Fave iPhone apps

October 10, 2009 by russellf9

The following, is a list of my favourite iPhone apps

In each item I’ve provided a link to the iTunes store, and link to the Apps maker.

Educational and Children’s:

Resources for iPhone Development

October 10, 2009 by russellf9

Online resources for iPhone Development

Iv’e been fully enrolled in the iPhone Developer Program, which means I can upload apps to my iPod touch and access the Apple developer site for resources.

The intention of this page is to provide quick links to resources I find useful.

The ASDoc tool

September 9, 2009 by russellf9

The ASDoc Tool

Further to my post on Java Style Docs with ZenDoc, I’ve found and used a better tool ASDoc.

I’ve used parts of FDTKit to enable an ANT script to create a directory with the documentation.

The process of using FDTKit can be viewed here: FDTKit Documentation & Usage Guide, theres too much information here for just running the “doc-asdoc” from the build.xml.

The build.xml should be present at the ‘top level’ of the checked out project

Comments in the ActionScript Code should follow wherever possible the Java standard : Javadoc comments should have the following form

Not all the Javadoc tags are supported though, for a list of supported tags see: ASDoc tags

For using the @see tag see:
Using the @see tag

Starting iPhone Devlopment

August 25, 2009 by russellf9

Notes on Starting iPhone Development

I’ve recently begun to learn the iPhone SDK and this post is to record my initial impressions and experiences.

The SDK

The language for writing iPhone applications is Objective-C, I previously heard bad things about the language but after a little confusion I’m getting used to it and it’s seems pretty quick to pick up.

The code is written within Apple’s Xcode, which is a very clean and ordered interface. It also uses a GUI Interface Builder.

Necessary downloads and resources

  • Xcode
  • iPhone OS 3.0, which provides a simulator
  • iPhone Developer Program, this SDK has the ability to download the apps to an iPhone or iPod Touch

Books

I purchased: ‘Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK‘, which seems a clear well written book, with decent examples.

iPhone Developer Program Enrollment

To obtain the full iPhone SDK, it is necessary to apply for and join the official iPhone Developer Program.

I’m presently having trouble faxing Apple and am expecting a long wait until I complete the application process.

As an update, the correct fax number from the UK is (including the international dialing code) is:

001 408 974 1053,

just keep trying if you cant get a response.

Conclusion

I’ll create further iPhone blogs as I progress.

Setting up SVN for an Existing FDT Project

June 11, 2009 by russellf9

Aims

To create a Subversion Repository for an Existing FDT Project

Preamble

I’ve created a few Blogs on the topic of using Subversion and FDT, which missed explaining how to perform this simple task. I was generally, checking out a fresh subversion project then copying the existing project to this other project.

Requirements

  • FDT 3.0
  • Subversion
  • Eclipse 3.4 – Ganymede
  • Subeclipse plugin

Instructions

  1. Open the SVN Repository Exploring Perspective
  2. Add an new SVN Repository
  3. Return to the FDT Perspective
  4. Select the Project within the Flash Explorer that you wish to link to the new Repository
  5. Scroll down to Team and Select Share Project
  6. Choose SVN from the Share Project dialog box
  7. Choose the Repository from the supplied list
  8. Enter the project name you want, and Finish
  9. Tidy up those files with ? marks that you do not want committed, by adding to svn:ignore
  10. Commit the project
  11. You should see each folder with a little ‘database’ symbol, without any white stars which means that that everything is perfectly synchronized
  12. The top of my project has a white star, usually a commit and update sorts this out, but not always! (A topic for a new Blog!)

Running Flash Locally

March 23, 2009 by russellf9

Introduction

I’ve been developing the new ActionScript 3.0 (”’AS3”’) Template, which will include, if feasible the ability to run Flash Content locally. (This will be content from a local hard-drive, or CDROM ).

Flash has always had an emphais on security, which has the effect of disabling the functionalty of local content within a browser. This means that an HTML file with SWF content that works from an HTTP address will not work when run from a local file.

For information see: flash_player_9_security.pdf

Sandbox

To quote Macromedia …[The] sandbox provides a restricted area that “surrounds” the player and restricts access to private data…

For more information see: Macromedia Flash Security Sandbox

The flash.system.Security Class within the AS3 API is responsable for the Security Settings. The call Security.sandboxType will get the current sandbox.

System.security.sandboxType has one of the following values:

  1. remote (Security.REMOTE) This file is from an Internet URL and operates under domain-based sandbox rules.
  2. localWithFile (Security.LOCAL_WITH_FILE) This file is a local file, has not been trusted by the user, and it is not a SWF file that was published with a networking designation. The file may read from local data sources but may not communicate with the Internet.
  3. localWithNetwork (Security.LOCAL_WITH_NETWORK) This SWF file is a local file, has not been trusted by the user, and was published with a networking designation. The SWF file can communicate with the Internet but cannot read from local data sources.
  4. localTrusted (Security.LOCAL_TRUSTED) This file is a local file and has been trusted by the user, using either the Flash Player Settings Manager or a FlashPlayerTrust configuration file. The file can read from local data sources and communicate with the Internet.
  5. application (Security.APPLICATION) This file is running in an AIR application, and it was installed with the package (AIR file) for that application. By default, files in the AIR application sandbox can cross-script any file from any domain (although files outside of the AIR application sandbox may not be permitted to cross-script the AIR file). By default, files in the AIR application sandbox can load content and data from any domain.

(The above is quoted from sandboxType in the Flash 9.0 API)

-> The localTrusted is the sandboxType we want for local access.

Solutions

So far I’ve found two methods to override the default secutity settings,

  1. Global security settings for content creators
    See:Global security settings for content creators
    Here the user can define the specific location to trust or set to ‘always allow’
  2. Set the Trusted Locations in the mms.cfg file
    This file on a PC is buried in this location C:\WINDOWS\system32\Macromed\Flash\FlashPlayerTrust

    If the file is not present one can be written and saved use your favourite text editor.
    In my case I wrote the following:

     # Trust files in the following directories:
     C:\Documents and Settings\rwenban\PENDING\local_video_test

Conclusions

Neither solution is satisfactory, in the respect that the end-user is required to change user settings. I’m currently researching:

  1. Can the Flash Player can look within another location for the mms.cfg file?
  2. For critical Flash content a Projector could be used.

———————————————————————————————————————-

Notes and Links

Descriptions of Flash Player error codes can be found at: errors-content

ActionScript 3 Books

March 22, 2009 by russellf9

Introduction

With the introduction of ActionScript 3.0 with Flash 9, ActionScript has matured into a well rounded programming language. The implications is that Flash content can created with a Code library and without any content or inline code on the Flash Timeline.

It is also possible to compile swf content without recourse to the Flash IDE or even Flash itself. This make Flash closer to a conventional programming language such as Java, which in turn makes the developments of modern programming techniques and it’s accompanying vast library of literature relevant to Flash Programming.

Introduction to AS3

  • Essential ActionScript 3.0 by Colin Moock
    The definitive starting point for learning AS3, clear and well written

Design patterns

Programming in General

Creating Subversion Repository and new Flash Project in Eclipse in OSX

January 4, 2009 by russellf9

Introduction

I have already created a post Copying Base Project in Reposoitory to new Project in Eclipse/FDT, and wanted to document my approach in creating a Flash project from scratch. The advantage of starting a project from scratch from a Subversion Repository is the ability to use Trac from the onset of the project.

Requirements

  • FDT 3.0
  • Subversion
  • Eclipse 3.4 – Ganymede
  • Subeclipse plugin
  • Mac OSX 10.4
  • OSX Terminal

Instructions

  1. First create folder to create Repository in –
    1. In the Terminal create a new SVN ready folder in the correct location
      svnadmin create AS3_EMBED_TEST
  2. Open SVN Repository Exploring Perspective in Eclipse
  3. Ctrl Click in left hand panel of Perspective and select New -> Repository Location
  4. Add location – in my case
    'file:///svn/AS3_EMBED_TEST'
  5. Ctrl Click on icon for the new repository icon and select Checkout
  6. Picture 1.png

    Click on Next, then Finish and a valid Subversion Directory will be created in the selected location.

  7. Open the Flash FDT Perspective in Eclipse, and select New Flash Project, create project with the same name
  8. Create folder structure as required

SWFObject 2 generator

January 2, 2009 by russellf9

SWFObject 2 Generator.

I usually use the SWF Object to embed by swf’s and I am adding a quick link to the generator here.

The online SWF Object generator at: SWFObject 2 HTML and JavaScript generator v1.2

Pure MVC

November 19, 2008 by russellf9

Pure MVC – quick outline and a collection of useful links

I’ve recently been creating a lot of projects using Pure MVC, (see my post MVC for an introduction to MVC), and believe it to be the best Framework by far for ActionScript development. Of course there’s a learning curve, but leaning the Framework is time well spent.

The Pure MVC site provides plenty of information which I won’t repeat here, except that the AS3 ‘Port’ can be downloaded here: PureMVC Standard for AS3 and the excellent documentation can be found here: Best Practices (English).

For the best starting point for Flash AS3 Development see: Building a Flash site using PureMVC. Which has project to download: Download Source Files. I found the use of the SiteDataProxy Class very helpful as an example of how to use the Model part of the MVC Triad correctly.

Also, I’ve found a set of tasty templates for FDT at: darkandlong, which greatly decrease production time.