Codify, a native coding application for iPad that just launched this week, lets you create games, simulations and other visual projects.
But commenters on Hacker News complain that you can't play a game built on Codify on any other iPad or sell in the App store. While Codify creator Simeon Nasilowski tells LAUNCH that Codify's intent is not for creating finished applications, but rather for idea development, his initial submission let users download projects to their PCs.
"However Apple rejected Codify for including this feature so it was removed," Simeon says. "I did not appeal their decision because I did not want to delay the release. However, I am adding this feature once more and plan to appeal if rejected."
Simeon says that he would like to release the backend of Codify -- its renderer and libraries -- as an open source project.
"This could allow people that build tools to turn Codify projects into native apps," Simeon says.
Built on the Lua programming language, Codify lets you adjust numbers by touching and dragging them, as well as touch colors and images directly in the code to visually edit them.
"I wanted a tool that I could use to rapidly test ideas for interactions, simulations and games on my iPad,"Simeon says. "Something that would give me have the simplest possible path to getting interactive ideas on the screen. Since I often found myself stuck without my laptop, and left wanting to create things, I made Codify."
Sidjha, a web engineer and designer, writes on Hacker News that Codify would be a great tool for teaching kids computer programming.
"Imagine how amazing of an introduction to the world of programming Codify would enable for kids," Sidjha writes. "Teaching computer science in elementary schools will become so much easier and fun...And perhaps, it'll enable a new wave of young hacker/entrepreneurs who'll go on to make more awesome products."
But Simeon says that he's not even sure who his target audience is just yet.
"I only had my own needs in mind when developing Codify," Simeon says."I thought about what I wanted to use on my iPad and made that. I hope people use it to find amazing, fun, cool ideas and explore them further."
Simeon says that he is constantly surprised with what people -- about 1200 downloads -- use Codify to create. One of his favorite projects is Jonathan Brodsky's Drum Machine.
"I really liked this project because the idea to use Codify as a sound generator hadn't occurred to me, and it was great to see users come up with things I never imagined," Simeon says.
Two Lives Left, founded in 2009 by Simeon, John Millard and Dylan Sale, is a gaming company based in Adelaide, Australia.
SCREEN SHOTS
Click Add New Project to begin or click on the examples above.
In-app directions on how to draw graphics, write Lua code, create parameters and more.
Screen colors.
Game Dungeon, built using Codify.
CONTACTS & LINKS
Two Lives Left
Twitter: @TwoLivesLeft
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TwoLivesLeft
Website: http://twolivesleft.com/
Simeon Nasilowski, creator
Twitter: @TwoLivesLeft
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/simeon-nasilowski/7/375/415
Google+: https://plus.google.com/107926646216052175325/posts
But commenters on Hacker News complain that you can't play a game built on Codify on any other iPad or sell in the App store. While Codify creator Simeon Nasilowski tells LAUNCH that Codify's intent is not for creating finished applications, but rather for idea development, his initial submission let users download projects to their PCs.
"However Apple rejected Codify for including this feature so it was removed," Simeon says. "I did not appeal their decision because I did not want to delay the release. However, I am adding this feature once more and plan to appeal if rejected."
Simeon says that he would like to release the backend of Codify -- its renderer and libraries -- as an open source project.
"This could allow people that build tools to turn Codify projects into native apps," Simeon says.
Built on the Lua programming language, Codify lets you adjust numbers by touching and dragging them, as well as touch colors and images directly in the code to visually edit them.
"I wanted a tool that I could use to rapidly test ideas for interactions, simulations and games on my iPad,"Simeon says. "Something that would give me have the simplest possible path to getting interactive ideas on the screen. Since I often found myself stuck without my laptop, and left wanting to create things, I made Codify."
Sidjha, a web engineer and designer, writes on Hacker News that Codify would be a great tool for teaching kids computer programming.
"Imagine how amazing of an introduction to the world of programming Codify would enable for kids," Sidjha writes. "Teaching computer science in elementary schools will become so much easier and fun...And perhaps, it'll enable a new wave of young hacker/entrepreneurs who'll go on to make more awesome products."
But Simeon says that he's not even sure who his target audience is just yet.
"I only had my own needs in mind when developing Codify," Simeon says."I thought about what I wanted to use on my iPad and made that. I hope people use it to find amazing, fun, cool ideas and explore them further."
Simeon says that he is constantly surprised with what people -- about 1200 downloads -- use Codify to create. One of his favorite projects is Jonathan Brodsky's Drum Machine.
"I really liked this project because the idea to use Codify as a sound generator hadn't occurred to me, and it was great to see users come up with things I never imagined," Simeon says.
Two Lives Left, founded in 2009 by Simeon, John Millard and Dylan Sale, is a gaming company based in Adelaide, Australia.
SCREEN SHOTS
Click Add New Project to begin or click on the examples above.
In-app directions on how to draw graphics, write Lua code, create parameters and more.
Screen colors.
Game Dungeon, built using Codify.
CONTACTS & LINKS
Two Lives Left
Twitter: @TwoLivesLeft
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TwoLivesLeft
Website: http://twolivesleft.com/
Simeon Nasilowski, creator
Twitter: @TwoLivesLeft
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/simeon-nasilowski/7/375/415
Google+: https://plus.google.com/107926646216052175325/posts