Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
- Subject: Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
- From: Turtle Creek Software via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2019 09:18:22 -0400
>> If you combine otool, classdump and Hopper Disassembler, you can find
how some Cocoa methods are working in any Obj-C executable pretty easily.
Here's the thing. We started out as construction folks who learned Excel.
Then HyperTalk. Then C++. As a business, our main strength is knowing the
construction business, and how to talk to folks in it. Our time is best
spent solving business-related problems. Along the way we have learned
many programming and human-interface skills, but the less time we need to
spend on that, the better.
If a programming environment requires zombies, disassemblers and other BS
just to make it work, that is a big problem. It's too much extra overhead.
Our company can't afford it.
I'd agree that the documentation for Cocoa is deficient.
CodeWarrior included a huge Inside PowerPlant book, modeled on our
well-worn copies of Inside Macintosh. But we rarely used it. Having
clearly-written source code and good comments is probably the best form of
documentation. Being able to step through it easily and see it in action is
a huge plus.
I suspect that Cocoa source code is ancient C that is badly in need of a
refactoring. Making it open, understandable and self-documenting would be a
great way to improve it. Based on our refactoring experiences, it would
end up being faster, safer and less buggy.
There probably are some parts of Cocoa that are extremely proprietary- but
even then, plain old patents are better than hiding the code, as a way to
protect the jewels. Competitors can always disassemble, as you suggest.
Speaking of early-Aughties history. We hired some subs to write the Windows
version of our app. They took a short-cut and used QuickTime DLLs, though a
lot still needed native MFC. Metrowerks offered to buy it from us so they
could make PowerPlant cross-platform. Sadly, before we finished
negotiations, Motorola did a re-org and our contact disappeared. MW soon
sold off their Intel compiler, just in time for Mac to switch chips. The
rest is history.
Casey McDermott
TurtleSoft.com
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