Tag: iPhone-app

Categories
iPhone app

myNestEgg v 1.3 released

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This is to fix a show stopper problem in v 1.2, as pointed out by one of the users. The problem happened after a user used the keyboard to input data (dismiss the keyboard by tap background), the app will add a comma to “beginning savings” and “salary”. This causes confusion and mis-calculation down the road.

The problem is fixed now in v 1.3. The user needs to update the app to get the fix. In some cases you may need to re-enter the “beginning savings” and “salary” if those numbers are no longer correct in the app. Please let me know if you have any problem.

I am sorry for the inconvenience it may have caused, and wish all a good holiday.

Categories
iPhone app

Software engineering 101 for iOS app development: I

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I thought this for a while, when I was in the Voices That Matter iPhone developers conference, I have seen the great interest from iPhone app developers, from indie developers (individual or small team development shop), to high school teacher who taught self programming and teaches kids on iPhone programming. They come from different background, software consulting, development, education, authors. Being from enterprise software development background and have created iPhone app on my own time, I think I can share some of my thoughts on “applying software engineering principle to iPhone app development”. Hopefully this can shed lights on the best practice of iPhone app development, and ideally those thoughts can be applied to software development on other areas as well.

The No. 1 thing I want to talk is testing. Why we need to test an iOS app?

As my old C++ professor said in the class: a program is a novel if it does not run as expected. We always want to test the software (aka app) if it’s a bit complicated and takes some time to develop. For simple iOS app sometimes we would just skip the formal testing process, and in some cases we just assume it works. I learned the lessons the hard way recently.

1) After I uploaded the binary via iTunesConnect, I found some problems with the app. So I rejected the app, fixed the problem, and uploaded it again. I did this 3 or 4 times in one case. After the last upload, my app was end up in “Upload received” status but did not automatically move into “Wait for review”. Waited anxiously for a few days. Finally I googled and found this article on StackOverflow and followed the instruction to contact Apple, waited for a few more days, and it got resolved eventually. Had I tested the app more thoroughly, I would not have to go through all the pain and the app would get reviewed soon.

2) More recently, I added a feature to the app and tested it on iOS 3.1.2. After it being released, I tried it on iPhone 4, and I found the feature does not work. Ouch.

How to test?
Ideally we should have a test suite and automatic test. But we don’t live in an ideal world. As I minimum, I would test the following:

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Categories
iPhone app

myNestEgg 1.2 released

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Known problem in version 1.2
(11-21-2010) I received a user bug report this morning: the calculation results is not right due to the extra comma separator in “beginning savings” and “salary”. I fixed the problem this afternoon and submitted the binary (version 1.3) to App store. Stay tuned.

myNestEgg_bug_1

What’s New in Version 1.2
1) Add new icons for the tab bars (the 3 bars at the bottom);

2) Add “shake” function to “Settings” tab bar. When at “Settings” tab, if the user shakes the phone gently, the rates will reset to default values: 7% annual investment return, 2% annual inflation. Note the user still needs to tap “Set Rates” button to make the rates take effect.

3) Fix the minor problem where the inflation rate picker moves when the user switches to the “settings tab”. Note this behavior has not affected calculation results.

I just found a bug shortly after the release. If someone reports the problem to me, he/she will have the opportunity to win the $25 Amazon gift card.

Categories
iPhone app

collegeFund free for now at iTunes App store plus more

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(Update Dec 16, 2010) Free again for limited time (until Dec 25).

What is it?
collegeFund is a college savings calculator iOS app (iOS 3.1.2 or later) I released a while ago (Oct. 5 to be precise). Link to iTunes App store here. For a limited time (this annual benefits enrollment and holiday season), I am making the v 1.0 app for free. I will end the promotion as soon as the v 1.1 approves.

collegeFund_iTunes_store_2010-10-27

Why free?
I am out of mind 🙂 Actually I thought about this before the release. Over the years I came to believe college education is a prerequisite for many things in life: the college experience, the knowledge learned and friendship formed in college, last but not least, the skill of “how to learn on one’s own” and a path to entry level job. For me and my wife this is not possible without the sacrifice of our parents. This March our baby daughter was born, and we enrolled in a college saving plan for her shortly. We are just trying to repeat what our parents did for us.

In the same spirit, we would like share this little app with all the hard working parents.

Is it really free? Am I ask anything in return?
Yes. If you are happy with the app, you can help me out by

1) send me feedback, including write reviews on iTunes store, good reviews only 🙂 ; send me unpleasant reviews by email (uudaddy no spam AT gmail DOT com).

2) I do have a paid app, myNestEgg ~ the retirement calculator at App store. So if you have an extra dollar(s), you can buy or gift this little app during holidays 🙂

What if you already paid for the app?
First I want to say “thank you”. I can either refund you the 99 cents, or give you the myNestEgg app.

What if you already bought myNestEgg too? We are not entering an infinite loop here, let me know and I will send you something, for your patronage.

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Categories
401k and Personal Finance iPhone app

Earn $25 filing a bug report, enhancement request, or user story

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for #iPhone #app #myNestEgg ~ the retirement calculator (link at iTunes store) and receive an Amazon gift card (one winner per category).

I am starting this mostly for fun, three categories ($25 per category):

bug report; enhancement request; user story

Send email to uudaddy(No Spam) AT gmail DOT com. This runs until Dec 31, 2010. One entry for one person.

How the prize being determined
My 7 months and a half daugher gets to decide 🙂

Seriously, I will decide according the merits.

AmazonThankYou2010-04-27 myNestEgg_12_2010-10-25_2

Version 1.2 is coming
Just in time for annual benefits enrollment. The following is a glimpse. Note I purchased Glyphish Pro icons this time. So hopefully you can show this app to your friends without being embarrassed for lack of icons in version 1.0/1.1

F.A.Qs

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