#iOS Dev Break

[babyspacebatclone]

I’m in trouble.

Like, seriously, I was up until morning last night partially because of this game.

@stonestoryrpg

I just… I can’t.

This is gorgeous.

The amount of detail in the animation is just…. 😭😭

The way the story and the experience evolves, always challenging the player, offering new variables to consider.

Up until - it literally lets you program your idle AI.

Which is the “stay up all night” bit, I haven’t programmed in anything but HTML and associated since high school (20+ years now…) but it’s all coming back to me.

Oh, and here’s your character…

(image cropped because of hud spoilers from leveling)

I repeat - the animation in this game is gorgeous!!!

For example, the reveal of the second boss is just….

My only description right now is:

Edit: The Discord helped me!!!!! Ah, this feels so good!!!!!

My one, one issue right now is all I have access to is my phone, and not being able to copy-paste in the iOS scripting interface is killing me with order of operations being so impossibly vital….

Do not misunderstand me, Dev, I am persevering as best I can…

And reading how versatile the import script system is for non-mobile devices, I know it’s something you recognize and will address to the absolute best of abilities!!

But getting the Skeleton Arm quest finished without breaking everything else I had worked out took a bit.

[saifawaisi3211]

App Development in Bangalore: Why Hello Errors is Your Ideal Tech Partner

Bangalore, frequently referred to as India's Silicon Valley, is a leader in digital transformation and technical innovation. Bangalore app development is becoming a widely sought-after service due to the growing requirement for companies to design reliable, user-friendly mobile applications. Hello Errors has become a reputable brand among the several competitors in this cutthroat industry for companies seeking to create innovative mobile applications that meet their requirements.

At Hello Errors, we recognize how important mobile apps are to boosting consumer engagement, business expansion, and operational effectiveness. Our team creates mobile solutions that are strong, scalable, and aesthetically pleasing by fusing knowledge, innovation, and the newest technologies.

Why App Development Is Concentrated in Bangalore Bangalore has earned its reputation as India's tech hub. The city has produced a flourishing ecosystem of tech giants, startups, and talented developers who are always pushing the limits of innovation. Bangalore is the best place to develop apps for the following reasons:

Tech Talent Pool: Bangalore is home to some of the nation's top UX/UI designers, software developers, and tech specialists. Innovation-Driven Environment: The atmosphere of the city encourages businesses and startups to test out new technologies like blockchain, AI, ML, and IoT. Cost-effective Solutions: Compared to international markets, businesses may create top-notch mobile applications at competitive prices. Increasing Demand for Mobile Apps: Companies in a variety of sectors, including healthcare, finance, retail, education, and logistics, are using mobile apps more and more to connect with their target markets. Businesses require a knowledgeable and innovative partner to create their mobile apps in this ever-changing industry, and Hello Errors is here to provide just that.

Hello Errors: Bangalore's Leading App Development Company Our specialty at Hello Errors is creating unique mobile applications that complement your company's objectives. We bring experience, innovation, and passion to the table, whether you're a startup with a ground-breaking idea or an established business trying to optimize your processes.

Our Special Method for App Development Requirement Analysis: To determine the essential features your app requires, we first comprehend your audience, business goals, and obstacles. Creative UX/UI Design: The foundation of any software is an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly design. Our UX/UI specialists design intuitive user interfaces that promote interaction and guarantee smooth navigation. Agile Development: To guarantee adaptability, openness, and on-time project delivery, we employ agile development techniques. Quality assurance and testing: Thorough testing guarantees that your application runs properly on a variety of platforms, operating systems, and devices. Launch and Post-Launch Support: We offer ongoing assistance to maximize performance and release upgrades as required after the app is live. The Technology Behind Our Solutions At Hello Errors, we think it's important to use the newest technology to create top-notch mobile apps. We use frameworks and technologies such as these in our development process:

Native Development: Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS. Cross-Platform Development: React Native and Flutter are used to create apps that run well on multiple platforms. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Integration: AI and ML-powered smart automation, predictive analytics, and personalized user experiences. Cloud solutions from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud can guarantee the security, scalability, and dependability of your application. We create mobile applications that provide outstanding user experiences and yield measurable outcomes for businesses by fusing creativity and technology.

Why Pick Hello Errors for Bangalore App Development?

By selecting Hello Errors, you're joining forces with a group of people who appreciate your idea and strive to make it a reality. What makes us unique is this:

Client-Centric Approach: We customize each project to our clients' specific needs and objectives. Team with Years of expertise: Our developers, designers, and tech specialists have years of expertise and a track record of producing excellent mobile apps. Emphasis on Innovation: To create apps that are prepared for the future, we keep up with the newest developments in the market and technology. End-to-End Services: We provide full app development services under one roof, from conception to implementation and post-launch assistance. On-time Delivery: We guarantee that your app is created and released on schedule without sacrificing quality. Changing Companies with Effective App Solutions Hello Errors has collaborated with companies in a variety of sectors to develop mobile applications that improve client interaction and expedite processes. We provide solutions that truly add value to your organization, whether it's a financial app that offers safe transactions, an e-commerce app that offers a smooth shopping experience, or a healthcare app that provides real-time consultations.

In addition to developing apps, our goal is to support company expansion by harnessing the potential of digital transformation.

In conclusion Mobile applications are becoming a must for companies trying to remain competitive in the fast-paced digital world of today. Hello Errors, a top app development company in Bangalore, is the ideal collaborator for creating creative, scalable, and intuitive mobile applications.

With a skilled workforce, a love of technology, and a tried-and-true methodology, we assist companies in seizing new opportunities and providing their clients with outstanding experiences.

Are you prepared to develop your app concept? Together, Hello Errors and I can develop something truly remarkable.

To begin, get in touch with us at helloerrors.in.

The Athor : MOHAMMED WASEEM

[code-wizards12]

About Company Code Wizards

Code Wizards is, truly the swish app growth company in Chandigarh, as it mostly makes unique value services to meet guests.

This Company Deals with App-making methods and growth, which demand making software work for mobile bias, web platforms, or desktop surroundings. This covers stages, such as planning, designing, testing, and implant an action.

Code Wizards is a classy app development company in Chandigarh, that supply quality services to meet guests.

What is an App?

The user can use a software application, aimed to achieve specific tasks, to raise their knowledge by making use of its many benefits.

Companies must understand the importance of joining with their target audience through mobile apps.

In addition, people and their terms are meet through the app which serves as a platform for many links.

How Does App Helps?

Mobile apps can be extremely helpful for both businesses and users. As it helps in build a Stronger Brand, Quickly Connecting with Customers, and getting a Competitive Edge in Understanding User Behavior.

Increase in Customer joy.

Our mobile apps help to grow customer loyalty & charm for businesses. The same apps allow ready messages, in-app purchases, and, notices.

Useful marketing tool

With mobile apps, businesses don't need to be tense They can reach guests over apps easily. The same mobile apps can give data for accounts, newsfeeds, and other sale details.

Increase deals and earnings.

Businesses can grow earnings and deals by blend mobile apps with social connect sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Further, this club not only improves customer but also helps brand loyalty.

Brand awareness

Your mobile app shows your brand and serves as a useful tool for raising brand attention and reaching your business goals.

Types of app development?

Developing web applications includes making applications that can easily enter online and run in web browsers. HTML, CSS and JavaScript are the most common web technologies for creating these apps. They offer a various and platform-independent method, as users can access them from many devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

1- Waterfall

It’s fit for systems with a strong environment and it gives a clean range.

2-Nimble

We break the design into speeds to give right replies. Thus, we build features and test them in short cycles.

3- Rapid operation development( RAD)

People reply to circles, which is good. Furthermore, visual growth tools are mixed to forward the process.

4- DevOps

DevOps joins software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops); thus, it supports faster and extra true software delivery.

5- Extra development

It helps raise customer value as it stress on lower free effort, and it aims for better growth process.

6- Crossbred development

It approves law work; moreover, it speeds up app development over many platforms.

7-Low- law/ No- law development

These platforms offer visual app development links and extra factors, which as a result enable quick development and easier change.

Android App Development

This usually calls for skill with Android Studio Thus, developers commonly use the United Development Environment. Moreover, they also need skills in programming classics like Java or Kotlin.

I Phone App Development

The instructor begins the iOS app development course with the most fundamental things; furthermore, they introduce you to the iOS platform and the Swift programming language. In addition, they slowly start to deal with more growth.

Why Choose Code Wizards?

Determining the 'swish' web development company can vary, indeed, it is based on specific conditions, budget, as well as design conditions. Moreover, these factors can greatly affect the overall effect of the project. Hence, Code Wizards gives all the money for the stylish business and increases in every sector.

API union

App logical

Assure quality

App revises

Conclusion 

Code Wizards, as a leading app development company in Chandigarh, not only takes pride in being a lead app development company but also promises to supply high-end results. Hence, they understand your business conditions and develop apps.

[webcraftzs]

Crafting Websites that Inspire: Kolkata's Best Web Development Company

In the bustling heart of India, Kolkata stands out as a vibrant hub for creativity and innovation. The city is known for its rich culture, history, and thriving web development scene. As businesses increasingly recognize the need for an online presence, Kolkata's digital landscape has blossomed with talented developers ready to craft stunning websites. Among these innovators lies Webcraftzs Technologies, a leading web development company in Kolkata.

Webcraftzs Technologies is a prime example of what makes Kolkata unique: a fusion of artistic creativity and technical proficiency that results in stunning digital experiences. In this post, we'll delve into how this unique blend sets Webcraftzs Technologies apart in the competitive web development field, making it one of the best web development company in Kolkata. Whether you're looking to revamp your existing website or develop a custom mobile application for iOS or Android users, Webcraftzs Technologies is the perfect place to witness the magic of creative design meeting cutting-edge technology.

What Sets Kolkata's Web Development Apart?

Kolkata's web development scene thrives on a rich blend of innovation and tradition. Developers here harness the vibrant culture to infuse creativity into their designs, making every website uniquely represent its brand.

The city is home to skilled professionals proficient in coding and deeply understanding user experience. This dual focus allows them to create functional and visually appealing websites.

Kolkata's tech community remains closely knit. Frequent meetups and workshops foster collaboration, ensuring developers stay ahead with the latest trends and technologies.

The affordability of services without compromising quality also sets Kolkata apart from other cities. Clients can access top-notch web development services without breaking the bank, making it an attractive destination for businesses looking to establish or enhance their online presence. This affordability empowers firms to invest in online presence without straining their financial resources.

The Importance of Creativity in Web Design

Creativity is the heartbeat of effective web design. It transforms a simple webpage into an engaging experience that resonates with users. This emphasis on creativity in web design is inspiring and intriguing, as it showcases the potential for unique and captivating digital experiences.

A creative approach allows for unique layouts, eye-catching visuals, and interactive elements that capture attention. This distinctiveness sets businesses apart in a crowded digital landscape.

Creativity fosters innovation. Designers can experiment with color schemes, typography, and navigation styles to evoke emotions or convey brand identity effectively. A memorable design leaves a lasting impression on visitors.

User experience thrives on creativity as well. Thoughtful designs lead to intuitive interfaces where users feel comfortable exploring content seamlessly. This focus on user experience reassures the audience that the company's designs are visually appealing, user-friendly, and intuitive.

By blending artistry with functionality, websites become more than just online presence; they evolve into powerful tools for communication and engagement. In this dynamic space of web development in Kolkata, harnessing creative potential is essential for standing out from competitors while meeting user needs.

How the Company Stays Up-To-Date With Industry Trends and Technologies

At Webcraftzs Technologies, one of the top providers of web development services in Kolkata, staying ahead means embracing change. The team regularly participates in workshops and webinars to gain insights into emerging technologies.

They also subscribe to industry-leading publications and follow influential thought leaders on social media. This approach ensures they are constantly informed about the latest trends in web development.

Collaboration is key. Regular brainstorming sessions allow team members to share new ideas inspired by their ongoing research. By fostering an environment of creativity, everyone contributes to innovative solutions.

Client feedback plays a crucial role in guiding their strategies. Understanding what users want helps them tailor services that meet current demands effectively.

The blend of continuous learning and open communication equips Webcraftzs Technologies with the tools needed for success in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Conclusion

Choosing a web development company based in Kolkata can significantly enhance your online presence. With the city's rich talent pool and innovative mindset, companies like Webcraftzs Technologies stand out as industry leaders. Their unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and cutting-edge technology ensures that your website is functional and captivating, setting you apart from the competition.

Kolkata's web development landscape thrives on collaboration and knowledge-sharing among professionals. This environment fosters creativity, allowing businesses to craft unique digital experiences tailored to their audience's needs. By partnering with a local expert like Webcraftzs Technologies, you gain access to insights that are not only current but also culturally relevant, ensuring your digital presence resonates with your target audience.

Mobile app development has become essential for reaching wider audiences. As a prominent mobile app development company in Kolkata, firms like Webcraftzs Technologies understand how to create seamless iOS and Android applications that enhance user engagement.

When you choose the best web development company in Kolkata, you invest in technical skills and strategic insight into market trends. Focusing on continuous learning ensures that your project incorporates the latest technologies and design philosophies. Letting a dedicated team from this vibrant city handle your website means placing yourself ahead of competitors who may need to pay more attention to the value of localized expertise. Embrace growth by collaborating with experts who truly understand what it takes to build inspiring websites that resonate with users everywhere.

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

I still get a bit lost in my new gig — at WillowTree — as a React Native/TypeScript dev. The syntax is making more sense and getting easier to follow, but, I do have a difficult time understanding the errors produced by yarn ts:check. It’s the same each time I learn a new language.

I’m also developing an interest in Rust. That’ll have to be a part time interest for a long time I suppose. I have more important business to attend to. 😃

Onward!

Filipe Espósito • 9to5Mac

Shareshot is an iOS app that transforms how you share iPhone and iPad screenshots

A friend of mine, Marc Palmer, is part of the duo who created Shareshot! It is, as always, absolutely beautiful, full featured, and stable.

If I’m not too lazy moving forward I should use it to make screenshots for Stream blog posts and the like.

Congratulations, Marc! 🥳

Andrew Carter • WillowTree Blog

Mobile app interactivity, multimodal voice technology, and AI are all converging with Apple Intelligence — Apple’s new artificial intelligence feature set announced at this year’s WWDC, coming soon with iOS 18 (maybe in October). And the secret sauce powering those awesome interactions is something called App Intents.

Andrew is pretty legendary in the halls of WillowTree. So damned smart and witty, and he plays a mean fiddle and banjo.

Anywho, go give his piece on App Intents a gander, you might learn a thing or two.

Kelly Crandall • Racer

Austin Dillon has been stripped of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff eligibility that came with his victory at Richmond Raceway.

Austin Dillion looked great all night. I don’t recall how many laps he lead but it was a lot. He was two laps short of victory when a late caution came out.

On the restart he was beat off the line by Joey Lagano and fell into second place.

I wanted to see Mr. Dillion win so badly. He hasn’t had a win in a couple years and Richard Childress Racing needed one but the way he did it was not great.

He kept the win but was stripped of his points and playoff berth. They should’ve disqualified him and given the win to Legano, if I’m being honest about my feelings.

Scharon Harding • Ars Technica

Sonos is laying off about 100 people, the company confirmed on Wednesday. The news comes as Sonos is expecting to spend $20 to $30 million in the short term to repair the damage from its poorly received app update.

It’s incredible how much an app redesign can make or break an application or company.

Another critically acclaimed podcasting app called Overcast was also redesigned and released recently. It too has had a very difficult time with its subscribers. Lots of one star reviews and hate.

Rewrites can kill companies. Don’t do it. Evolve your code over time. Think of it as a Ship of Theseus.

Tasha Robinson • Polygon

Ryan Reynolds had very specific tech (and humor) requirements for Wolverine’s corpse

I still haven’t see the new Deadpool but I really want to. Deadpool’s obsession with Wolverine is funny as heck and I’m here for it. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are hysterical.

Juan José López Jaimez and Meador Inge • Google Bug Hunters

In a throwback to the past, this blog post takes us on a journey back to a time when eBPF was a focal point in the realm of kernel security research. In this update, we recount the discovery of CVE-2023-2163, a vulnerability within the eBPF verifier, what our root-cause analysis process looked like, and what we did to fix the issue.

Fresh off the heels of the Crowdstrike fiasco we get a story of how Google engineers found vulnerabilities in a Linux technology that allows for similar extensions to the OS. Similar in desired outcome, not in implementation.

Matthias Endler

Quite a few websites are unusable by now because they got “optimized for Chrome.” Microsoft Teams, for example, and the list is long. These websites fail for no good reason.

Chrome has definitely become the new Internet Explorer in a way. Devs have become lazy and don’t code for the open web, they’re coding against a specific browser. Not good. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Stan Alcorn • Rest of World

How Spotify started — and killed — Latin America’s podcast boom

What Spotify has done is not podcasting if it doesn’t allow any podcast player to subscribe to a feed. That’s part of what makes a podcast a podcast. What they’ve done is something that needs a new name.

Lately I’ve heard some podcasts announce ad free versions available on Apple Podcasts, which is also just as bad as Spotify’s locked up audio thing.

Please, don’t do this, keep your podcast a podcast and find a better way to create subscriptions. Others have done it. You can too.

Patreon

Apple is requiring that Patreon switch to their iOS in-app purchase system starting this November, or risk being removed from the App Store. Here’s what’s coming, and what you can do about it.

My opinion on this is simple.

If they really believe in creators Patreon should abandon their iOS App in favor of a really great mobile experience on their website.

Liam Proven • The Register

Before WordPerfect, the most popular work processor was WordStar. Now, the last ever DOS version has been bundled and set free by one of its biggest fans.

It’s not surprising how many fans of WordStar exist. Many of them are novelists and columnists. The best of the best writers in the world. Of course they’re most likely of a certain ventage, if you know what I mean? 😂

I started as a BASIC programmer and used WordStar as my editor until I discovered Brief. True story.

David Edwards • Raw Story

Judge Chutkan faces call to seize Trump’s passport after threat to flee to Venezuela

Can Judge Chutkan do the opposite and encourage Trump to move to Venezuela, now? That would solve a lot of problems with the upcoming election and help preserve democracy.

It would be a great service to the country. 🇺🇸

Rex Huppke • USA TODAY

Trump rambles, slurs his way through Elon Musk interview. It was an unmitigated disaster.

I listened to it for a few minutes and the Orange Man sounded like Sylvester the cat!

Sufferin’ Suckatash! 😋

[john-carle123]

The Future of Cross-Platform Development: Flutter vs. React Native in 2024

Hey there, fellow code wranglers and app aficionados! Pull up a chair, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, and let's dive into one of the hottest debates in the mobile dev world: Flutter vs. React Native. It's 2024, and these two titans of cross-platform development are still duking it out for supremacy. But which one should you choose for your next project? Let's break it down, shall we?

The Cross-Platform Dream

First off, let's remind ourselves why we're even having this conversation. Remember the days of building separate apps for iOS and Android? Yeah, those were fun times (said no one ever). Cross-platform development promises the holy grail: write once, run anywhere. And both Flutter and React Native have been delivering on that promise, each in their own unique way.

Flutter: The Dart-Powered Dynamo

Let's start with Google's golden child, Flutter. Born in 2017, Flutter has grown up fast. By 2024, it's become a force to be reckoned with. Here's what's got developers buzzing:

1. Dart-astic Performance

Flutter's secret weapon? Dart. This language compiles to native code, giving Flutter apps that buttery-smooth 60 FPS performance we all crave. In 2024, Dart's just gotten better, with even more optimizations that make Flutter apps fly.

2. Widget Wonderland

Flutter's widget-based architecture is still a hit. Everything's a widget, which makes building UIs a breeze. And with the ever-expanding catalog of pre-built widgets, you can whip up a slick UI faster than you can say "hot reload."

3. Hot Reload on Steroids

Speaking of hot reload, Flutter's implementation is still lightning-fast in 2024. Make a change, see it instantly. It's like having a superpower for debugging and iterating.

4. Beyond Mobile

Flutter's not just for phones anymore. With Flutter for Web and Flutter Desktop in full swing, you can truly write once and run everywhere. Building a cohesive ecosystem across all platforms has never been easier.

5. Strong Community Vibes

The Flutter community has exploded. There's a package for everything, and the knowledge sharing is off the charts. Got a problem? Stack Overflow's got your back, pronto.

React Native: The JavaScript Juggernaut

Now, let's talk about Facebook's baby, React Native. It's been around since 2015, and it's aged like fine wine. Here's why it's still a top contender in 2024:

1. JavaScript Everywhere

React Native's use of JavaScript is still its biggest selling point. With JS being the lingua franca of web development, the learning curve for web devs is practically flat. Plus, the JavaScript ecosystem is vast and vibrant.

2. Native Feel, React Familiarity

React Native lets you build truly native apps using React. If you know React, you're already halfway there. And in 2024, the bridge between React Native and native components is smoother than ever.

3. Hot Reloading Delight

Like Flutter, React Native boasts hot reloading. Make a change, see it live. It's a developer's dream come true.

4. Web Integration Winner

Need to share code between your web and mobile apps? React Native's got you covered. The line between web and mobile development is blurrier than ever in 2024.

5. Battle-Tested and Enterprise-Ready

React Native has been around the block. It's proven itself in the trenches of app development, and big names are still betting on it. Stability and reliability are the name of the game here.

The Showdown: Flutter vs. React Native in 2024

Alright, now for the main event. How do these two stack up against each other in 2024? Let's break it down:

Performance

Flutter still has the edge here. Its compiled nature gives it a performance boost that's hard to beat. React Native has made strides, but if raw speed is your game, Flutter's your name.

Development Speed

It's a close call, but Flutter might have a slight advantage. Its hot reload is a tad faster, and the widget-based architecture can speed up UI development. However, if your team is already React-savvy, React Native might be quicker for you.

Learning Curve

React Native takes the cake here, especially if you're coming from a web background. JavaScript's ubiquity makes it easier to pick up. Dart, while not difficult, is less common and might take a bit more time to master.

UI Components

Flutter's built-in widget library is more comprehensive out of the box. React Native relies more on third-party libraries for advanced components. However, both have robust ecosystems in 2024, so you're not likely to be left wanting.

Community and Ecosystem

It's neck and neck. React Native has the advantage of age and the broader JavaScript community. Flutter, however, has seen exponential growth and has a dedicated, passionate following. You'll find plenty of support and resources for both in 2024.

Cross-Platform Capabilities

Flutter has made significant strides here. Its ability to target mobile, web, and desktop from a single codebase is impressive. React Native can do this too, but Flutter's implementation feels more cohesive.

Long-Term Viability

Both are here to stay. Google and Facebook are still heavily investing in their respective frameworks. Neither is going anywhere anytime soon.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

Ah, the million-dollar question. The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your specific needs, your team's expertise, and your project requirements. Here's a quick guide:

Choose Flutter if:

- Performance is your top priority

- You're building a complex UI with custom designs

- You want to target multiple platforms (mobile, web, desktop) with a single codebase

- Your team is willing to learn Dart or already knows it

Go with React Native if:

- Your team is already proficient in JavaScript and React

- You need to share code between web and mobile apps

- You're building an app that needs to integrate closely with native components

- You prefer a more mature ecosystem with a longer track record

The Verdict

Here's the beautiful truth: you can't go wrong with either Flutter or React Native in 2024. They're both fantastic frameworks that can help you build amazing cross-platform apps. The "best" choice is the one that aligns with your team's skills, your project's needs, and your long-term goals.

My advice? Try them both. Build a small project in Flutter and another in React Native. See which one feels more natural, which one your team enjoys working with more. At the end of the day, the best framework is the one that helps you ship great apps efficiently and joyfully.

Remember, the tool is just that – a tool. What matters most is the craftsperson wielding it. So whichever you choose, focus on writing clean code, creating intuitive UIs, and delivering value to your users. That's what will set your app apart in 2024 and beyond.

[ahex-technologies]

iOS vs. Android: A Developer's Dilemma - Choosing the Right Platform for Your Next App

As a mobile app developer, the age-old question looms: iOS or Android? Each platform boasts a dedicated fanbase, unique advantages, and inherent challenges. Choosing the right one can make or break your app's success, so let's delve into the key pros and cons to help you decide.

iOS: The Allure of Apple's Walled Garden

Pros:

Premium Market: iOS apps users tend to spend more on iOS apps, leading to potentially higher revenue.

Streamlined Development: Swift, Apple's native language, is known for its clean syntax and easier learning curve.

Faster App Review: The App Store review process is generally quicker, often taking days compared to weeks on Google Play.

Strict Quality Control: Iphone stringent guidelines lead to a more consistent and polished user experience.

Uniformity in Devices: With a focus on iPhones and iPads, iOS application development services ensure optimized apps for specific screen sizes and resolutions

Cons:

Limited Reach: Compared to Android's dev global dominance, iOS apps restricts your potential audience.

Higher Development Costs: iphone devices and  iphone developer tools can be more expensive, impacting development budgets.

Restrictive Guidelines: Apple's strict rules can limit creative freedom and functionality.

Android: Openness and Flexibility Galore

Pros:

Global Market Reach: Android's apps wider user base means potentially reaching a larger audience across diverse regions.

Open-Source Flexibility: App Developers have more control over app design and functionality compared to iOS.

Wider Hardware Range: Android development runs on a vast array of devices, catering to different budgets and preferences.

Lower Development Costs: Open-source tools and diverse hardware options can be more cost-effective.

Cons:

Fragmented Market: Different device versions and customizations can lead to compatibility issues.

Lower ARPU: While the user base is larger, monetization might be less effective compared to iOS.

Longer App Review: Google Play's review process can be slower and more intricate than the App Store's.

So, Which Platform to Choose?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best platform depends on your app's goals, target audience, and mobile app development resources. Consider these factors:

Target Audience: Who are you trying to reach? Where are they located, and what devices do they use?

App Type: Does your app require specific hardware features or functionalities only available on one platform?

Development Expertise: Are you familiar with specific languages and tools required for each platform?

Monetization Strategy: Does the platform's pricing model and user spending habits align with your goals?

Ultimately, the choice between iOS and Android is a strategic one. Weigh the pros and cons carefully, understand your target audience, and don't be afraid to explore cross-platform options if your app's vision demands it. Remember, the right platform can become the springboard for your app's success, so choose wisely and build something amazing!

For more details, visits Ahex Technologies

[corbindavenport]

The new ImageShare

ImageShare is my lightweight web app for uploading and sharing images, originally created as a replacement for the Nintendo 3DS Image Share service. It has gone through a lot of code updates and migrations over the last few years to keep it compatible with aging web browsers, and now I've rolled out another update.

The new features

ImageShare still allows you to choose an image from your device, click Upload, and get a QR code linking to the image that you can easily scan with another nearby device. It's still entirely server-side PHP, so it loads quickly, even on low-end and legacy web browsers that can no longer connect to image upload services directly.

The app previously used Imgur for all image uploads, but that API isn't always reliable, so ImageShare now fully supports ImgBB as an alternative platform. You can select which service to use from the main upload page. For security reasons, images uploaded anonymously through ImgBB are deleted after two minutes, which should be long enough to save the image after scanning the QR code.

There's also a new option to use ImgBB with your own account, instead of uploading anonymously, by entering an API key in the ImageShare settings. This allows images to be saved permanently to your ImgBB account (unless you delete them later), and the images are always accessible through the ImgBB site on another web browser.

I've wanted to add authenticated image uploads for a long time, so the functionality could be closer to uploading screenshots on an Xbox or PlayStation console, but it wasn't easily doable with Imgur. Just like before, images uploaded from a Nintendo 3DS console have the game title saved with the image when it's available.

The downside is that the new API key feature doesn't work on the Nintendo 3DS Browser (and possibly the Wii U Browser, I haven't checked). As far as I can tell, Nintendo blocks any kind of permanent storage in that browser, even the simple cookies used to store the API key.

ImageShare also now has improved support for other legacy web browsers: it fully works in Netscape Navigator 6 from 2001, and possibly earlier versions. It also now has a proper icon when pinned to the Start menu on Windows 10 Mobile, and there are some more fixes for older iOS devices.

I've taken it as a challenge to support as many old web browsers and devices as possible, at least as long as it remains practical. ImageShare also now uses the goQR.me API to generate QR code images, because the deprecated Google API previously in use has stopped working entirely.

Self-hosted ImageShare

I've also done a lot of work to make ImageShare as easy to set up on a home server or production site as possible. The dev instructions are now more detailed, and more features that were previously hard-wired in the code are now optional when setting up an ImageShare instance. It's still a Docker Compose application, so it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux hosts.

The server configuration for ImageShare supports an Imgur API key, an ImgBB API key, or both. If you set up both options, the user can choose which option they want (the ImgBB option with a custom key is always available). For example, only the ImgBB option is enabled on the main server right now (I think Imgur blocked the server's IP for too many requests, so I'm giving it a break). Plausible Analytics is also now easily configurable, with reporting for page views, basic device and browser information, upload events, and so on.

I'm not aware of any other ImageShare instances, but now is as good a time as any to set one up!

The open future

ImageShare has required a lot of work to stay functional on the Nintendo 3DS and other legacy platforms. I've gone through three hosting services: first Heroku, then DigitalOcean's App Platform, then an Ubuntu VPS through Digital Ocean. After that last migration, I reworked it to run in Docker, which has made development and troubleshooting much simpler. That has all ensured ImageShare remains functional on legacy browsers through non-secure HTTP connections, while also supporting newer devices with HTTPS.

I'm not sure how long image hosting platforms will continue working with the current infrastructure, and I do not want to deal with hosting user content. There's also the issue where the main supported device, the Nintendo 3DS, can't save settings on the browser side. I'm thinking about how best to handle the project's future with those problems.

ImageShare might eventually morph into a minimal web server that runs on a computer on your home network, which would be less vulnerable to rate limiting by APIs (or could just dump images directly to a computer). Another option would be improving the self-hosted setup and publishing ImageShare to Docker Hub, where it could be installed on any computer or server with Docker in one command. This is already a popular option for NextCloud, Plex, and other local server software, so it would probably work well for ImageShare.

I don't have any plans to shut down the current ImageShare site, unless all the image hosting APIs stop working and I don't have any options left. ImageShare has already outlived the Nintendo service it was initially designed to replace, and I'd like to keep that going.

You can learn more about ImageShare from the GitHub repository, and you can try it out from theimageshare.com. If you want to help keep this service running, please consider joining my Patreon or donating through PayPal and Cash App.

[prometteursolutions]

From Brainstorm to App Store: Your Essential Guide to iOS App Development

iOS app development process is often seen as a mysterious process, but with the right guidance, you can take your app idea all the way from brainstorming to launch in the App Store. Let's break down the key steps:

The Initial Brainstorm

Every great app starts with an innovative idea. Brainstorm ideas that solve real problems or improve lives. Look at your own frustrations and think about how an app could help. Study the top apps in the App Store to see what’s working. Settle on an idea that gets you excited and seems viable from a development standpoint.  

Research and Validation 

Now that you have an initial idea, validate that it’s something people actually want. Talk to potential users and get their feedback. Conduct surveys to gauge interest. Study the competition to make sure your idea is unique enough. This market validation will help refine your concept further.

Wireframing and Prototyping

With a validated concept, it’s time to map out how your app will look and function. Create wireframes that outline each screen and how users will navigate between them. Build a clickable prototype to simulate the real app experience. Test these with users to catch issues early before coding begins.

Visual Design

Work with a designer to define the look and feel of your app. They will produce mockups that establish the color scheme, typography, interface elements, and overall visual brand. This is your chance to make the app beautiful and visually differentiated. 

App Development

Now the hard work begins! Work with an experienced iOS developer or dev shop to architect and code your app. They will recommend the right technologies and frameworks. Plan for multiple iterations to get the features and UX just right. Rigorously test on both simulators and real devices. Pay special attention to edge cases and failure modes.  

Quality Assurance Testing

Once a working app is built, meticulously test it for bugs, crashes, and other issues. Define clear acceptance criteria and test cases. Try breaking the app every way you can. Fix all critical and high priority bugs before release. Make sure the app is stable and secure. Prioritize the user experience.

App Store Optimization 

With development winding down, work on App Store page assets like screenshots, videos, description, etc. to market your app. Research the top keywords for your category and target those in your metadata. Craft compelling texts that convince users to download. Localize all metadata for global reach.  

Submission and Launch

Exciting times! Submit your app and metadata for review. This process generally takes 1-2 weeks. While waiting, spread the word on social media and your website. Reach out to bloggers and media outlets. Launching with a bang will propel your app up the charts! Monitor user feedback closely after launch.

Post-Launch Support

Your work isn’t over after launch! Release frequent updates to fix bugs, add features, and refine performance. Respond promptly to user reviews and feedback. Cultivate an engaged community around your app via social media and a blog. Add more localizations. Work tirelessly to boost downloads and revenue.

As you can see, launching a successful iOS app requires meticulous planning, solid development skills, and ongoing dedication. While challenging, the rewards for launching a breakout hit make all the hard work worth it. Follow these steps, and you will maximize your odds of standing out in the lucrative iOS app market. Let the brainstorming begin!

[crucialfusion]

ExoArmor is a modern take on classic arcade space shooter action, all in the palm of your hand.

https://apple.co/2U2PtGe

[heretic-altias]

Hello internet! As I mentioned in a post yesterday, I’m working on my very first game. It’s a simple 2D endless runner mobile game where you fly a dragon as far as possible to beat your high scores. Something to play idly with spare time.

But to make a decent game, I need some help testing! Right now if you’re an iPhone user, this link will take you to TestFlight (apple’s official beta testing app) to join the test group. You can submit feedback through there and you’ll receive any build updates I make in the app. At the moment this is just general gameplay testing. The graphical assets are not done, so the game will look ugly for now. But my artist friend is hard at work on those, so beauty will come with time! Until then, just focus on functionality. The controls are something I’ve been actively working on, so those might be wonky or the game might be too hard/too easy. All of these things I can improve on with user feedback!

Android users, while I don’t have an android test going on publicly, the final app will release on the play store too. I have my sister and some friends testing android builds to make sure they don’t break as I update based on iOS feedback, and I may look into a larger scale android test closer to release. For now, iOS is just easier with TestFlight since I already have that dev membership.

[exeggcute]

genuine question, wasnt tumblr already planning the nsfw ban before the app got removed from the app store back in 2018? and im curious as to how twitter gets away with having porn on the ios app while tumblr has to ban tags like "mine". fuck apple and all, im sure they play a huge part in all this, im just confused honestly. how much of this is really on them?

your guess is as good as mine (no idea what their product roadmap looked like back then) but afaik there was never a porn ban in the works before then... you could definitely see tits on the dash up until the 2018 ban (and I mean you definitely still can, technically lol). but also remember that this website changed owners a million times so it's very well possible that some peabrained executive at like yahoo or whatever made a decree that tumblr would become ""family-friendly"" and it never materialized. if there's one thing I've learned in software dev it's that C-level dipshits love to make promises that may never get realized.

it's genuinely not in tumblr's interest to restrict content like this though. think about it: restricting content (especially something as nebulously all-encompassing and popular as "adult" content) restricts your user base, and restricting your user base means less traffic. less traffic means less ads served which means less money, because most ads are paid per impression. unless tumblr thinks they can rebrand themselves with a squeaky-clean image (and they're not stupid, I know they don't think this) there would be no point in enacting a policy like this other than shooting themselves in the foot for no reason. no other social media sites do this willingly. (also the fact it's only applicable to iOS users also really tells you everything you need to know.)

now, when it comes to questions of actual content moderation and bots and shit... that's another matter entirely. and also imo not even relevant to this discussion since it's a whole separate nightmare but I will say that tumblr's content moderation (in terms of "if enough people report a nazi will they actually get banned") seems to be slightly better than average, although the bar is extremely low. but social media in general is plagued with moderation problems and part of it is a labor problem and part of it is stuff I don't want to get too into because I might technically break an NDA lol. but it's a worthwhile, albeit separate, topic to pursue!

[callmearcturus]

Also, point of interest? Epic is not suing for damages. They actually aren’t asking for a cut of the profit from that 30% storefront tax from Apple and Google. They have floated the idea of being released to make their own storefront in the iOS infrastructure. Which would function like EGS, in that it provides an alternative to the megaplatform that has a stranglehold on the platform.

EGS wants money! They are motivated to get more money! But the thing they are offering is breaking up that stranglehold and actually offer devs a more equitable option to lure them over. They will never eradicate Steam. They will never beat the App Store. But giving devs a better option, to give an option outside the monopoly is good.

A true statement: Fortnite is a cash shop with a game attached that preys on children to make money.

A true statement: EGS’s disruption of the Business As Usual model of the games industry is good for devs, who have been crushed under the boots of publishers and platform holders for a long time.

[spellscarred]

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH GAMES

So here’s a list of games that help me get through bad days, whether it’s just being out of spoons, or being triggered, or just needing to not think for a hot second, it doesn’t matter. I’ll make sure to tell you why they might appeal, because not every game will work for every mood/situation.

STARDEW VALLEY [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 / SWITCH / IOS / ANDROID ] — of course, this is the ultimate good mental health game. It’s very relaxing, it’s involved enough that you can focus on it without having to do anything intensive. You can play at your own pace, and you can even play with a friend, if you need that extra support.

GRAVEYARD KEEPER [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 / SWITCH / IOS / ANDROID ] — this game is here for the same reason as stardew valley, but with an entirely different vibe. You play a man from our time who’s mysteriously transported to medieval times, who has to run a graveyard to find his way back. If Stardew Valley is too soft and cutesy for you, you’ll like Graveyard Keeper’s more morbid twist on it. Steeped in dark humour.

NO MAN’S SKY [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 ] — surely everyone’s heard of this game from its disastrous launch back in 2016. Since then, Hello Games has worked tirelessly to bring existing and new players free updates and turn it into the game that they’d promised from the start. I’d say they’ve delivered. This game is vast, with plenty to do, plenty to see; you can get lost exploring planet after planet, learning more about the other civilisations that inhabit the galaxies (yes, plural), trading, hunting pirates, raiding freighters, owning freighters, base building, playing with friends... This game can initially be very overwhelming, but the key to this game is to just focus on one thing at a time.

ASTRONEER [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 ] — if No Man’s Sky is too vast for you, then you might want to try your hand at Astroneer. It’s a lot more contained, much more stylised, and since there’s less content, it’s a lot harder to lose yourself in how much there is to actually do and thus get overwhelmed. Just a fun, lowkey planetary exploration game with cartoon-y graphics. Also with co-op options.

CITIES: SKYLINES [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 / SWITCH ] — if you’re looking for something to just relax with but still get the sense you’re doing something productive, then you might want to try your hand at Cities: Skylines. The goal is to make a functional city, down to managing the flow of traffic and meeting the zoning demands of your citizens, et cetera. It’s easy to pour a few hours into this once you get the hang of it. Of course, you can also go the Sims route and just give yourself infinite money to design a city to your wishes.

JURASSIC WORLD EVOLUTION [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 ] — so this is like the old Zoo Tycoon, if the animals were large long-extinct creatures that have a habit of breaking out of their habitats if sufficiently agitated. There’s two ways you can play the game; you can follow the story line, which slowly seeks to reclaim the islands lost in the Jurassic Park trilogy, right down to wrangling the now wild dinosaurs roaming the islands and turning the GenSec bases into functional parks. Or, once you get a 4 star rating on Isla Matanceros, you go sandbox mode on Isla Nublar, which provides you with ample space and neigh unlimited money to go wild on.

BORDERLANDS 2 [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 / IOS / ANDROID ] — if you’re more into shoot and loot, you’ll find Borderlands 2 (and the Borderlands franchise in and of itself) quite satisfying. I recommend BL2 especially because while it’s dated, its graphics and gameplay still holds up, it’s on older gen consoles as well, and its price tag is a lot less costly than immediately going for Borderlands 3. The game’s funny, it doesn’t really require you to think a lot, and it’s just great fun shooting AI in the face and blowing things up. Even if you’re self-reportedly ‘bad at FPS’, there’s no expectations where Borderlands 2 is concerned. Just sorta aim and shoot, no doubt something will die and give you a shiny prize for it. Endorphines galore.

SPORE [ PC ] — disclaimer, Spore is great up to a certain point, and after that it becomes absolute garbage. Most people agree that the microbial and creature stages of Spore are absolutely fantastic and there’s some whacky fun to be had creating ridiculous-looking creatures and getting them to survive in the direction you’ve decided to take them. Generally, after the Creature Stage comes the Civilisation Stage, which is about the time I restart the game, which is a pity. The longest stage, which is the Space Stage, is arguably also the worst stage. But it’s cheap, and the first two stages are really just that iconic.

TWO POINT HOSPITAL [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 / SWITCH ] — if you’re like me and you’ve been playing video games on PC for 25 years, surely you’ll remember a little game called Theme Hospital. The weirdest, most ridiculous hospital simulation game ever created. This is that, but from 2018, opposed to 1997. I’ve spent hours upon hours in Theme Hospital trying to save patients, make my layouts make sense, and keep people from littering everywhere, you heathens! In later levels, it can get pretty stressful, but particularly earlier levels, it’s just good ol’ fun.

THE SIMS 4 [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 ] — speaking of the Sims, the franchise is obviously the most well-known ‘I know I’m in a depression hole because I played for the past 21 hours and I haven’t eaten yet and I probably won’t shower for the next 5 days’ game. Granted, I list the Sims 4, but any iteration of the Sims works for this purpose. Just motherlode and go, my friends. Cure the emptiness by creating a house you’ll never be able to afford. (Personally I use it to create my characters from toddler and making them meet and kiss their SOs, but you know.)

PLANET ZOO [ PC ] — I likened Jurassic World Evolution to Zoo Tycoon but with dinosaurs. Planet Zoo is Zoo Tycoon on steroids. That’s it. Planet Zoo is incredibly robust and in-depth, but the idea is simple: manage a zoo, help animals get off the endangered species list, and release them into the wild where you can while keeping visitors happy and keeping your park clean (why are visitors in sim games always such terrible raccoons)! Go creative mode and just create a zoo to your own wishes with no constraints and you’ll have a great mental health game.

PLANET COASTER [ PC / XBOX1 / PS4 ] — if Planet Zoo is Zoo Tycoon on steroids, then Planet Coaster is Rollercoaster Tycoon on steroids (which, in turn, was a more robust version of 1994′s Theme Park, from the same devs as Theme Hospital mentioned above). Like with Planet Zoo, you make a theme park, create rides that kill people and desperately try to hold back the tide of litter that’ll inevitably happen. But really, just go creative mode and make rollercoasters with so much G-force that it’ll kill everyone that rides them.

RAFT [ PC ] — a co-op game set in an Earth enveloped by oceans, you’re essentially a scout on a raft and that raft will become your home as you build onto it. You go from island to island to collect materials, seeds for food and trees, and discover the lore of the world. Your only enemy is hunger, thirst, and the ever-present shark that really only wants to hug you with its teeth. It’s a friend. Promise.

So do you have any games that you think should be on this list? Games that help you get through days where it’s just really hard to be a person? Feel free to add onto this post. Just make sure you let people know the name, the platforms its available on, the general gist of the game, and why it helps you through tough days.

Enjoy your good mental health days and good luck on your bad mental health days, everyone. 💛

[alahmnat]

Safari 15's weird full circle

To say that the last few months since WWDC 2021 have been turbulent for the Safari dev team would be putting it mildly. Apple's intention to reimagine the way that users think about and use the web browser, announced back in June, landed with what could generously be called a damp thud. After months of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS betas, things have almost completely fallen back to where they were in May of this year as Apple's design collided headlong with user expectations.

At the heart of the redesign seemed to be an intention to treat the tab as more of a proxy icon than a document container. If you're unfamiliar with macOS, proxy icons are little icons in the titlebar of most document-based apps that "represent" the file within the file system. You can drag it from the titlebar into a folder in the Finder, for example, to move the document to that location without having to dig it up in a separate Finder window to copy/paste it. You can also command-click it to see the full path to the document's current location (the pop-up that appears is even functional, allowing you to open the file's containing folder in Finder by clicking on it). The design for Safari 15 seemed to be centered around treating website tabs the same way.

The initial implementation on iOS was a complete UX disaster, as Apple tried to cram two whole toolbars into the space of a single control that didn't even fill the whole page. The address bar, which was relocated to the bottom of the screen for ergonomic reasons, now had to pull double or even triple duty, and even the most common actions like reloading the page were tucked into a "•••" button's pop-up menu. Over the course of the iOS 15 beta, the address bar was gradually reverted back to its original purpose, and the bottom toolbar from iOS 14's Safari reappeared to hold controls like opening the tab overview, sharing content, and navigating between pages. For the most part, the only thing that's stuck around from the original design is the ability to use the address bar as a sort of Safari-specific Home Indicator, enabling you to quickly switch between tabs without having to open the tab overview screen. There's some extended functionality in the menu accessed by tapping on the left-most "button" in the address bar, but that's essentially it.

On the whole, where the iOS version has landed feels like the happiest middle ground between what Apple envisioned and what users needed and expected. It's hard to break the muscle memory of 14 years of reaching for the top of the screen to type a URL or search term, but on balance I think moving the address bar to the bottom and surfacing it as more of an actual tab works well and is a positive change. I even use the fast-switching swipe a lot more than I expected to, and it doesn't interfere or conflict with the system-wide Home Indicator as much as I worried it might. One minor added benefit of moving the address bar to the bottom is that you no longer have to tap twice at the top of the screen to scroll to the top of a page (once to un-collapse the address bar, and then again to actually execute the "go to top" action).

I think the "browser chrome adopts the theme color of the page" behavior that Safari 15 added is also the most effective on iOS, because it only applies to the top-most UI elements, and that's nothing but the notch area now. It's more of a mixed bag on the other platforms.

One change I'm still not a huge fan of is the decision to redesign the tab overview/tab switcher screen. Previously, it was a single column of, essentially, hanging file folder-like sheets, each with the name of the page and a close button. You could scroll the list vertically, and either swipe a tab left or hit its close button to remove it from the list. Now, Safari uses the same 2-up card design that every other browser seems to have standardized on, and honestly? I hate it. It breaks my mental model of where tabs are. Before, it just zoomed out slightly and dropped down while revealing the "rolodex" of other tabs. Now, it recedes back to a seemingly-random location, and it throws me off every. single. time. Additionally, it doesn't show as much of the important piece of information about a tab—the page title—while showing more of the less-important part IMO—the page itself. I never try to go back and identify tabs visually. The new tooltips in Safari and Chrome that show a page preview when you hover over a tab frankly drive me bonkers, because the page preview appears above the title, which is what I'm actually trying to get at. My brain keys off of the title of the page, and now that's a lot harder to do.

(There's also the new minor annoyance of the "new tab" button being on the exact opposite side of the screen from the tab overview button, because the center is now being used for the tab group switcher.)

Another issue I have with Safari 15 on iDevices is that the extensions implementation feels sort of half-baked. On iOS, extensions are always automatically crammed into the already-crowded left-hand pop-up menu accessible from the address bar's "Aa" button. The more you add, the longer that menu gets, and there's seemingly no way of organizing it. It also adds an "extensions" puzzle-piece icon to the address bar, which shares a touch region with the button beside it. On iPadOS, you can have up to two extensions add their own icons to the address bar (not the toolbar for some reason, though). They're very small and very fiddly. As soon as you add a third extension that wants to add an address bar button, though, everything collapses down into the same sort of lengthy over-crowded pop-over many as on iOS, represented by a puzzle piece and a counter showing the number of active extensions. Again, this extensions icon shares its touch region with the "•••" button beside it, instead of acting as its own menu (there's space to do that!). I feel like either some mid-cycle release or Safari 16 needs to really focus on improving the extensions experience, because right now everything from activating them to using them is a bit of a chore if they do anything besides sit in the background and wait for a trigger to fire. (Also, as an app-specific aside, 1Password's new Mobile Safari extension won't let me use TouchID or FaceID to log into it. I have to type my master password in on a regular basis, which sucks no matter where I have to do it because it's a fairly lengthy passphrase. But it definitely sucks a lot more on iDevices than on a Mac, and the Mac's extension lets you use bio-auth!)

On iPadOS and macOS, the story has, in some ways, been a lot weirder. On those platforms, Apple unified the address bar with the idea of a tab, such that they functioned as the same control. Clicking on a tab to select it would expand it to show the page's URL (rather than its title), and then you could change the address from there.

I can at least understand the intention behind this move. Since the beginning, browser tabs have had a … complicated relationship with the concept of vertical UI hierarchy, where controls affect the things that are visually beneath them. Tabs used to sit beneath the global toolbar(s) of the browser, and yet those global toolbars (or at least the address bar) were affected by what tab you had selected. Most browsers have landed on a "tabs on top" design, but Apple's attempt at that with Safari 4 was walked back before final release. I think it could have worked if they hadn't glued the tabs directly to the top of the window, instead leaving some space for a tab container—and thereby a space to be able to grab the window without also grabbing a tab and activating the tab-dragging behavior—but alas.

By unifying the tab bar with the address bar at the top of the page, I think Apple was trying to address this weird UI hierarchy issue in a different way, by treating the tab as a document's proxy object, and not having the rest of the browser's chrome have a weird association with what was technically a parent container located beneath it. Having the browser window adopt the theme color of the site you were on also served as a way to further enhance the notion that the chrome was in service to the current page. Of course, because web pages are more dynamic than documents, it needed to pull double-duty as a proxy and as the place you went to change what that proxy was associated with, and there has never been a time in human history when arbitrarily adopting colors into a window background didn't also potentially negatively impact usability (but I'll get to that).

Unfortunately, I don't think this idea quite worked out. In practice, it suffered from several problems. First, because your address bar was now also a tab, switching tabs meant moving where the address bar was located, as well as where all of the address bar's controls were located. After spending some time with the design, I feel like I was able to adapt to it fairly quickly, but it certainly took a lot of getting used to (the biggest issue was always reaching for the reload button on the right side of the window, instead of its new default position: hidden on the right side of the active address bar; I eventually dragged the reload button control itself up onto the right side of the toolbar just so I wouldn't have to change course mid-motion as I remembered where it was supposed to be, but that's never really a good sign for your UX).

Second, because the address bar was now sharing space with your open tabs, it meant that both got less breathing room than before. While on Safari 14 you could have a dozen or more tabs visible in the tab bar at once, Safari 15's new design cut that down to just 5 or 6 because so much of the area needs to be dedicated to the expanded address bar of the active tab. And if you did only have a couple of tabs open, the tabs and the active tab's address bar were both weirdly constrained to an awkwardly-small maximum width, instead of being allowed to take up the full space between other controls on its left and right. As you added more tabs, the bar would eventually fill and start to overflow, but for small numbers of tabs it always felt extremely awkward and unbalanced. Again, in Safari 14, if you only have one tab open, it fills the entire tab bar, while having two tabs open means they're both 50% of the window width.

Third, because the tab bar was now in the same space as the rest of the browser's toolbar buttons, it even further constrained the amount of space available to tabs. Because you can't add new toolbar rows, there was no way to designate a whole horizontal space just for tabs to live in. And if you take Apple up on their offer of installing a bunch of browser extensions? Well then you've got even more icons that are taking up valuable tab space (I currently have 7 extension buttons in my toolbar, and that's after having pared it down from what you get by default when activating every extension I have installed; there are 10 extension buttons in the "customize toolbar" UI). Even this would be something that I could mitigate with shortcuts, context menu actions, and share sheet destinations, but not every extension supports those endpoints, and there's no way to tell Safari to put certain icons in an overflow element the way you can in Firefox and Chrome.

Fourth, there's the close button, which was moved to hide underneath the favicon until you moused over it. This seems like a good idea until you think about it, and while I seem to have been more successful in avoiding the pitfall of closing a tab by clicking on its icon more reliably than folks like John Gruber, I did still do it occasionally, and that sucked. I noticed that in 15.1 they've now separated those elements, at least in "separate" tab bar mode.

Fifth, there's the issue of pinned tabs. Pinned tabs are nice because they take up a minimal amount of space while maintaining permanent quick access to the page they contain. However, in "compact" mode, clicking on a pinned tab expands it out to the size of a regular active tab, because it needs to provide access to the address bar. I feel like this was an awkward decision, since a pinned tab is locked to a specific domain—any links you follow that would take you to another site are opened in a new tab—and if you really needed to get to the URL or close the tab, you could unpin it first. Expanding a pinned tab just like it was a regular one always felt awkward, and it messed with the positioning of the actual tabs in the tab container something fierce. Which brings me to...

The tab bar just… didn't work very well as a UI control. Clicking on a tab that was at the edge of the visible set would sometimes work as expected (that tab would become active), but sometimes it would just scroll the tab bar to the left or right by a seemingly-arbitrary amount, causing me to lose the tab I was looking for in the shuffle. And sometimes even clicking on a fully-visible tab that was just to the side of one that had started scrolling off would select tabs adjacent to it instead. It was just a buggy mess sometimes.

Additionally, by default Safari also adopted the theme color of the website you were viewing, either as explicitly defined by the site owner, or as inferred by Safari from the page's top-most content region (usually a navigation bar or header). The thing is, unlike on iOS, there's a lot of chrome up there, and there are color choices that can and will interfere with the application's buttons. In fact, Safari refuses to adopt certain colors because they would interfere with the "traffic light" window controls at the top left. I don't know if it also does the same for the other toolbar buttons, since extension icons are tinted with the OS's chosen highlight color, but it doesn't take a terrible amount of effort to render the UI a difficult-to-read mess, and switching between tabs can be a bit jarring as the color of the window flips across all kinds of different colors.

The one thing that didn't actually bother me at all was something I saw a lot of people complaining about throughout the beta: the active tab no longer displayed the page's title unless you hovered over it. Personally, I didn't find this to be a huge issue. I'm rarely looking at a page and finding myself thinking "what page am I on again?" in a way that requires me to look back up at the tab (besides, my tab bar is always so full that names are super-truncated anyway). What I do use the page title for, as I've mentioned, is finding pages in my background tabs by name. And in that case, the compact tab bar was no better or worse than Safari 14. It just had the issue of there not being as much space for the tabs to exist in, so it required a lot more scrolling around. But aside from the occasional bugginess of actual tab selection, I rarely had problems keeping track of where my tabs were. I do still miss the title-only overflow menu in older versions of Safari, but I think the scrolling bar is more functional at maintaining the "geography" of your tab layout. I just wish I could, like, pull up a full list of open tabs somewhere without activating the RAM- and processor-intensive tab overview screen, which always caused my laptop fans to spin up to takeoff speed while it tried to chug through re-cacheing thumbnails for every tab I hadn't accessed in a while (or since the last browser restart). It wasn't great for the network either, and sometimes created "you're flooding the site with requests, please stop" messages if I had too many pages from a particular site open. But, Safari 15 does at least seem to be more intelligent in its re-cacheing, if it's even doing any at all, since I haven't really encountered that problem since upgrading.

After initially only providing this new "compact" view in the first betas, Apple semi-relented and gave users the option to revert to a "separate" tab bar. Unfortunately, they tried sticking to their guns in terms of the design of the tabs themselves, which looked a lot more like text fields than labeled tabs. In fact, I eventually went back to the compact design because I kept trying to click on the tab itself to select the address anyway, so I figured I might as well just stick with the design where I don't look like an idiot for trying that. Famously, this also created a massive legibility issue because it was basically impossible to tell which tab was active. The unselected tabs were a slightly darker shade than the rest of the chrome, and the selected tab was a slightly lighter shade. If you only had two tabs open, good luck remembering that, though. Both appearances could be read as both "active" and "background" depending on how you thought about it. At least two different people built browser extension apps that would indicate within the page content which tab was actually active by underlining it, that's how bad it got.

Now, as of Safari 15.1, the "separate" tab bar is back to its previous Safari 14-era appearance. The only difference is that the "new tab" button has been relocated from the tab bar to the toolbar, which is a weird flex, but ok. On top of that, the option to tint the window to match the page has been removed entirely if you use the separate tab bar, and it's off by default if you use the compact view. It's been such a long, weird road that's ended essentially right back where we started.

I will say, after all of that, that the other banner feature in Safari 15, tab groups, is also considerably more useful than I had expected it to be. It does slightly contribute to my habit of keeping too many tabs open, but at least now they're sort of organized without having to resort to terrible systems like "sort by domain" or "manually keep all of the tabs for X in this window".

[nonspace]

moving to nonspace.dev

I am moving from nonspace.io to nonspace.dev. There shouldn’t be too many links breaking and I am still waiting for the redirect from the old domain to work so don’t be alarmed if you see the page not working. The old domain will expire in September.

So why the move?

[Some background on the .io (and .dev) domain: The .io domain stands for the “British Indean Ocean Territory” and has become pretty popular to use for anything tech related because of it’s input/output reference. In contrast, .dev is a “Top-Level Domain” like .com (companies) and .edu (education).]

I saw the relatively new .dev domain offered on my domain name registrar and after a quick google search of .io vs .dev domains and who commonly uses them I in turn learned about who really profits off it (UK Government) rather than the people living there (or well -- no longer living there) like with other commonly used country domains like .tv.

Why is this? Colonialism. There is no permanent inhabitants after the “UK forcibly deported the Chagossians (the people living there) 50 years ago” (source) to let the U.S. build a military base. Yeah..

In the 1960s, the U.S. decided it wanted a military base in the Indian Ocean, and it asked the British to provide unpopulated land. The U.K. dutifully detached the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, which was about to become independent, created the “British Indian Ocean Territory” and in 1966 granted the U.S. a 50-year lease to the Diego Garcia atoll, where a military base was constructed. That facility would decades later become central to the “War on Terror” as a bomber base and secret CIA prison. (source)

In 2019 the UN demanded that the UK decolonise and return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius asap (source) but the UK ignored the deadline (source). As of July 2020 from what I’ve been able to find still nothing has happened aside from a symbolic gesture of the UN marking the islands as Mauritian territory on a UN world map. (source)

That’s not something I want to be supporting and regret that I ever did to begin with. I should have done more research when I bought the domain, really. I’ll be donating a (at least) matching amount to what I spent on the domain to the UK Chagos Support Association to support the Chagossians instead and move this site to .dev.

Sources & further reading:

https://www.chagossupport.org.uk/chagos-in-five-minutes

https://medium.com/windmill-engineering/dev-is-a-better-io-why-we-moved-to-tilt-dev-9fc8321693d3

https://gigaom.com/2014/06/30/the-dark-side-of-io-how-the-u-k-is-making-web-domain-profits-from-a-shady-cold-war-land-deal/

https://cointelegraph.com/news/islanders-demand-return-of-io-domain-from-colonizers

https://www.chagossupport.org.uk/blog

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200626-chagos-a-long-wait-for-mauritius-until-uk-leaves

Support

https://www.chagossupport.org.uk/