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  • Animate multiple UIView in a cicle

    - by Giovanni
    Hi all, i'm creating a card game on iphone. My problem is that i want to animate the cards at the beginning of the game making the cards animate from a point to another point in a deck. I move my cards that are UIView, in afor cicle. this is what i do With this code, alla tha cards move together, i need to move the cards separately one after another CGPoint point; // Create the deck of playing cards for (int i = 0; i < 28; i++) { CardView *aCardView = [self.mazzo objectAtIndex:i]; point.x = -100; point.y = 200; aCardView.center = point; aCardView.zPosition = i; [self.viewGioco addSubview:aCardView]; [aCardView release]; //Here i call the method to position the card [aCardView positionCard]; } in the card view there are this methods -(void)positionCard{ [self performSelector:@selector(_positionCard) withObject:nil afterDelay:0.0]; } -(void)_positionCard{ [UIView beginAnimations:@"posizionacarta" context:nil]; [UIView setAnimationCurve:UIViewAnimationCurveEaseIn]; [UIView setAnimationDuration:0.3f]; CGPoint point; point.x = 280 + ((arc4random() % 2) - 1); point.y = 240 + ((arc4random() % 2) - 1); self.center = point; [UIView commitAnimations]; [self setNeedsLayout]; }

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  • How can we best represent the SDLC process as a board game?

    - by Innogetics
    I recently got interested in financial board games and saw how they can be very useful in educating children about certain concepts. It got me thinking whether it was also possible to represent certain aspects of executing a software project via a boardgame and make it fun. Here are a few things that I have come up so far: human resources and tools / techniques are represented as cards. requirements are also represented as cards, which are dealt equally to each player, and the objective is to move all requirement cards through an "SDLC" board (one per player) that represent a series of squares grouped according to phases (design all the way to deployment) the passage of time is represented in a main square board like monopoly, and completing a trip around the board (passing "Go") allows the player to move each of the requirement cards a number of steps through the SDLC board depending on the capability of the resource cards (senior programmer allows one requirement to move two squares in the dev phase, junior programmer only one, etc.) players will start with play money representing the project budget, and at every pass at "Go" is payday. the player is out of the game if he runs out of funds. the main board also has "chance" / "risk" cards, which represent things that can mess up a project. damage is applied at the roll of a die, and chance modifiers depend on whether the user has "bought" tools / techniques. I haven't implemented this idea yet as I'm still looking at more play elements that can make the game more engaging, as well as soliciting for more ideas. I am planning to release this under Creative Commons license but haven't decided on the exact license yet. Any more game play suggestions are welcome. UPDATE: This was posted in BoardGameGeek and there's now an active discussion thread there. http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/4436694

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  • Add a List<object> to EF

    - by Billdr
    I'm playing around with EF, trying to get my bearings. Right now I'm writing a blackjack game for a website. The problem is that my whenever I pull a GameState from the database, the playerHand, dealerHand, theDeck, and dealerHidden properties are null. public class GameState { [Key] [DatabaseGeneratedAttribute(DatabaseGeneratedOption.Identity)] public int gameSession { get; set; } public int playerScore { get; set; } public int dealerScore { get; set; } public Deck theDeck { get; set; } public List<Cards> playerHand { get; set; } public List<Cards> dealerHand { get; set; } public Cards dealerHidden { get; set; } public bool gameOver { get; set; } } public class Cards { [Key] [DatabaseGenerated(DatabaseGeneratedOption.Identity)] public int cardId { get; set; } public string cardName { get; set; } public int cardValue { get; set; } } public class GameStateContext : DbContext { public GameStateContext() : base("MyContext") { } protected override void OnModelCreating(DbModelBuilder modelBuilder) { modelBuilder.Entity<GameState>().HasRequired(e => e.theDeck); modelBuilder.Entity<GameState>().HasRequired(e => e.dealerHand).WithMany().WillCascadeOnDelete(false); modelBuilder.Entity<GameState>().HasRequired(e => e.playerHand).WithMany().WillCascadeOnDelete(false); modelBuilder.Entity<GameState>().HasOptional(e => e.dealerHidden); modelBuilder.Entity<Deck>().HasRequired(e => e.cards).WithMany().WillCascadeOnDelete(false); base.OnModelCreating(modelBuilder); } public DbSet<GameState> GameStates { get; set; } public DbSet<Deck> Decks { get; set; } public DbSet<Card> Cards { get; set; } } The cards and deck table are populated. Where am I going wrong?

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  • LSI MegaRAID Expected Chip Temperature?

    - by Myles Gray
    We recently built a replicating SAN array from 2x Dell R720XD's, we are using LSI 9270-8i MegaRAID cards with CacheCade 2.0, BBU and Write Back cache enabled. Our cards are showing HUGE chip temperatures (97*C+ with NO disk activity!). Our R720's are in auto temp management mode so the max exhaust temp is 50*C. The MegaRAID cards are passively cooled and depend on good airflow to cool them - however is 97*C normal? - I have seen reference to 60*C max ambients but nothing for chip temp.

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  • Hardware for 4 Monitors

    - by Simon
    Looking to build several systems to output to 4 monitors over DVI. I notice most of the recent Nvidia and ATI/AMD cards have dual-DVI ports. Can I simply install two of these cards to get four monitors - or are only some cards capable of running side-by-side with another? How can I tell before purchasing? Simon.

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  • video card performance monitoring?

    - by Dru
    Is there a 'top' like command for monitoring the GPU and memory usage of a video card? I am most interested in Linux commands, but and OS would be interesting. I strongly suspect that for a group of my systems the video cards are being under-utilized (but I have no idea by how much) and would like to re-allocate funds to other bottle-necks. We are using higher end cards, so the price difference between cards is significant. Thank you.

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  • ATI Eyefinity under linux

    - by Bryan Ward
    I know that the new 5xxx series cards from ATI are capable of powering up to 6 monitors, but I was curious if anyone had any such luck setting this up under linux. I actually only have three monitors that I am interested in using, but three is the point where the previous generation video cards started to get a little buggy as a result of needing multiple video cards. Is the linux support for this capability any good at this point, or is the Eyefinity support really only for windows at this time.

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  • Disable write-protection on Micro SD

    - by Tim
    My task today is to open up and copy some files to 700 brand new micro SD cards. As I get going on this task I am finding that some of the Micro SD cards are telling me "sorry this drive is write protected" To copy the files I am using a standard SD to micro SD card adapter, and a USB SD card reader / writer. I have ensured that the switch is set to OFF on all of my adapters. As soon as I get a Micro SD that tells me it is write protected I can use the same adapter with another micro SD and it works fine, so I know the problem is not with my adapters. My question is: How can I disable the write protection on a Micro SD card? This eHow article seems to indicate that there is also a physical switch on Micro SD cards. However I have personally never seen a Micro SD with a physical switch, and none of the ones I am using today have said switch. Since these cards are brand new and thus empty are the ones that are telling me they are write protected simply useless? Could this be caused by some sort of defect in the cards?

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  • Recommendations for a JetDirect print server for USB 2.0 printers?

    - by eleven81
    I have been using some older HP JetDirect 300x print servers for a variety of parallel printers over the years. These things work great for every printer I have tried them with, including HP's, Dell's, and even a Mountbatten braille embosser! These have been a boon for printers whose internal network cards fail, but whose parallel ports continue working. I don't have to throw away the $500 printer that is one year and a week old, and can keep using it for many, many years. Now that very few printers are coming with parallel ports, but are coming solely with USB connections and network cards. When the network card fails but the printer is still usable, I want to continue using it on the network with a JetDirect card. In summary: Does anyone have any recommendations for JetDirect cards that will work as well with USB 2.0 printers of unspecified manufacturer that my old JetDirect 300x cards do?

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  • How do I hookup a dual video card Crossfire rig to a single monitor?

    - by Alexed
    I just received a new Alienware box preinstalled with two nice shiny ATI 6950 graphics cards. My goal is to use both of them to give me really good resolution and frame rate on my single monitor. There's zero documentation with the Alienware box and nothing I can find online. Do I just plug the monitor into one of the cards, and expect the two cards to do magic internally? The ATI Crossfire website indicates a need for an "external crossfirex connection cable". Do I need to buy one of these? If so, what kind of cable is it? The AMD Catalyst Control Center shows the second card as "Linked" but when I go to the AMD Overdrive section, the second card is at zero temperature, and clock, suggesting it's not actually doing anything. What do I need to do to make use of both cards? Is it something that doesn't kick in until I do something graphically intensive?

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  • 2x ATI FireMV 2250 not working

    - by Brett Rigby
    I've just bought 2x ATI FireMV 2250 cards from a reputable seller on ebay... one is a PCI-E x1 and the other is a PCI-E x16. Problem is, neither works in my Dell Vostro 220 PC... Both cards appear to not work. Is there something I'm missing? The seller used an anti-static bag for one of the cards, syaing that: "You Must connect this graphics board to the computer's power supply" but there's no socket for that, nor any indication. I have contacted the seller, but thought I'd raise it here, as it seems strange that two cards can be non-functioning.

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  • Comparing 128MB GeForce 8600GT and 512MB Radeon X1650

    - by Synetech inc.
    Hi, I'm trying to determine which is the better of these two video cards: 128MB Nvidia GeForce 8600GT card while the other has a 512MB ATI Radeon X1650 card. Both cards are the upper-level mid-range versions of their respective series. On the one hand, the ATI has substantially more VRAM, but the Nvidia supports D3D 10 and SM4.0 as opposed to D3D 9.0c/SM3.0 that the ATI supports. Also, I have always heard better things about Nvidia cards compared to ATI cards. I'm trying to find some advice on which one is better, but I can't find any actual comparisons or anything for these specific cards (the comparisons I can find are only similar ones like the X1650 Pro or 8600GT PCI-E), so I figure that what I need to know is whether the extra VRAM is that important. Looking at the ATI table and the Nvidia table seems to indicate that the Nvidia is better, but then again, the Nvidia table also says that the GeForce 8600GT is a PCI-E card with at least 256MB even though the card in question is an AGP with 128MB. (:-?) (It looks like the ATI card is not supported in Windows 7 while the Nvidia card is, which I suppose is also a factor, though not quite as immediately relevant as performance.) Any ideas? Thanks a lot.

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  • How to balance a non-symmetric "extension" based game?

    - by Klaim
    Most strategy games have fixed units and possible behaviours. However, think of a game like Magic The Gathering : each card is a set of rules. Regularly, new sets of card types are created. I remember that the firsts editions of the game have been said to be prohibited in official tournaments because the cards were often too powerful. Later extensions of the game provided more subtle effects/rules in cards and they managed to balance the game apparently effectively, even if there is thousands of different cards possible. I'm working on a strategy game that is a bit in the same position : every units are provided by extensions and the game is thought to be extended for some years, at least. The effects variety of the units are very large even with some basic design limitations set to be sure it's manageable. Each player choose a set of units to play with (defining their global strategy) before playing (like chooseing a themed deck of Magic cards). As it's a strategy game (you can think of Magic as a strategy game too in some POV), it's essentially skirmish based so the game have to be fair, even if the players don't choose the same units before starting to play. So, how do you proceed to balance this type of non-symmetric (strategy) game when you know it will always be extended? For the moment, I'm trying to apply those rules but I'm not sure it's right because I don't have enough design experience to know : each unit would provide one unique effect; each unit should have an opposite unit that have an opposite effect that would cancel each others; some limitations based on the gameplay; try to get a lot of beta tests before each extension release? Looks like I'm in the most complex case?

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  • Model View Control Issue: Null Pointer Initialization Question

    - by David Dimalanta
    Good morning again. This is David. Please, I need an urgent help regarding control model view where I making a code that uniquely separating into groups: An Activity Java Class to Display the Interface A View and Function Java Class for Drawing Cards and Display it on the Activity Class The problem is that the result returns a Null Pointer Exception. I have initialize for the ID for Text View and Image View. Under this class "draw_deck.java". Please help me. Here's my code for draw_deck.java: package com.bodapps.inbetween.model; import android.content.Context; import android.view.View; import android.widget.ImageView; import android.widget.TextView; import com.bodapps.inbetween.R; public class draw_deck extends View { public TextView count_label; public ImageView draw_card; private int count; public draw_deck(Context context) { super(context); // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub //I have initialized two widgets for ID. I still don't get it why I got forced closed by Null Pointer Exception thing. draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); } public void draw(int s, int c, String strSuit, String strValue, Pile pile, Context context) { //super(context); //Just printing the card drawn from pile int suit, value = 1; draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); Card card; if(!pile.isEmpty()) //Setting it to IF statement displays the card one by one. { card = pile.drawFromPile(); //Need to check first if card is null. if (card != null) { //draws an extra if (card != null) { //Get suit of card to print out. suit = card.getSuit(); switch (suit) { case CardInfo.DIAMOND: strSuit = "DIAMOND"; s=0; break; case CardInfo.HEART: strSuit = "HEART"; s=1; break; case CardInfo.SPADE: strSuit = "SPADE"; s=2; break; case CardInfo.CLUB: strSuit = "CLUB"; s=3; break; } //Get value of card to print out. value = card.getValue(); switch (value) { case CardInfo.ACE: strValue = "ACE"; c=0; break; case CardInfo.TWO: c=1; break; case CardInfo.THREE: strValue = "THREE"; c=2; break; case CardInfo.FOUR: strValue = "FOUR"; c=3; break; case CardInfo.FIVE: strValue = "FIVE"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.SIX: strValue = "SIX"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.SEVEN: strValue = "SEVEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.EIGHT: strValue = "EIGHT"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.NINE: strValue = "NINE"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.TEN: strValue = "TEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.JACK: strValue = "JACK"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.QUEEN: strValue = "QUEEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.KING: strValue = "KING"; c=4; break; } } } }// //Below two lines of code, this is where issued the Null Pointer Exception. draw_card.setImageResource(deck[s][c]); count_label.setText(new StringBuilder(strValue).append(" of ").append(strSuit).append(String.valueOf(" " + count++)).toString()); } //Choice of Suits in a Deck public Integer[][] deck = { //Array Group 1 is [0][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - DIAMOND) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 2 is [1][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - HEART) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 3 is [2][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - SPADE) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 4 is [3][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - CLUB) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, }; } And this one of the activity class, Player_Mode_2.java: package com.bodapps.inbetween; import java.util.Random; import android.app.Activity; import android.app.Dialog; import android.content.Context; import android.os.Bundle; import android.view.View; import android.view.View.OnClickListener; import android.widget.Button; import android.widget.EditText; import android.widget.ImageView; import android.widget.TextView; import android.widget.Toast; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.Card; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.Pile; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.draw_deck; /* * * Public class for Two-Player mode. * */ public class Player_Mode_2 extends Activity { //Image Views private ImageView draw_card; private ImageView player_1; private ImageView player_2; private ImageView icon; //Buttons private Button set_deck; //Edit Texts private EditText enter_no_of_decks; //text Views private TextView count_label; //Integer Data Types private int no_of_cards, count; private int card_multiplier; //Contexts final Context context = this; //Pile Model public Pile pile; //Card Model public Card card; //create View @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.play_2_player_mode); //-----[ Search for Views ]----- //Initialize for Image View draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); player_1 = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Player_1_Card); player_2 = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Player_2_Card); //Initialize for Text view or Label count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); //-----[ Adding Values ]----- //Integer Values count = 0; no_of_cards = 0; //-----[ Adding Dialog ]----- //Initializing Dialog final Dialog deck_dialog = new Dialog(context); deck_dialog.setContentView(R.layout.dialog); deck_dialog.setTitle("Deck Dialog"); //-----[ Initializing Views for Dialog's Contents ]----- //Initialize for Edit Text enter_no_of_decks = (EditText) deck_dialog.findViewById(R.id.Edit_Text_Set_Number_of_Decks); //Initialize for Button set_deck = (Button) deck_dialog.findViewById(R.id.Button_Deck); //-----[ Setting onClickListener() ]----- //Set Event Listener for Image view draw_card.setOnClickListener(new Draw_Card_Model()); //Set Event Listener for Setting the Deck set_deck.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() { public void onClick(View v) { if(card_multiplier <= 8) { //Use "Integer.parseInt()" method to instantly convert from String to int value. card_multiplier = Integer.parseInt(enter_no_of_decks.getText().toString()); //Shuffling cards... pile = new Pile(card_multiplier); //Multiply no. of decks //Dismiss or close the dialog. deck_dialog.dismiss(); } else { Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Please choose a number from 1 to 8.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } } }); //Show dialog. deck_dialog.show(); } //Shuffling the Array public void Shuffle_Cards(Integer[][] Shuffle_Deck) { Random random = new Random(); for(int i = Shuffle_Deck[no_of_cards].length - 1; i >=0; i--) { int Index = random.nextInt(i + 1); //Simple Swapping Integer swap = Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][Index]; Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][Index] = Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][i]; Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][i] = swap; } } //Private Class for Random Card Draw private class Draw_Card_Model implements OnClickListener { public void onClick(View v) { //Just printing the card drawn from pile int suit = 0, value = 0; String strSuit = "", strValue = ""; draw_deck draw = new draw_deck(context); //This line is where issued the Null Pointer Exception. if (count == card_multiplier*52) { // A message shows up when all cards are draw out. Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "All cards have been used up.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); draw_card.setEnabled(false); } else { draw.draw(suit, value, strSuit, strValue, pile, context); count_label.setText(count); //This is where I got force closed error, although "int count" have initialized the number. This was supposed to accept in the setText() method. count++; } } } } Take note that the issues on Null Pointer Exception is the Image View and the Edit Text. I got to test it. Thanks. If you have any info about my question, let me know it frankly.

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  • Model View Control Issue: Null Pointer Initialization Question [closed]

    - by David Dimalanta
    Good morning again. This is David. Please, I need an urgent help regarding control model view where I making a code that uniquely separating into groups: An Activity Java Class to Display the Interface A View and Function Java Class for Drawing Cards and Display it on the Activity Class The problem is that the result returns a Null Pointer Exception. I have initialize for the ID for Text View and Image View. Under this class "draw_deck.java". Please help me. Here's my code for draw_deck.java: package com.bodapps.inbetween.model; import android.content.Context; import android.view.View; import android.widget.ImageView; import android.widget.TextView; import com.bodapps.inbetween.R; public class draw_deck extends View { public TextView count_label; public ImageView draw_card; private int count; public draw_deck(Context context) { super(context); // TODO Auto-generated constructor stub //I have initialized two widgets for ID. I still don't get it why I got forced closed by Null Pointer Exception thing. draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); } public void draw(int s, int c, String strSuit, String strValue, Pile pile, Context context) { //super(context); //Just printing the card drawn from pile int suit, value = 1; draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); Card card; if(!pile.isEmpty()) //Setting it to IF statement displays the card one by one. { card = pile.drawFromPile(); //Need to check first if card is null. if (card != null) { //draws an extra if (card != null) { //Get suit of card to print out. suit = card.getSuit(); switch (suit) { case CardInfo.DIAMOND: strSuit = "DIAMOND"; s=0; break; case CardInfo.HEART: strSuit = "HEART"; s=1; break; case CardInfo.SPADE: strSuit = "SPADE"; s=2; break; case CardInfo.CLUB: strSuit = "CLUB"; s=3; break; } //Get value of card to print out. value = card.getValue(); switch (value) { case CardInfo.ACE: strValue = "ACE"; c=0; break; case CardInfo.TWO: c=1; break; case CardInfo.THREE: strValue = "THREE"; c=2; break; case CardInfo.FOUR: strValue = "FOUR"; c=3; break; case CardInfo.FIVE: strValue = "FIVE"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.SIX: strValue = "SIX"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.SEVEN: strValue = "SEVEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.EIGHT: strValue = "EIGHT"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.NINE: strValue = "NINE"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.TEN: strValue = "TEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.JACK: strValue = "JACK"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.QUEEN: strValue = "QUEEN"; c=4; break; case CardInfo.KING: strValue = "KING"; c=4; break; } } } }// //Below two lines of code, this is where issued the Null Pointer Exception. draw_card.setImageResource(deck[s][c]); count_label.setText(new StringBuilder(strValue).append(" of ").append(strSuit).append(String.valueOf(" " + count++)).toString()); } //Choice of Suits in a Deck public Integer[][] deck = { //Array Group 1 is [0][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - DIAMOND) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 2 is [1][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - HEART) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 3 is [2][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - SPADE) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, //Array Group 4 is [3][0] (No. of Cards: 4 - CLUB) { R.drawable.card_dummy_1, R.drawable.card_dummy_2, R.drawable.card_dummy_4, R.drawable.card_dummy_5, R.drawable.card_dummy_3 }, }; } And this one of the activity class, Player_Mode_2.java: package com.bodapps.inbetween; import java.util.Random; import android.app.Activity; import android.app.Dialog; import android.content.Context; import android.os.Bundle; import android.view.View; import android.view.View.OnClickListener; import android.widget.Button; import android.widget.EditText; import android.widget.ImageView; import android.widget.TextView; import android.widget.Toast; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.Card; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.Pile; import com.bodapps.inbetween.model.draw_deck; /* * * Public class for Two-Player mode. * */ public class Player_Mode_2 extends Activity { //Image Views private ImageView draw_card; private ImageView player_1; private ImageView player_2; private ImageView icon; //Buttons private Button set_deck; //Edit Texts private EditText enter_no_of_decks; //text Views private TextView count_label; //Integer Data Types private int no_of_cards, count; private int card_multiplier; //Contexts final Context context = this; //Pile Model public Pile pile; //Card Model public Card card; //create View @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState); setContentView(R.layout.play_2_player_mode); //-----[ Search for Views ]----- //Initialize for Image View draw_card = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Draw_Card); player_1 = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Player_1_Card); player_2 = (ImageView) findViewById(R.id.IV_Player_2_Card); //Initialize for Text view or Label count_label = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.Text_View_Count_Card); //-----[ Adding Values ]----- //Integer Values count = 0; no_of_cards = 0; //-----[ Adding Dialog ]----- //Initializing Dialog final Dialog deck_dialog = new Dialog(context); deck_dialog.setContentView(R.layout.dialog); deck_dialog.setTitle("Deck Dialog"); //-----[ Initializing Views for Dialog's Contents ]----- //Initialize for Edit Text enter_no_of_decks = (EditText) deck_dialog.findViewById(R.id.Edit_Text_Set_Number_of_Decks); //Initialize for Button set_deck = (Button) deck_dialog.findViewById(R.id.Button_Deck); //-----[ Setting onClickListener() ]----- //Set Event Listener for Image view draw_card.setOnClickListener(new Draw_Card_Model()); //Set Event Listener for Setting the Deck set_deck.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() { public void onClick(View v) { if(card_multiplier <= 8) { //Use "Integer.parseInt()" method to instantly convert from String to int value. card_multiplier = Integer.parseInt(enter_no_of_decks.getText().toString()); //Shuffling cards... pile = new Pile(card_multiplier); //Multiply no. of decks //Dismiss or close the dialog. deck_dialog.dismiss(); } else { Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Please choose a number from 1 to 8.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); } } }); //Show dialog. deck_dialog.show(); } //Shuffling the Array public void Shuffle_Cards(Integer[][] Shuffle_Deck) { Random random = new Random(); for(int i = Shuffle_Deck[no_of_cards].length - 1; i >=0; i--) { int Index = random.nextInt(i + 1); //Simple Swapping Integer swap = Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][Index]; Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][Index] = Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][i]; Shuffle_Deck[card_multiplier-1][i] = swap; } } //Private Class for Random Card Draw private class Draw_Card_Model implements OnClickListener { public void onClick(View v) { //Just printing the card drawn from pile int suit = 0, value = 0; String strSuit = "", strValue = ""; draw_deck draw = new draw_deck(context); //This line is where issued the Null Pointer Exception. if (count == card_multiplier*52) { // A message shows up when all cards are draw out. Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "All cards have been used up.", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show(); draw_card.setEnabled(false); } else { draw.draw(suit, value, strSuit, strValue, pile, context); count_label.setText(count); //This is where I got force closed error, although "int count" have initialized the number. This was supposed to accept in the setText() method. count++; } } } } Take note that the issues on Null Pointer Exception is the Image View and the Edit Text. I got to test it. Thanks. If you have any info about my question, let me know it frankly.

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  • How to program for constraints/rules

    - by Gaurav
    First the background, during interviews in the past, many times I have been asked to design some or other variation of card game as programming puzzle, and I have tried to design it in OO way, but I have never been satisfied with my solutions. However it was not until recently that I realized that I had been approaching the problem from the wrong direction. Specifically I was trying to solve the problem by modeling individual card as an object. Problem with this is individual cards don't have any non-trivial intrinsic behavior and therefore are not suitable (or primary) candidate as objects. What is interesting and important about cards are rules and constraints, such as there could be only four suits, or only thirteen cards in each suit. Of course, then there are any number of rules for games. So my questions are Are there any idioms/constructs/patterns to program for rules & constraints. How many in 1 can be applied in conjunction with OO paradigm.

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  • Amnesia doesn't start due to audio problems

    - by james
    I have a problem with amnesia game. After Intro and clicking continue button few times, when game is supposed to start it crashes. Here is console output: ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave ALSA lib pcm.c:2217:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.rear ALSA lib pcm.c:2217:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.center_lfe ALSA lib pcm.c:2217:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.side ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1614:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1614:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1614:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1614:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:957:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) The dmix plugin supports only playback stream ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave Cannot connect to server socket err = No such file or directory Cannot connect to server socket jack server is not running or cannot be started I should mention I have integrated both graphic and sound card.

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  • Issues signing up for Windows Azure free trial and pay as you go service

    - by Robert Greiner
    I get the following error when trying to sign up for the Azure 90-day free trial: We can't authorize the payment method. Please make sure the information is correct, or use another payment method. If you continue to get this message, please contact your financial institution. I've tried three different cards, two credit and one debit. Those cards are issued from two different banks. I've also tried the cards on two separate accounts. Someone from my work also confirmed that he could not sign up for the free trial either. Has anyone else had this problem? I haven't really seen much help searching Google and the support staff doesn't seem interested in helping people sign up for free accounts.

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  • How to get espeak working?

    - by wisemonkey
    I'm trying read it loud feature of acrobat, so need a text synthesizer, I've installed espeak and libgnome-speech libraries (it didn't work for acrobat right out of the box) so when I started espeak-gui through command line it gave me segmentation fault next I tried only espeak and here is output: ALSA lib pcm.c:2212:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.rear ALSA lib pcm.c:2212:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.center_lfe ALSA lib pcm.c:2212:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.side ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1613:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1613:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1613:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib audio/pcm_bluetooth.c:1613:(audioservice_expect) BT_GET_CAPABILITIES failed : Input/output error(5) ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:957:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) The dmix plugin supports only playback stream Cannot connect to server socket err = No such file or directory Cannot connect to server socket jack server is not running or cannot be started Any ideas? or any alternative solutions for read it loud? Thanks

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  • Why is there a 20 and not 21 in some versions of Planning Poker?

    - by SuffixTreeMonkey
    In Planning Poker, cards usually contain numbers of the Fibonacci sequence, which is 0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55 etc. However, you can see on the Wikipedia page (and this has been confirmed to me by people that work at several positions where Planning Poker is applied) in some editions the cards stray away from Fibonacci sequence after 13. They lower 21 to 20 and then continue with 40 and 100. Is there some rationale on why these values have been changed, specifically 21 to 20? (Also note that some other cards are added, such as ? and 1/2, but these are easier for me to understand, compared to the 21 - 20 shift.)

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  • Triple Monitor Setup with Nvidia and Compiz

    - by AndrewX192
    I have a triple monitor setup with two video cards on Ubuntu 10.04. I have the monitors and graphics cards currently setup as follows: Nvidia Geforce 210 #1 - 1920x1080 Monitor (Twinview) [Center - Monitor #1] - 1920x1080 Monitor (Twinview) [Right - Monitor #2] Nvidia Geforce 210 #2 - 1920x1080 Monitor (Separate X Screen) [Left - Monitor #3] This works fine, except when I open a program, it shows up in between monitor #1 and #2 - meaning I have to drag it to one screen before I can use the window. Gnome2's gnome-panel also does not work on the twinview setup; it spans between both monitors, but it does not redraw (ex: the clock never changes). In addition, when I maximize an application, it spans both monitors, which is not acceptable. When I enable Xinerama for my setup, gnome-panel no longer spans two monitors, and applications maximize as expected, but compiz does not work, as X11 compositing is not available. The lack of desktop compositing causes problems with dragging windows between screens (redraws take forever). Is there anything I can do to fix these issues without opting for different graphics cards?

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  • AZGroups.org Postcard Idea

    VistaPrint.com is a place that prints very cheap (free sometimes) business cards and post cards. I’ve used them in the past for my user group business cards. The printing is free, but you have to pay fro shipping, and they usually have a VistaPrint Logo on them. For community stuff, it’s great. I received an email this morning about a free post card offer, and I thought I would put together a post card that promotes the AZGroups.org calendar. This calendar is meant to be a simple calendar...Did you know that DotNetSlackers also publishes .net articles written by top known .net Authors? We already have over 80 articles in several categories including Silverlight. Take a look: here.

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  • Pulseaudio is no longer working in Debian Squeeze: 'Failed to open module "module-combine-sink": file not found'

    - by mattalexx
    I'm having a problem with pulseaudio. My machine crashed, and when I rebooted and ran pavucontrol, I got a "Connection Failed: Connection refused" dialog. When I run pulseaudio --log-level=info --log-target=stderr from the command line, I get the following output: [...] I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:1: No such file or directory I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:1: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:1: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:1: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:1: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:1: Invalid argument I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=1,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=1,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=1,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=1,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=1,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:1 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:1: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:1: No such file or directory I: card.c: Created 0 "alsa_card.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" I: alsa-sink.c: Successfully opened device front:1. I: alsa-sink.c: Selected mapping 'Analog Stereo' (analog-stereo). I: alsa-sink.c: Successfully enabled mmap() mode. I: alsa-sink.c: Successfully enabled timer-based scheduling mode. I: (alsa-lib)control.c: Invalid CTL front:1 I: alsa-mixer.c: Unable to attach to mixer front:1: No such file or directory I: alsa-mixer.c: Successfully attached to mixer 'hw:1' W: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 0.00 dB to 0.00 dB which makes no sense. I: module-device-restore.c: Restoring volume for sink alsa_output.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio.analog-stereo. I: sink.c: Created sink 0 "alsa_output.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio.analog-stereo" with sample spec s16le 2ch 44100Hz and channel map front-left,front-right I: sink.c: alsa.resolution_bits = "16" I: sink.c: device.api = "alsa" I: sink.c: device.class = "sound" I: sink.c: alsa.class = "generic" I: sink.c: alsa.subclass = "generic-mix" I: sink.c: alsa.name = "USB Audio" I: sink.c: alsa.id = "USB Audio" I: sink.c: alsa.subdevice = "0" I: sink.c: alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0" I: sink.c: alsa.device = "0" I: sink.c: alsa.card = "1" I: sink.c: alsa.card_name = "DigiHug USB Audio" I: sink.c: alsa.long_card_name = "FiiO DigiHug USB Audio at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.2, full speed" I: sink.c: alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio" I: sink.c: device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1a.0-usb-0:1.2:1.1" I: sink.c: sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.2/1-1.2:1.1/sound/card1" I: sink.c: udev.id = "usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" I: sink.c: device.bus = "usb" I: sink.c: device.vendor.id = "1852" I: sink.c: device.vendor.name = "GYROCOM C&C Co., LTD" I: sink.c: device.product.id = "7022" I: sink.c: device.product.name = "DigiHug_USB_Audio" I: sink.c: device.serial = "FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio" I: sink.c: device.string = "front:1" I: sink.c: device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800" I: sink.c: device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400" I: sink.c: device.access_mode = "mmap+timer" I: sink.c: device.profile.name = "analog-stereo" I: sink.c: device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo" I: sink.c: device.description = "DigiHug_USB_Audio Analog Stereo" I: sink.c: alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer" I: sink.c: alsa.components = "USB1852:7022" I: sink.c: module-udev-detect.discovered = "1" I: sink.c: device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb" I: source.c: Created source 0 "alsa_output.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio.analog-stereo.monitor" with sample spec s16le 2ch 44100Hz and channel map front-left,front-right I: source.c: device.description = "Monitor of DigiHug_USB_Audio Analog Stereo" I: source.c: device.class = "monitor" I: source.c: alsa.card = "1" I: source.c: alsa.card_name = "DigiHug USB Audio" I: source.c: alsa.long_card_name = "FiiO DigiHug USB Audio at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.2, full speed" I: source.c: alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio" I: source.c: device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1a.0-usb-0:1.2:1.1" I: source.c: sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.2/1-1.2:1.1/sound/card1" I: source.c: udev.id = "usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" I: source.c: device.bus = "usb" I: source.c: device.vendor.id = "1852" I: source.c: device.vendor.name = "GYROCOM C&C Co., LTD" I: source.c: device.product.id = "7022" I: source.c: device.product.name = "DigiHug_USB_Audio" I: source.c: device.serial = "FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio" I: source.c: device.string = "1" I: source.c: module-udev-detect.discovered = "1" I: source.c: device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb" I: alsa-sink.c: Using 2.0 fragments of size 176400 bytes (1000.00ms), buffer size is 352800 bytes (2000.00ms) I: alsa-sink.c: Time scheduling watermark is 20.00ms I: alsa-sink.c: Hardware volume ranges from 0 to 110. I: alsa-sink.c: Using hardware volume control. Hardware dB scale not supported. I: alsa-sink.c: Using hardware mute control. I: core-util.c: Successfully enabled SCHED_RR scheduling for thread, with priority 5. I: alsa-sink.c: Starting playback. I: module.c: Loaded "module-alsa-card" (index: #4; argument: "device_id="1" name="usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" card_name="alsa_card.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" tsched=yes ignore_dB=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1""). I: module-udev-detect.c: Card /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.2/1-1.2:1.1/sound/card1 (alsa_card.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio) module loaded. I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device front:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hw:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround40:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround40:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround40:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround40:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround40:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround41:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround41:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround41:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround41:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround41:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround50:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround50:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround50:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround50:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround50:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround51:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround51:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround51:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround51:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround51:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround71:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround71:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround71:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround71:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device surround71:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm_hw.c: open '/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p' failed (-2) I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device iec958:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM a52:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device a52:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=2,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=2,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=2,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=2,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:2: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)confmisc.c: Unable to find definition 'cards.USB-Audio.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=2,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2' I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)conf.c: Evaluate error: No such file or directory I: (alsa-lib)pcm.c: Unknown PCM hdmi:2 I: alsa-util.c: Error opening PCM device hdmi:2: No such file or directory I: alsa-util.c: Device hw:2 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 8000 Hz. I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:front:2: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:hw:2: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:2: Invalid argument I: alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:iec958:2: Invalid argument I: module-card-restore.c: Restoring profile for card alsa_card.usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7. I: card.c: Created 1 "alsa_card.usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7" I: module.c: Loaded "module-alsa-card" (index: #5; argument: "device_id="2" name="usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7" card_name="alsa_card.usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7" tsched=yes ignore_dB=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1""). I: module-udev-detect.c: Card /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.6/1-1.6:1.1/sound/card2 (alsa_card.usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7) module loaded. I: module-udev-detect.c: Found 3 cards. I: module.c: Loaded "module-udev-detect" (index: #6; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-esound-protocol-unix" (index: #7; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-native-protocol-unix" (index: #8; argument: ""). I: module-default-device-restore.c: Saved default sink 'alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-surround-41' not existant, not restoring default sink setting. I: module-default-device-restore.c: Saved default source 'alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-surround-41.monitor' not existant, not restoring default source setting. I: module.c: Loaded "module-default-device-restore" (index: #9; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-rescue-streams" (index: #10; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-always-sink" (index: #11; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-intended-roles" (index: #12; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-suspend-on-idle" (index: #13; argument: ""). I: client.c: Created 0 "ConsoleKit Session /org/freedesktop/ConsoleKit/Session2" I: module.c: Loaded "module-console-kit" (index: #14; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-position-event-sounds" (index: #15; argument: ""). I: module.c: Loaded "module-cork-music-on-phone" (index: #16; argument: ""). E: module.c: Failed to open module "module-combine-sink": file not found E: main.c: Module load failed. E: main.c: Failed to initialize daemon. I: module.c: Unloading "module-device-restore" (index: #0). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-device-restore" (index: #0). I: module.c: Unloading "module-stream-restore" (index: #1). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-stream-restore" (index: #1). I: module.c: Unloading "module-card-restore" (index: #2). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-card-restore" (index: #2). I: module.c: Unloading "module-augment-properties" (index: #3). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-augment-properties" (index: #3). I: module.c: Unloading "module-alsa-card" (index: #4). I: sink.c: Freeing sink 0 "alsa_output.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio.analog-stereo" I: source.c: Freeing source 0 "alsa_output.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio.analog-stereo.monitor" I: card.c: Freed 0 "alsa_card.usb-FiiO_DigiHug_USB_Audio-01-Audio" I: module.c: Unloaded "module-alsa-card" (index: #4). I: module.c: Unloading "module-alsa-card" (index: #5). I: card.c: Freed 1 "alsa_card.usb-046d_08d7-01-U0x46d0x8d7" I: module.c: Unloaded "module-alsa-card" (index: #5). I: module.c: Unloading "module-udev-detect" (index: #6). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-udev-detect" (index: #6). I: module.c: Unloading "module-esound-protocol-unix" (index: #7). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-esound-protocol-unix" (index: #7). I: module.c: Unloading "module-native-protocol-unix" (index: #8). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-native-protocol-unix" (index: #8). I: module.c: Unloading "module-default-device-restore" (index: #9). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-default-device-restore" (index: #9). I: module.c: Unloading "module-rescue-streams" (index: #10). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-rescue-streams" (index: #10). I: module.c: Unloading "module-always-sink" (index: #11). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-always-sink" (index: #11). I: module.c: Unloading "module-intended-roles" (index: #12). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-intended-roles" (index: #12). I: module.c: Unloading "module-suspend-on-idle" (index: #13). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-suspend-on-idle" (index: #13). I: module.c: Unloading "module-console-kit" (index: #14). I: client.c: Freed 0 "ConsoleKit Session /org/freedesktop/ConsoleKit/Session2" I: module.c: Unloaded "module-console-kit" (index: #14). I: module.c: Unloading "module-position-event-sounds" (index: #15). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-position-event-sounds" (index: #15). I: module.c: Unloading "module-cork-music-on-phone" (index: #16). I: module.c: Unloaded "module-cork-music-on-phone" (index: #16). I: main.c: Daemon terminated. I believe the relevant part is this: E: module.c: Failed to open module "module-combine-sink": file not found E: main.c: Module load failed. E: main.c: Failed to initialize daemon. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling pulseaudio, I tried to find a way to install module-combine-sink. Nothing worked. I'm on a Debian Squeeze 32-bit machine. What can I do to fix this?

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  • Agile Development

    - by James Oloo Onyango
    Alot of literature has and is being written about agile developement and its surrounding philosophies. In my quest to find the best way to express the importance of agile methodologies, i have found Robert C. Martin's "A Satire Of Two Companies" to be both the most concise and thorough! Enjoy the read! Rufus Inc Project Kick Off Your name is Bob. The date is January 3, 2001, and your head still aches from the recent millennial revelry. You are sitting in a conference room with several managers and a group of your peers. You are a project team leader. Your boss is there, and he has brought along all of his team leaders. His boss called the meeting. "We have a new project to develop," says your boss's boss. Call him BB. The points in his hair are so long that they scrape the ceiling. Your boss's points are just starting to grow, but he eagerly awaits the day when he can leave Brylcream stains on the acoustic tiles. BB describes the essence of the new market they have identified and the product they want to develop to exploit this market. "We must have this new project up and working by fourth quarter October 1," BB demands. "Nothing is of higher priority, so we are cancelling your current project." The reaction in the room is stunned silence. Months of work are simply going to be thrown away. Slowly, a murmur of objection begins to circulate around the conference table.   His points give off an evil green glow as BB meets the eyes of everyone in the room. One by one, that insidious stare reduces each attendee to quivering lumps of protoplasm. It is clear that he will brook no discussion on this matter. Once silence has been restored, BB says, "We need to begin immediately. How long will it take you to do the analysis?" You raise your hand. Your boss tries to stop you, but his spitwad misses you and you are unaware of his efforts.   "Sir, we can't tell you how long the analysis will take until we have some requirements." "The requirements document won't be ready for 3 or 4 weeks," BB says, his points vibrating with frustration. "So, pretend that you have the requirements in front of you now. How long will you require for analysis?" No one breathes. Everyone looks around to see whether anyone has some idea. "If analysis goes beyond April 1, we have a problem. Can you finish the analysis by then?" Your boss visibly gathers his courage: "We'll find a way, sir!" His points grow 3 mm, and your headache increases by two Tylenol. "Good." BB smiles. "Now, how long will it take to do the design?" "Sir," you say. Your boss visibly pales. He is clearly worried that his 3 mms are at risk. "Without an analysis, it will not be possible to tell you how long design will take." BB's expression shifts beyond austere.   "PRETEND you have the analysis already!" he says, while fixing you with his vacant, beady little eyes. "How long will it take you to do the design?" Two Tylenol are not going to cut it. Your boss, in a desperate attempt to save his new growth, babbles: "Well, sir, with only six months left to complete the project, design had better take no longer than 3 months."   "I'm glad you agree, Smithers!" BB says, beaming. Your boss relaxes. He knows his points are secure. After a while, he starts lightly humming the Brylcream jingle. BB continues, "So, analysis will be complete by April 1, design will be complete by July 1, and that gives you 3 months to implement the project. This meeting is an example of how well our new consensus and empowerment policies are working. Now, get out there and start working. I'll expect to see TQM plans and QIT assignments on my desk by next week. Oh, and don't forget that your crossfunctional team meetings and reports will be needed for next month's quality audit." "Forget the Tylenol," you think to yourself as you return to your cubicle. "I need bourbon."   Visibly excited, your boss comes over to you and says, "Gosh, what a great meeting. I think we're really going to do some world shaking with this project." You nod in agreement, too disgusted to do anything else. "Oh," your boss continues, "I almost forgot." He hands you a 30-page document. "Remember that the SEI is coming to do an evaluation next week. This is the evaluation guide. You need to read through it, memorize it, and then shred it. It tells you how to answer any questions that the SEI auditors ask you. It also tells you what parts of the building you are allowed to take them to and what parts to avoid. We are determined to be a CMM level 3 organization by June!"   You and your peers start working on the analysis of the new project. This is difficult because you have no requirements. But from the 10-minute introduction given by BB on that fateful morning, you have some idea of what the product is supposed to do.   Corporate process demands that you begin by creating a use case document. You and your team begin enumerating use cases and drawing oval and stick diagrams. Philosophical debates break out among the team members. There is disagreement as to whether certain use cases should be connected with <<extends>> or <<includes>> relationships. Competing models are created, but nobody knows how to evaluate them. The debate continues, effectively paralyzing progress.   After a week, somebody finds the iceberg.com Web site, which recommends disposing entirely of <<extends>> and <<includes>> and replacing them with <<precedes>> and <<uses>>. The documents on this Web site, authored by Don Sengroiux, describes a method known as stalwart-analysis, which claims to be a step-by-step method for translating use cases into design diagrams. More competing use case models are created using this new scheme, but again, people can't agree on how to evaluate them. The thrashing continues. More and more, the use case meetings are driven by emotion rather than by reason. If it weren't for the fact that you don't have requirements, you'd be pretty upset by the lack of progress you are making. The requirements document arrives on February 15. And then again on February 20, 25, and every week thereafter. Each new version contradicts the previous one. Clearly, the marketing folks who are writing the requirements, empowered though they might be, are not finding consensus.   At the same time, several new competing use case templates have been proposed by the various team members. Each template presents its own particularly creative way of delaying progress. The debates rage on. On March 1, Prudence Putrigence, the process proctor, succeeds in integrating all the competing use case forms and templates into a single, all-encompassing form. Just the blank form is 15 pages long. She has managed to include every field that appeared on all the competing templates. She also presents a 159- page document describing how to fill out the use case form. All current use cases must be rewritten according to the new standard.   You marvel to yourself that it now requires 15 pages of fill-in-the-blank and essay questions to answer the question: What should the system do when the user presses Return? The corporate process (authored by L. E. Ott, famed author of "Holistic Analysis: A Progressive Dialectic for Software Engineers") insists that you discover all primary use cases, 87 percent of all secondary use cases, and 36.274 percent of all tertiary use cases before you can complete analysis and enter the design phase. You have no idea what a tertiary use case is. So in an attempt to meet this requirement, you try to get your use case document reviewed by the marketing department, which you hope will know what a tertiary use case is.   Unfortunately, the marketing folks are too busy with sales support to talk to you. Indeed, since the project started, you have not been able to get a single meeting with marketing, which has provided a never-ending stream of changing and contradictory requirements documents.   While one team has been spinning endlessly on the use case document, another team has been working out the domain model. Endless variations of UML documents are pouring out of this team. Every week, the model is reworked.   The team members can't decide whether to use <<interfaces>> or <<types>> in the model. A huge disagreement has been raging on the proper syntax and application of OCL. Others on the team just got back from a 5-day class on catabolism, and have been producing incredibly detailed and arcane diagrams that nobody else can fathom.   On March 27, with one week to go before analysis is to be complete, you have produced a sea of documents and diagrams but are no closer to a cogent analysis of the problem than you were on January 3. **** And then, a miracle happens.   **** On Saturday, April 1, you check your e-mail from home. You see a memo from your boss to BB. It states unequivocally that you are done with the analysis! You phone your boss and complain. "How could you have told BB that we were done with the analysis?" "Have you looked at a calendar lately?" he responds. "It's April 1!" The irony of that date does not escape you. "But we have so much more to think about. So much more to analyze! We haven't even decided whether to use <<extends>> or <<precedes>>!" "Where is your evidence that you are not done?" inquires your boss, impatiently. "Whaaa . . . ." But he cuts you off. "Analysis can go on forever; it has to be stopped at some point. And since this is the date it was scheduled to stop, it has been stopped. Now, on Monday, I want you to gather up all existing analysis materials and put them into a public folder. Release that folder to Prudence so that she can log it in the CM system by Monday afternoon. Then get busy and start designing."   As you hang up the phone, you begin to consider the benefits of keeping a bottle of bourbon in your bottom desk drawer. They threw a party to celebrate the on-time completion of the analysis phase. BB gave a colon-stirring speech on empowerment. And your boss, another 3 mm taller, congratulated his team on the incredible show of unity and teamwork. Finally, the CIO takes the stage to tell everyone that the SEI audit went very well and to thank everyone for studying and shredding the evaluation guides that were passed out. Level 3 now seems assured and will be awarded by June. (Scuttlebutt has it that managers at the level of BB and above are to receive significant bonuses once the SEI awards level 3.)   As the weeks flow by, you and your team work on the design of the system. Of course, you find that the analysis that the design is supposedly based on is flawedno, useless; no, worse than useless. But when you tell your boss that you need to go back and work some more on the analysis to shore up its weaker sections, he simply states, "The analysis phase is over. The only allowable activity is design. Now get back to it."   So, you and your team hack the design as best you can, unsure of whether the requirements have been properly analyzed. Of course, it really doesn't matter much, since the requirements document is still thrashing with weekly revisions, and the marketing department still refuses to meet with you.     The design is a nightmare. Your boss recently misread a book named The Finish Line in which the author, Mark DeThomaso, blithely suggested that design documents should be taken down to code-level detail. "If we are going to be working at that level of detail," you ask, "why don't we simply write the code instead?" "Because then you wouldn't be designing, of course. And the only allowable activity in the design phase is design!" "Besides," he continues, "we have just purchased a companywide license for Dandelion! This tool enables 'Round the Horn Engineering!' You are to transfer all design diagrams into this tool. It will automatically generate our code for us! It will also keep the design diagrams in sync with the code!" Your boss hands you a brightly colored shrinkwrapped box containing the Dandelion distribution. You accept it numbly and shuffle off to your cubicle. Twelve hours, eight crashes, one disk reformatting, and eight shots of 151 later, you finally have the tool installed on your server. You consider the week your team will lose while attending Dandelion training. Then you smile and think, "Any week I'm not here is a good week." Design diagram after design diagram is created by your team. Dandelion makes it very difficult to draw these diagrams. There are dozens and dozens of deeply nested dialog boxes with funny text fields and check boxes that must all be filled in correctly. And then there's the problem of moving classes between packages. At first, these diagram are driven from the use cases. But the requirements are changing so often that the use cases rapidly become meaningless. Debates rage about whether VISITOR or DECORATOR design patterns should be used. One developer refuses to use VISITOR in any form, claiming that it's not a properly object-oriented construct. Someone refuses to use multiple inheritance, since it is the spawn of the devil. Review meetings rapidly degenerate into debates about the meaning of object orientation, the definition of analysis versus design, or when to use aggregation versus association. Midway through the design cycle, the marketing folks announce that they have rethought the focus of the system. Their new requirements document is completely restructured. They have eliminated several major feature areas and replaced them with feature areas that they anticipate customer surveys will show to be more appropriate. You tell your boss that these changes mean that you need to reanalyze and redesign much of the system. But he says, "The analysis phase is system. But he says, "The analysis phase is over. The only allowable activity is design. Now get back to it."   You suggest that it might be better to create a simple prototype to show to the marketing folks and even some potential customers. But your boss says, "The analysis phase is over. The only allowable activity is design. Now get back to it." Hack, hack, hack, hack. You try to create some kind of a design document that might reflect the new requirements documents. However, the revolution of the requirements has not caused them to stop thrashing. Indeed, if anything, the wild oscillations of the requirements document have only increased in frequency and amplitude.   You slog your way through them.   On June 15, the Dandelion database gets corrupted. Apparently, the corruption has been progressive. Small errors in the DB accumulated over the months into bigger and bigger errors. Eventually, the CASE tool just stopped working. Of course, the slowly encroaching corruption is present on all the backups. Calls to the Dandelion technical support line go unanswered for several days. Finally, you receive a brief e-mail from Dandelion, informing you that this is a known problem and that the solution is to purchase the new version, which they promise will be ready some time next quarter, and then reenter all the diagrams by hand.   ****   Then, on July 1 another miracle happens! You are done with the design!   Rather than go to your boss and complain, you stock your middle desk drawer with some vodka.   **** They threw a party to celebrate the on-time completion of the design phase and their graduation to CMM level 3. This time, you find BB's speech so stirring that you have to use the restroom before it begins. New banners and plaques are all over your workplace. They show pictures of eagles and mountain climbers, and they talk about teamwork and empowerment. They read better after a few scotches. That reminds you that you need to clear out your file cabinet to make room for the brandy. You and your team begin to code. But you rapidly discover that the design is lacking in some significant areas. Actually, it's lacking any significance at all. You convene a design session in one of the conference rooms to try to work through some of the nastier problems. But your boss catches you at it and disbands the meeting, saying, "The design phase is over. The only allowable activity is coding. Now get back to it."   ****   The code generated by Dandelion is really hideous. It turns out that you and your team were using association and aggregation the wrong way, after all. All the generated code has to be edited to correct these flaws. Editing this code is extremely difficult because it has been instrumented with ugly comment blocks that have special syntax that Dandelion needs in order to keep the diagrams in sync with the code. If you accidentally alter one of these comments, the diagrams will be regenerated incorrectly. It turns out that "Round the Horn Engineering" requires an awful lot of effort. The more you try to keep the code compatible with Dandelion, the more errors Dandelion generates. In the end, you give up and decide to keep the diagrams up to date manually. A second later, you decide that there's no point in keeping the diagrams up to date at all. Besides, who has time?   Your boss hires a consultant to build tools to count the number of lines of code that are being produced. He puts a big thermometer graph on the wall with the number 1,000,000 on the top. Every day, he extends the red line to show how many lines have been added. Three days after the thermometer appears on the wall, your boss stops you in the hall. "That graph isn't growing quickly enough. We need to have a million lines done by October 1." "We aren't even sh-sh-sure that the proshect will require a m-million linezh," you blather. "We have to have a million lines done by October 1," your boss reiterates. His points have grown again, and the Grecian formula he uses on them creates an aura of authority and competence. "Are you sure your comment blocks are big enough?" Then, in a flash of managerial insight, he says, "I have it! I want you to institute a new policy among the engineers. No line of code is to be longer than 20 characters. Any such line must be split into two or more preferably more. All existing code needs to be reworked to this standard. That'll get our line count up!"   You decide not to tell him that this will require two unscheduled work months. You decide not to tell him anything at all. You decide that intravenous injections of pure ethanol are the only solution. You make the appropriate arrangements. Hack, hack, hack, and hack. You and your team madly code away. By August 1, your boss, frowning at the thermometer on the wall, institutes a mandatory 50-hour workweek.   Hack, hack, hack, and hack. By September 1st, the thermometer is at 1.2 million lines and your boss asks you to write a report describing why you exceeded the coding budget by 20 percent. He institutes mandatory Saturdays and demands that the project be brought back down to a million lines. You start a campaign of remerging lines. Hack, hack, hack, and hack. Tempers are flaring; people are quitting; QA is raining trouble reports down on you. Customers are demanding installation and user manuals; salespeople are demanding advance demonstrations for special customers; the requirements document is still thrashing, the marketing folks are complaining that the product isn't anything like they specified, and the liquor store won't accept your credit card anymore. Something has to give.    On September 15, BB calls a meeting. As he enters the room, his points are emitting clouds of steam. When he speaks, the bass overtones of his carefully manicured voice cause the pit of your stomach to roll over. "The QA manager has told me that this project has less than 50 percent of the required features implemented. He has also informed me that the system crashes all the time, yields wrong results, and is hideously slow. He has also complained that he cannot keep up with the continuous train of daily releases, each more buggy than the last!" He stops for a few seconds, visibly trying to compose himself. "The QA manager estimates that, at this rate of development, we won't be able to ship the product until December!" Actually, you think it's more like March, but you don't say anything. "December!" BB roars with such derision that people duck their heads as though he were pointing an assault rifle at them. "December is absolutely out of the question. Team leaders, I want new estimates on my desk in the morning. I am hereby mandating 65-hour work weeks until this project is complete. And it better be complete by November 1."   As he leaves the conference room, he is heard to mutter: "Empowermentbah!" * * * Your boss is bald; his points are mounted on BB's wall. The fluorescent lights reflecting off his pate momentarily dazzle you. "Do you have anything to drink?" he asks. Having just finished your last bottle of Boone's Farm, you pull a bottle of Thunderbird from your bookshelf and pour it into his coffee mug. "What's it going to take to get this project done? " he asks. "We need to freeze the requirements, analyze them, design them, and then implement them," you say callously. "By November 1?" your boss exclaims incredulously. "No way! Just get back to coding the damned thing." He storms out, scratching his vacant head.   A few days later, you find that your boss has been transferred to the corporate research division. Turnover has skyrocketed. Customers, informed at the last minute that their orders cannot be fulfilled on time, have begun to cancel their orders. Marketing is re-evaluating whether this product aligns with the overall goals of the company. Memos fly, heads roll, policies change, and things are, overall, pretty grim. Finally, by March, after far too many sixty-five hour weeks, a very shaky version of the software is ready. In the field, bug-discovery rates are high, and the technical support staff are at their wits' end, trying to cope with the complaints and demands of the irate customers. Nobody is happy.   In April, BB decides to buy his way out of the problem by licensing a product produced by Rupert Industries and redistributing it. The customers are mollified, the marketing folks are smug, and you are laid off.     Rupert Industries: Project Alpha   Your name is Robert. The date is January 3, 2001. The quiet hours spent with your family this holiday have left you refreshed and ready for work. You are sitting in a conference room with your team of professionals. The manager of the division called the meeting. "We have some ideas for a new project," says the division manager. Call him Russ. He is a high-strung British chap with more energy than a fusion reactor. He is ambitious and driven but understands the value of a team. Russ describes the essence of the new market opportunity the company has identified and introduces you to Jane, the marketing manager, who is responsible for defining the products that will address it. Addressing you, Jane says, "We'd like to start defining our first product offering as soon as possible. When can you and your team meet with me?" You reply, "We'll be done with the current iteration of our project this Friday. We can spare a few hours for you between now and then. After that, we'll take a few people from the team and dedicate them to you. We'll begin hiring their replacements and the new people for your team immediately." "Great," says Russ, "but I want you to understand that it is critical that we have something to exhibit at the trade show coming up this July. If we can't be there with something significant, we'll lose the opportunity."   "I understand," you reply. "I don't yet know what it is that you have in mind, but I'm sure we can have something by July. I just can't tell you what that something will be right now. In any case, you and Jane are going to have complete control over what we developers do, so you can rest assured that by July, you'll have the most important things that can be accomplished in that time ready to exhibit."   Russ nods in satisfaction. He knows how this works. Your team has always kept him advised and allowed him to steer their development. He has the utmost confidence that your team will work on the most important things first and will produce a high-quality product.   * * *   "So, Robert," says Jane at their first meeting, "How does your team feel about being split up?" "We'll miss working with each other," you answer, "but some of us were getting pretty tired of that last project and are looking forward to a change. So, what are you people cooking up?" Jane beams. "You know how much trouble our customers currently have . . ." And she spends a half hour or so describing the problem and possible solution. "OK, wait a second" you respond. "I need to be clear about this." And so you and Jane talk about how this system might work. Some of her ideas aren't fully formed. You suggest possible solutions. She likes some of them. You continue discussing.   During the discussion, as each new topic is addressed, Jane writes user story cards. Each card represents something that the new system has to do. The cards accumulate on the table and are spread out in front of you. Both you and Jane point at them, pick them up, and make notes on them as you discuss the stories. The cards are powerful mnemonic devices that you can use to represent complex ideas that are barely formed.   At the end of the meeting, you say, "OK, I've got a general idea of what you want. I'm going to talk to the team about it. I imagine they'll want to run some experiments with various database structures and presentation formats. Next time we meet, it'll be as a group, and we'll start identifying the most important features of the system."   A week later, your nascent team meets with Jane. They spread the existing user story cards out on the table and begin to get into some of the details of the system. The meeting is very dynamic. Jane presents the stories in the order of their importance. There is much discussion about each one. The developers are concerned about keeping the stories small enough to estimate and test. So they continually ask Jane to split one story into several smaller stories. Jane is concerned that each story have a clear business value and priority, so as she splits them, she makes sure that this stays true.   The stories accumulate on the table. Jane writes them, but the developers make notes on them as needed. Nobody tries to capture everything that is said; the cards are not meant to capture everything but are simply reminders of the conversation.   As the developers become more comfortable with the stories, they begin writing estimates on them. These estimates are crude and budgetary, but they give Jane an idea of what the story will cost.   At the end of the meeting, it is clear that many more stories could be discussed. It is also clear that the most important stories have been addressed and that they represent several months worth of work. Jane closes the meeting by taking the cards with her and promising to have a proposal for the first release in the morning.   * * *   The next morning, you reconvene the meeting. Jane chooses five cards and places them on the table. "According to your estimates, these cards represent about one perfect team-week's worth of work. The last iteration of the previous project managed to get one perfect team-week done in 3 real weeks. If we can get these five stories done in 3 weeks, we'll be able to demonstrate them to Russ. That will make him feel very comfortable about our progress." Jane is pushing it. The sheepish look on her face lets you know that she knows it too. You reply, "Jane, this is a new team, working on a new project. It's a bit presumptuous to expect that our velocity will be the same as the previous team's. However, I met with the team yesterday afternoon, and we all agreed that our initial velocity should, in fact, be set to one perfectweek for every 3 real-weeks. So you've lucked out on this one." "Just remember," you continue, "that the story estimates and the story velocity are very tentative at this point. We'll learn more when we plan the iteration and even more when we implement it."   Jane looks over her glasses at you as if to say "Who's the boss around here, anyway?" and then smiles and says, "Yeah, don't worry. I know the drill by now."Jane then puts 15 more cards on the table. She says, "If we can get all these cards done by the end of March, we can turn the system over to our beta test customers. And we'll get good feedback from them."   You reply, "OK, so we've got our first iteration defined, and we have the stories for the next three iterations after that. These four iterations will make our first release."   "So," says Jane, can you really do these five stories in the next 3 weeks?" "I don't know for sure, Jane," you reply. "Let's break them down into tasks and see what we get."   So Jane, you, and your team spend the next several hours taking each of the five stories that Jane chose for the first iteration and breaking them down into small tasks. The developers quickly realize that some of the tasks can be shared between stories and that other tasks have commonalities that can probably be taken advantage of. It is clear that potential designs are popping into the developers' heads. From time to time, they form little discussion knots and scribble UML diagrams on some cards.   Soon, the whiteboard is filled with the tasks that, once completed, will implement the five stories for this iteration. You start the sign-up process by saying, "OK, let's sign up for these tasks." "I'll take the initial database generation." Says Pete. "That's what I did on the last project, and this doesn't look very different. I estimate it at two of my perfect workdays." "OK, well, then, I'll take the login screen," says Joe. "Aw, darn," says Elaine, the junior member of the team, "I've never done a GUI, and kinda wanted to try that one."   "Ah, the impatience of youth," Joe says sagely, with a wink in your direction. "You can assist me with it, young Jedi." To Jane: "I think it'll take me about three of my perfect workdays."   One by one, the developers sign up for tasks and estimate them in terms of their own perfect workdays. Both you and Jane know that it is best to let the developers volunteer for tasks than to assign the tasks to them. You also know full well that you daren't challenge any of the developers' estimates. You know these people, and you trust them. You know that they are going to do the very best they can.   The developers know that they can't sign up for more perfect workdays than they finished in the last iteration they worked on. Once each developer has filled his or her schedule for the iteration, they stop signing up for tasks.   Eventually, all the developers have stopped signing up for tasks. But, of course, tasks are still left on the board.   "I was worried that that might happen," you say, "OK, there's only one thing to do, Jane. We've got too much to do in this iteration. What stories or tasks can we remove?" Jane sighs. She knows that this is the only option. Working overtime at the beginning of a project is insane, and projects where she's tried it have not fared well.   So Jane starts to remove the least-important functionality. "Well, we really don't need the login screen just yet. We can simply start the system in the logged-in state." "Rats!" cries Elaine. "I really wanted to do that." "Patience, grasshopper." says Joe. "Those who wait for the bees to leave the hive will not have lips too swollen to relish the honey." Elaine looks confused. Everyone looks confused. "So . . .," Jane continues, "I think we can also do away with . . ." And so, bit by bit, the list of tasks shrinks. Developers who lose a task sign up for one of the remaining ones.   The negotiation is not painless. Several times, Jane exhibits obvious frustration and impatience. Once, when tensions are especially high, Elaine volunteers, "I'll work extra hard to make up some of the missing time." You are about to correct her when, fortunately, Joe looks her in the eye and says, "When once you proceed down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."   In the end, an iteration acceptable to Jane is reached. It's not what Jane wanted. Indeed, it is significantly less. But it's something the team feels that can be achieved in the next 3 weeks.   And, after all, it still addresses the most important things that Jane wanted in the iteration. "So, Jane," you say when things had quieted down a bit, "when can we expect acceptance tests from you?" Jane sighs. This is the other side of the coin. For every story the development team implements,   Jane must supply a suite of acceptance tests that prove that it works. And the team needs these long before the end of the iteration, since they will certainly point out differences in the way Jane and the developers imagine the system's behaviour.   "I'll get you some example test scripts today," Jane promises. "I'll add to them every day after that. You'll have the entire suite by the middle of the iteration."   * * *   The iteration begins on Monday morning with a flurry of Class, Responsibilities, Collaborators sessions. By midmorning, all the developers have assembled into pairs and are rapidly coding away. "And now, my young apprentice," Joe says to Elaine, "you shall learn the mysteries of test-first design!"   "Wow, that sounds pretty rad," Elaine replies. "How do you do it?" Joe beams. It's clear that he has been anticipating this moment. "OK, what does the code do right now?" "Huh?" replied Elaine, "It doesn't do anything at all; there is no code."   "So, consider our task; can you think of something the code should do?" "Sure," Elaine said with youthful assurance, "First, it should connect to the database." "And thereupon, what must needs be required to connecteth the database?" "You sure talk weird," laughed Elaine. "I think we'd have to get the database object from some registry and call the Connect() method. "Ah, astute young wizard. Thou perceives correctly that we requireth an object within which we can cacheth the database object." "Is 'cacheth' really a word?" "It is when I say it! So, what test can we write that we know the database registry should pass?" Elaine sighs. She knows she'll just have to play along. "We should be able to create a database object and pass it to the registry in a Store() method. And then we should be able to pull it out of the registry with a Get() method and make sure it's the same object." "Oh, well said, my prepubescent sprite!" "Hay!" "So, now, let's write a test function that proves your case." "But shouldn't we write the database object and registry object first?" "Ah, you've much to learn, my young impatient one. Just write the test first." "But it won't even compile!" "Are you sure? What if it did?" "Uh . . ." "Just write the test, Elaine. Trust me." And so Joe, Elaine, and all the other developers began to code their tasks, one test case at a time. The room in which they worked was abuzz with the conversations between the pairs. The murmur was punctuated by an occasional high five when a pair managed to finish a task or a difficult test case.   As development proceeded, the developers changed partners once or twice a day. Each developer got to see what all the others were doing, and so knowledge of the code spread generally throughout the team.   Whenever a pair finished something significant whether a whole task or simply an important part of a task they integrated what they had with the rest of the system. Thus, the code base grew daily, and integration difficulties were minimized.   The developers communicated with Jane on a daily basis. They'd go to her whenever they had a question about the functionality of the system or the interpretation of an acceptance test case.   Jane, good as her word, supplied the team with a steady stream of acceptance test scripts. The team read these carefully and thereby gained a much better understanding of what Jane expected the system to do. By the beginning of the second week, there was enough functionality to demonstrate to Jane. She watched eagerly as the demonstration passed test case after test case. "This is really cool," Jane said as the demonstration finally ended. "But this doesn't seem like one-third of the tasks. Is your velocity slower than anticipated?"   You grimace. You'd been waiting for a good time to mention this to Jane but now she was forcing the issue. "Yes, unfortunately, we are going more slowly than we had expected. The new application server we are using is turning out to be a pain to configure. Also, it takes forever to reboot, and we have to reboot it whenever we make even the slightest change to its configuration."   Jane eyes you with suspicion. The stress of last Monday's negotiations had still not entirely dissipated. She says, "And what does this mean to our schedule? We can't slip it again, we just can't. Russ will have a fit! He'll haul us all into the woodshed and ream us some new ones."   You look Jane right in the eyes. There's no pleasant way to give someone news like this. So you just blurt out, "Look, if things keep going like they're going, we're not going to be done with everything by next Friday. Now it's possible that we'll figure out a way to go faster. But, frankly, I wouldn't depend on that. You should start thinking about one or two tasks that could be removed from the iteration without ruining the demonstration for Russ. Come hell or high water, we are going to give that demonstration on Friday, and I don't think you want us to choose which tasks to omit."   "Aw forchrisakes!" Jane barely manages to stifle yelling that last word as she stalks away, shaking her head. Not for the first time, you say to yourself, "Nobody ever promised me project management would be easy." You are pretty sure it won't be the last time, either.   Actually, things went a bit better than you had hoped. The team did, in fact, have to drop one task from the iteration, but Jane had chosen wisely, and the demonstration for Russ went without a hitch. Russ was not impressed with the progress, but neither was he dismayed. He simply said, "This is pretty good. But remember, we have to be able to demonstrate this system at the trade show in July, and at this rate, it doesn't look like you'll have all that much to show." Jane, whose attitude had improved dramatically with the completion of the iteration, responded to Russ by saying, "Russ, this team is working hard, and well. When July comes around, I am confident that we'll have something significant to demonstrate. It won't be everything, and some of it may be smoke and mirrors, but we'll have something."   Painful though the last iteration was, it had calibrated your velocity numbers. The next iteration went much better. Not because your team got more done than in the last iteration but simply because the team didn't have to remove any tasks or stories in the middle of the iteration.   By the start of the fourth iteration, a natural rhythm has been established. Jane, you, and the team know exactly what to expect from one another. The team is running hard, but the pace is sustainable. You are confident that the team can keep up this pace for a year or more.   The number of surprises in the schedule diminishes to near zero; however, the number of surprises in the requirements does not. Jane and Russ frequently look over the growing system and make recommendations or changes to the existing functionality. But all parties realize that these changes take time and must be scheduled. So the changes do not cause anyone's expectations to be violated. In March, there is a major demonstration of the system to the board of directors. The system is very limited and is not yet in a form good enough to take to the trade show, but progress is steady, and the board is reasonably impressed.   The second release goes even more smoothly than the first. By now, the team has figured out a way to automate Jane's acceptance test scripts. The team has also refactored the design of the system to the point that it is really easy to add new features and change old ones. The second release was done by the end of June and was taken to the trade show. It had less in it than Jane and Russ would have liked, but it did demonstrate the most important features of the system. Although customers at the trade show noticed that certain features were missing, they were very impressed overall. You, Russ, and Jane all returned from the trade show with smiles on your faces. You all felt as though this project was a winner.   Indeed, many months later, you are contacted by Rufus Inc. That company had been working on a system like this for its internal operations. Rufus has canceled the development of that system after a death-march project and is negotiating to license your technology for its environment.   Indeed, things are looking up!

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  • iPhone / Objective-C: NSMutableArray writeToFile won't write to file. Always returns NO

    - by Joel
    I'm trying to serialize two NSMutableArrays of NSObjects that implement the NSCoding protocol. However it works for one (stacks) and not the other (cards). I have the following block of code: -(void) saveCards { NSArray* paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES); NSString* documentsDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0]; NSString* cardsFile = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"cards.state"]; NSString* stacksFile = [documentsDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"stacks.state"]; BOOL c = [rootStack.cards writeToFile:cardsFile atomically:YES]; BOOL s = [rootStack.stacks writeToFile:stacksFile atomically:YES]; } I step through this method using the debugger, and after the last two lines of code run, I check the values of the two BOOLs. BOOL c is NO and BOOL s is YES. The stacks array is actually empty (which is probably why it works). The cards array has contents. Why is it that the array with contents is failing? I can't figure this out. I've looked through numerous threads on SOF, each of them say the problem is because the protection level of the files they were writing were preventing them from writing. This is not my problem, as I'm writing to the Documents folder. I've double and tripple checked that neither rootStack.cards nor rootStack.stacks is nil. And I've checked that cards does indeed have content. Here are the coder methods for my Notecard class (I added all the if statments as part of trying to solve this problem to make sure trying to encode nil values doesn't break something): -(void) encodeWithCoder:(NSCoder *)encoder { if(text) [encoder encodeObject:text forKey:@"text"]; if(backText) [encoder encodeObject:backText forKey:@"backText"]; if(x) [encoder encodeObject:x forKey:@"x"]; if(y) [encoder encodeObject:y forKey:@"y"]; if(width) [encoder encodeObject:width forKey:@"width"]; if(height) [encoder encodeObject:height forKey:@"height"]; if(timeCreated) [encoder encodeObject:timeCreated forKey:@"timeCreated"]; if(audioManagerTicket) [encoder encodeObject:audioManagerTicket forKey:@"audioManagerTicket"]; if(backgroundColor) [encoder encodeObject:backgroundColor forKey:@"backgroundColor"]; } -(id) initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)decoder { self = [super init]; if(!self) return nil; self.text = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"text"]; self.backText = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"backText"]; self.x = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"x"]; self.y = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"y"]; self.width = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"width"]; self.height = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"height"]; self.timeCreated = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"timeCreated"]; self.audioManagerTicket = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"audioManagerTicket"]; self.backgroundColor = [decoder decodeObjectForKey:@"backgroundColor"]; return self; } each field is either an NSString, NSNumber, or UIColor. Thanks for any help

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