Where to start learning Cocoa and Cappuccino?

By Alistair Stead | Published: July 8, 2009

Cocoa Cappuccino

I don’t think I’m alone in the fact that over the past twelve months I have been learning Cocoa specifically Cocoa Touch for the iPhone. Apps and tutorials will follow! However I have also been looking at Cappuccino (http://cappuccino.org/) a direct port of Cocoa to JavaScript. The intention of Cocoa and Cappuccino is to make the development of applications a quick, simple and fun exercise, however if like me you are approaching this from a web development standpoint those first steps can be a little hard.

However I have found a set of resources that will be invaluable if you too are trying to get to grips with Cocoa or Cappuccino.

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Posted in Cappuccino, Cocoa | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Make MDM Zinc applications with the Gaia framework for Adobe flash

By Alistair Stead | Published: July 5, 2009

The Gaia Framework for Adobe Flash is a something I have been using for some time. It is one of the most useful frameworks I have found for use with Flash. It adds a great deal of useful functionality and can generate large swathes of source code that you would otherwise need to write from scratch. However it is a very lightweight and unobtrusive ActionScript framework, you are still free to build your flash application in the same way you always have. You can continue to use your existing workflow but also take advantage of the framework features such as scaffolding, swfAddress, SEO optimization and asset loading and pre-loading.

With all this said when using the Gaia Framework with MDM Zinc application wrapper you have a couple of issues to resolve.

  • File paths and references from the application executable.
  • External Interface calls.

Most flash developers are likely unfamiliar with developing installable applications so these issues may be daunting when first encountered. However once explained there are simple solutions to both these issues that I will explain in detail.

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Posted in ActionScript, Flash | Tagged | Leave a comment

sfPokaYokePlugin symfony Client Side Validation

By Alistair Stead | Published: January 14, 2009

The sfPokaYokePlugin (pronounced with the ‘e’ on the end e.g. poka-yoki). Simply put it is the use of simple mechanisms that stop mistakes being made. sfPokaYoke provides client-side form validation based on existing action.yml validation files. This validator will provide fully configurable inline errors on blur events and listed errors once the form is submitted.

This plugin was built after reading “Designing the Obvious” by Robert Hoekman, jr. and working with a number of unsatisfactory validation libraries. It is intended that this plugin will allow you to configure the validation and feedback to make your forms poka yoke devices i.e. impossible for users to make any errors while entering data.

Thanks to Alon Noy for a starting point for the validators! The following symfony validators have been ported to JavaScript implemented in the plugin:

  • sfStringValidator
  • sfNumberValidator
  • sfRegexValidator
  • sfEmailValidator
  • sfCompareValidator

I also plan to implement a client side callback validator that will allow you to call your own client side validators or even call ajax function to run server side validation in real time. Read More »

Posted in JavaScript, None, symfony | 2 Comments

Hello world!

By Alistair Stead | Published: January 14, 2009

Welcome to yet another wordpress blog. I have spent the last few months trying to complete my symflex cms project but have just not had the time to complete it. So rather than wait any longer and continue to delay my foray into the world of blog writing I have quickly uploaded wordpress and following the 5 minute install guide it is completely up and running.So here we are, yet another blog, yet another developer with something to say? Well I hope that a some point I write something that will be of use to someone. Here is a sneak peak at what I hope to write about over the next few posts.

  • PokaYoke – one of my contributions to the symfony framework. Client side validation component that integrates with the symfony framework or that can equally well be used with any project that requires simple and very configurable clientside validation.
  • Eclipse PDT – setting up the ideal combination of eclipse plugins for web development
  • Parallels Virtual Appliance – setting up a Fedora based virtual machine to use as your development machine.

So there you have it. Welcome to my blog and feel free to pass judgment

Posted in None | Comments closed