Pat Garner

I started using Swift, as soon as it became available, on internal tools and R&D. Then as soon as it was viable for use in commercial products I started using it in both new and updates to existing Mac & iOS applications. I've used it for everything from custom UI to audio/video programming. I love using Swift and I'm always looking to improve my Swift knowledge and skills and share that with others.

I first started programming for Mac in 2004 when the primary language for Mac development was Objective-C. Having previously spent years using C/C++, it was relatively easy to start being productive with it and I enjoyed being able to use the C & C++ I already knew and loved. I continued to use Objective-C as my primary language developing for all Apple platforms until Swift began to take over. Using Objective-C I wrote lots of proprietary tools as well as commerical applications such email related utilities for Mac or various novelty apps and utilities for iOS. One of my favorites was essentially a CMS for iOS which allowed us to ship a completely dynamic, native applications that could be remotely reconfigured on the fly for a varitety use cases. Though I don't use it much these days, I still enjoy using Objective-C and it will always be near and dear to my heart.

I've been working with SwiftUI since it was first made public at WWDC. I have had the opprotunity to use SwiftUI both on personal projects as well as working on projects for clients. Having had a deep background working with UIKit for over a decade, it's exciting to see SwiftUI grow and have a new way to build applications and UI for macOS and iOS.

As soon as Apple made an official SDK available for the iPhone for native app development I was tasked to start porting a marketing tool over which aided not only in creative name development for products, but also in research regarding domain availability and trademarks. From there I developed novetly apps where I learned to use OpenGL ES and write low level audio as well as utilities for taking notes or tracking property borders, a dynamic app engine that could be adapted to the needs of a variety of cusomters, and many of things including a teleprompter system. I really enjoy programming for iOS and I'm always excited to see what I can do with it next.

Along with Objecive-C, I started using Xcode as soon as I first started develping for the Mac in 2004. It has always been far from perfect, but I have still enjoyed using it and feel very comfortable with by now, nearly 16 years later. It's been exciting to see it evovle, integrating Interface Builder, version control, and other tools to streamline app production. Compilation and debugging have improved and so have the documentation and the overall interface. It just continues to get better year after year. I have never been the type to spend time focussing on what doesn't work in a piece of software or what I don't like and instead remember what not to do and be wary of and on using it to do what it does best. Xcode is the best tool for native Apple platform development and I continue to enjoy using it for that.