coding

Why developers choose the IPWhoIs.io geolocation API

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A good geolocation API can help help you serve users -- and your own bottom line -- better.
A good geolocation API can help help you serve users -- and your own bottom line -- better.
Photo: Monstera@Pexels.com

If you want to give visitors to your website or app a personalized experience and also boost your bottom line, it pays to use a fast and versatile geolocation application programming interface (API) like IPWhoIs.io.

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We’ll get into the benefits of geolocation services via IPWhoIs.io below. And it even has a free version that suits many users, or a flexible choice of inexpensive plans.

Coding feedback suggests remote workers face ‘hidden penalty’

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A working paper studied the price younger workers may pay for working remotely.
A working paper studied the price younger workers may pay for working remotely.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One of the first major studies of the surge in remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic suggests out-of-office workers face a “hidden penalty.”

It’s a reduction in feedback and guidance, which may harm people early in their careers the most. The study looked at engineers at a large technology company and the way they offered feedback on each other’s code.

Top 3 tools for Mac developers

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3 handy developer tools
These three apps solve three annoying problems with coding on the Mac.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Whether you’re just learning how to code, you’re studying computer science or you’re a well-seasoned Mac developer, these three apps are sure to help you in your work. I have an app that adds a whole slew of new features to the Xcode Simulator, one that makes it easier managing packages in Homebrew and a better way to download and install Xcode.

All of these tools are, themselves, open source. There are links to each GitHub repo where you can learn from them and compile them yourself.

First ChatGPT-generated app hits the App Store

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5 Movies
5 Movies is an iPhone app that provides daily movie recommendations, and it was created using ChatGPT.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

5 Movies, likely the first iPhone app generated almost entirely by ChatGPT, was approved by Apple and published on the App Store late Thursday night.

Morten Just, an independent developer of Mac apps who’s based in Switzerland, guided ChatGPT through the creation of the movie-recommendation app. Just said he told the AI what he wanted, then pasted its output into an Xcode project, writing only an estimated 2% to 5% of the code himself. The chatbot even fixed bugs as Just pasted in error messages.

“What matters to me is creating software that is useful and solves real problems,” Just told Cult of Mac after his 5 Movies app went live. “If I can do that faster with AI, I will.”

How an indie dev used ChatGPT to build an iPhone app from scratch [Planet of the Apps]

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AI-generated image of a silver robot sitting at a desk with a MacBook Pro and iPhone
No artists were put out of a job in generating this image.
Image: DiffusionBee/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Planet of the Apps bug Planet of the Apps is a series of interviews with app developers about making, marketing and maintaining apps in the App Store.

Swiss developer Morten Just has built a whole slew of useful Mac apps under the name Otato. But his latest app wasn’t made by him at all: He asked ChatGPT to build it for him.

While Just earned his stripes as a professional programmer, he didn’t write a single line of code to create 5 Movies. It’s an iPhone app that gives you five daily movie recommendations, shows you the trailers on YouTube and tells you where you can stream the films. (It’s currently pending App Store approval.)

These days, artificial intelligence is making headlines for giving users powerful tools that can write essays, recreate impressive art and give technology journalists the heebie-jeebies. 5 Movies is proof that, with a big assist from AI, it only takes a few prompts and a basic understanding of Xcode to create an iPhone app without any coding yourself.

When I interviewed Morten earlier this week for Cult of Mac, I asked him how he got ChatGPT to build his app, what the generated code looked like, and how AI-coded apps will impact ordinary people as well as software developers.

Get 130 hours of up-to-date Python training with this e-learning bundle

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Get 130 hours of up-to-date Python training with this e-learning bundle.
Kick off your coding career with this $34.99 Python bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re gunning for a job at Apple (or anywhere in the tech sector, for that matter) you’ve got nothing to lose by learning Python — and a lot to gain. This computer language consistently ranks among the top platforms that programmers use in a variety of fields, from data analytics to cutting-edge AR.

If you’re on the outside looking in, you might think that this kind of versatility means Python is a tool only experts can wield. But one of the best things about this computer language is how easy it is to learn, especially when you’re learning with this Python certification bundle.

Pick up coding in 2023 with $2,500 off this top-rated Python boot camp

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Pick up coding in 2023 with $2000 off this top-rated bootcamp today.
Start an exciting new job in coding with this excellent online training.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For anyone interested in a coding career, one of the most useful languages you can learn is Python. With the Premium Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle, you can study it in your own time, from just about anywhere. And during our Same You, New Job promotion, you can enroll in this $2,585 course for only $29.99 — no coupon needed.

Meet 3 Swift Student Challenge winners whose coding makes a difference

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This year’s Swift Student Challenge winners include (left to right) Josh Tint, Jones Mays II and Angelina Tsuboi. Their coding helps their communities.
This year’s Swift Student Challenge winners include (left to right) Josh Tint, Jones Mays II and Angelina Tsuboi. Their coding helps their communities.
Photo: Apple
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

Apple showcased three Swift Student Challenge winners Friday — out of 350 total — who solve problems in their communities with their coding skills.

The three teens were all first-time participants in the annual app-coding competition for young developers using Swift Playgrounds. The challenge takes place at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Get a lifetime of classes in coding and other essential skills for one low price

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Learn and protect your browsing with this massive e-learning bundle and awesome VPN.
Learn to code, market yourself, ethically hack and more with these learning bundles. Plus, bonus VPN!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you have the drive to pick up new and lucrative skills, you definitely should check out The Black Friday Mega Lifetime Bundle. This huge bundle gives you lifetime access to three e-learning platforms, with thousands of classes on every topic you could imagine, plus an awesome VPN.

It’s a $14,493 value, but it’s on sale now for just $125. It’s never too late to learn something new, but it’s almost too late to take advantage of these astonishing savings.

New Apple program will teach thousands of kids to code

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Using iPad and Apple’s Everyone Can Code curriculum, kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen US cities will have the chance to learn the basics of app design and development.
Using iPad and Apple’s Everyone Can Code curriculum, kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen US cities will have the chance to learn the basics of app design and development.
Photo: Apple

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Apple said Monday it launched a new program that will help tens of thousands of kids and teens at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen U.S. cities to learn how to code.

Apple’s coding education tools now extend from kindergarten to college

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Apple’s coding education tools now extend from from kindergarten to college
Teach small children about coding doesn’t have to involve screen time.
Photo: Apple

Apple released new coding education resources for elementary school students and educators on Tuesday. With them, the company now offers coding curriculum tools for kids all the way from kindergarten up to college.

In addition, teachers can try a new one-hour Inclusive App Design activity to introduce young children to the world of coding and app development.

Apple’s ‘She Creates’ sessions celebrate International Women’s Day all March long

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mac
The 'She Creates' sessions will be available all of March.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to celebrate International Women’s Day throughout the entire month of March with some special Today at Apple sessions that encourage women to explore their creativity.

The new ‘She Creates’ series of sessions will be available at Apple Stores from March 1 to March 31, giving visitors hands-on training for coding, photography, augmented reality and more.

Enlist yourself for mobile app development boot camp [Deals]

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The 2020 Mobile App Developers Bundle
Score over 20 hours of beginner-friendly training to build your mobile app development and programming skills.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s unlikely that we’re going to stop wanting new apps anytime soon. So mobile app development remains one of the best skill sets to cultivate. This bundle of seven courses can build your mobile development chops.

Apple’s software VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders

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Apple's Software Engineering VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders
Craig Federighi shared some of his career lessons with a would-be employee.
Photo: Apple

One of the cool things about Apple is how accessible its senior execs are. Steve Jobs started the practice of making his email address public knowledge, and would often respond to users’ comments. Tim Cook continued that philosophy, and has said he spends hours responding to people’s emails.

Over the weekend, an email posted to Reddit featured Craig Federighi’s message to a young fan wanting to pursue coding. Here’s what Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering had to say.

Apple helps teach Swift coding lessons to kids as young as 5

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Apple helps teach coding lessons to kids as young as 5
I wish my classroom had looked like this!
Photo: Apple

Kids as young as five are learning the principles of coding — courtesy of Apple’s expanding Swift learning curriculum.

As part of EU Code Week, Apple is highlighting how its Swift coding language is helping improve educational outcomes for kids throughout Europe. And not just where you’d expect either.

Get the skills you need to be a pro web and mobile developer [Deals]

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The Complete Web & Mobile Developer Bundle Ft. Rob Percival
Learn from the best with the Complete Web and Mobile Developer Bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you want to catch the eye of potential employers, adding “web and mobile app development” to your resume is one of the best ways to do so.

With the wildly discounted Complete Web and Mobile Developer Bundle — featuring lessons from a rock-star coder — you can make it happen.

Take advantage of limited-time sales on gadgets, software and eLearning

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AirBase Charging Dock
Charge your iPhone, Watch, and AirPods in this compact wireless dock.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The savings haven’t stop yet this long Memorial Day weekend! In addition to some well-deserved time off, why not shop without breaking the bank? We’ve got limited-time deals on a three-in-one wireless charging dock and more. Check these deals out:

Apple ramps up efforts to promote coding to kids in India

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iPhone sales are showing signs of life in India
Apple has been focusing increasingly on the Indian market.
Photo: Apple

Apple is ramping up its efforts to promote coding in India, one of its biggest untapped markets.

According to a new report, Apple is actively nurturing young talented coders in schools and colleges across India. These Apple Distinguished Schools teach curriculums based around Swift app development.

Apple Developer Academy offers a 1-year boot camp in coding

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Apple coding initiative
Apple has long pushed the importance of coding.
Photo: Apple

Remember Rocky IV, where Rocky heads to the wilderness to get himself into peak physical condition to battle Ivan Drago?

Well, Apple’s Developer Academy is kind of the same thing — only instead of preparing for a championship fight, you’re getting a free one-year course in app development. Oh, and you’ll even get access to the necessary iPhones and Macs for good measure.

Name your price for 13 comprehensive coding courses [Deals]

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Name your price for over a dozen comprehensive courses covering all areas of coding.
Name your price for over a dozen comprehensive courses covering all areas of coding.

Coding is a vast discipline, so there’s always something new to learn. That can be intimidating, or exhilarating, because it means there’s always room to improve your resume and pay grade. Either way, this loaded bundle of courses offers an invaluable leg up to any coding career.