Standards & Conventions

nhgrif

00:29

medium.com/swift-programming/… swift-is-magic

nhgrif

01:03

39

Q: Shielding your CodeReview on GitHub

In response to a feature-request on meta, I spent a few hours today creating the feature in php. This application adds a review shield to your GitHub repository (or wherever else you want it). It looks like the following: To use it, use standard image/link markdown, like this: [![Code Revie...

This is cool.

Simon André Forsberg

10:47

@nhgrif Thanks. There's a small bug in it with regards to caching, but I will fix that soon-ish.

CodeX

Monking @SimonAndréForsberg

How are you Simon?

@SimonAndréForsberg For someone that doesn't code in PHP much that is some beautiful code

Simon André Forsberg

thanks

I'm doing well. Hopeful that the chat-storm of the past few days will calm down.

CodeX

Yeah it will and it will be a better place

@SimonAndréForsberg You might want to use PHP filter on your GET like this filter_input(INPUT_GET, 'qid', FILTER_SANITIZE_SPECIAL_CHARS);

$qid = filter_input(INPUT_GET, 'qid', FILTER_SANITIZE_SPECIAL_CHARS);

Just for some added security

Im not sure if it matters for what your doing though

Simon André Forsberg

I was not aware of that

could you add it as a comment to my question?

Some day I'll read through all the comments and answers on the question and see what I should do to improve it

CodeX

I could but i'm having problems with this community so im just in here for now

Its safer

Simon André Forsberg

10:58

I promise you, we don't bite.

CodeX

Unfortunately some do..

Do you remember me @SimonAndréForsberg ?

I joined 2nd monitor about a year ago.. used to visit regularly and try my best to join in discussions.. I'm the annoying PHP guy

You guys helped me massively

Simon André Forsberg

I do remember your username

Despite how you're feeling, it's good to have you back.

Always nice to see people return to CR.

CodeX

Thanks a lot, CR is a beautiful place with amazing helpful talented people like yourself

CodeX

11:14

@SimonAndréForsberg I added my comment, hopefully its ok.

Simon André Forsberg

thanks

nhgrif

15:11

metakite.com/blog/2015/07/my-delivery-truck

CodeX

15:23

An app is just like any other product, it needs to be marketed as such, you can't rely on the delivery system to "push" your app unless of course your paying for that service ;)

apps like FreeMyApps is killing the app store anyway, they really need to rework their ratings / download system

nhgrif

What is FreeMyApps?

CodeX

Its only for america but allows users to download apps to build credits which convert to cash / itunes vouchers

nhgrif

How does that kill the iOS App Store? If anything, that would help it.

CodeX

It messes with the download stats because a lot of the apps are sub standard

Just found this old beast

Seems like i forgot to make backups though so the parts that actually matter are not working anymore

nhgrif

I don't know... Are that many people doing this service to get free apps, really?

That it would drastically effect download numbers...

CodeX

15:31

Yes, its extremely popular in america

i would say 10's of thousands

And its not the only app doing it

Hand written list system with pagination / sortable / limit / custom controls

nhgrif

10s of thousands isn't that many. But I don't see how that's a problem still...

The real problem with the App Store is that people don't want to pay for apps, and businesses aren't figuring out how to make money off people that don't want to pay for software without inundating them with ads.

I uninstall and that overload me with ads. I pay for apps that have value that last longer that a day.

People want to put out some knock off that they spent a month developing and get rich off it

And don't realize there are ten other apps out there already (and they are better funded)

CodeX

Which is why Apple were clever enough to make their apps difficult to sign off

nhgrif

What?

CodeX

I remember reading that apple were going to go through and remove apps that were not up to scratch

You can develop apps for iOS but you cannot compile them on wndows

nhgrif

I'm not sure how that's related exactly.

CodeX

15:38

It cuts down the amount of dodgy developments

Most of them are from china btw

I have experience a few

Youtube downloaders for example

nhgrif

Not by much... And most apps arent from China.

CodeX

Most of the dodgy ones

nhgrif

Perhaps. But don't download dodgy apps?

CodeX

The "made in a month, full of ads for profit" apps

Search for youtube video downloader and you will see lots of apps, most of which are built on the same code but renamed and resold for more profit

nhgrif

There are plenty of Anericans making those apps. Every college campus has a ton of kids who think they're going to individually get rich off the App Store.

CodeX

15:40

I bought a premium app for downloading youtube videos and within 2 months it re-appeared re branded and guess what... yep i had to purchase it again

nhgrif

The problem isn't that people are paying money for apps they shouldn't be paying for. Your problem you're describing isn't as big of an issue...

CodeX

Yes of course but im just saying in my experience i have noticed a lot of chinese apps

The problem is people are not buying apps that they feel are not worth the money

nhgrif

It happens, yes, but any app for downloading YouTube videos is automatically dodgy unless it is YouTube distributing it

Who or where it was developed is irrelevant

CodeX

Well maybe but at the time it was possible

I think it is now blocked

nhgrif

I didn't say it was impossible. I said it was dodgy.

And probably infringing copyright.

CodeX

15:43

Of course

nhgrif

You've paid for an app to steal from a quality website, essentially

Which is the problem.

CodeX

I can do that using my laptop..

The point is this.. Apps like this flood the market and lessen the opportunity for real apps that companies spend years developing

nhgrif

YouTube is an excellent site for watching tons of videos. They make 100% of their profit off the ads, which aren't even on every video, and are mostly skippable. It's an excellent service, but despite this high quality product, people cut into their profit by doing stuff like this.

CodeX

Im pretty sure Apple said they would remove most of these types of apps and restrict what gets in

nhgrif

For YouTube, it's not that big of a deal. They're obscenely profitable.

CodeX

15:45

If your a regular on youtube you'll know that a simple ad blocker will remove ALL ads

nhgrif

For a startup, the fact that no one wants to pay for anything on their phone (mostly) is devastating.

CodeX

Kids are doing this all the time to watch their fav youtubers

I have paid for a lot of apps

If the app serves a purpose and they can't get that type of app for free then im sure they would buy it

nhgrif

CodeX, as someone who wants to get paid writing software, I highly recommend you think about the people you are stealing money from when you do these sorts of things. "Other people do it" isn't an acceptable excuse.

CodeX

Relax

I don't make money off my software

In fact i do a lot of work for free for various members of my community

nhgrif

Do you want to be a professional software dev ever in your life?

Are you a student?

CodeX

15:49

I'm a 32yr old male under the care of a psychiatric team :/

No joke btw

nhgrif

Do you work? Do you ever intend to work?

CodeX

I code for fun and to keep busy

nhgrif

And if so, in what profession?

CodeX

I worked for 12 years in the jewellery industry

I was signed off in 2010 for my "issues"

less i say the better

nhgrif

So, how would you feel as a jeweler if your business started suffering because people were jewels they stole from your store and just freely got away with stealing them from your store?

Or if people just started expecting to get the jewels without paying?

CodeX

15:52

If you work hard you get paid usually but the digital market is volatile and a bit of a gamble

nhgrif

This is the scenario on the App Store. People tend to not want to pay for anything on their phone.

CodeX

Thats why business dont just rely on their app on the store but have other services like branding, web dev, advertising strategies

nhgrif

and if you're a startup or and Indy dev?

CodeX

Your gambling on a saturated market

nhgrif

How much do you think it costs to launch an app on the App Store?

CodeX

15:54

A lot of blood sweat and tears..?

nhgrif

Blood sweat and tears buys you advertising ?

CodeX

Whats the percentage for a successful app?

nhgrif

Blood sweat and tears pays your bills and puts food in you?

CodeX

If the end result is successful.. yes

Do you do Apps ONLY?

nhgrif

how do you get to the end result without eating and keeping bills & rent paid?

CodeX

15:56

I have an idea..

Do you build apps on request?

I know someone that wants an app made

nhgrif

In the job I just started, I am a full time iOS developer. My company does contract work. Businesses/individuals come to us with their app idea and their checkbook.

CodeX

Whats the average price YOU charge for an app?

Do you even do private work?

nhgrif

Me? As an individual? No. Contractually, I'm not allowed.

CodeX

Shame

how about the company then?

nhgrif

metova.com

CodeX

15:58

Prices?

Ahh i see

I send what i want and i get a quote.. is it a free quote?

any hidden fees?

nhgrif

Prices start at $10,000. I don't think that includes any real market research or advertising. That is purely the development price.

There are no hidden fees. Price is 100% up front and quote is probably free.

There are two popular quote types. One, you buy time. We get done what we can, under client's direction, in the time they can afford or want to buy.

CodeX

$10,000 .... WOW!

nhgrif

The other, you tell us your idea, we estimate time and price. Any features you want to add after that quote cost extra money/time.

CodeX

Roughly how many lines of code go into an app?

nhgrif

Depends. It's not a useful metric.

CodeX

16:02

How long does it take you to code an app then?

nhgrif

$10,000 almost certainly won't get you a full app. I think it only gets you a week, maybe two.

CodeX

How long does it take you to code an app? a month?

nhgrif

It depends on the app and the client. I'm in the middle of a ten week retainer. At the end of the ten weeks, the app may or may not be done.

But client is adding lots of features, etc. he got ten weeks, we do what we want and let him know how much we think each new feature is pushing out the completion.

If you are really serious, you are better getting in touch with our sales/marketing department. If they think your app won't be profitable, they will try to convince you of that and not take your business.

CodeX

For this particular person it is not about profit but about ease of access for end users

He is opening an internet radio station in July

nhgrif

There may be a conflict of interest....

CodeX

16:07

He was considering an app that has a player with links for various social platforms

rhythmradio.co.uk

I made the site

Waiting for a launch date to put on their

Its a wordpress site with a lot of customisations

Should be good fun when its all done

nhgrif

Yeah. He could certainly get in touch. We make nothing but excellent, high quality apps. Part of his price will also include web side work most likely... But you got to talk to sales/marketing. They will know everything.

CodeX

I'd make the app myself if i could compile it and get it in the app store

nhgrif

metova.com/contact

Be descriptive or it goes straight into the trash.

CodeX

I wont do it today but have bookmarked the site, ill talk with the guy whos running things

It will be interesting to see what they quote

bazola

hey guys

CodeX

16:13

@nhgrif If i drop a link to an image of what we are looking to achieve will that be ok?

hi @bazola

@bazola Is that you in the profile pic?

bazola

lol

not a farscape fan?

CodeX

Holy crap! Is that bondage man from "BDSM buddys 3"?

nhgrif

Sure, CodeX

CodeX

Ok thanks @nhgrif appreciate your help

Hi @YOGESH

nhgrif

Wait, drop the link where? In that form? I don't know. I want to be clear though...

CodeX

16:17

Yeah it would have to go in the form

nhgrif

The quote includes server side guys and professional designers.

CodeX

What i know for certain is that it would be an incredibly simple application in terms of content

I think the hardest part would be the stream player.. but then again..

You know Tune in Radio?

It will be on Tune In Radio when we launch

The website is mobile friendly already with its own pop up player

nhgrif

But keep in mind, it may be a conflict of interest for us.

CodeX

Yeah, its worth doing just to see what a professional says

@nhgrif codereview.stackexchange.com/a/95682/46720 What can i do to improve this answer

nhgrif

Give it some more plain English meat to explain the differences.

CodeX

16:29

Ok done thanks

@nhgrif I got targeted on CR (Downvoting old posts) by someone i never had a problem with.. Then i got told "its only personal if i let it be personal" when i tried to make a complaint..

Thats where the "I'm going to go and do something that involves alcohol, oxygen and shiny happy people holding hands.."

came from

Needed to go calm down

bazola

how do you know who down voted your old posts

CodeX

That is irrelevant..

bazola

well its anonymous, thats why i asked..

CodeX

Dont ask..

Wait.. is freedom of speech activated in this room?

nhgrif

16:46

That's not how the first amendment works...

CodeX

I live by one rule.. "Kill them.. Kill them all.."

nhgrif

But... Voting is anonymous. You can't know who voted how, and any personal vendettas are usually way outweighed by actual content-based votes

CodeX

@nhgrif Take my word that i know and that it was malicious

bazola

i thought that you could report serial down voting and get it reversed anyway

CodeX

Haha @bazola go and try that my friend

I got wrecked when i tried

i wish i could show you the convo

I'm not sure what it is about me people don't like..

I bet if i asked i would be enlightened pretty quickly though

Mmmmm Steak and beer tonight!

Gonna go back to reality, enjoy your weekend @all :)

nhgrif

17:03

The point is, I wouldn't worry about.

Just write good content and let the legit upvotes drown out any personal enemies you might have. You don't think I have people that don't like me on here? I'm on the verge of 15k though.

nhgrif

18:47

No, condensing code doesn't usually effect performance in any way whatsoever. There are tons of benefits to condensing your code though, so don't dismiss it as unimportant just because it doesn't address the lag you are seeing. — nhgrif 19 secs ago

Mast

19:25

@nhgrif

2

Q: Finger painting code

I have a very simple view that handles touch events and draws accordingly. It's nothing significant, but it does use a bit more CPU than I would like (35%). Again, it is the bare minimum (<90 lines), but I can't really think of a simpler way to draw using user input. What would you change? impor...

algorithm ios swift

Have fun ^^

nhgrif

19:52

I saw it

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Standards & Conventions