Playground Secrets: Update and new tricks

A big thanks to James Dempsey for tracking down not one but two new playground markup keywords. In addition to the new Xcode 7.3 experiment, note, and important markup, you can now add example and callout.

The example keyword adds a well-formated example that introduces a section that demonstrates a new concept:

Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 9.46.55 AM

The callout in constrast lets you use any title you want, enabling you to add flexible tips, warnings, cautions, trivia, and so forth.

/*: - callout(Trivia): The superscript dot over a lowercase (or miniscule) letter i is called a [tittle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tittle) and is considered an integral part of the letter's glyph. ![tittles](tittles.png) */

Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 10.04.43 AM

One more great find in Xcode 7.3, is that the fuzzy auto complete pop-up now incorporates documentation markup so you can view the description of any selected item:

Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 8.17.02 AM

I’ve updated both Documentation Markup and Playground Secrets to include the new tech features and expanded coverage with regard to callouts, Swift 3 upcoming features, and more.

Both books are available at iTunes and LeanPub. Your continued support enables me to keep revising these works and buy an occasional cup of coffee. Thank you!

Despite ridiculous technological difficulties with Pearson’s pilot Content Update Program, I am still pushing ahead with incorporating the Swift 2.2 changes into the Cookbook. (Pearson, if you haven’t heard, laid off about half or more of their workforce, has shut down  marketing, and is likely to close its developer library program.)

Despite these difficulties, I think the Cookbook (the name was chosen long before I started writing, and no, I couldn’t change it when it became clear that Swift was still evolving) is a darned nice addition to any development library.

I think you’ll like the book a lot if you can get past the title. It’s full of practical, sensible how-to and is perfect for anyone who has finished Apple’s tutorial and wants to start with real development.

Thank you for buying my books and helping me to support my family.

One Comment

  • ij… I wonder why she’s writing about Derby? Umm, nevermind!