The iNexus

A little while ago I mentioned a very solid update in the making, Compare Folders 2.5.5. The update checked out just fine but the site-backend changes haven’t occurred yet (for SparklePlus support) and in the meantime I’ve been dropping a lot of solid improvements in while I’ve been stalled on the other parts.

What kinds of improvements are we talking about?

• Show Icons is now a per-comparison preference (and saves to file format)
• Several crash fixes based on submitted crash reports [thanks SCR]
• Menu item + keyboard shortcut to quit without prompt (for unsaved comparison)
• Info windows list their result type now
• Fix several UI bugs (including a rare status update crash)
• Updated demo indicators
• Minor menu layout and keyboard navigation changes
• Live updating for several preferences (item count, byte size)
• Inspector disabling
• Synchronized scrolling for Similar Items (View menu option)
• Universal version of cp is included now
• Vertical split view memory
• Uninstall Assistant hides all visible windows (or restores if cancelled)
• Massive code and project cleanup
• Developer Only: build process upgrade (automatically handle a bunch of formerly manual tasks like copy Help & SCR, remove .svn, other miscellanea), new bug tracking database

At this point I’ve decided to retire the 2.5.5 build as a good wish with bad follow-through in favor of solidifying 2.6, which is already in Cold Storage.

Oh… a couple more things.

I’ve added some great touches including transitions when switching tabs and layouts and the ability to choose your own finished sound effect. Folder paths also have rollover effects, are now clickable and include a reset button (on rollover.) I went in thinking these were ‘fluff’ improvements but in using them the past few days I’ve got to say they do truly put the fun in functional

Today was an absolutely awesome day for me as a programmer. I’m reading an excellent book (see sidebar, Code Complete) that I enjoy and I’ve wrapped up several fulfilling tasks.

I started the day with a problem - I’d accidently deleted the text file I was using as a bug list. At this point I don’t have Time Machine to save my back so I’m at square one. During WWDC 2004 I contemplated using CoreData to make a slick bug database as both a personal tool and perhaps a product. Dreams and ideas grew, but the progress didn’t. When I lost the text file this morning I decided to make good on my goal.

I love Cocoa. It alleviates so much of the mundane, allowing developers to focus on what they need to. In an hour and half I’d completed my 1.0 of CustomBugs, a CoreData document-based bug tracking database that I can improve as my spare time allows.

I love SVN. Today I’ve been reorganizing the repository for Compare Folders and the cleaner layout is great, and includes a CustomBugs database file for the project as well.

All in all, a great day for Infinite Nexus!