Question for Possible app
afterglow (571 pencils) | Sat, 2005-03-19 06:21I have posted a few times about FTP programs, what I like and what I'd like to see. Which got me thinking as to how easy it would be to build an app to do exactly what I want. This was partly spurred on by Ivan's efforts with twindow.
So really I'm just looking for some programmers advice on how realistic this is to accomplish
FTP App
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From what I understand OS X has a commandline SFTP application
Is it feasible to write a front end to this that exists purely as a contextual menu item and preference pane. In other words, you define your sites in the preference pane with the account information. This is then used when right clicking on a file and choosing (upload file).
An semi opaque overlay window would discreetly show what items are being uploaded and disappear when it is concluded.
I actually installed the developer tools last night to read up on this but my head was swimming after a few pages.
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I know absolutely nothing about coding an app, but it sounds like a nifty idea, one that I would certainly love to use.
Have you tried going to MacMinute's forums and asking "Nutty" he codes for Apple (Final Cut & other pro apps I believe). I know he has helped me with some Applescript stuff in the past, so he might have some advice for you on this.
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i'd pay for a ftp program like that!
hmmm...I'd think cocoa would work (what ivan was tinkering with). I'll pass this on to some osx developer friends)
====================
Jeff Yamada
Web Designer/Developer
www.hyperkulture.com
jeff@hyperkulture.com
aim: hyperkulture
====================
from what i know, this is relatively easy to do. very nice idea. if you could make some sketches of how it works and how it looks we can get the programming done. the most dificult part of writing an application is to design it's interface. i have friends who are comfortable with cocoa. i think we should make it a free app.
Ivan wrote:
I'll knock up a few sketches...Would be nice to be able to collaborate on something like this ...prodding programmers is one of my favourite pastimes.
CreativeBIts Open Source :lol:
afterglow.ie - Icons, interfaces, illustration
Well you got me to thinking so I decided to knock up a quick demo.
In an imaginary world where I have one atom of coding skill, I'd knock up an app called something like Fire Up
http://www.afterglow.ie/downloads/fireup.mov570kb
It would install as a preference pane. Have account setup and app preference panes and be accessible only from the contextual menu.
A window would appear during the transfer indicating you're connected and fade away quickly when the upload is finished.
Any thoughts............
afterglow.ie - Icons, interfaces, illustration
that looks cool :D it needs one more control panel where you can set up the destinations. or how did you think to set them up?
i think there are too many options already. it needs to be super simple. no need for setting the window position and opacity in my opinion.
Well now, this just go interesting!
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Sooo cool!! I'll bet something like this would be awesome for dashboard!
====================
Jeff Yamada
Web Designer/Developer
www.hyperkulture.com
jeff@hyperkulture.com
aim: hyperkulture
====================
again... if you make it... i'll pay for it!
Ivan wrote:
The destinations would be set in the account panel. Set one up for your root folder..set up another account for your images folder and so on. The contextual menu would then display Fire Up to > Afterglow Root, Afterglow Images, etc
Maybe there are too many options at the mo. It only exists in my head at the moment so I was filling in what I thought I would use.
afterglow.ie - Icons, interfaces, illustration
Seems like a good idea, but speaking quite truthfully, it will be difficult to really create a market for an FTP app when Transmit is arguably so dominant. If you made it free though...
It's all just 1's and 0's
No one could argue that Transmit isn't dominant; I still use it as my main FTP app. But it doesn't really address the needs of people who prepare all their files beforehand and simply want to quickly get them up onto their server with no fuss. Panic have the Docksend feature but I think making it a contextual menu would speed things up immensely.
I think FTP should be a function like copy rather than a stand alone process requiring an application.
Anyone had any luck with their programmer mates and the difficulties of doing this?
afterglow.ie - Icons, interfaces, illustration
Agreed again, but has anyone thought of asking Panic for this feature? Obviously they'd know how best to code it. I have to say, Cabel was very receptive to feedback about Transmit and seemed to take everything I said to heart after speaking with him at MacWorld SF.
It's not as if I'm in against the idea, actually the opposite. It would just be nice to incorporate this as a feature in an existing program we all most likely use.
Just my opinion,
It's all just 1's and 0's
yes, that's an option, but then it would no be free is it?
welcome to the forums eyenovation! I like you sig, I say something similar all the time. :)
HERE is an app you might keep your eye on. Saw it for the first time today!
zwei
version 0.0.3 :D what does that mean? the name and the icon is already done?
I had actually emailed Panic about a droplet feature back in the mists of time which to be fair they have incorporated somewhat in Docksend.
On the other hand I really don't want to wait for Transmit 4, whenever that rears it's head. Kinda getting a bit bloated in my opinion
The fact that other people are making these mini FTP apps shows that there are still gaps in the market that Transmit isn't plugging.
afterglow.ie - Icons, interfaces, illustration