Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC • Hacker News Board

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#71

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 7:45 PM UTC

krevis wrote: post #60

eaten_by_a_grue wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using something like the Apple-provided CGLayer, you can draw the image once, then use it like a bitmap while it is in memory, AND they can keep it cached on the graphics card. These guys could easily produce code that does that. Reference: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#documentation/graph... (it works on iOS too)

In practice, CGLayer is not some pixie dust that magically makes your drawing fast. It helps only in a specific instance: when you are drawing repeated instances of the same content, into the same context. Otherwise, it ends up being extra complication for no benefit. (Note that CGLayer is not related to CALayer or CGTransparencyLayer -- they are absolutely separate things. CALayers are incredibly useful in practice;…

[deleted]

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#72

Post by unjinxable » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 8:36 PM UTC

This, while cool, just seems like the wrong way to go about things. I like this solution or something like it: https://github.com/mindbrix/UIImage-PDF

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#73

Post by thought_alarm » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 9:04 PM UTC

supar wrote: post #22

WMF anyone? Windows MetaFile contain(ed) serialized GDI graphic calls to generate the picture in a resolution independent way, while still working as a vector file format that other application could parse. Generating static ObjC seems like a dumb idea except in very specific cases.

PDF is actually serialized CG graphic calls. This app should produce PDF files rather than raw CG graphics code. Of course, there are lots of apps that can produce PDF.

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#74

Post by julien_p » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 9:06 PM UTC

aggarwalachal wrote: post #11

jaimzob wrote: post #8

Seems very cool, but as far as I can tell there's no trial version? $80 seems a bit much to lay out before you even find out if the thing works.

True. A trial version would be very nice. One thing I would like to see is being able to export these vector graphics to other formats.

Apparently a demo/trial is in the works https://twitter.com/#!/chockenberry/status/18033170184996045...

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#75

Post by nupark2 » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 10:27 PM UTC

chj wrote: post #35

I hope this idea is not patented, because I am developing a similar app.

Prior art (also mentioned elsewhere in the comments): http://likethought.com/opacity/

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#76

Post by acidblue » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 10:36 PM UTC

I bought the app 5 minutes after I read about it here on HN. I already dig what it is going to do for me. I don't plan on doing any major custom controls, but I do have a few ideas that will work awesomely with using this tool. I had just recently been struggling with some ddrawing operations. If this thing saves me a few hours of work and frustration, it is totally worth the measly $80. Amazing what you can do with a 2MB binary.

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#77

Post by Tloewald » Thu, Mar 15, 2012, 11:38 PM UTC

rbarooah wrote: post #52

Tloewald wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your PDF is going to be resolution independent and end up being used in much the same way as the code, so I'm to sure it's a significant difference. I do like the automated color derivation though.

Add a parameter or two to the generated code, then you'll see the difference,

Good point, although if you knew what you were doing with PDF ( which is, after all, itself written in a programming language... )

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#78

Post by st3fan » Fri, Mar 16, 2012, 1:55 AM UTC

revorad wrote: post #53

st3fan wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure what you are accusing Apple of ... This developer does have a choice you know. He could have made a trial available on his own site. Apple does not disallow that.

Choice is a funny word. When all the customers are going to the supermarket to buy their fresh veg, you can set up your own puny little stall in the alley, but guess what, no one's buying because they can't even find you . Apple does not allow you to sell iOS apps outside its app store, and there's every reason to believe they are pushing the desktop market in the same direction. Why wouldn't they?

There is always a choice. Currently on the homepage of Hacker News is a reference to http://caffeinatedapp.com/

Under the big Available on the Mac App Store button it says:

"Try before you buy!. 15 day trial version also available."

(You did see that this thread is about a Mac app right? Not about an iOS app. I do agree that the situation there is very different.)

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#79

Post by H_E_Pennypacker » Fri, Mar 16, 2012, 3:04 AM UTC

I've been waiting for someone to make something like this for OpenGL like, forever. Still no love :-(

Re: Vector based UI design tool that generates ObjC

#80

Post by eduardordm » Fri, Mar 16, 2012, 3:10 AM UTC

I bought the app and just came by to drop my 2 cents.

The good: It's great. I've been looking for something like that for a while. I wish XCode could do that. If you are a serious iOS developer you will love this tool. Very useful.

The bad: Some of the code cannot be easily used, specially if you need to manipulate positions in runtime. It should use relative positions, where 0 is "somewhere" within the object. The code generated may cause some UIViews to blur, sometimes you need to round x/y.

The ugly: The price is not aligned with apps at the same level of complexity.

Buy it.