iPone Application: MoveMe (continued)

Finally, I finished my build of MoveMe application from scratch. That's the first demo application for beginner developers. I thought it is better if I build this application by myself. I added one piece by one piece. That's quite good experience. Since Object-C is new for me, it takes some time to gain experience.

Xcode is Microsfot VS like IDE. It is hard to compare two. My first impression is good. IB (Interface Builder) is something like .Net's new Expression Blend. As its name description, it is use for UI design and link UI components, actions(for events) to class codes. At first, I did not have any clue how to use it. I thought these connections or linking must be done through IB's UI such as property, tab or dropdown list. However, when I tried to link MoveMeView class to a component in IB's outlet, I was lost. Finally, by watching some YouTube demos on IB, I figured out the linking is done through drag with Control key and drop. It's quite innovative way. I have to understand IB or Mac's way to do it.

The second lesson I learned is that parameter names in a method has to be matched if it is a delegate method. For example, when I typed in the codes for MoveMeView.m codes, I missed i in the animation delegate method's parameter name "finished":

-(void) animationDidStop:(CAAnimation *) theAnimation finshed:(BOOL) flag

As a result, the animation of MoveMe button only works at the start and then no respond after I moved it. Finally, I found the mis-typing error. It is the signature of method not matched. In Objective-C, you can call a method on object that may not defined. It would not generate an error or cause compiling error. It is OK. That's very nice. However, it may cause some very hard find bug. After I corrected my mistake, the application finds it's matched animation delegate method, and works fine. The bug caused my animation never stopping.

Another good lesson I learned is the Frameworks in Xcode project. It is similar .Net project's References. Since I created a new iPhone project in Xcode from scratch. Xcode did not add animation framework class QuartzCore.framework, which is used in MoveMe example project. I typed in codes in MoveMeView.m file. It includes the QuartzCore's header files like this:

#import <QuartzCore/QuartzCore.h>

and when I typed animation class names and methods, Xcode does show them in intellisense. However, when I compile the application. I got some errors about references not found in xxx.o. I was confused and there was not further indication where in the codes where the error is. Eventually, I realized that it is the library files missing. I have to include animation's library into the build file. In Xcode, all the libraries are under Frameworks folder in the project.

It has been very productive period for me. I got my built MoveMe working. There are some similarities between Objective-C and .Net C#. With my knowledge and experience in .Net C#, it is not so hard to understand Objective-C. However, Objective-C does have its unique features and power. I would like to continue to learn it and to develop applications.