PulpFiction 1.0.1
Posted July 20th, 2004 @ 02:02pm by Erik J. Barzeski
PulpFiction 1.0.1 is now available. This version is effectively a rewrite of version 1.0: we've moved entirely to bindings to simplify and speed up the display of articles, we've implemented our own protocols for the built-in browser, we've overhauled the CSS display mechanisms, and much, much, much more. If we were to document every change, improvement, or bug fix, the list would have numbered in the hundreds. Plural.
Yes, I said that bindings sped things up! When you push around as much data as PulpFiction does, with filters, AppleScripts, sorting, searching, labels, and a persistent storage database into which some of our users have managed to shove 20,000 articles, every little bit helps. The old table view delegates work nicely… until you get to about four rows in the tables. 🙂
PulpFiction has previously been reviewed by GeekPatrol and received high marks. This release is faster, more stable, and adds a lot more features than you should find in a 1.0 -> 1.0.1 update.
The top user-requested features we were able to get into this version:
- It's faster.
- Filter by labels
- Change the font size and face in the subscription and article lists
- Relatively linked images now properly display (if the syndication source helps out by providing a base URL, anyway).
- "Run Filters" checkbox added to preferences" to allow for filtering after the fetch only
- Added support for external blog editors
- Next/previous unread commands now traverse folders
- Tables now sort in a case insensitive manner
- Number columns now sort numerically instead of alphabetically
- Column and window sizes are remembered for all windows and columns now
- Keyboard shortcuts for InBox/Flagged/Trash/Subs Manager modified (to match Mail)
- Preview no longer refreshes when fetching articles
- Added a "mark all read" feature to toolbar, CM (hold option key)
- We got rid of a typo that caused a database error. Heh, stupid us. 🙂
Whew!
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Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 3:17pm #
PulpFiction 1.0.1 released
PulpFiction 1.0.1 has been released!
One of the features which I've been looking forward to is the ability to now filter articles by labels. I've got all my Mac related subscriptions labeled in blue, world news as red, blogs as yellow etc and ...
Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 3:32pm #
If it adds lots more features, then I am curious as to why you did not label it as version 1.1? Wouldn't that be more accurate and user-friendly?
Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 4:16pm #
There is no standardized version numbering scheme. We use the same internal scheme we've been using since FSS was born.
Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 5:25pm #
PulpFiction Updated.
Freshly Squeezed Software released PulpFiction 1.0.1 today. Changes that make me happy include: A whole hell of a lot faster. Support for external blog editors such as ecto so that I can easily blog topics I see in PulpFiction. I...
Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 7:14pm #
He's got a point. Double-dot updates (x.y.z) are usually reserved for maintenance updates, single dots (x.y) are for somewhat major releases that add features, and no dots (x) are for huge app changes.
Gah, this stuff really should be standardized. It would convey the intent of the update to people who understand the system much more effectively.
Posted 20 Jul 2004 at 8:41pm #
Wow, not having used the beta, I'm absolutely impressed with the speed improvements (along with all the other improvements).
Great job Erik (& FSS crew) on PF 1.0.1. The best newsreader period, just got better!
Posted 21 Jul 2004 at 10:52am #
I've complained about this here once before. Not to be a pest or anything... 🙂
I would have to agree with Dustin that it might be more user-friendly to follow Apple's guidelines but it's Erik's prerogative to number things as he likes. I just thought I'd point out this tech note from Apple. It may be dated but it clearly states what their ideas are regarding version numbers. Unfortunately searches of the developer web site didn't turn up anything more recent and Apple isn't known for always following it's on rules.
Posted 21 Jul 2004 at 11:49am #
I decided to use 1.0.1 for the better part of 24 hours before posting. It's great. All the major quirks from the 1.0 release that I have noticed are now gone. As has been mentioned already, it's noticeably faster. What I love about PF is what I love about Apple-related stuff in general -- the pride that went into the workmanship of the product is definitely evident in the final product. I just don't get that same sort of feeling from the other technology-related stuff (junk) I deal with.
Posted 21 Jul 2004 at 10:10pm #
If you're interested, maybe you could do a separate blog entry about the techniques you used to keep the bindings and the database in sync.
Posted 22 Jul 2004 at 11:36am #
Just out of curiosity, how was migrating from the standard table delegation model to bindings? It just seems like it might involve a fundamental degree of redesign, not just twiddling.
of course, I've never actually used bindings, so what do I know 😉
Posted 22 Jul 2004 at 8:01pm #
If you used an NSArray before, it's not really a major change.