ctshryock

i'm finally finished the Core Animation Programming Guide and like most guides i finished with a good, broad understanding of it, with little practical understanding. i did do a lot of my own branching from the example code given too, tinker here and there mostly breaking stuff and finding out what doesn't work, which isn't a bad way to learn. i decided i needed a bit more guidance though, so i went book hunting.

Last week I bought Core Animation for OS X: Creating Compelling Dynamic User Interfaces. the physical book is due out in July, and you have to option of buying the beta pdf, the book, or both, myself choosing both. Got the pdf in about 5 minutes (fast!) and started tinkering.

i've been using example code from Apple (/Developer/Examples/AppKit/AnimatingViews specifically) to develop an small app for managing things in a grid of images. At first it was just a prototype because although i was using the sample code that did 85% of what i wanted it to do, i understood about 10% of the actual grunt work involving the grid. after reading the first 2 chapters of the pdf, i now have a clear understanding of what this magical animator thing is and how it does the magic it does. so really, the book already paid for itself, since i understand now what's going on in the heart of that sample code that drives my little app.

like most books from The Pragmatic Bookshelf, it's clear and easy to read, great examples and explanations, while not limiting you to certain things, but really pointing you in the right directions and priming you for self learning. excited to read more and excited to get my paper copy, which by then i hope to have gone through the pdf, but i do love having the paper reference.

many thanks to Bill Dudney for what has so far been an great guide and excellent purchase