Friday. 29 May 2015

Today, I discovered many cool options that app machine provides. I realized that the facilities that I have utilized until now are very limited and makes the app look very regular and boring. But, today I discovered new things that will definitely spice up my app more and make it look more professional. I am happy that I tried and experimented the various options since they will definitely contribute to the betterment of my app. 

The first change that I made was the introduction page. The introduction page was an information page on its own. This meant that it would require the user to click on the page in order to read the content. This would provide them with an 'option'. This is a disadvantage because the introduction page includes a lot of important messages which will educate the reader about the importance of recycling and this is the main goal of this project. The drawback about this is that the user can either choose to read the information or just skip it. But the new thing that I added makes it pop up, first thing, when someone opens the app. The information page opens as soon as the app itself is opened and this somehow makes the user to read the information at least a little bit. Then the user has an option of exiting that page and resuming to the main page where there are many sub-menus according to the material being recycled. I really like this feature because it helps me attain my goal to a very great extent and also gives my app an advanced and a professional look. 

The second change that I made was the most major change because it was involved the main page of the app which was the page which has all the information and the various DIY activities for each type of material. Initially, it was just one page with all the information cramped up. Actually, in my last entry, I had mentioned that the page that talks about the material being recycled and the different DIY activities, looks very congested. Today, I found a solution to that problem. There was a block that said products. When I tried it, I realized that it was the perfect solution to my problem. This block divided the page into categories and when one clicks on the particular category, then it will  take them to another page, where that particular thing is discussed in more detail. This makes my app much more organized and more appealing. A few days ago, I had made a page for plastic where I had talked about the material and the different DIY activities. Today, I had to remake the page in the new format that I had discovered. It was not that difficult because almost all the information was already in the other page, and I could keep referring to it. I also made another page which discussed the various DIY projects that you can do using newspapers. I also had to do  little bit of research for this. But I managed to finish this page too. Today was an extremely productive day and I am happy with my progress. I am 3/4 done with my app as tomorrow, I only have to make a page for another material and the conclusion page. Then I am done with my app and is officially ready for publishing. The screenshots below show the work I did today and my overall progress: 

This is the block that I had used in order for introduction page to pop up, as soon as one opens the app.

This is how the introduction page now looks after I used the new block that I discovered.

This was the process of making the page for plastic material. It was pretty simple and straightforward, apart from some minor challenges that I faced here and there. 

This is how the page will look. It is very evident that it looks much more easy to follow and organized.

this is how the page looks after I added all the 5 DIY projects that one can do using plastic. When the user clicks on one of the activities, they will be taken to another page where the activity will be explained properly and with images. 

this was the second page that I made following the same format as the previous one

Thursday, 28 May 2015 

Today, I was able to finish quite a significant amount of work. I am satisfied with my progress and am very positive that I will finish making the app well before the deadline. Today, I made the second page of the app which shows the various DIY projects that one can do. I have planned to divide the app into various categories- according to the materials. The second page is mainly about recycling plastic. I have included 5 easy and fun projects for each of the materials. However, I am unhappy about the fact that the second page is too long.  This is because the second page has all the projects, their pictures and their descriptions. This makes the page look very clustered and disorganized. I need to do a little bit more of exploring to find a way to make it look organized. 

However, I am happy about the fact that I am making progress and know how to move ahead. This is all I have done for today and will do the same for other materials during the next session. I also visited a number of websites in order to know the various DIY projects. Furthermore, I also tried to use my last sessions' knowledge and added a top image for this page. For this page, I added an image which showed a bored panda. This is because I got most of the projects from a website called BoredPanda. Below are some of the screenshots that show the work I did today: 

This shows the process of uploading information onto the app page

bored panda is one of the websites that I used to get the different projects and ideas.

This is also another website that came in handy during my research. However, I did not take much help from this website because I had to refer to the reader to one particular websites and not many at once, since it might confuse them.

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Today,a lot of my doubts got cleared as I explored more of this software. In the previous entry,  I mentioned that I was unable to find the place where you write the information/text. However, with some assistance from my brother, I realized that there is a separate block which is named 'information'. I added that block today for the introduction and wrote an introduction paragraph. I aimed to make that paragraph fun and attention catching. I also wrote in a very informal language so that the reader develops a more connected bond and gains interest in the app. It was not very difficult writing the text because I already knew the message I was supposed to convey in this sections. 

Basically, in this section, I wanted to tell the reader the whole purpose of this app and why it is very important to recycle waste and as a result, save the environment. Firstly, I welcome them to this app which will help them get a positive feeling about this app and might make them continue exploring this app. I made the first impression, the best! I wrote the opening text within 15 minutes and started to look at how I can upload this onto the app. I finished this process in 20 minutes and had the text uploaded onto the app. 

When I was seeing it in the preview area, I realized that the color and font of the text was not that appropriate. So I wanted to make the desired changes. When I started editing the text, the screen would freeze and thus not save. I faced a lot of challenge with this and could not solve this problem for about 15 minutes. I was tired and was on the verge of giving up. However, I tried it for the last time and I was successful. I overcame this challenge by reloading the whole page. However, I did not forget to copy the text too because I was suspecting that all the text will be deleted too. But fortunately, the text was not deleted. Once I reloaded the page, I was able to fix the font and the color of the text and made it the way I wanted.

 I also added a top image which makes it look much better. The top image that I added was a garbage dump so that it looks related to the topic and the thoughts of the reader does get diverted. Below are some screenshots that show the work that I did today: 

This screenshot shows the information block that I had been looking for since the last entry

This screenshot shows the process of writing the introduction paragraph. As you can see, the language used is very informal so that the reader can engage better.

This was the final look of my app for today.

Monday, 25 May 2015

Today I got to work a lot on my app and made quite a significant progress. Progress was not in terms of progress with my app. Instead, progress was in terms of exploring new techniques and available options on this online software. I tried various things and implemented them on my app. One feature that I love about this software is the quick preview area. On the side of the working space, there is phone which shows how our app will look on a phone. So whatever changes we make, will appear on the quick preview phone. This is very useful because I can immediately know how the new changes that I made, will look and if it is suitable or not. However, the software is extremely difficult to use as the directions are not very straightforward and can easily mislead one. 

But, I am learning a lot of new things and have tried changing my app into various formats. I made the introduction page today. One of the doubts that I need to clear in the course of the day is how I am supposed to add information on the page. Basically, once I add the page, I realized that there is not designated area which says "text" or "information here". I have to further research on this or ask my brother for help.  

Another major challenge that I faced today was that I am unable to figure out how to insert my logo on the app. I tried various things, but the image always somehow ends up being larger than the limit. I tried reducing it online, but all my attempts failed. I am very frustrated about this and need to figure out how works because I need to have a log on the front page as it is a bare necessity and is also one of my design specifications. 

The screenshots below show my progress and how today's work went about: 

This screenshot shows my brief attempt to insert a top image which I assumed would be my logo. However, I later realized that this will not look good. 

This screenshot shows the different websites that I tried to make my logo or the main title of the app.

The below screenshot shows the final logo that I was able to come up with. 

                                         Sunday 24, May 2015

Today I began creating my app using www.appmachine.com. Shockingly, it is much more complicated and difficult that I thought it would be. However, I have not given up and am continuing to learn through various means. I am using support and help from various sources such as YouTube videos, reviews and the support website of appmachine itself. I have also posted the questions and the doubts that I have on their official query websites. I am very happy about the fact that their responses have been very helpful and quick. Today, I analyzed different background themes and then took a bold decision to choose a floral background. This is also based on the fact that one of my design specifications require the background of my app to be floral. 
One of the major challenge that I faced during today's task was that I was confused as to how I was supposed to app subtopics and blocks for the contents page. After a lot of research I found the answer. Furthermore, my brother, who has used appmachine before agreed to assist. Although he had forgotten most of the things, his help did impact the amount of work that I did today. 
I also need to find a way in which I can have a cover page which solely has a logo and the name of the app. This is because, currently, the first page of my app is the contents page. In my opinion, this seems very abrupt. I need to research about it and then try to implement it into my app. The screenshots below show the work that did today: 

This screenshot shows the background theme of my app and the basic layout of the contents page

The screenshot below shows the process of making the app where I have to add blocks in order to create sub menus, sub topics and the content page. The menu and the design options also make editing the font, font size, font color and the text, much easier. 

This is today's final look of the app. Since I have figured out how to add sub menus, I will be adding the rest of the content page points, next time. 

Wednesday 20, May 2015 

Today I went through different websites that I can use to make my app online. I found many websites, spoke to many people who have made an app online before, read various reviews, ratings from various websites. I signed into various such websites in order to see the various options and the facilities that it provides. The one that provides the most options and using which I will be able to follow most of my design specifications, will be my final choice. The software that I considered include: 

iBuild

appmachine

appypie

appmakr 

After a lot of analyzing, I came to a conclusion that I will be using appmachine to create my app. This is because of many reasons. Firstly, it provides great templates that are suitable for almost any theme. My theme is obviously recycling, and I found so many templates that are related to recycling and the environment. Secondly, it is quite difficult to use, thus it will be something new that I can learn from. I have installed most of the important software such as word document and google chrome so that it does not hinder my work process. I will be begging to make my app tomorrow. Below are the screenshots that show the different websites that I visited and the options that each provided: 

Tuesday 19, May 2015

Today was the day when the worst could happen. My laptop crashed and I lost all the documents, software, apps and everything that I had on it! This included the parallel system of mac and the x code software itself. Unfortunately, I have also lost all my documents on the windows operating system too. I am extremely sad and disappointing that the worst that I had actually expected, happened. Additionally, it happened when I was just about to begin my never- done- before journey of coding. However, on the more positive note, I am happy that I had backed up most of my important work and have it all safe in a external hard drive. Nonetheless, I am in a position where I have to completely restart my laptop which includes installing google chrome, word documents, power point documents etc. Its just like I have a new laptop. 
Today I have to take a very important decision. This decision is to whether actually continue with the coding process or shift to making the app online. This is a very critical decision which will determine if I will have an end product or no. That is why I weighed out all the advantages and disadvantages of each. For instance, if I choose to code my app again, I will not reach very far and will be unsuccessful in achieving the goal of this project. However, I would have tried something new and learnt something. After a lot of debating with myself, I have finally come to a conclusion that I will discontinue my coding process and shift to making the app online because when I visited websites I realized that making the app online is also quite difficult, keeping in mind the experience that I have had with making an app. 

Monday 18, May 2015

Even though my computer is being very slow, I am somehow managing to do my work everyday. Today I achieved something very major because I finished my first phrase of coding which was to set up and code an empty app. The app that I coded today is blank and does not have any content. After today is when I will be able to start the input of data and information. In simpler words, the blank app is creating a platform where the information and the required data can be written and input. I did face a small obstacle today which was that I did not know how I was supposed to begin the coding process. I knew what I was supposed to code but did not know here and how. So, a new thing that I learnt today is that display of the software is divided into three parts, the navigator area, the debug area and the utility area. The debug area is where I will be writing everything and basically coding the data and the information. Nevertheless, the other areas are also equally important. 

Today, after a little more exploration of the operating system, I started coding my app. I am very thankful that I took the courses and watched the tutorials, because it is helping me start building my app. I am extremely stratified with the amount of work I was able to finish. I am also very happy with the ongoing experience and all the things that I have learnt until now because coding is something that I have never attempted before or ever even imagined that I might attempt one day. I had assumed that it is not my cup of tea or that it will be too difficult for me. But after I took that risk, I am happy I made that decision because surprisingly I have started developing a lot of interest in coding. I am very content and am enjoying the experience until now. Apart from the fact that my system was extremely slow and unresponsive, I did not face any other challenge. I hope my experience continues this way. Additionally, I have also backed up all my important documents on an external hard drive in case my laptop crashes and I lose everything. I hope nothing major of that sort happens so that I am successfully code my first ever app for the very first time! 

I am extremely happy with my progress and that fact that I have successfully finished the first phrase which is the blank app. However, I am still worried about the fact that my laptop has become very slow and keeps troubling me. I keep getting a feeling that it is too much for my laptop (which is of a quite a small size and data space) to handle two operating systems. This is the main reason why I have backed up everything from my laptop so that I do not lose any important documents. 

Below are the screenshots that show today's progress and the things that I learnt: 

Sunday 17, May 2015

The mac operating system has been successfully installed onto my laptop and has been working pretty well. When I first switched on my laptop, I was very confused as to what to do, because it gave me an option as to whether I want to use windows or the mac. But eventually my confusion was cleared as my brother assisted me as to what I should do next. Nevertheless, using mac operating system is very complicated and very different compared to windows operating system. Initially, I faced many challenges and was on the verge of giving up because the two operating systems’ functions were poles apart. I also had to watch a few tutorials as to how I should use the mac operating system. But now, slowly I am getting used to it. I am actually enjoying this experience as it is something new and different for me to learn. Today I just explored this new operating system so that I get familiar with it and do not face many major challenges as I am creating my product. However, I have also started installing the software required to make an app using x code which is a very major progress because this means that I am officially begin the creation of my app tomorrow.

However, there is something about the installation of the mac operating system which is worrying me quite a lot. When I was using my laptop, I realized that it was extremely slow and unresponsive. Whenever, I tried to open something, it said that the pages are unresponsive or it took too long for it to open. This is actually the slowest my laptop has ever been. Additionally, my laptop is also not originally of a faster speed which might make the whole system even slower. This is worrying because, the reviews that I read on the internet also mentioned such signs and suggested that those were the first initial signs of you laptop about to crash. I am hoping that is not true and I do not face such challenges in the near future. Nevertheless, I have made quite a lot of progress and will officially start building my app tomorrow. 

The screenshot shows the software installation and updating process which ran the whole night, so that it would be ready for use in the morning.













The screenshot below shows the first step of the coding process which was to open the software itself. The steps that followed this were very easy to follow and straightforward.

The screenshot below shows the next step which was to inform them about the type of the app that i wished to make using this software so that it would narrow down the options and the different things that they provided me with.

                                                        Friday 15 May 2015

I had learnt quite a lot of x code this week and I am very satisfied with my progress. During this week, the major things I learnt include: 

• How to read and the basics of writing x code
• How to use x code 6
• How to handle user interactions
• How to display images
• How to play sounds 
• How to save data
• How to handle multiple orientations 

These are the major things that I learnt. I am also jotting down some important notes in a notebook so that I can easily refer to it when I am making the app. Until now, everything is going on smoothly and I am enjoying this process. 

I have not faced many challenged except for time constraints and the fact that I have to refer to many tutorials in order to completely understand what is being taught. This is because some of the tutorials use a lot of complex language which I cannot comprehend because I am very new to coding. This is why I have to visit many websites and watch many tutorials to actually understand everything. Nevertheless, the courses that I am taking explain everything in a very good manner which helps me understand everything in once. Time constraints is another challenge that I am currently facing because this whole week I had dedicated to watching the video tutorials and teaching myself through the courses. 

However, I have not been as successful in this as I though I would because I had exams the whole week and I had very less time to spare. So I have learnt all the basics that I needed and am planning to start creating the app tomorrow. The mac parallel will be installed onto my laptop tonight. There was a way in which I could have avoided this situation by starting to watch the videos and do the course much earlier so that I would have been much more prepared than I am, by now. This a lesson that I learnt today and will never repeat again. 

But I will start creating the app tomorrow and hopefully not face much challenges with the parallel because many people have warned me about my laptop becoming much slower and the chance of it crashing. Hopefully, the process will go on smoothly without facing such major challenges. Below are the screenshots that show my progress and what I have learnt until now: