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Thoughts on Steve Jobs

A few links:

http://37signals.com/svn/posts/3021-steve-jobs-changed

Embedding an Objective C Framework in an Application

I hate computers, part n+1

Installing the new beta of Xcode 4.2 fixed yesterday’s issue. How is it that the beta is more stable than the current release?

I hate computers, part n of an ongoing series

I really just wanted to write a little bit of code tonight. Not a lot, and it could only barely be considered yak shaving …

So, several hours later, cut and paste from my stack overflow question – http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6893485/creating-the-hello-world-automator-action-in-osx-lion-yields-launch-path-not-ac:

I had a few automator actions developed under OSX 10.6, which successfully executed under automator without an issue. The binary products of these actions continues to work under OSX 10.7 (Lion), but compiling them from source fails.

In trying to debug this issue, I created the dirt simple “Hello, World” action, but it will not successfully execute in automator, both the ObjC and Applescript variant getting “launch path not accessible”, no matter where in the workflow they are placed.

The development path I have followed is:

  1. In XCode 4.1 (build 4B110, from the App Store), create a new project, and select Automator Action” as the type
  2. Set Output type to com.apple.cocoa.string
  3. Under the ObjC variant, change the runWithInput:error method to return @”Hello, World!” Under the AppleScript variant, change the runWithInput_fromAction_error_ method to return “Hello, World!”
  4. Compile the action via the run arrow
  5. Open the new action in finder via right click on the action under the Products group
  6. Double click on the action and let automator install it
  7. In automator, create a single item workflow (but have tried multi-item workflows) with the new action
  8. Execute the workflow via the run arrow and receive the “launch path not accessible” error

I have tried restarting xcode, restarting automator, removing my ~/Library/Automator directory after shutting down automator, and combinations of the above without change. At this point, however, I’m out of ideas.

Cleaned out the coat closet (home organization project 1 of n)

Final purge tally:

  • 13.5 pairs of unwearable, worn out shoes
  • 6 coats
  • 3 pairs of outgrown kid shoes
  • 3 sets of outgrown kid winter clothing
  • moved a decent amount of stuff into more long term storage (roller blades, gate)

I feel accomplished.

Going shopping – buying a second car, part 4

More progress.

Test drove the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge. Edge is out, the sight lines are no good. Why are some cars built to ensure that more sun goes into your eyes?

The Explorer is the current front runner, but the opening lease price was way more than we want to pay (especially compared to the price on a comparably priced Mazda), but Ford’s opening salvo has always stunk.

Next two on the list is Chevy and Kia.

Going shopping – buying a second car, part 3

Who knew that car dealers close at 5 on weekends? Discovering such at 4:30 on Saturday, plus a kid that naps from 1 to 3:30 meant only one dealer this weekend.

We’ve now driven the Mazda cx9, which I liked but Inna not so much, though she might try another test drive. Big, but with good brakes, tight turning radius, and good engine.

This week or weekend we will try the other 4 on the list. Hopefully we can negotiate in the next 2 weeks and end the saga.

Going shopping – buying a second car, part 2

So, 19 vehicles in the initial sweep. I did a little pruning and also selected 4 contenders for this weekend’s first pass.

We’ve eliminated Toyota from the list, just because of the recent history. We don’t want to buy from a company that is that blatantly evil in such recent memory.

I eliminated the Honda Pilot, its reviews say “poor braking performance”, which is likely my only non-negotiable point.

Minivans are looking unlikely, though we’ll look at a couple, because I do want 4WD/AWD, and only the Toyota Minivan has AWD as an option.

So, this weekend’s (optimistic) list:

  • Ford Explorer
  • Ford Edge
  • Subaru Tribeca (not likely, but the dealership is close to the house)
  • Chevy Traverse

Next round will likely include, pending reading more reviews:

  • Honda Odyseey
  • VW Touareg / Tiguan
  • Mazda CX9
  • Kia Sorento
  • (as well as this weekend’s spillover)

We may consider another minivan (Kia Sedona?, Chrysler Town and Country?). I also have Mazda 5 (small minivan, apparently) and GMC Terrain on the list, but we may or may not bother.

Going shopping – buying a second car, part 1

So, we need a second car. The current car (Mercury Mariner, small SUV) has a lease ending in November, and is a little too small, so this car will be the “big family car”. The whole point of this post is to start thinking about the major requirements for this car, so we can start test driving next week.

High level, here’s what I want:

  • More space, which means, roughly, mid-sized SUV or minivan
  • 4 wheel drive
  • leather seats (easier to clean than cloth)
  • memory seats
  • good brakes
  • bad parent package (DVD player and video screens)
  • Bluetooth speakerphone
  • ipod hook up

Nice to have, but not necessary:

  • Good stereo system (i.e., ford sync or the like)
  • Navigation system

Next step is coming up with a list of cars to test drive next weekend.

Oh look, I wrote software – GIT repository management

So in my copious free time I am trying very hard not to let my software development muscles atrophy. My thinking goes as follows:

  1. Set up the computer to do development (development tools, etc)
  2. Pick an idea to develop
  3. Before I start implementing, I need to pick a language to develop with (Seven Languages in Seven Weeks), because Java is boring
  4. But I wonder what common practices are in use in these languages, I don’t want to be behind the curve (97 Things Every Programmer Should Know)
  5. Oh look, shiny (97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know)
  6. So now I need a source code repository to store the code I am eventually going to write
  7. But setting up a source code repo in git is manual and inelegant
  8. So I wrote a ruby script (see 3) to automate it for me

(The above is called Yak Shaving)

On the off chance my script is useful for anyone beyond me and in my setup, I put it on github (git://github.com/slandsman/GITManagement.git). I’m sure it needs work to be useful beyond me, so comments always welcome.

(I don’t really recommend the books from 4 and 5, by the way)