AppKit for iOS Developers

Pitfalls and tips for working with AppKit for those familiar with building iOS apps

Transcript

1. AppKit for iOS Developers
2. @kattrali Delisa Mason
3. AppKit - gui framework for os x - perspective of ios developers branching out - familiar to uikit users - refinements and cruft of age - not all UI to NS
4. Pitfalls - assumptions and common pitfalls to cover - frame in common classes to encounter - not necessarily about porting
5. ? why? - less constraints on distribution and memory usage - more intensive computation - it is cool
6. - better companion experiences to ios apps
7. Designing Your App - ask how is it most useful to users
8. ˒  - something a user wants while in multiple apps? - persistent utility - maybe launches at start up
9. ˒  ? TheApp - accomplishes particular task - front and center - may be single use; disappear with the window
10. ? - an experience requiring the entire screen all the time - game - system-altering utilities
11. 1 2 3 - design a view flow - make a nib
12. @interface MyViewController : NSViewController @end @implementation MyViewController - (void) viewDidLoad { // initialize some stuff } @end - lay out some code - does nothing
13. NSViewController?
14. NSViewController • commitEditingWithDelegate:didCommitSelector:contextInfo: • commitEditing • discardEditing • initWithNibName:bundle: • loadView • nibBundle • nibName • representedObject • setRepresentedObject: • setTitle: • setView: • title • view - instance methods - no view loading stage selectors - willLoad, didAppear
15. NSViewController? - not the controller
16. NSViewController
17. NSWindowController •manages a window, usually loaded from a nib •has window loading stage selectors •windowDidLoad •windowWillLoad
18. 1 2 3 - change to windows
19. 1 2 3 - link them up with nsnavigationcontroller ......?
20. NSNavigationController? where it at?
21. NSNavigationController there’s no nsnavigationcontroller! - how often do you have desktop apps change context entirely? - is it a good experience?
22.  TheApp - focus should remain task or document - taking away context is unexpected
23.  TheApp Subview subviews slide in to add additional functionality while preserving context
24.  TheApp NSPanel nspanels add additional contextual tooling
25.  TheApp Stuff NSMenu maybe no window at all - menus for comprehensive lists of actions
26.  TheApp HUD-style NSWindow huds for ephemeral views, like previewing
27. NSWindow ≠ UIWindow SIDEBAR - nswindows have more sizes, shapes, types - not always full screen - not always focused - people close them, - app keeps running
28. Displays Multiple Sizes, Resolutions, Pixel Densities - windows on many more types of displays - keep in mind when designing interactions - that said, favorite interaction
29. Presenting Users with Choices for which they need to select from big list
30. Making a Selection •Segmented Controls •Sliders •Combo Buttons •Radio Groups •Table Views - several controls suited to users performing a selection - focus on table view
31. Making a Selection •Segmented Controls •Sliders •Combo Buttons •Radio Groups •Table Views - ios use is common - handy and unnecessarily complex flow chart
32. Use NSTableView? Does the list need to be visible for a while? Sure NOPE yes no
33. Use NSTableView? Complex sidebar Persistent lists Spreadsheets - customized sidebar, not better served by a source list, a la finder - or central focus on a dataset is purpose of the app
34. NSTableView •Cell-based or view-based content modes •Columns nstableview is well-suited to these kinds of functions - cell-based, as in cell in a spreadsheet, plain text - view-based, as in it has subviews, and probably custom layout - different delegate methods by content mode - more than one column, concern for cell population - sometimes easily built by bindings
35. Bindings favorite things to love and hate
36. Bindings •Connects data and presentation •Integrates into interface builder •Can reduce “glue code” •Alternately invoked via bind:toObject:withKeyPath:options: - reflects changes bidirectionally - content and most interface elements connect controller property or model
37. Bindings key-value observing key-value coding - not magic - layer on top of kvo/kvc - good to remember for debugging horribly wrong connections - refer cocoa bindings programming reference
38. General Advice
39. 1. Read the OS X HIG its a bit lengthy - covers usage of interface elements in depth - definitely not the same as the iOS HIG
40. 2. Get down with Core Graphics or you will never figure out how to change the background color of an nsview
41. 3. Use documentation if nothing else, for naming conventions nsalert, nsmakerect, webview
42. Thank you!