As a mobile developer, I deal with a lot of different things when I make iOS apps, like Swift, Apple’s many mobile APIs, different device sizes, and so on. In the world of iOS, Apple’s documentation and resources dominate the development community. But a lot of the time, I found myself only needing basic bits … Continued
A couple days ago, I was really excited to finish a new feature for a pro bono iOS app I was working on, but there was just one piece missing. It was a piece I was dreading, so I left it off until the end. I knew there was a “proper” way of implementing it, … Continued
I don’t know about you, but I hate peas. They’re high in fiber, protein, and annoyance. I’ve decided to end the seed-pod tyranny: I simply won’t have peas any more. This week’s theme: Don’t Eat Your Peas. Take some time to reflect on the things you’re doing that take up a lot of your time, … Continued
Ahead of Twin Cities Pride 2017, we decided to make some changes to our accompanying iOS app that would take advantage of new iPhone features. The Pride app serves as a guide for the festival and parade, and is written in Swift 3.0. One newly implemented feature is known as Home Screen Quick Actions. This feature gives … Continued
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or you have a problem that feels too big to solve, pause for a moment and take a deep breath. It won’t melt all stress away at once, but it will still help you confront your problems with clarity. Scientific studies have found that breathing exercises helps in dealing with stress, … Continued
As a software developer, there’s still many things I don’t know about computers. For one thing, I don’t know much about the hardware that I run my code on. To be honest, it’s still totally new to me. I finally decided to do something about it, so I bought a Raspberry Pi and Arduino board … Continued
With summer quickly nearing its end, you may be thinking to yourself, how can I relax, make the most of my free time, and avoid sitting all day? Well we’ve got just the thing: NATURE! Scientifically proven to reduce stress, cortisol levels, and blood pressure, nature is just what you’ve been looking for! For only … Continued
In the book Zero to One, a secret is described as an answer to the question, “what valuable idea is nobody working on?” Do you have a secret like that? It could be something as simple as a better way of implementing a class, or a completely different way of seeing the world. This week, … Continued
Over time, we lose connections with people that were important in our lives. This week, reach out to someone you were close to, and catch up. That’s what I’ll be doing.
Previous themes of the week have talked about how we should try new things and never stop exploring. But sometimes, what you might really enjoy is doing something you’ve forgotten about. I recently picked up a Sci-Fi book and realized just how much I missed the genre. Whether it’s playing an old instrument, reading a forgotten … Continued
We all wish we had more time, money, and knowledge to make the things we want to make, but sometimes these constraints are an advantage in disguise. Constraints force you to make do with what you’ve got, and get creative in ways you wouldn’t otherwise consider. Instead of seeing your constraints as barriers, think of them as puzzles. … Continued
Over time, many of us tend to overcomplicate our lives with unnecessary distractions. This week, think about what you can do to simplify your day to day. Clear your desk, get rid of possessions that clutter up your life, and think carefully about how you spend your free time. Once you do, you may find it easier … Continued