row heights in a table view shift, especially when navigating away from a view controller? This seems to be an iOS bug and is caused by using autolayout within a table cell without a tableView:estimatedHeightForRowAtIndexPath: method.