BGHUDAppKit
Google Code
September 23 2008 08:54 PM
I have some news for everyone. I have, up until now, been paying monthly for Subversion hosting. I’m not dissatisfied with the service just trying to cut back on useless spending. I have switched the project home over to Google Code. Why pay for something I can get for free, and also has some better features. I’ve also started up a discussion group that you all are invited to if you have questions or whatnot. So everyone please update their svn bookmarks to http://bghudappkit.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/.
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Cleanup...
August 10 2008 02:56 PM
I’m taking some time today to start cleaning up the code and commenting it a little more. I’m also going to be working on the BGHUDSliderCell enable/disabled feature. While I’m in this class I’m also going to work on the drawing code, I just don’t like the way the knobs look when you have tick marks :(
BGHUDColorWell...
August 09 2008 12:18 PM
Updates...
August 05 2008 06:28 PM
Wanted to let the world know what I was up to. Due to the lack of time with the new job I have slowed down a bit. I will be releasing a couple updates this weekend. The first is NSColorWell and the second is just an added feature to controls that support FocusRings. I will be doing the FocusRing code for these controls, and yes it will be themeable as well.
Search Field...
July 21 2008 12:17 PM
Back...
July 21 2008 05:28 AM
What I'm doing...
July 01 2008 04:24 PM
I’ve been silent for a few days now so I wanted to let everyone know what is going on. I have been spending my days working on the largest and most difficult bugs. I’ve gotten all those taken care of for now. I fixed the BGHUDTableView bugs that caused an item to go completely transparent when editing, and the bug with the upper right corner not drawing correctly.
I’m finally happy with the way ThemeManager works, thanks so much to Jonathan Dann for his brilliant idea of using a singleton object. So ThemeManager should NOT be changing anymore, the only things that will change are available theme options (colors, gradients, etc..).
I’ve started my first new control since the last one, I’m currently working on BGHUDSegmentedCell. I didn’t realize it had so many styles!!! I’ll be doing the TexturedRounded, RoundRect, and Regular style to start off with. If you have any ideas as to what the other couple of styles should look like do a mock up and send it my way, I run out of ideas sometimes :) Mail Ideas here...
I’m finally happy with the way ThemeManager works, thanks so much to Jonathan Dann for his brilliant idea of using a singleton object. So ThemeManager should NOT be changing anymore, the only things that will change are available theme options (colors, gradients, etc..).
I’ve started my first new control since the last one, I’m currently working on BGHUDSegmentedCell. I didn’t realize it had so many styles!!! I’ll be doing the TexturedRounded, RoundRect, and Regular style to start off with. If you have any ideas as to what the other couple of styles should look like do a mock up and send it my way, I run out of ideas sometimes :) Mail Ideas here...
BGHUD Plugin iB 3.1 Fixed...
June 26 2008 11:33 PM
I’m half ashamed to admit this, but the iB 3.1 fix was a simple change from variable to string. I feel like an idiot, lol. I apologize to those that had the error and thank those that emailed me details of thier experience. For each class I allow iB to have in the plugin I have to give it an integrator class. Inside of that there is a method that asks the class for the keys to it’s KVC compliant properties. The original version should have boinked in iB 3.0 but it didn’t, so I was unaware of my error.
Update your copies from the repo, all is fixed.
Update your copies from the repo, all is fixed.
BGHUDAppKit released...
June 25 2008 04:52 PM
Ok, although technically it’s already been released, it’s been released again :) Go to the repo and download the new framework. You no longer have to set the subclasses up, just drag and drop from the BGHUDAppKit Interface Builder Pallette and your good to go.
This is my first IB pallette so please email me if you find any weird things happening. I’ve tested it myself extensively for 2 days while I worked on it, but tired eyes can miss things.
This is my first IB pallette so please email me if you find any weird things happening. I’ve tested it myself extensively for 2 days while I worked on it, but tired eyes can miss things.
Teaser Time...
June 25 2008 02:02 AM
Ok folks. I have been working non-stop since yesterday (well I had to goto work today though). Anyways I had to make some modifications to the drawing code, optimizations so the controls align properly and display properly. But it works like a charm so I threw together a teaser vid for yall. Be warned I’m kinda loopy, haven’t had much sleep and it’s 2am here right now. I focused on the HUD Buttons first since they are by far the largest bit of work in this framework. Watch the teaser...
Big changes...
June 23 2008 03:58 PM
There are some big changes in plan for the next major upgrade. I've successfully got an IBPlugin working, just on BGHUDButtonCell, the control will now draw properly in IB and in IB Simulation. I plan on upgrading ALL the controls to match before releasing any new ones. I think as it stands right now the framework is pretty well robust. I will be working on the submitted Bugs as well during this time before I begin work on any unimplemented controls. Next on the list is NSMenu by the way.
I'll also be implementing a new theme system. Don't worry, this makes it easier than ever. As it stands every control (if using default appearance) creates a new instance of BGGradientTheme. As one user pointed out to me, this is poor management of memory, and I agree. He gave me a much better transparent alternative, you the user shouldn't see a difference.
I expect this upgrade to take a few days at least, I work tomorrow and I'm off Wed so probably by Wed night.
I'll also be implementing a new theme system. Don't worry, this makes it easier than ever. As it stands every control (if using default appearance) creates a new instance of BGGradientTheme. As one user pointed out to me, this is poor management of memory, and I agree. He gave me a much better transparent alternative, you the user shouldn't see a difference.
I expect this upgrade to take a few days at least, I work tomorrow and I'm off Wed so probably by Wed night.
BGHUDScroller...
June 19 2008 10:21 AM
Good news for those of you that are wanting a Horizontal HUD style scroller. I finally figured out how Apple does it and now my scroller is undergoing code additions so that it draws appropriately. I should have it out by tonight. I completely forgot about hoizontal scrollers until I was finishing up the tableview implementation.....der...didn’t look quite so nice with an Aqua scroller at the bottom ;)
In other news. BGHUDAppKit now has a mailing list. Subscribe to it so you can keep up to date with the latest news and releases.
In other news. BGHUDAppKit now has a mailing list. Subscribe to it so you can keep up to date with the latest news and releases.
In the news...
June 17 2008 06:20 PM
Today was an exciting day. I’m off today so naturally I’m working on BGHUDAppKit, I came across a site created by Matt Brewer called Mac Fanatic. Matt has a lot of great tid bits on his blog, but be sure to check out his software podcast reviews and discussion boards. This site goes into the favorites for sure.
While browsing his posts I came across one mentioning HUD controls in Leopard and the options available to developers. I couldn’t resist so I emailed Matt to let him know of BGHUDAppKit. Turns out he had already played with it and like it. He posted a very nice review/post on it, read it here.
Matt even gave me a really good suggestion so I took his advice and now BGHUDAppKit no longer defaults to the standard Aqua appearence when no ThemeManager is hooked up. All the controls will now default to the Gradient HUD style. Like Matt says it will be much easier for those users just wanting the HUD appearence. I have to agree, gives the HUD guys what they want but also leaves themeing involved for those that want just a little more tweaking power.
In response to this I say: The only reason I work so hard and long on this framework is because I hear from people like Vincent, Matt, Mark, John and all the others that email me. Without the interest of the community this project would’ve died at BGHUDScroller (which was the only control I actually needed at the time)
While browsing his posts I came across one mentioning HUD controls in Leopard and the options available to developers. I couldn’t resist so I emailed Matt to let him know of BGHUDAppKit. Turns out he had already played with it and like it. He posted a very nice review/post on it, read it here.
Matt even gave me a really good suggestion so I took his advice and now BGHUDAppKit no longer defaults to the standard Aqua appearence when no ThemeManager is hooked up. All the controls will now default to the Gradient HUD style. Like Matt says it will be much easier for those users just wanting the HUD appearence. I have to agree, gives the HUD guys what they want but also leaves themeing involved for those that want just a little more tweaking power.
But, the work put into this framework is phenomenal and it seems that Tim isn’t sleeping until he implements every last single available control perfectly. If you need HUD controls in your project, I strongly believe this is the best framework available. The work is beautiful, it’s under heavy and active development, the developer is responsive to requests, it’s easily theme-able, and all the controls are already Resolution Independent.
In response to this I say: The only reason I work so hard and long on this framework is because I hear from people like Vincent, Matt, Mark, John and all the others that email me. Without the interest of the community this project would’ve died at BGHUDScroller (which was the only control I actually needed at the time)
Current Progress...
June 17 2008 10:26 AM
Updates complete...
June 16 2008 02:39 AM
Whewww...that was a long night. BGHUDAppKit is retain/release friendly. The GC Only restriction has been removed. I also added a new theme system so you only have to subclass one object to change the appearence of any BGHUD* class instead of subclassing one per required BGHUD* class.
The usage information has change!!! Please read Usage.rtf!!!!!!!!
From Usage.rtf
The usage information has change!!! Please read Usage.rtf!!!!!!!!
From Usage.rtf
When you first change the class to a BGHUD* class and run you will see that the appearance hasn't changed. You need to drag an Object Controller to your NIB and set it's class to either BGThemeManager or BGGradientTheme. Each BGHUD* control has a themeManager Outlet in IB. Connect that outlet to the Object Controller you just created. Now build and go and you'll see the change.
BGHUDSecureTextFieldCell...
June 14 2008 12:35 AM
BGHUDSecureTextFieldCell is ready for use. Go grab the latest revision from the repo. The only difference with this class is that you must use it on a standard NSTextField. Don’t worry, it will mimic the NSSecureTextField excatly. For some reason I cannot get NSSecureTextField to use my custom class draw code, it automaticly overrides all my code with its own. I’m assuming this is some kind of security feature built in by Apple. So instead, just drag a standard NSTextField to your window and change it’s cell class to BGHUDSecureTextFieldCell. Enjoy!!!
BGHUDTokenFieldCell...
June 12 2008 12:27 AM
After some long and very very hard research I finally figured out how to get a subclassed NSTokenField to work and draw the tokens correctly. Thanks to the guys over at CocoaDev Forums it now works. I’ve sent an email to those that have expressed intrest in this control so they can test it. I have NO clue how to use this or what I would use it for. I see it all over the place for blog tags and such but I’ve never needed it. So test away and send me your opinions!!
BGHUDProgressIndicator...
June 10 2008 12:23 PM
BGHUDAppKit has a new addition! I commited the source yesterday morning for BGHUDProgressIndicator. The progress bar supports only the Bar style for now, but it will draw correctly in either determinate or indeterminate modes. This control was pure living HELL!! The ONLY examples I could find on subclassing a progressbar for indeterminte mode where the ones that used images. So after about 3 different trys using a variety of methods from creating a large NSGradient, drawing sections at a time, I finally came up with one using NSBezierPath and subpaths. I had no clue that a single NSBezierPath instance could hold more than one path. So here’s how I solved it...
I created a NSBezierPath to hold the path information for the stripes, I created enough paths that would fill the bounds of the control, but made it slightly larger. The path contains points for one stripe, skips a stripe and then contains the points for the next. On animation I fill the entire rect with one color, and then fill the path with another, this results in the paths being drawn a different color and giving the stripped appearence. Then I just offset the x coordinate of the rect used to define my drawing based on the animation index. Looks like it moves now. Check out the code and it will make more sense...
I created a NSBezierPath to hold the path information for the stripes, I created enough paths that would fill the bounds of the control, but made it slightly larger. The path contains points for one stripe, skips a stripe and then contains the points for the next. On animation I fill the entire rect with one color, and then fill the path with another, this results in the paths being drawn a different color and giving the stripped appearence. Then I just offset the x coordinate of the rect used to define my drawing based on the animation index. Looks like it moves now. Check out the code and it will make more sense...