iphone.mitchallen.com

Since the UITableView sample has been generating a lot of comments (and some frustration), I’ve posted an update compiled with the latest 3.x SDK:

http://mitchallen.com/iphone/archives/184

The update includes a link to a new sample that you can clone from github.

Tags: Git, UITableView

If you scroll to the bottom of my previous post you will notice that I’ve updated it with a new section:

Git Clone

If you have git installed, you can clone a copy of this project with the following command:

git clone git://github.com/mitchallen/TestGame.git

Going forward, I will attempt to post all sample code using git. Usually this means that it will come wrapped in a full Xcode project.

I have several reasons for using git:

• I don’t have to wrestle with creating a zip file and uploading it to some obscure server somewhere
• You don’t have to wrestle with downloading a zip file and expanding it somewhere
• You don’t need an account to copy my public repositories
• All you have to do is enter one line in a terminal window
• You instantly end up with a local copy of the repository that you can copy and branch any which way you like
• It forces you to think about source control
• If something is missing, I can just checkin new stuff and do a refresh
• If I hack an existing project, I can just add a branch instead of forcing you and I to deal with multiple projects

So if you still haven’t installed git on your Mac yet, I suggest you go back and read my post on the subject again.  Also if you have, you may want to read it again.  I’ve added a few more links and info on filtering out certain files to keep your repository from getting cluttered.

Tags: Git, github

Over the years I’ve worked with many source control management systems (CVS, SVN, SourceSafe, PerForce).   The problem is that they are oriented towards a central server.  Git on the other hand is a new and improved type of source control.  It can work with a server - in fact, it can work with many servers.  But it can also work with just your collaborators workstation across the hall – bypassing the need for a server completely.

If you are just working by yourself (as many iPhone developers are) you can run it on your local workstation – even without a network connection.  If later you want to make your repository available to others — or just create an offsite backup — you can either open up a share on your workstation or clone a repository to a server.

Instead of going into too much detail, I’m just going to provide links to resources for you to look at.  You can decide for yourself if it is right for you:

• Git Home Page
• http://progit.org/book/ - A free Web-based version of the book Pro Git.
• Pro Git on Apress – You can help the author of Pro Git out by buying a PDF or hard-copy.
• Git for OS X – This is what you’ll need to install it on your Mac.  In my case I had to make sure that I got the latest Intel / Leopard DMG file.
• Installing Git on Leopard – For the most part you will just want the Git for OS X installer – but see the notes on setting up your config.
• Gitx – GitX is a git GUI made for Mac OS X
• Heroku tips on Git – Heroku is a cloud-based host for Rails apps – but you may find some of the generic tips and links useful.
• Windows Installer – Why would an iPhone developer need a Windows installer?  It could make it easy to trade *.cpp files with your PC.  Plus you can use it for your other projects.  Git is platform independent.
• GitHub.com – Free hosting for your open source projects.  Paid options also available.
• Unfuddle - Also offers free hosting.  Unlike GitHub, the free plan can be private.

Installing on the Mac

When you download Git for OS X the DMG file should open up.  Launch the installer.

After installation completes, open up a terminal window and configure it via the command line (substitute your name and e-mail address):

git config --global user.name "John Doe"
git config --global user.email "john.doe@gmail.com"

When that is done type the following:

git config --list

Ignoring Files

On a PC, you would see several items listed.  On the Mac, apparently you have to set those yourself.  See the link Installing Git on Leopard for what other globals you have to set.  Be sure to configure the ability to use a .gitignore file for filtering what goes into the repository.

The link suggests that you put your .gitignore file in your user directory.  I prefer to put the file in the root of the project.  Yes, it is a hassle to always copy the file from project to project.  But it helps you make sure that whomever else downloads your repository has the right filter too.

So I would configure my globals like this:

git config --global core.excludesfile .gitignore

For iPhone SDK projects, here is what I have for a .gitignore file:

# xcode noise
build/*
*.xcclassmodel/*
*.pbxuser
*.mode1v3
*.mode2v3
*.perspectivev3
 
# old skool
.svn
 
# osx noise
.DS_Store
profile

Here is what I have for .gitattributes – which also sits in the root directory of the project:

.pbxproj -crlf -diff -merg

For more info, see these links:

http://shanesbrain.net/2008/7/9/using-xcode-with-git

http://rudifa.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/git-xcode-and-projectlocker/

Hidden Files

One thing to note is that when you create a local repository it goes into a subfolder called “.git” under your projects directory.  On Windows you can see this folder.  It’s hidden by default on the Mac.  The same is true for .gitignore and .gitattributes.  If you are in a Terminal window, you can view hidden files using the -A flag for ls.  Example:

apple$ ls -l -A

If you would like to be able to view hidden files and folders in Finder enter this line from a Terminal window:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

The hidden files won’t appear until you restart Finder.  For more info, see this link. (Note: their steps for restarting Finder didn’t work for me – I just rebooted).

Git Hosting

If you do decide to setup a Git server, it can be a bit of work.  To get around that problem at work I just use file shares.  The good thing about Git is that it can refer to a server based reposiory either via http:// or file:/// (example:  file:///\\mywinsever\git\myproject.git – note that there are three slashes after “file:” ).  If that makes no sense to you now, don’t worry.  It will once you come up to speed.

If you want to share your project with the world, hosts like GitHub.com and Unfuddle can also save you a lot of work.   These sites are new and suffer from a lack of documentation.  But if you don’t mind being on the bleeding edge you may find them useful.

Tags: Git

UPDATE 29-Apr-2010:

By popular demand, here is a git repository with an updated sample:

git clone git@github.com:mitchallen/TableSize2.git

Note that I have NOT updated the code in this post. Look at the repository for the new code. This new sample fixes two issues: missing IBOutlet and the deprecated setText method on the cell.

To see how it looks in “boxed” mode on the iPad, set the compiler to: Simulator – 3.2 | Debug.

Here is an example of how to create a view that contains a UITableView that doesn’t take over the whole screen.  An example of an application that uses a small table is the Stocks application that comes with the iPhone / iPod Touch.  You may think you need a UITableViewController – but that only gets in the way and takes over the view.

• Create a View-based iPhone application and call it TableSize1
• Modify TableSize1ViewController.h so that it looks like this:

TableSize1ViewController.h

//
//  TableSize1ViewController.h
//  TableSize1
//
//  Created by Mitchell Allen on 5/26/09.
//  Copyright __MyCompanyName__ 2009. All rights reserved.
//
 
#import 
 
@interface TableSize1ViewController : UIViewController {
 
	UITableView *tableView;
}
 
@property (retain, nonatomic) UITableView *tableView;
 
@end

• Modify TableSize1ViewController.m so that it looks like this:

TableSize1ViewController.m

//
//  TableSize1ViewController.m
//  TableSize1
//
//  Created by Mitchell Allen on 5/26/09.
//  Copyright __MyCompanyName__ 2009. All rights reserved.
//
 
#import "TableSize1ViewController.h"
 
@implementation TableSize1ViewController
 
@synthesize tableView;
 
- (void)viewDidLoad {
 
}
 
- (NSInteger)numberOfSectionsInTableView:(UITableView *)tableView {
 
    return 1;
}
 
- (NSInteger)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView numberOfRowsInSection:(NSInteger)section {
    return 20;  // Test hack to display multiple rows.
}
 
- (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
 
    static NSString *CellIdentifier = @"Cell";
 
    UITableViewCell *cell = [self.tableView dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier:CellIdentifier];
    if (cell == nil) {
        cell = [[[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectZero reuseIdentifier:CellIdentifier] autorelease];
    }
 
	NSString *szCell = [[NSString alloc] initWithFormat: @"Row %i", indexPath.row ];
 
	[cell setText:szCell];
 
	[szCell release];
 
    // Set up the cell
    return cell;
}
 
- (void)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView didSelectRowAtIndexPath:(NSIndexPath *)indexPath {
    // Navigation logic -- create and push a new view controller
}
 
- (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning {
    [super didReceiveMemoryWarning]; // Releases the view if it doesn't have a superview
    // Release anything that's not essential, such as cached data
}
 
- (void)dealloc {
    [super dealloc];
}
 
@end

• In the Resources folder, double-click TableSize1ViewController.xib to launch Interface Builder
• From Library / Cocoa Touch Plugin / Data Views drag a Table View on to the View and make it about half the height of the view (Select Tools / Library from the main menu if it isn’t visible)
• Click on the new Table View
• Click on the second tab in the Inspector window (Select Tools / Inspector from the main menu if it isn’t visible)
• After clicking the second tab, the title of the Inspector window should be Table View Connections
• Under Outlets: for both dataSource and delegate, drag the mouse from the circles next to them to the File’s Owner icon in the TableSize1ViewController.xib window.
• Under Referencing Outlets: drag from New Referencing Outlet to the File’s Owner icon and select tableView.
• With Interface Builder in focus, select File / Save
• Go back to your project window and click Build and Go
• Your application should now display a table that only takes up half the screen.

Tags: Git, github, tables, UITableView, UITableViewController, UIViewController, views