Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
A printer isn't essential and is discouraged for environmental reasons, but may be useful for occasional debug-
ging. It can be easier to trace execution through a paper listing than to view it in sections on a monitor. There
are no special requirements for printing from Xcode. Any standard inkjet or laser printer works.
Choosing a pointing device
There's no lack of choice in the mouse market, and if you intend to develop professionally, getting a professional
mouse with extra features can be well worth the extra money. You'll use it every day, and it's important that
you're comfortable with it, that its shape doesn't leave you with RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury), and that it
doesn't have extra or missing features that break your concentration. Extremely expensive mice with extra but-
tons may not be more productive than cheaper models. A good cordless mouse with a smooth scroll wheel can
save significant time, particularly if it includes inertia for faster scrolling.
Opinions are mixed on Apple's own Magic Trackpad and mouse models. Some developers feel very comfortable
with them, but others don't like them at all. Because pointing devices are a matter of taste, be sure to spend
time trying out the various alternatives as thoroughly as you can. You can literally save hours or even days over
a year with a cheap upgrade to a pointing device that you feel comfortable with.
Choosing your Mac keyboard
Keyboard action is a matter of personal taste. Some developers love the Apple wireless keyboards, but others
find them impossible to work with. Be sure to visit a computer store to try some alternatives. Logitech PC key-
boards offer a much wider range of actions and feels, and can easily be customized to create Mac mappings. Al-
though some Apple enthusiasts may be horrified by the idea of using non-Apple peripherals, keyboard feel has
a measurable influence on typing accuracy and comfort, so you must pick a feel that works for you.
Depending on your location, your Mac keyboard may have unhelpful character mappings. For example, in the
UK, the critical # (hash) character isn't available, and you can type
#import
only by copying and pasting it
from an existing import directive. It's a good idea to consider a free character mapping tool such as Ukelele
(
scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&id=ukelele
)
, which sacrifices nonessential characters to create
a custom layout that includes all the essential characters used in C-family programming.
TIP
You may want to consider using a U.S. keyboard for development. This can be a practical choice if you have a Mac
dedicated to development, but is less practical if you also use for Mac for browsing and e-mail. You can buy a U.S.
keyboard from the United States using a site such as
amazon.com
or
newegg.com
.
Beware of import duties and
VAT—the final cost may up to 25 percent higher than the order price.
Choosing supporting software
Although Xcode seems self-contained, in practice you're likely to use it with other software. For example, if you
choose to view documentation online, your choice of web browser becomes a significant limiting factor. Safari
and Google Chrome are reasonably well behaved, but Firefox 3.x is notorious for memory leaks and lock-ups,
and for running Flash and Java plug-ins with 100 percent processor utilization. Both can slow Xcode to a crawl.
In extreme cases, it's impossible to edit code without a noticeable delay. This may change in future versions of
Firefox, but currently Firefox 3.x can't be recommended. Debatably, Chrome provides the best overall browsing
experience. It supports Flash and ad blocking, loads pages quickly, and can handle many open tabs—a useful
feature when you may have many class references open simultaneously.
