I've been working in some notes for training y team in cross-platform mobile development using C# and Visual Studio + Xamarin.
Lots of details, but it seems very accesible to program with this platform.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/304920340/Desarrollo-de-apps-moviles-con-C-Xamarin-VS-S1
https://www.scribd.com/doc/305164346/Desarrollo-de-apps-moviles-con-C-Xamarin-VS-S2
https://www.scribd.com/doc/308416281/Desarrollo-de-apps-moviles-con-C-Xamarin-VS-S3
NOTE: notes are in spanish!
All these is a work in progress, so many other topics are still there to explore.
Deciding to adopt Xamaring is a process, where you need to be well informed and play with the platform.
http://www.estaun.net/blog/some-thoughts-after-almost-a-year-of-real-xamarin-use/
This year will be interesting with all the MS support focusing on Xamarin.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Software factory simulation: surprise!
I found this link to a forum where one of my articles was discussed by some students.
Not my class, but it was a nice surprise to found this on the web.
Maybe I should revisit the idea; so much in the road to comment and apply.
Not my class, but it was a nice surprise to found this on the web.
Maybe I should revisit the idea; so much in the road to comment and apply.
Coding style for multiple platforms
Very simple concepts can be applied to existing languages like C# to have one code base that can be shared between applications that target several devices.
This article explains how using some function, compiler directives and other code organization techniques, this can be achived.
This article explains how using some function, compiler directives and other code organization techniques, this can be achived.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Programming for kids
Programming is a great way to aproach math, logic, art and computers, but when dealing with kids its a delicatte matter, because the wrong induction to the subject could create an ever life avertion to this noble art and science.
Fortunally, advances in technology let us have tools and resources to let the children experiment in environments not as rigid as actual programmer's tools.
Some examples are Scrach (Win-Linux/Smalltalk), App Inventor (Android/Java), and there's more!
Lets encourage our kids to develop their skills.
Contents:
Code (http://www.code.org/)
Free courses for kids (http://www.pluralsight.com/training/Kids)
How and why teach your kids to code (http://lifehacker.com/how-and-why-to-teach-your-kids-to-code-510588878)
Teach your children (how to program) well (http://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2011/12/01/get-em-while-theyre-young.aspx)
How To Raise The Next Zuckerberg: 6 Coding Apps For Kids (http://readwrite.com/2013/04/19/how-to-raise-the-next-zuck-6-coding-apps-for-kids#awesm=~oguXMEz0Yeh0Kr)
10 Tools To Get Kids Excited About Programming (http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-tools-to-get-kids-excited-about-programming/)
Tools:
Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/)
MIT AppInventor (http://appinventor.mit.edu/)
Stencyl (http://www.stencyl.com/)
Kodu game lab (http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu)
Small Basic (http://smallbasic.com/)
RoboMind (http://www.robomind.net/en/index.html)
Fortunally, advances in technology let us have tools and resources to let the children experiment in environments not as rigid as actual programmer's tools.
Some examples are Scrach (Win-Linux/Smalltalk), App Inventor (Android/Java), and there's more!
Lets encourage our kids to develop their skills.
Contents:
Code (http://www.code.org/)
Free courses for kids (http://www.pluralsight.com/training/Kids)
How and why teach your kids to code (http://lifehacker.com/how-and-why-to-teach-your-kids-to-code-510588878)
Teach your children (how to program) well (http://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2011/12/01/get-em-while-theyre-young.aspx)
How To Raise The Next Zuckerberg: 6 Coding Apps For Kids (http://readwrite.com/2013/04/19/how-to-raise-the-next-zuck-6-coding-apps-for-kids#awesm=~oguXMEz0Yeh0Kr)
10 Tools To Get Kids Excited About Programming (http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-tools-to-get-kids-excited-about-programming/)
Tools:
Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/)
MIT AppInventor (http://appinventor.mit.edu/)
Stencyl (http://www.stencyl.com/)
Kodu game lab (http://fuse.microsoft.com/projects/kodu)
Small Basic (http://smallbasic.com/)
RoboMind (http://www.robomind.net/en/index.html)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Win 8 dev camp
With the illusion of see the new Win 8 development features, I registered to attend a Dev Camp at Mexico City. No dev at all, just "hey, check out this app!". Great for UX people, but you can´t pretend to change usability just because you have a big market share.
My comments:
+ The bad:
0. Confusing Metro/Classic UI. I wonder if I want to change to classic, like happened to me in Ubuntu, where Unity is not my preference, what can you do? Is it possible to disable IT?
1. Develop for Win 8 -> install win 8 + Visual Studio 2012. No emmulator, just a UI simulator.
2. Remember: there are lots of hidden features in the edge.
3. No development practice :(
4. To many "you have to..." to develop and publish an app.
5. Abuse of scrolling.
6. No solution to multiform apps, data access, no backward compatibility.
7. No mobile show...because desktop/tablets come first :S
8. JS/HTML5/CSS NO thanks!
+ The good.....well, unfourtanately nothing.
My comments:
+ The bad:
0. Confusing Metro/Classic UI. I wonder if I want to change to classic, like happened to me in Ubuntu, where Unity is not my preference, what can you do? Is it possible to disable IT?
1. Develop for Win 8 -> install win 8 + Visual Studio 2012. No emmulator, just a UI simulator.
2. Remember: there are lots of hidden features in the edge.
3. No development practice :(
4. To many "you have to..." to develop and publish an app.
5. Abuse of scrolling.
6. No solution to multiform apps, data access, no backward compatibility.
7. No mobile show...because desktop/tablets come first :S
8. JS/HTML5/CSS NO thanks!
+ The good.....well, unfourtanately nothing.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Android + Linux fusion: tablets diversification
On April 30, 2009, the Android 1.5 update, dubbed Cupcake, was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.27
From that date, Google made several changes to push Android to its actual state (version 4 Icecream sandwich)
March 18, 2012. After several critics from the open source community about not standard Android fork, it was this day when all came together (see Linux and Android, Together at Last). Linus Torvalds released kernel version 3.3
What can we spect anout this unification?
Well, first of all, I believe maybe in a couple of month it will be possible to see Ubuntu or Mint tablets.
Second, the community will embrace the Google contribution, and will generate improvements that will benifit Google (I think that maybe 20-40 people were hired at Google to mess with Android, but its nothing versus 100, 1,000, 100,000).
Third, one kernel version that will evolve faster.
One of the main possible changes for Android could be the development model, now based on Java. If this changes and open new options, I believe lots of developers will emerge; this point may mean that Google market will grow, or maybe new markets will appear.
Seems that Win 8 will loose this battle if it doesn't appear at once.
From that date, Google made several changes to push Android to its actual state (version 4 Icecream sandwich)
March 18, 2012. After several critics from the open source community about not standard Android fork, it was this day when all came together (see Linux and Android, Together at Last). Linus Torvalds released kernel version 3.3
What can we spect anout this unification?
Well, first of all, I believe maybe in a couple of month it will be possible to see Ubuntu or Mint tablets.
Second, the community will embrace the Google contribution, and will generate improvements that will benifit Google (I think that maybe 20-40 people were hired at Google to mess with Android, but its nothing versus 100, 1,000, 100,000).
Third, one kernel version that will evolve faster.
One of the main possible changes for Android could be the development model, now based on Java. If this changes and open new options, I believe lots of developers will emerge; this point may mean that Google market will grow, or maybe new markets will appear.
Seems that Win 8 will loose this battle if it doesn't appear at once.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Get the (almost) perfect Android tablet
Holyday season is near and a tablet could be a nice gift, but have to be careful in not just throw your money into something so generic that won't last.
Here are some tech guidelines to get a good Android tablet:
- 1 Ghz CPU (and GPU would be great)
- 512 MB RAM or more
- 8/16 GB
- Android 3.0, upgradable
- Screen 7 or 10" capacitive, multitouch
- Cammera
- Battery that last at least 5 hours (replazable)
- USB ports
- SD slot to raise memory to 32 GB
- wifi
- GPS
- Bluetooth
- 3G support
- Flash
- DC cable
Some recomendations:
ASUS Eee Transformer (TF101) Android 3.1, 10.1 inch 1280x800 IPS (like iPad, but bigger and higher resolution) display, up to 9 hours of battery life (16 hours if optional dock added), optional ability to dock with keyboard, 1 GHz Tegra 250 ARM CPU with 1 GB RAM, good array of ports (mini HDMI, SD, micro SD)
Amazon Kindle Fire tablet ($199 USD ??)
In Mexico there are distributors for the Zenithink C71but the cost is almost the double.
Problem with chineese tablets is guarantee.
Gateway, Acer, Samsung and Motorola tablets look good!
Not so shure about Blackberry, but if they adopt the android apps, that will be serious.
In México prices are too high. Where is the benefit of belonging to NAFTA??
Here are some tech guidelines to get a good Android tablet:
- 1 Ghz CPU (and GPU would be great)
- 512 MB RAM or more
- 8/16 GB
- Android 3.0, upgradable
- Screen 7 or 10" capacitive, multitouch
- Cammera
- Battery that last at least 5 hours (replazable)
- USB ports
- SD slot to raise memory to 32 GB
- wifi
- GPS
- Bluetooth
- 3G support
- Flash
- DC cable
Some recomendations:
ASUS Eee Transformer (TF101) Android 3.1, 10.1 inch 1280x800 IPS (like iPad, but bigger and higher resolution) display, up to 9 hours of battery life (16 hours if optional dock added), optional ability to dock with keyboard, 1 GHz Tegra 250 ARM CPU with 1 GB RAM, good array of ports (mini HDMI, SD, micro SD)
Amazon Kindle Fire tablet ($199 USD ??)
In Mexico there are distributors for the Zenithink C71but the cost is almost the double.
Problem with chineese tablets is guarantee.
Gateway, Acer, Samsung and Motorola tablets look good!
Not so shure about Blackberry, but if they adopt the android apps, that will be serious.
In México prices are too high. Where is the benefit of belonging to NAFTA??
Monday, August 22, 2011
Android blitzkrieg: Phones and now TV
Android 3.2 is out, even when phones are in 2.3. However Android is smashing iPhone and any Microsoft wish to have a share.
Watch out, cause Android is turning its Sauron's eye on TV!!
http://code.google.com/intl/es-AR/tv/
Some year ago, Sun tried to push Java as a development tool in blu-ray, but with this, Java wont be the only option.
Watch out, cause Android is turning its Sauron's eye on TV!!
http://code.google.com/intl/es-AR/tv/
Some year ago, Sun tried to push Java as a development tool in blu-ray, but with this, Java wont be the only option.
And the 99 USD tablet is here
After HP's tablet only held one month i the market, HP decided to take it out from the market arguing webOS has to be reevaluated.
In a surprising move, price droped from 499 to 99, and its a sold out!!!
Is it viable to load this tablets with Android????
Will this be a hackers toy and HP will watch carefully for community tries???
Last week was a turn point too because of Google buy of Motorola mobility.
In a surprising move, price droped from 499 to 99, and its a sold out!!!
Is it viable to load this tablets with Android????
Will this be a hackers toy and HP will watch carefully for community tries???
Last week was a turn point too because of Google buy of Motorola mobility.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Creativity scared by patent lawsuits
Its a shame! This patent-all attitude will lead us to stop software publishing because of the fear of being lawsiuted in USA. Just ridiculous!
Check the note.
"I just patent the idea of problem solving". Yeah, Sure.
Check the note.
"I just patent the idea of problem solving". Yeah, Sure.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The top at any price
It's as easy as when ladies take their purses and say "let's go shopping".
Google acquisitions history ;)
The latest in the duel:
March 6, 2010. Google Inc. has acquired a company called DocVerse who provides tools that make its possible for people to use the Internet to work together on documents formatted in one of Microsoft's word processing, spreadsheet or presentation programs.
November 23, 2010. CPTN Holdings LLC, a consortium of technology companies organised by Microsoft, is purchasing 882 Novell patents for $450 million cash.
December, 2010. Google (GOOG) announced two new acquisitions in separate blog posts Friday: It has bought speech-synthesis software maker Phonetic Arts and video-distribution technology firm Widevine Technologies.
April, 2011. Google announced it has made its second deal via its subsidiary Google Energy, and the search engine giant plans to buy 100 MW of power from a wind farm that’s under construction in Oklahoma. See whitepaper.
May 10, 2011. Microsoft announced that it was buying Skype for $8.5 B
Just for the record, Google reportedly offered about $6 billion for e-commerce coupon site Groupon.
And new targets are Twitter, Palm and who knows.
Google acquisitions history ;)
The latest in the duel:
March 6, 2010. Google Inc. has acquired a company called DocVerse who provides tools that make its possible for people to use the Internet to work together on documents formatted in one of Microsoft's word processing, spreadsheet or presentation programs.
November 23, 2010. CPTN Holdings LLC, a consortium of technology companies organised by Microsoft, is purchasing 882 Novell patents for $450 million cash.
December, 2010. Google (GOOG) announced two new acquisitions in separate blog posts Friday: It has bought speech-synthesis software maker Phonetic Arts and video-distribution technology firm Widevine Technologies.
April, 2011. Google announced it has made its second deal via its subsidiary Google Energy, and the search engine giant plans to buy 100 MW of power from a wind farm that’s under construction in Oklahoma. See whitepaper.
May 10, 2011. Microsoft announced that it was buying Skype for $8.5 B
Just for the record, Google reportedly offered about $6 billion for e-commerce coupon site Groupon.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
A monkey in the chess game
48 hours before I post a help note to save Mono, an interesting article appeared when I was making some Android dev notes.
It seems that Microsoft is the real taker behing Novell adquisition, and Novell is a strategic source of intellectual property related to Unix.
MMMMM. No good news. Maybe its time to evaluate a new alternative for Android development, considering Oracle is pressing Google in the Java front and now this.
Weird.
It seems that Microsoft is the real taker behing Novell adquisition, and Novell is a strategic source of intellectual property related to Unix.
MMMMM. No good news. Maybe its time to evaluate a new alternative for Android development, considering Oracle is pressing Google in the Java front and now this.
Weird.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Don't shock the monkey
When Android appeared, Java wasn´t my target development platform.
I been working with .Net for so long that the first thing I been waiting is .Net for Android, and Mono has it (http://mono-android.net/).
Because of my workload, I ain´t have the time to get my hands dirty, but today I received a newsletter with a RED WARNING: Novell is gone and Mono... don´t know.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/is-mono-dead-is-novell-dying/8821
http://www.infoworld.com/d/application-development/uncertain-future-open-source-net-047
I believe its time for Microsoft to get involved if they really want .Net technology spreads. Otherwise we are missing the train.
I seriouslly hope that Miguel de Icaza saves MONO, either is with MS help or Mono claims its independence.
I been working with .Net for so long that the first thing I been waiting is .Net for Android, and Mono has it (http://mono-android.net/).
Because of my workload, I ain´t have the time to get my hands dirty, but today I received a newsletter with a RED WARNING: Novell is gone and Mono... don´t know.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/is-mono-dead-is-novell-dying/8821
http://www.infoworld.com/d/application-development/uncertain-future-open-source-net-047
I believe its time for Microsoft to get involved if they really want .Net technology spreads. Otherwise we are missing the train.
I seriouslly hope that Miguel de Icaza saves MONO, either is with MS help or Mono claims its independence.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Offimatic suites
MS Office is nice but expensive.
Alternatives (multiplatform):
+ OpenOffice (3.1.X stable; 3.2 crashes with DOCX files (no fix yet); 3.3 in RC phase) download
+ LibreOffice (OO fork in Beta stage; nobody is certain about Oracle intentions) download
Only for Linux:
KOffice
GnomeOffice
For Mac:
NeoOffice
Alternatives (multiplatform):
+ OpenOffice (3.1.X stable; 3.2 crashes with DOCX files (no fix yet); 3.3 in RC phase) download
+ LibreOffice (OO fork in Beta stage; nobody is certain about Oracle intentions) download
Only for Linux:
KOffice
GnomeOffice
For Mac:
NeoOffice
Friday, September 24, 2010
Iterate can save your hand
This is the answer for those who suffer with school punishments like "you must write 500 times {the educational sentence}".
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tablets price will fall
Question: which is the cheapest tablet available/comming?
Mmmmm. Let's see.
iLet mini HAL Android 1.6 $199 USD
Gpad Android $185 USD
Archos Android $178 USD
zenPad Android 1.6 $155 USD
Augen Genbook Android $150 USD
HiVision Android $100 USD
Hott MC500 Android $100 USD (or less)
Eken M001 Android $99 USD
FirstView PC607V Android/WinCE $95 USD
OLPC XO-3(MIT/Mattel) Android $75 USD
Indian tablet Android $35 USD (????)
It's a price war!!!!! Black friday & Chrismas season will show us the winner.
Mmmmm. Let's see.
iLet mini HAL Android 1.6 $199 USD
Gpad Android $185 USD
Archos Android $178 USD
zenPad Android 1.6 $155 USD
Augen Genbook Android $150 USD
HiVision Android $100 USD
Hott MC500 Android $100 USD (or less)
Eken M001 Android $99 USD
FirstView PC607V Android/WinCE $95 USD
OLPC XO-3(MIT/Mattel) Android $75 USD
Indian tablet Android $35 USD (????)
It's a price war!!!!! Black friday & Chrismas season will show us the winner.
Mobile dev: times & OS changes
For those who develop mobile solutions, times are changing and platforms too.
iPhone provokes a gold rush for Apple developers; its a shame that those policies that limit Flash, Java & other apps that needs a VM or a runtime are kept left.
Microsoft is burning its ships and betting to their new OS Win phone 7; in the VS 2010 no mobile develoment is provided and they are promising a bundle to support development for the new platform.
And the new kid in town, Android, is the one that shakes the market. With smartphones, tablets and other devices targeted, and an open source support this may be the way.
Time will tell.
Image from wired.
iPhone provokes a gold rush for Apple developers; its a shame that those policies that limit Flash, Java & other apps that needs a VM or a runtime are kept left.
Microsoft is burning its ships and betting to their new OS Win phone 7; in the VS 2010 no mobile develoment is provided and they are promising a bundle to support development for the new platform.
And the new kid in town, Android, is the one that shakes the market. With smartphones, tablets and other devices targeted, and an open source support this may be the way.
Time will tell.
Image from wired.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Some refreshing ideas & resources
1. The complex manifesto - Jurgen Appello
2. 6.005 Elements of Software Construction - MIT
And a divertimento for the code crackers and Cryptonomicon readers. Win a tshirt, just brake the code of U.S. military’s new Cyber Command logo:
9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a
2. 6.005 Elements of Software Construction - MIT
And a divertimento for the code crackers and Cryptonomicon readers. Win a tshirt, just brake the code of U.S. military’s new Cyber Command logo:
9ec4c12949a4f31474f299058ce2b22a
Thursday, February 11, 2010
iPad and Chromium: the cat sandbox
Hurray!!! The new Apple´s table is here and the tablets war has begun.
Hurray!!! Google is launching this year their new OS for netbooks: Chrome OS or Chromium. Fast as lighting. Boots in 10 seconds. Fear it MS.
However, behind these new box office hits , some bad news arise:
1. iPad is not multitasking, no USB ports, no camera, no Flash, and will not allow to install anything but Apple blessed products. Even the battery is sealed. The business are the services.
2. Chromium (Chrominux), will turn the netbooks in a web browser with steroids and will NOT work if you are offline; no wifi, no OS, no netbook. The business are the Google services.
This restrictive policies are not taking us to the next level. Is like when you educate your cat to do its needs in its sandbox. Outside of it, punishment will prevail.
Any new gadget must allow to install what ever you want or what ever you code. Closed systems are condemned to be instant legacy.
Besides, open source products are everywhere, so whats the point of having a text editor or other tools online??
Services are a great idea, but the cloud must evolve to turn this more democratic. I don´t have a datacenter yet.
Want to try Chromium???
VBox VM
USB install
Hurray!!! Google is launching this year their new OS for netbooks: Chrome OS or Chromium. Fast as lighting. Boots in 10 seconds. Fear it MS.
However, behind these new box office hits , some bad news arise:
1. iPad is not multitasking, no USB ports, no camera, no Flash, and will not allow to install anything but Apple blessed products. Even the battery is sealed. The business are the services.
2. Chromium (Chrominux), will turn the netbooks in a web browser with steroids and will NOT work if you are offline; no wifi, no OS, no netbook. The business are the Google services.
This restrictive policies are not taking us to the next level. Is like when you educate your cat to do its needs in its sandbox. Outside of it, punishment will prevail.
Any new gadget must allow to install what ever you want or what ever you code. Closed systems are condemned to be instant legacy.
Besides, open source products are everywhere, so whats the point of having a text editor or other tools online??
Services are a great idea, but the cloud must evolve to turn this more democratic. I don´t have a datacenter yet.
Want to try Chromium???
VBox VM
USB install
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Learn & dare
December 2009 & first week of january 2010 involved me in a mobile development for the Intermec CN50. A new platform to me and a reunion with and old friend: C++.
The objective was to stablish a WiFi connection with and access point by code.
So I have to study lots of things about Win Mobile 6.1 and wireless communications. I came with a solution using NDISUIO in a CN3 but this code ain't work in a CN50. So after some tests, Windows Zero Configuration API came to scene (undocummented).
At first glance the code seems intimidating, but slowly I understand the details (and struggle with C++ data types). The most exiting thing was to test several combinations of code. These tests make me understand the meaning of WiFi structures and process.
It took several days and tries, but al last the code was ready.
Some times is very frustraiting to code in blind mode. What is going to happend? Why it doesn't work? How can you verify the communication?
Check the Intermec forum to see the posts that I sent during these days.
To dare is very important in the process of understanding how things work.
The objective was to stablish a WiFi connection with and access point by code.
So I have to study lots of things about Win Mobile 6.1 and wireless communications. I came with a solution using NDISUIO in a CN3 but this code ain't work in a CN50. So after some tests, Windows Zero Configuration API came to scene (undocummented).
At first glance the code seems intimidating, but slowly I understand the details (and struggle with C++ data types). The most exiting thing was to test several combinations of code. These tests make me understand the meaning of WiFi structures and process.
It took several days and tries, but al last the code was ready.
Some times is very frustraiting to code in blind mode. What is going to happend? Why it doesn't work? How can you verify the communication?
Check the Intermec forum to see the posts that I sent during these days.
To dare is very important in the process of understanding how things work.
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