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'Codify' Brings Touch Based Programming to iPad

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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iOS developers TwoLivesLeft have just released an interesting new app called Codify, which brings touch based programming to the iPad.

The app allows users to create their own programs using the Lua programming language by typing code directly on your iPad. Also included are various assets and programming examples to be used in your creations:

Apps such as Codify are now possible since Apple relaxed their App Store rules that originally prohibited interpreted code in iOS apps. Apple now does allow for interpreted code to be run in-app, but still prohibits the download of such code. As noted by TouchArcade, this means that anything you create in Codify can't be exported (or imported).
I've heard more than a few developers attempting to create similar tools for the iPad, but all of them have hit various roadblocks in the Apple approval process because they all (in one way or another) allowed you to get code and assets onto the device and execute it. Codify sidesteps this by coming with a wide variety of assets, but unfortunately all of your creations will be trapped on your own device.
Click to expand...
The developer has already submitted an update that allows sharing, but the developer isn't certain if Apple will allow it.

Due to the limited nature of the environment, the tool is mostly useful for experimentation and prototyping, as you won't be able to send your creations to anyone else. Still, it's an interesting idea and pushes the iPad into more content creation areas.

Codify is iPad only and is $7.99 in the App Store.

Article Link: 'Codify' Brings Touch Based Programming to iPad
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/26/codify-brings-touch-based-programming-to-ipad/
macduke

macduke

macrumors G5
Jun 27, 2007
13,127
19,646
Does this mean you can't copy and paste any code? Or is it written to an app-specific copy/paste buffer? Otherwise you could still import code through Safari or mail, and export it out the same way by pasting it into a document or email.
 
wordoflife

wordoflife

macrumors 604
Jul 6, 2009
7,564
37
The apps available on the App store keep getting more advanced every day. Can't wait to get my iPad
 
*LTD*

*LTD*

macrumors G4
Feb 5, 2009
10,703
1
Canada
mrsir2009 said:
Since you can't get your creations off the device I guess this'll be great for casual programming,
Click to expand...

Until you can.

Just the other day there were people around here bleating that the iPad isn't for content creation and that it can't be done on the iPad.

Then we're shown how to do it a matter of days later. What's next?

More perspective on the Post-PC Era.
 
mrsir2009

mrsir2009

macrumors 604
Sep 17, 2009
7,505
156
Melbourne, Australia
*LTD* said:
Until you can.

Just the other day there were people around here bleating that the iPad isn't for content creation and that it can't be done on the iPad.

Then we're shown how to do it a matter of days later. What's next?

More perspective on the Post-PC Era.
Click to expand...

Yeah, of course it'll happen sometime. I was talking about now.
 
N

noahkareus

macrumors newbie
Oct 11, 2011
9
0
This looks good, too bad I already purchased textastic

textastic was quite a bit more money than this app, and this one looks nicer, hmmmm.
 
CReimer

CReimer

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Oct 24, 2006
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Silicon Valley
Sackvillenb

Sackvillenb

macrumors 6502a
Mar 1, 2011
573
2
Canada! \m/
Hmmm, once again apple limits the potential of their own devices, not because of any technical or hardware limitations, but because... They feel like it.

Always makes me kinda sad... I mean, how awesome could touch based programming be?! But for $8 there's not much point in trying this app for me, because I can't really do much with the fruits of my labours...

I keep waiting for the day when the iPad and iPhone will be released from artificial limitations... Perhaps one day it will happen... It's gradually getting there. You don't need a computer to activate an iPad or iPhone anymore... But you can still only sync it to one computer!

Someday...
 
FloatingBones

FloatingBones

macrumors 65816
Jul 19, 2006
1,484
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My understanding of the rules is that all of the code running in the app must be provided at app submission time -- nothing can be dynamically loaded from anywhere else. I don't think any sort of "sharing" would be allowed.

This app does bring an entirely new meaning to "cutting the cord". :D
 
H

humblecoder

macrumors member
Apr 9, 2010
33
41
I noticed they refrained from showing the "keyboard". I can't imagine typing sufficiently quickly and accurately on the iPad for extended periods of time. I think this is one of those cases of "just because you can doesn't mean you should". Still good on TLL for pushing the envelope.
 
FloatingBones

FloatingBones

macrumors 65816
Jul 19, 2006
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humblecoder said:
I noticed they refrained from showing the "keyboard". I can't imagine typing sufficiently quickly and accurately on the iPad for extended periods of time. I think this is one of those cases of "just because you can doesn't mean you should". Still good on TLL for pushing the envelope.
Click to expand...

Probably a BT keyboard.
 
arn

arn

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Staff member
Apr 9, 2001
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humblecoder said:
I noticed they refrained from showing the "keyboard". I can't imagine typing sufficiently quickly and accurately on the iPad for extended periods of time. I think this is one of those cases of "just because you can doesn't mean you should". Still good on TLL for pushing the envelope.
Click to expand...

here's a screenshot of the kb
 

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S

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
712
Sackvillenb said:
I mean, how awesome could touch based programming be?!
Click to expand...

Quick answer: not awesome at all. Unless you mean touching a real keyboard, with real tactile input for fast typing, and fewer errors.

I realize that that a BT keyboard can be used, but until I can attach a few 30" monitors and ergo mice to my iPad, it is still a far cry from useful for programming.
 
D

dethmaShine

macrumors 68000
Apr 13, 2010
1,697
0
Into the lungs of Hell
*LTD* said:
Until you can.

Just the other day there were people around here bleating that the iPad isn't for content creation and that it can't be done on the iPad.

Then we're shown how to do it a matter of days later. What's next?

More perspective on the Post-PC Era.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. I totally believe that in the next 3-4 years, we will have Xcode working on the iPad.
I would still be more comfortable programming on my macs as the onscreen keyboard just doesn't do it for me. One of the major reasons why this will be inadequate and unsatisfactory for programmers is because we geeks live on shortcuts.
iPad's onscreen keyboard doesn't have shortcuts. Programmers hate using the mouse; I would hate using onscreen controls instead of keyboard shortcuts.
Also semicolon, colon, brackets, curly brackets, square brackets are not present on the main keyboard. You need an action event to go to different set of keyboard keys which makes the programming slow as we need to use these things very often. {Apple can tweak the keyboard though}
 
FloatingBones

FloatingBones

macrumors 65816
Jul 19, 2006
1,484
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snebes said:
I realize that that a BT keyboard can be used, but until I can attach a few 30" monitors and ergo mice to my iPad, it is still a far cry from useful for programming.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree.

As Arn has noted, there's tremendous value in having an environment like Hal Abelson's Logo available for the iPad. OTOH, I'm less sure of the value for coding an App Store app on the iPad itself.

One side note: I hadn't realized that Logo went all the way back back to the Apple II. Time flies!
 
Q

qtx43

macrumors 6502a
Aug 4, 2007
659
16
Next up, write a functional programming language but call it a spreadsheet. But Apple defines their artificial boundaries the same way the Supreme Court defines pornography: they know it when they see it. So that might not work.
 
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