Tom Scott of YouTube fame tried to use an AI program to pick ideas for new videos.

Tom Scott of YouTube fame tried to use an AI program to pick ideas for new videos.

The results surprised him, and are definitely amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfVYxnhuEdU

Canceling MacBasic may be one of the worst long term business decisions Apple ever made.

Canceling MacBasic may be one of the worst long term business decisions Apple ever made.

As this Mac Folklore site explains, Microsoft blackmailed Apple over Applesoft Basic, in order to kill future competition.

https://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=MacBasic.txt

I like this article by Elye! Software perfection is not as important as Software reliability.

I like this article by Elye!  Software perfection is not as important as Software reliability.

Another thing I use to tell my teams, “There is always the point in any development process, where you have to shoot the programmer, and ship the damn thing”. Or the project would never finish.

https://medium.com/better-programming/why-i-prefer-imperfect-software-development-practices-b13cfdcf85bf

Every spaceship should come with a secret decoder ring hidden somewhere on board.

Every spaceship should come with a secret decoder ring hidden somewhere on board.

This is not the only Easter egg the designed into the Mars Rover Perseverance. For example, the Treads press out a message in Braille.

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/mars-decoder-ring

Swift Heroes posted many of their videos from previous years, here are the 2020 talks.

Swift Heroes posted many of their videos from previous years, here are the 2020 talks.

17 videos from range of topics for Swift developers.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfCiO1zYKkATdj4HyvJTQXdHl087UNowg

Special Thanks to Jian Shu for the efforts he put into this wonderful article on CFRunLoop!

Special Thanks to Jian Shu for the efforts he put into this wonderful article on CFRunLoop!

The iOS Runloop is one of the most important components, and one that is the least understood.

https://suelan.github.io/2021/02/13/20210213-dive-into-runloop-ios/

CLWill (Chris Williams) has a great conversation with Don Denman, the creator of the never released MacBasic project.

CLWill (Chris Williams) has a great conversation with Don Denman, the creator of the never released MacBasic project.

Don Denman was an old co-worker of mine from the early days at Apple, and he has excellent opinions about that time.

https://clwill.com/pod/donn-denman/

Windows 10X is coming, and it may impact Chromebook-style notebooks and tablets.

Windows 10X is coming, and it may impact Chromebook-style notebooks and tablets.

The UI was redesigned to take advantage of dual-screen devices. It also will only run Windows App Store apps.

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-windows-10x-and-can-it-compete-with-chrome-os

Variadic Parameters is fancy name for variable length number of parameters for a Function.

Variadic Parameters is fancy name for variable length number of parameters for a Function.

String formatting calls are one of the most common use for them, but there are many others.

https://www.avanderlee.com/swift/variadic-parameters/

Leonardo Maia Pugliese of Holy Swift explores ways to create dictionaries.

Leonardo Maia Pugliese of Holy Swift explores ways to create dictionaries.

Often going back to an API you know well, so you notice things you missed the first time, can be very rewarding.

https://holyswift.app/the-lesser-known-dictionary-initializers-in-swift

Finally a Swift Developer conference I can attend! Swift Heroes is coming online.

Finally a Swift Developer conference I can attend!  Swift Heroes is coming online.

“Swift Heroes Digital is a one day event, for developers, designers and project managers at all levels of experience with the Swift platform”

https://swiftheroes.com/2021/

Helder Nunes does a good job answering the question that I am often asked, should new programmers start with SwiftUI?

Helder Nunes does a good job answering the question that I am often asked, should new programmers start with SwiftUI?

Ignoring the open question is SwiftUI good enough for professional apps, learn the basics first.

https://heldernunes.medium.com/why-you-shouldnt-learn-swiftui-eeb0fc845cec

Amazon has ventured into Kickstarter founding by announcing 3 products that will only ship if there are enough pre-orders.

Amazon has ventured into Kickstarter founding by announcing 3 products that will only ship if there are enough pre-orders.

Will other companies do this? Is it a good idea as a way to develop a fringe product? Or will consumers hate it?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/17/tech/amazon-build-it/index.html

“The longest animation performed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is 26 min 19 sec and was achieved by EFYI Group (China) and supported by Tianjin University (China) in Tianjin, China, on 18 December 2020.”

“The longest animation performed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is 26 min 19 sec and was achieved by EFYI Group (China) and supported by Tianjin University (China) in Tianjin, China, on 18 December 2020.”

I wish I was involved in this type of performance art.

Video of performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1T2AWcI6o

CNN article: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/20/us/van-gogh-guiness-drone-trnd/index.html

Sometimes it is the smallest tips that you use over and over again.

Sometimes it is the smallest tips that you use over and over again.

A single unknown feature that saves you time is reason enough to read this article by Paul Hudson on Xcode.

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/articles/229/24-quick-xcode-tips

Apple is rejecting Apps that charge to much?!?

Apple is rejecting Apps that charge to much?!?

It may be good for consumers, but technically price fixing will get you in trouble. And accused of being a Monopoly.

https://www.ubergizmo.com/2021/02/apple-crack-down-high-priced-apps/

SlamTaskSpellBook is a rerelease of my Closure-based programming system for Mac Menus, Toolbars & Buttons.

SlamTaskSpellBook is a rerelease of my Closure-based programming system for Mac Menus, Toolbars & Buttons.

Rather than using Target/Action, you can use Swift closures to attach tasks to your App, Windows, or View Controllers.

https://github.com/magesteve/SlamTaskSpellBook

SlamTask was part of an older SlamKit system I wrote for both Mac & iOS, but that library was a bit too monolithic. While it handled everything well, it was not well suited for someone who only wanted to use portions of the design. Instead, I am releasing the kit as SpellBooks, each a stand along a piece of Mac/iOS design.

CocoaGrimoire is a Demo app showing many of my SpellBook work (including SlamTaskSpellBook): https://github.com/magesteve/CocoaGrimoire

The Programatic Programmer by David Thomas & Andrew Hunt is one of the all time great books on software development.

The Programatic Programmer by David Thomas & Andrew Hunt is one of the all time great books on software development.

Read the book, but also read Jamie Bullock’s synopsis of major concept from the book.

https://medium.com/better-programming/5-essential-takeaways-from-the-pragmatic-programmer-6bb3db986294

Apple & Epic fight continues use and become more, err, Epic. (Sorry, had to use that pun).

Apple & Epic fight continues use and become more, err, Epic. (Sorry, had to use that pun). EU courts have already been unhappy with Apple’s approach (having already accused them under anti-monopoly laws), so it was a smart move on Epic part.

https://www.cnet.com/news/epic-games-files-antitrust-complaint-against-apple-in-the-eu/

You got to love creativity in DIY space. This guy put an M1 MacMini into a Mac 128K case.

You got to love creativity in DIY space. This guy put an M1 MacMini into a Mac 128K case.

I had similar idea for putting Raspberry Pi within an old 512 case I have.  In my infinite free time.

http://ajdesign.com/mac/

His gallery: https://imgur.com/gallery/oMfJs2u

Raspberry Pi users in general are not big Microsoft fans, so this requirement for Pi users must have been a shock.

Raspberry Pi users in general are not big Microsoft fans, so this requirement for Pi users must have been a shock.

PC Magazine reports latest update to the Raspberry Pi OS (and future update) require ping a MS server, with all the related privacy issues.

https://medium.com/pcmag-access/users-upset-as-raspberry-pi-os-now-pings-a-microsoft-server-during-updates-e017f85e32b0

Apple release promo Augmented Reality iOS app for Season 2 of For All Mankind.

Apple release promo Augmented Reality iOS app for Season 2 of For All Mankind.

‘Content is King’, so it hints at the future that Apple TV effort is aimed at creating AR content.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/12/22278780/apple-augmented-reality-ar-app-for-all-mankind-tv-plus

Game publisher Asmodee has purchased one of the best online board gaming platform.

Game publisher Asmodee has purchased one of the best online board gaming platform.

I have played Game Arena, and have always been impressed with their interface, and their library of modern board games.

https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/11/asmodee-acquires-board-game-arena-a-platform-for-playing-tabletop-games-online/

Richard Liu writes about trends of Microsoft, and others, caring less about piracy. And not for the reasons you might think.

Richard Liu writes about trends of Microsoft, and others, caring less about piracy. And not for the reasons you might think.

I liked the quote “piracy became the ‘freemium’ version of the product”, to show the lack of pursuit against illegal software.

https://medium.com/swlh/why-microsoft-has-stopped-fighting-software-piracy-342c8811f9bf

From my programming spell book, here is a Swift Package to help create left/right side panels for Cocoa developers.

From my programming spell book, here is a Swift Package to help create left/right side panels for Cocoa developers.

These animated views are often used for Inspectors in a Mac app, thus the name.

https://github.com/magesteve/InspectorSpellBook.git

ps. Yes, there are more SpellBooks to come.

Demo app showing how many of my swift package work: https://github.com/magesteve/CocoaGrimoire

Since I was unable to give my talk at MagFest on the Start of VR, here is a good alternative article.

Since I was unable to give my talk at MagFest on the Start of VR, here is a good alternative article.

RoadToVR picks their best choices in different categories. (Spoiler: Quest 2 is mentioned a lot).

https://www.roadtovr.com/best-vr-headsets-in-2020-buying-guide/

Homebrew 3.0.0 has been released, with the noteworthy improvement of support for M1 (Apple Silicon).

Homebrew 3.0.0 has been released, with the noteworthy improvement of support for M1 (Apple Silicon).

For those in the dark, Homebrew is the most popular command line tool for installing software on your Mac. Especially developer tools!

https://brew.sh/2021/02/05/homebrew-3.0.0/

Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrew_(package_manager)

Imagine VR/AR where you don’t just zoom around a map of the Earth, but you can interact with your friends at the same time.

Imagine VR/AR where you don’t just zoom around a map of the Earth, but you can interact with your friends at the same time.

Realworld is a cross-platform app under development with a lot of possibilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rohz7TPol74

RoadToVR article on the product: https://www.roadtovr.com/realworld-multiplayer-google-earth-vr-quest-alternative/

I do not use nearly enough “High Order” functionality in my code. This article by Raúl Ferrer should help.

I do not use nearly enough “High Order” functionality in my code.  This article by Raúl Ferrer should help.

High order functions are ones that take other functions as parameters.  Map & Filter are good examples.

https://medium.com/better-programming/higher-order-functions-in-swift-13c31a769c0c

John Sundell of Swift by Sundell explains a new feature of Swift 5.4, chained implicit member expressions.

John Sundell of Swift by Sundell explains a new feature of Swift 5.4, chained implicit member expressions.

Swift code can greatly be simplified with its use of inference.  5.4 goes a step further with this ability.

https://www.swiftbysundell.com/tips/chained-implicit-member-expressions/

I knew about the recently announced Swift Algorithms package, but now thanks to Ehab Yosry Amer article, I know how to use them.

I knew about the recently announced Swift Algorithms package, but now thanks to Ehab Yosry Amer article, I know how to use them.

His article steps you through working with Combinations, Permutation, Chains, Cycles, and other powerful, generic algorithms.

https://www.raywenderlich.com/18517868-swift-algorithms-getting-started

The original announcement from Swift organization: https://swift.org/blog/swift-algorithms/

Not just for games, this article has some todo thought on making any app more appealing.

Not just for games, this article has some todo thought on making any app more appealing.

Lina Danilchik of SplitMetrics' Lina Danilchik discusses improvement to any app store's product page.

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-09-five-steps-to-boost-your-games-performance-on-the-app-stores

Here is an interesting article by Steven Messner of PCGamer about an explosion of unregulated Steam PC games in China.

Here is an interesting article by Steven Messner of PCGamer about an explosion of unregulated Steam PC games in China.

Out for only a week, and already beating other big-budget releases all while ‘sidestep China's rigorous and pervasive censorship’ (as Steve says).

https://www.pcgamer.com/chinese-open-world-rpg-rockets-to-the-top-of-steam-with-over-170000-concurrent-players/

Another report by Steve on the situation for Indie Game makers in China: https://www.pcgamer.com/between-censorship-and-steam-chinese-indie-developers-are-hanging-by-a-thread/

A high-speed color projector combined with amazing software gives us this demo of the future fashion possibilities.

A high-speed color projector combined with amazing software gives us this demo of the future fashion possibilities.

The animated images are projected onto someone's shirt, regardless of the movement or distortion of the wearer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDppJ9NWtaE

I did not think this was possible! Someone port a Mac OS 7 to the TI-Nspire, a Texas Instruments graphing calculator.

I did not think this was possible! Someone port a Mac OS 7 to the TI-Nspire, a Texas Instruments graphing calculator.

Mini vMac was ported to SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer), which allowed the developer to port it to the TI-Nspire using nSDL.

http://www.omnimaga.org/news/mini-vmac-for-the-ti-nspire/

Site: https://tiplanet.org/forum/archives_voir.php?id=12534

From my programming spellbooks, here is a Swift Package to help create standard Preference Windows within your app.

From my programming spellbooks, here is a Swift Package to help create standard Preference Windows within your app.

Designed to mimic Apple standard UI, my PreferencesSpellBook can be used with any Mac software project.

https://github.com/magesteve/PreferencesSpellBook.git

Demo app showing how PreferencesSpellBook works: https://github.com/magesteve/PreferencesSpellBook-Demo

I asked the other days if BBS were still around, and a friend was kind enough to post this documentary for me.

I asked the other days if BBS were still around, and a friend was kind enough to post this documentary for me.

For those so young, Bulletin Board Systems while not as old as the original Internet (ArpaNet), was for millions their first taste of the online world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO5vjmDFZaI

Road to VR tracks 14 things about VR/AR future.

Road to VR tracks 14 things about VR/AR future.

As stated, VR Has Become a Lucrative Business.

https://www.roadtovr.com/2021-vr-forecast-key-indicators/

Hacking WIth Swift announces the winners of their 2020 Swift Community Awards.

Hacking WIth Swift announces the winners of their 2020 Swift Community Awards.

Best Conference, Best Developer tools, Best Open-Source, these categories are the ones developers use. 

https://www.hackingwithswift.com/awards

Here is an article from Tanin Rojanapiansatith of Capital One talking about the difference between Mock & Stubs.

Here is an article from Tanin Rojanapiansatith of Capital One talking about the difference between Mock & Stubs.

He goes out to discuss the SwiftMock open-source library to create better tests in Swift.

https://medium.com/capital-one-tech/using-stub-vs-mock-in-ios-unit-testing-634ec4cc6a10

SwiftMock Library: https://github.com/mflint/SwiftMock

Big VR news, Oculus release App Lab, a new way to distribute VR software for the Quest.

Big VR news, Oculus release App Lab, a new way to distribute VR software for the Quest.

It appears to use a key system, so developers and distribute test versions of any software to their customers. 

https://developer.oculus.com/blog/introducing-app-lab-a-new-way-to-distribute-oculus-quest-apps/

Mobile games are evolving, and here are 4 expected changes.

Mobile games are evolving, and here are 4 expected changes.

Expanded social experience, more Match 3 games, and possibly massive mobile MMOs.

https://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/75581/four-mobile-game-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2021/

FaceID with a mask has been a constant issue during COVID, Apple may have a limited solution.

FaceID with a mask has been a constant issue during COVID, Apple may have a limited solution.

My question is why they have not had this before, for those who have both iPhone & Apple Watch.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/tech/apple-face-id-mask/index.html

Thanks to Sarun for this incredibly useful article on fixing your new Xcode 12 iOS projects to run on an older OS.

Thanks to Sarun for this incredibly useful article on fixing your new Xcode 12 iOS projects to run on an older OS.

The iOS Templates in Xcode 12 need some modification to run on pre-IOS 13 devices. It is not hard to fix, but good to know.

https://sarunw.com/posts/create-new-ios12-project-in-xcode11/

Amazon reveals what their new HQ will look like. It is definitely different, and very local to me.

Amazon reveals what their new HQ will look like. It is definitely different, and very local to me.

They hope to have it completed in 2025.

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/amazon-hq2-design-helix/index.html

Google has shut down a number of VR efforts, including the popular Tilt Brush.

Google has shut down a number of VR efforts, including the popular Tilt Brush.

The good news it is open source, so anyone can modify this exceptional art program.

https://www.roadtovr.com/google-tilt-brush-open-source/

Past video about Tile Brush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TckqNdrdbgk

Here is a fine article by Steven Curtis on Swift Control Transfer Statements.

Here is a fine article by Steven Curtis on Swift Control Transfer Statements.

Personally, I should be using break, continue, and fallthrough. After reading this, I may start.

https://medium.com/swlh/control-transfer-statements-in-swift-637363b1b1f2