4 min read
The Most Difficult Thing I've Ever Done - Starting a Company
Years ago I wrote that finishing a book was the hardest thing I'd ever done. Starting a company has taken the title, and it's hard in a different way.
All Posts
43 posts, newest first.
2026
2020
8 min read
Effect of Swift Extension and Libraries On Build Time
Does separating code into extra extensions and/or modules have a meaningful impact on compile times?
9 min read
Developing an Algorithm Case Study: Area encircled by multiple paths on a 2D plane
While toying around with an app idea I came across the need to develop my own algorithm and therefore return to Data Structures and Algorithms techniques I learned in college. Here is the problem, my process, and my solution.
2019
1 min read
JSON Encoder Change in Swift 5.1
While updating my app for the iOS 13 SDK, I came across a change in JSONEncoder that broke some of the logic in my code. It now supports encoding top-level values.
1 min read
Swift Quiz – Boolean Expression
What is the value of result after doing: let result = false && true || true
2 min read
Careful with Fancy KVO Callback
Be warned: there may be a bug in the fancier version of Key Value Observering. I discovered it while implementing a progress callback in my Decree web request library.
4 min read
Singletons and Shared Instances in Swift
A couple very common programming patterns, especially in the Apple world, are Singleton and Shared Instance. People often confuse the two and there's also controversy around them. Let's clear these things up.
8 min read
Keyboard Field Prompt
I walk through how I solved the question: How do I display a text field directly above the keyboard to prompt the user for some text?
2 min read
Decree – A Declarative URL Request Framework
Decree allows you to make HTTP requests in a clear and type-safe way by declaring web services and endpoints. It supports all Apple platforms as well as Linux. It is the culmination of a technique I've developed over many projects. Some of those projects even include both a frontend and backend implemented in Swift that get to share a single source of endpoint declarations.
3 min read
A Lesson From Nature: Complexity from Simplicity
I recently came across a video showing an “Amazing Crabs Shell Exchange” and realized that it was a perfect example from nature of how seemingly complex (or “amazing”) behavior can emerge from simple governing desires. This is directly applicable to programming. Lets explore how.
2017
11 min read
App Case Study - Love Laugh Read Books
A look at the interesting technical challenges I ran into while developing this app.
15 min read
5 Core iOS Competencies to Be a Great Hire
A list of core skills that are necessary in almost every app. If you can do all of these things reliably, you are well on your way to being a great hire as an iOS developer
18 min read
Deploying Server-Side Swift
There are many ways you could choose to host a Swift website or web service, but here I share what has worked well for me.
18 min read
Deploying Server-Side Swift
There are many ways you could choose to host a Swift website or web service, but here I share what has worked well for me.
11 min read
5 Core Swift Competencies Before You Get a Job
A list of skills, beyond just the ability to get the job done, every Swift developer should know before they get paid to develop.
7 min read
Filling Holes in Swift on Linux
The hardest part of developing Server-Side Swift is the incomplete nature of Foundation including some pretty critical basic functionality. After I thought up this technique, the problems I ran into changed from mountains to mole hills.
4 min read
Learning Swift, Server-Side Swift, and the Future
I have been extremely busy so I haven't made the time to write any blog posts. In this post I give a brief overview of what I have been up to and what are my short-term plans for the future.
2016
14 min read
The Most Difficult Thing I've Ever Done - Writing a Technical Book
An in-depth discussion of my experience writing a technical book about learning Swift.
2014
1 min read
Practical Use for Curried Functions in Swift
An practical example of how curried functions in Swift can be useful for implementing a logger
8 min read
Swift KVO Substitute: Observable Variables
My attempt to implement a KVO replacement purely in Swift
5 min read
Getting Started With Swift
A list of key concepts to know when getting started with Swift and links to resources to stay current with its development.
3 min read
Uses for Implicitly Unwrapped Optionals in Swift
A list with concrete examples of when and when not to use Implicitly Unwrapped Optionals in Swift.
9 min read
7 Cool Features in Swift
Concrete examples for some cool and practical new features in Swift that will improve the daily lives of iOS and OS X programmers.
1 min read
Swift’s Weird Handling of Basic Value Types and AnyObject
Basic value types like String and Int can be secretly converted to Objective-C types like NSString and NSNumber. This has some interesting effects and implications.
2 min read
Better UIAlert Handling and Easier Testing
A more declarative and testable way to display alerts in iOS.
2 min read
Testing Asynchronous Code in Objective-C
Testing asynchronous code in Objective-C can be a real pain unless you make one simple change to the way you program it in the first place.
6 min read
Be A Better Indie - 5. Listen to Podcasts
A list with descriptions of the main podcasts that have made me a better developer and keep me informed.
2 min read
Be A Better Indie - 4. Create a Singular To-Do List
The way that I handle my to-do list so that I stay on task with minimal effort.
1 min read
Devise: determine unconfirmed, confirmed, or not signed in user
While developing a Rails backend using Devise for user management, I ran into trouble determining a user's status. This is how I solved that problem.
2 min read
Be A Better Indie - 3. Trim Your Incoming Email
I hate being constantly distracted by incoming emails. To solve this problem I decided to drastically reduce the amount of emails I receive. This is how I did that.
3 min read
Be A Better Indie - 2. Accept, appreciate, and, channel the stress
Being and independent developer can be extremely stressful. It is important that you learn to accept, appreciate, and channel to turn it into something positive.
1 min read
10 Ways to Be a Better Independent Developer
A series of posts about how to be a better independent developer
3 min read
Be A Better Indie - 1. Cultivate A Support Structure
No person is an island. It is virtually impossible to be successful in anything that you do without having a good support structure around you.
2013
4 min read
Comfortably Uncomfortable
A look at how pushing through discomfort is exactly where I want to be.
2 min read
Changes at a Glance
A system to make version control change sets more understandable at a glance.
2 min read
Implicit Animation for CAShapeLayer's Path
A way to make all path changes on a CAShapeLayer be animated automatically.
3 min read
Enforce Good UX Through Reusable Code
My theory on how user experience's and code architecture's interests can converge. Good UX can encourage good code reuse and code reuse can encourage effective UX.
1 min read
Bind a UITableView to a Property
A library to allow binding a UITableView directly to a to-many property. The library automatically handles insertions and deletions as long as you make sure the to-many property emits KVO notifications.
5 min read
The 2 Biggest Challenges in Speech UX
Speech is still a relatively new interface. Technology is finally starting to catch up to the dreams that we've had since the invention of the computer itself: dreams of having natural conversations…
3 min read
Objective-C Bindings
An extension to NSObject that adds the allows binding the properties of two different objects together, allowing for much more declarative and understandable code.
3 min read
Taking the Plunge
How I came to the decision to finally take the plunge and go independent.
4 min read
UX and Agile
Discusses a high level way that we can integrate UX designers better into Agile software practices.