Latest Screencasts

Test-driven development (TDD) is a programming technique that reverses the usual sequence of coding and testing. By writing tests just in advance of the code needed to satisfy them, programmers: * Work with confidence * Work on a series of achievable steps instead of tackling a big problem all at once * Ensure that software design meets the need of the actual code * Leave behind a suite of tests to help preserve the integrity of the code

Forms are crucial to how users interact with your site. You can slap a form on a web page in record time with Rails, but basic forms just get you by. For a better user experience, you'll want to customize your forms and create interplay between your models. Learn how to take your forms to the next level from Ryan Bates, one of the most experienced Rails programmers (and screencasters) in the community.

Git has significantly changed the way teams develop software. Its distributed nature and lightweight branching and merging have made it possible for developers to massage their code bases in ways they couldn't have imagined before. However, Git has a reputation for being hard to learn. And when folks transition to Git, they often settle for using a handful of commands and treat Git just like their other source control system. But because of its different approach to source control issues, many of the techniques and terminology we have learned in other source control systems do not translate cleanly when using Git. To begin to use Git effectively, you need to understand the underlying concepts. In this 49-minute screencast you'll learn Git in a different way: By not learning about Git itself. Instead, Jim Weirich takes you on a journey of how you might design and build a source control system from scratch. Along the way you'll gain a deeper understanding of the first principles behind Git so things begin to make more sense. This screencast is for people who haven't used Git yet and are thinking about it, and for people who have just started using Git, but are still in the "magic incantation" stage of learning. It's a great introduction to source control for your manager, too! No prior experience with Git or source control systems is required.

Objective-C is the programming language for writing native iPhone and Mac applications. It's also the language that Apple uses to build their own applications and frameworks. So, if you know Objective-C, you have a lot of power at your fingertips. But if you're new to C or object-oriented programming, then Objective-C can seem a little awkward at first. These screencasts by Bill Dudney, an experienced Objective-C programmer, will help you quickly get up to speed on Objective-C 2.0 basics.

h3. XCode 4 *NEW:* Mike Clark has released free XCode 4 Bonus Tracks. If you're using XCode 4, you'll want these. You might always want to take a look at the new XCode 4 Keyboard Shortcuts poster. h3. XCode 3 Please note that the XCode 3 screencast is no longer for sale. Xcode is the development environment used to create iPhone and Mac applications. There's a lot you can do with Xcode, and it's easy to get distracted by all the knobs and levers. But you're using Xcode for one simple reason: You want to build iPhone or Mac applications as quickly as possible. *Whether you're a new iPhone developer seeing Xcode for the first time, or wish you were more familiar with the shortcuts, these screencasts will make you a more productive (and happier!) Xcode programmer.*

Sinatra is a small Ruby web application framework that packs a big punch. It's also a lot of fun! You can use Sinatra to write tiny, focused web applications and lightweight REST services very quickly. And sometimes a lean and mean web app is all you need. If you haven't given Sinatra a look, now's a great time to get a fresh perspective on web development. Learn how to get the most out of Sinatra from Adam Keys, an experienced Ruby and Sinatra developer.

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Metaprogramming lets you program more expressively. This makes your code easier to write and easier to maintain and extend. Learn both the hows and whys of metaprogramming Ruby from Dave Thomas, one of the most experienced Ruby programmers in the western world.

GitHub is where the action's at: you can host your public and private projects there, use it to collaborate on projects in a truly distributed way, and expand your social coding network. But to really get the most out of this great resource, you need an experienced guide to show you the ropes. Learn how the pros use GitHub from Scott Chacon, a long-time Git user and GitHub insider.

Learn how to write Erlang programs by sitting next to an experienced Erlang programmer as he builds a full-featured application from the ground up! In these screencasts, Kevin Smith incrementally builds a distributed chat system using Erlang. You'll learn first-hand how each aspect of the Erlang language fits together into a real-world application, starting with Erlang primitives and ending with an OTP application.

Active Record models are the foundation of your Rails application. With a well-designed layer of models, your application is solid. You can make business logic changes easier, keep the integrity of your data in check, and better optimize the interaction with your database. Learn how to get the most out of the Active Record from Ryan Bates, one of the most experienced Rails developer (and screencasters) in the community.