Blog

Asterix and the Chariot Race by Jean-Yves Ferri

It is the thirty-seventh book in the Asterix series. Caesar organises a chariot race across Italy. Asterix and Obelix enter to represent Gaul.

Books

Monthly update #0330 • October 2017

Monthly update 330 • October 2017 • 2017-10-01 - 2017-10-31

Monthly Updates

What is AssetCache?

If you see AssetCache processes running on your Mac, here is what this content caching service does.

Mac

Invincible by Skillet

Skillet's 2000 album, a heavier and more electronic turn for the band, a record I came to long after release.

Music

Swift 4.1 Release Process

Swift 4.1 is a source-compatible update to Swift 4.0 that adds minor language enhancements, improves the Swift Package Manager and Linux support, and includes quality fixes to the compiler and standard library, but it lacks binary compatibility due to ABI stabilisation work for Swift 5.

Development

Starlight by Bethel Music

Bethel Music's 2017 live album, recorded on tour, gathers light and courage into songs built for a crowd to sing.

Music

What is apfsd?

If you see apfsd running on your Mac, here is what this Apple File System process does.

Mac

What is coupond?

If you see coupond in Activity Monitor, here is what this macOS process does.

Mac

Xcode 9.1 Improves Display of Fatal Errors

Swift has features that let you set expectations in your code. If these are not met at runtime, the program stops.

Development

Dictionary and Set Improvements in Swift 4.0

Swift 4 adds new methods and initialisers to dictionaries and sets that simplify tasks like grouping, filtering, and transforming data.

Development

Useful macOS defaults: Keyboard

Handy defaults write commands for com.apple.keyboard and related domains, controlling key repeat, function keys, and input behaviour.

Mac

Monthly update #0329 • September 2017

Monthly update 329 • September 2017 • 2017-09-01 - 2017-09-30

Monthly Updates

Swift 4.0 Released!

Apple released Swift 4 as a major update that builds on Swift 3 with better robustness, stability, source compatibility, standard library improvements, and new features like archival and serialisation.

Development

Everything by Jesus Culture

Jesus Culture's 2006 live worship album, an early recording from the movement that I came to later.

Music

Love Has a Name by Jesus Culture

Jesus Culture's 2017 live album is a long, warm gathering of praise, centred on a love that names and finds people.

Music

Monthly update #0328 • August 2017

Monthly update 328 • August 2017 • 2017-08-01 - 2017-08-31

Monthly Updates

Swift Local Refactoring

Xcode 9 features a new refactoring engine that transforms Swift code either locally in one file or globally across files and languages.

Development

The Resistance by Skillet

You can take my heart, you can take my breath; When you pry it from my cold, dead chest;

Music

Monthly update #0327 • July 2017

Monthly update 327 • July 2017 • 2017-07-01 - 2017-07-31

Monthly Updates

Cars 3

Cars 3 (2017), directed by Brian Fee, brings Lightning McQueen back to the track. Owen Wilson voices McQueen with age and drive. He faces new fast cars. Cristela Alonzo acts as Cruz Ramirez, the young trainer who dreams big.

Movies

Alpha / Omega by Kutless

Kutless's 2017 worship record gives well-loved praise songs a rock edge, steady and direct from start to finish.

Music

Read All About It by Newsboys

The Newsboys' 1988 debut, the rough Australian beginning of a long band that I traced back to.

Music

Bad for You Baby by Gary Moore

Gary Moore's 2008 release, guitar-led music with real feeling. I found it some years after it appeared and was glad I did.

Music

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