Xcode and data - 'cloud' or local? - xcode

I am new to learning xcode, and started a simple project which main goal is for me learn Xcode.
The project is a simple app that keeps track of scores in a cardgame.
Sofar it is just for fun, for me and the guys I play cards with.
But heres an issue:
I would like to make it possible that it doesnt matter whose Iphone we are using.
Anyone with the app should be able to log in and see all of our gamescores.
That should be easy. Me and my friends could create a group, in which all of our games are stored.
Other people can create their own group, inwhich they can store theirs.
BUT where should I store the data, when building the app?
Potentially there could be a LOT of data, if a lot of people downloads the app, and plays a lot of cards!
I am a webprogrammer, and am used to working with PHP and mySQL.
Whats the smart way to deal with this?
Thanks
John

You should consider using the GameKit framework, might be best suited for your needs.
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/GameKit_Guide/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008304-CH1-SW1

Related

Sketchapp using for mockup designing

I know this is not related to PHP but related to many Front-end designers and developers.
In now days experienced mockup or UI/UX element designer use an app called sketchapp specially who use mac os. but when it comes to front-end developers who don't have mac os to code front-end. Here is the problem start many of developers try to search a solution but I don't think any one had it because the app developers not create any thing for windows to support these files.
My Question: what is the solution for this problem? should we try to find a friend/colleague who have mac os with the app or should we ask the client for other file format (but sometime clients don't have other file formats) or should we reject the project.
what should we do?
The immediate solution is to have your clients export their Sketch files to pdf. That is a built-in function in Sketch and only takes a second.
Longterm you may want to evaluate whether or not you maybe should get a cheap Mac to expand your portfolio.
Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but if you need to get design specs to work with you could use:
https://zeplin.io/
OR
https://www.invisionapp.com/
They offer tools for collaboration between designers and developers.
Hope this helps!

Mac app - check App Store receipt

Many of the possible duplicates seem to address methods of updating apps both normally and via App Store.
This one mentions a few working solutions:
Mac App Store Receipt Validation Code?
for programmers like me who want to not reinvent the wheel from the Apple Docs:
https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#releasenotes/General/ValidateAppStoreReceipt/_index.html
My problem is that I'm having a hard time finding finished "libraries" that work.
I would simply like to know if anyone has had success with any of these open-source projects and whether any of them are particularly easy to use.

Best way to approach WP7 app development?

I have some knowledge of basic PHP developing however right now I am thinking about developing a phone app. I do however have a bit of a conundrum in that I love WP7 and I have so many ideas for features which can't be done on iOS and Android, however at the same time I am completely aware that my target users (filmmakers) generally have iOS or android phones.
Is there a way I can develop the app, which I will get a developer to do rather than myself, with WP7 as the lead platform and then make a relatively simple conversion to the other platforms or do apps generally have to be completely reworked for each platform?
Also, just to though it out there, any idea of where to go to find a freelance app developer?
Thanks
James
I think you have a few options, but the first question I would have is: where comes the data from. Are you the owner of the data, and do you already have a datasource from where you can get the data from? If not I would suggest take some time to write a decent 'backend' from which the different platforms easily can get the data from.
Also all different platforms have their own pro/cons which you cannot share that easily. If you build a WP7 app in silverlight/xna, you cannot directly port it to a ios/android variant, also functionality will probably look/react different. You will need different solutions foreach platform with this approach.
Another option would be to use an platform like phonegap which can create a solution that will work on multiple platforms. (It uses HTML5 to get it work on the different platforms)
Build your app on iOS and android first, and when you have an app to base WP7 development then contact a developer that has made similar apps to yours.

Application Development: Cocoa vs Sencha vs Others

I'm a developer most comfortable with web languages (PHP, Javascript etc.). Now, My company wants to start making iPad apps for pharma sales reps that basically gives a nice introduction to drugs.
We used to subcontract it but we want to bring it in house. It's a very big plus for me financially if I can take on the jobs and do them right. Now doing my research, these apps aren't crazy; they just kinda need to act like a powerpoint slideshow with a little animation and interaction.
I don't know Cocoa. I know there will also be a learning curve with it as well. I do know Sencha slightly. Does anyone here have any experience with either of these platforms and do you think it's a "might as well learn cocoa" type of thing? The only reason I like Sencha is becuase you program in Web languages and can port it to app stores. Any ideas? Suggestions?
My answer is always just to learn Cocoa in situations like this, but Sencha is actually surprising not-bullshit. I'm really impressed with it.
However, I wanted to note a few things: I don't know exactly what you mean by "port it to app stores", but I want to be sure you don't delude yourself into thinking than an app written with Sencha would be usable on any platform other than iPad. Of course you could load a page written in Sencha on non-iPad device, but the entire point of Sencha is tailoring your web application to work surprisingly well on an iPad. So, it will be out of place anywhere else, and given the quality of current iPad competitors, it'd be unlikely to perform adequately off of the iPad at this time.
So, if you want to use Sencha, it has to be for the right reasons (of which there are two):
You want more flexibility in deployment: you don't want to have to deal with Apple's Enterprise deployment system. Apple's not interested in apps that only pertain to one company (internal software) on the App Store, so if you want to go the Cocoa route, you'll have to use their Enterprise Ad-Hoc deployment.
You don't want to / can't afford to take the time and learn Cocoa (really, to make an app that doesn't sucks will probably take at least a year of experience, trial and error, etc.; at least, that's how it was for me).
If either one of these things is true, I'd go the Sencha route. But as an advocate of iOS, I really hope you take the time and learn Cocoa! I believe I speak for all the Cocoa developers on Stack Overflow when I say that we'd be happy to help you with any questions you may have as you go. Good luck, whatever you decide!

Is there a way to visualize records stored in an iPhone app via Core Data?

I have an app which, for good reasons, can only be debugged on a device. I'm using Core Data for the first time, and I'd like to be able to easily inspect the records that are stored by the app on the device.
I imagine that Core Data is by default backed by SQLite on the iPhone, so this question might be as simple as asking: "What's the easiest way to extract the SQLite database for an app installed by Xcode without jailbreaking it?"
Any experience someone could lend regarding this would be greatly appreciated.
Check out Core Data Editor. Just get the sqlite store from the device and use it with CDE. Costs 20 bucks but I think it is worth it.

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