Blog

Monthly update #0326 • June 2017

Monthly update 326 • June 2017 • 2017-06-01 - 2017-06-30

Monthly Updates

Useful macOS defaults: Trackpad

Handy defaults write commands for the trackpad, controlling gestures, tap to click, speed, and more.

Mac

Swift Package Manager Manifest API Redesign

Swift 4 redesigned the Package.swift manifest API in the Package Manager to make it simpler and match the design rules.

Development

Monthly update #0325 • May 2017

Monthly update 325 • May 2017 • 2017-05-01 - 2017-05-31

Monthly Updates

Pentecost

Over the years my grasp of Pentecost has matured. The Holy Spirit came for all who believe in Jesus.

Christianity

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, follows the son of Will Turner as he searches for the Trident of Poseidon to free his father from a curse. Johnny Depp plays Jack Sparrow, now down on his luck and hunted by a ghost from his past.

Movies

Ascension Day

Over the years my grasp of Ascension Day has matured. Jesus ascended to heaven for all who believe.

Christianity

What is avbdeviced?

If you see avbdeviced running on your Mac, here is what this audio/video networking process does.

Mac

Monthly update #0324 • April 2017

Monthly update 324 • April 2017 • 2017-04-01 - 2017-04-30

Monthly Updates

Swift Source Compatibility Test Suite Now Available

Apple announced a new Swift source compatibility test suite to help keep source compatibility in future releases.

Development

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), directed by James Gunn, follows the team as Peter Quill meets his father, a celestial being called Ego. Chris Pratt plays Quill, who must choose between the family he was born into and the one he found.

Movies

The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others (2006), directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, shows East Germany in 1984. Ulrich Mühe plays Gerd Wiesler, a Stasi captain who spies on a playwright. He sits in an attic with headphones.

Movies

Happy Easter

Over the years my grasp of Easter has matured. Jesus conquered death for all who believe.

Christianity

Good Friday

Over the years my grasp of Good Friday has matured. Jesus gave his life on the cross for all who believe.

Christianity

Monthly update #0323 • March 2017

Monthly update 323 • March 2017 • 2017-03-01 - 2017-03-31

Monthly Updates

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell (2017), directed by Rupert Sanders, is based on the Japanese manga by Masamune Shirow. Scarlett Johansson plays Major Mira Killian, a woman whose brain is placed inside a fully synthetic body, making her the first of her kind and a weapon against cyber crime.

Movies

Swift 3.1 Released!

Apple released Swift 3.1 as a minor update that keeps source compatibility with Swift 3.0.

Development

Useful macOS defaults: Mouse

Handy defaults write commands for the mouse, controlling tracking speed, scrolling, and button behaviour.

Mac

What is secinitd?

If you see secinitd running on your Mac, here is what this security process does when apps launch.

Mac

What is PowerUIAgent?

If you see PowerUIAgent running on your Mac, here is what this power notification process does.

Mac

What is nehelper?

If you see nehelper running on your Mac, here is what this network extension process does.

Mac

Monthly update #0322 • February 2017

Monthly update 322 • February 2017 • 2017-02-01 - 2017-02-28

Monthly Updates

What is touchbarserver?

If you see touchbarserver running on your Mac, here is what this Touch Bar process does.

Mac

Swift 4 Release Process

Swift 4 is a major release set for fall 2017. It focuses on source stability for Swift 3 code and essential features for binary stability, with big updates to generics and the String type.

Development

What is mediaremoted?

If you see mediaremoted running on your Mac, here is what this media control process does.

Mac