ToDo iPhone App

By Steve | Published: 02/17/2010

If you read my last post, you are probably wondering if I read my last post. Well, the Big Idea hasn’t come to me yet. So, I’ve decided to reinvent an app category that has left me wanting more. I introduce to you, a new To-Do app. Stay tuned.
App Wireframe

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App Ideas?

By Steve | Published: 02/17/2010

So you start learning how to code an iPhone application… then you want to test your skills. What type of app should I make? What is my big idea?

Then you discover that most every app you think up has already been done. Go ahead, look at Apple’s App Store. Done, done, yeah, it’s already been done.

Categories include:

  • Books
  • Business
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Games
  • Healthcare & Fitness
  • Lifestyle
  • Medical
  • Music
  • Navigation
  • News
  • Photography
  • Productivity
  • Reference
  • Social Networking
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Utilities
  • Weather

Of course, you can always reinvent something that’s already been done — but you have to be sure it truly is better. Until I come up with that unique idea…

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My First Cocoa Application

By Steve | Published: 02/16/2010

It’s been a long road… already. Jumping into Cocoa/iPhone development with only Processing (Java) under my belt was a bit of a wakeup call. I forced myself to get a more sound programming foundation by watching nearly 30 hours of lecture. Stanford University’s Programming Methodology (CS106A) is highly recommended to others also looking for a stronger programming foundation. From there, I worked my way through The C Programming Language by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie — doing just about every coding exercise. Then I read Apple’s The Objective-C Programming Language. And finally, my first cocoa application based on Chapter 2 of Cocoa® Programming for Mac® OS X, Third Edition by Aaron Hillegass.

RandomAppRandom Number

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Equipment Room SMS Rental System

By Steve | Published: 02/04/2010

In the first step of many, I have a basic SMS rental system functioning.

To test the system text the following to 41-411:
itper checkout A1534

This follows the syntax required by the TextMarks.com service of using the 41411 shortcode for their system, followed by my registered keyword “itper” followed by an internal keyword (either “checkout” or “return” and finally the serial number identifying the equipment you are checking out.

How does this work?
The TextMarks.com service allows a text sent by anyone with the above syntax to ping a custom PHP page I’ve coded. The custom page records the sender’s phone number, text message, and timestamps the record as well. Then the script can recognize whether or not you’ve entered “checkout” or “return” and it sends a confirmation back to the sender.

How to make it better?
I’m going to continue developing this system to improve my PHP and mySQL skills. As a result of texting the “checkout” or “return” commands I would like a record in a separate database table to keep track of who has each piece of equipment checked out, as well as when it is due back. The due back date should then be sent with the confirmation after a ITP student checks out a piece of equipment.

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ITP-centric SMS-based Application

By Steve | Published: 01/23/2010

Charged with creating an SMS-based system to benefit the ITP community, I would have to suggest an SMS-enabled check-in/check-out system for equipment room rentals. Too many times a single person working the ER is overwhelmed by an onslaught of fellow ITP’ers. This system would reduce the ER-worker’s job to retrieving the items from the shelves. Then, the student checking out the item would send an SMS text to a defined short code with the item’s identification number in the body of the text. The text would hit the ER system and know what student checked out what item. Additionally, the system could then SMS back with a confirmation and the “due back” date.

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