Resources framework for "universal" apps

When I started programming for iOS, the projects I were involved in were all for iPad devices only (only a pack of image resources), but when I started coding I did it in such a way that with the same code it was valid for iPad and iPhone. It was a great idea because later on the iPad apps were turned into universal apps and the changes in the code were just a few details. The idea is the following:

1. Initialize the scale of the background with respect to the current screen size and the resources dimensions and save this ratio.
2. Scale the background and images with the previously calculated ratio. As the iPhone has not the same dimensions of the iPad, it uses scaleX and scaleY, and the images get a bit stretched.
3. Never use points for positions, but use logic of dynamic positions with respect to the screen: top-left corner of the screen is (size.width*0, size.height*1) and the center-right point is (size.width*1, size.height*0.5).

One of the problems I found in my way was the memory constraint, the iPad 1 couldn't load big files of images. I had to change the resources target from iPad retina to iPad non-retina screen. Enabling retina display but without the -hd resources makes the graphics on iPad retina not blurred nor with pixels, so it was a good solution and saved a lot of mega bytes.

Here you have the framework and an example of the usage:

When the iPhone 5 ready apps were mandatory for new submissions (and updates), it was also possible to keep stretching the backgrounds and sprites, but now our characters have got too much fat. I had to think a new way of using only a pack of images and taking advance of all screen sizes. Pen and paper and a calculator for operations, I draw something like this:

The small rectangle should have all the important information for the app (buttons, information, ...) but the background have to fill all the space, in order to take advance of the iPhone screens. The reference size is the dimension of this rectangle in the different devices: in the iPad is the same as its size, while in the iphone will fulfill that 4*iphoneHeight = 3*iphoneWidth. Thus, the left reference point is the (screen size - reference size) / 2 and the point most on the right would be refLeft+refWidht*1.0.

Here there is the new framework and an example of how to use it:

Some useful links:

• iPhone/iPad dimensions:
• http://www.idev101.com/code/User_Interface/sizes.html
• http://upstageapp.com/resources
• Texture packer:
• http://www.codeandweb.com/texturepacker
• http://www.codeandweb.com/texturepacker/tutorials#cocos2d

'Kamcording' your app

When you are a programmer, you get used to searching for new tools, fighting with poorly documented frameworks, and searching for solutions of problems that come with new staff. You also end up learning when to discard a tool. Tools may be bad, may not adjust to your problem, may give you more problems than solutions... or may be exactly what you are looking for... But what makes a tool great is the people behind it, a technical support that turns problems into solutions. And that's exactly how I would describe Kamcord.

The moment I saw this tool I knew it could be perfect for the new game we are designing, so I decided to make a project to test it. I had two problems: one with the rotation and the other was causing a crash with certain iOS version. Thus, I wrote to the supporting team. The answer was really fast and solved the orientation issue. They needed more information about my devices and project in order to solve the crashing problem so we exchanged several mails, projects, framework's updates... In just 5 days I had the whole project perfectly working. I didn't have to insist, but they were working on my problem till they got to the solution. And every mail was really polite. I'm very happy with the support I've received :)

Kamcord, this amazing tool, is a framework that allows your app's users to record the flow of the app and share it with friends. Easy and well documented.

Available for Cocos2d and Unity. Download from the web and follow the tutorial, it's well explained.

1. Copy the Kamcord folder into your project.
2. Add the framework and other supporting frameworks (twitter, mediaplayer, ... ).
3. Adjust the settings for iOS < 4 (turn to optional some of the just added frameworks).
4. Add to 'other linker flags': -ObjC -all_load -lxml2

At this point, it should compile, if not, check all the steps. At my first attempt it failed but I realized I  had skipped the third step.

On the other hand, Kamcord uses their own glview, therefore you have to do some changes in your AppDelegate.

5. Make the root view controller extend from KCViewController
6. Instantiate the glview as a KCGLView instead of an eaglview
7. Set the root view controller to the window
8. Configure Kamcord and set your developer key, secret and app name.

Notation for the comments:

Indented // comments: cocos2d autogenerated;

Non-indented // comments: code not anymore needed;

Indented //* comments: Kamcord explanations;

Non-indented //* comments: mine

Now, adding the functionality is really easy:

9. Import the Kamcord framework on each scene you want.
10. Call startRecording when you want to start the video
11. Call stopRecording when you want to stop the recording
12. Call showView (normally after you have record) to show the replay and share options of Kamcord

It will look like this

And you can see the video here :)

Add a framework in a XCode project

Since I started programming with more advanced tools (video, mails, analytics, ...)  I've had to add new frameworks to my project.

It's very easy, but I always spend a lot of time looking for the place where I can press this plus button.

On the project navigator select your project (the blue sheet)

Then go to the project-target panel and select your target

On the left grey big panel, on the top menu select the summary tab

Now, look for Linked Frameworks and Libraries and press the plus button

You will see a new window where you can write the new library or framework you want to add

Once you added the framework, you will see it in the project navigator