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The Mojo of Dojo Publish Date: Nov. 1, 2007
Few use raw JavaScript anymore if they can possibly avoid it, in the same way that few people code in assembly language. Dojo is one of a group of powerful JavaScript toolkits that can do a lot of the work for you, and Matthew Russell has put together this introduction.
Building a Game Engine with Cocoa, Part 3 Publish Date: Feb. 2, 2007
In this third and final installment of Matthew Russell's series on building a game engine with Cocoa, we learn how to implement a game tree search called negamax--a variant of minimax that uses alpha-beta pruning to reduce the search space.
Building a Game Engine with Cocoa, Part 2 Publish Date: Jan. 5, 2007
In this second part of Matthew Russell's series on building a game engine with Cocoa, we learn how to program the logic for generating valid moves and improve the overall usability of our board game by highlighting squares on the board that correspond to valid move locations.
Building a Game Engine with Cocoa Publish Date: Dec. 19, 2006
Matthew Russell shows how to use Xcode and a little artificial intelligence to build a small game engine for playing board games like Checkers and Lines of Action. This first article describes how to build a generic, minimalist framework for setting up a board and moving pieces around using a standard Cocoa design.
Making a Smooth Move from .Mac to Google Publish Date: Nov. 1, 2006
Matthew Russell presents a practical approach for a smooth move from .Mac to a Google-centric web experience. Getting your email, address book, calendar, online storage, online photos, and blog squared away are all covered in this detailed transition plan.
Miglia TVMicro and EyeTV: Easy TV on Your Mac Publish Date: Sep. 12, 2006
The Miglia TVMicro is a small USB device and comes bundled with a remote control and the renowned EyeTV app, which makes it trivial to pull up program listings, schedule recordings, and more. Costing roughly $100, this is a purchase that might just pay for itself sooner than you think. Matthew Russell reviews.
Unify and Synchronize Your iTunes Libraries Publish Date: Aug. 22, 2006
Last June, David Miller published an article that explained how to synchronize playlists on iTunes. Today, Matthew Russell extends this idea by investigating and presenting three different ways to synchronize the actual contents of your iTunes music libraries when they are scattered across multiple machines. Then in the second half of the article, Matthew lays the foundation for a custom Python script that you can extend across multiple platforms and in various other ways.
How Does Open Source Software Stack Up on the Mac? Publish Date: Jul. 25, 2006
Apple does a great job of providing elegant software for its platform. But there are plenty of good offerings beyond the fruits of Cupertino. In this amazing survey of proprietary and open source software, Matthew Russell attempts to organize what's available on both fronts and even dares to assign grades. Has he missed anything?
What Is Vim (It's Easier than You Think) Publish Date: Jul. 11, 2006
If you've had a less-than-agreeable experience with Vim in the past and are willing to give it another shot, please ponder these points: 1) there's generally a learning curve involved with any powerful tool, 2) Vim is much more than just your run-of-the-mill text editor, and 3) the effort required to become a proficient Vimmer isn't as much as you'd think: it's comparable to that of learning to touch type. Matthew Russell explains.
Digital Bookmark Mods Publish Date: Mar. 15, 2006
Matthew Russell shows you how to add better bookmarks to your audio books, add slideshows to your music files, create enhanced podcasts, and share your favorite mods with others--even if they're on protected audio.
What Is TurboGears (Hint: Python-Based Framework for Rapid Web Development) Publish Date: Nov. 8, 2005
TurboGears is a Python-based framework that enables you to quickly build database-driven, ready-to-extend web applications. In this article, Matthew Russell takes you inside this framework for a look at its internal mechanisms, then introduces you to its creator, Kevin Dangoor.
An Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Publish Date: Oct. 21, 2005
Have you ever thought about using an iSight to take and classify images, such as those of a user sitting at the iMac? (Face-sensing engines have been in the news lately.) We have. And while we're working on that tutorial, we thought it might be a good idea to first publish a background piece on artificial intelligence. Check it out.
What Is Quartz (or Why Can't Windows Do That) Publish Date: Oct. 11, 2005
Quartz is the heart and soul of Mac OS X's graphics layer, which directly supports the defining features of the Aqua desktop experience. In this article, Matthew Russell gives you a short history lesson on Quartz, then shows you how it's implemented in Mac OS X.
What Is Darwin (and How It Powers Mac OS X) Publish Date: Sep. 27, 2005
Darwin provides the underlying foundation for Mac OS X. In this article, Matthew Russell takes you to the core of Apple's OS and explains how it powers your Mac.
What Is Automator (and Can It Make Your Life Easier) Publish Date: Sep. 6, 2005
Automator provides an intuitive drag-and-drop workbench for quickly streamlining repetitive tasks. Here's a look at creating workflows and working around Automator's inherent limitations.
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