macOS Objective-C instances of objects as as units / making new, unforeseen instances

[gnasher729]

It doesn't compile for some targets. I forget which, but I tried using ARC in Battery Status and then discovered that roughly 30% of my users couldn't use the app anymore, so I shelved ARC.

Same goes for array and dictionary literal notation.

ARC requires 10.6, ARC with nulling weak pointers requires 10.7 (I might be off by one version but I don't think so).

Array and dictionary literals are a plain compiler feature. They are translated int "arrayWithObjects:" and "dictionaryWithObjects:andKeys:" and work anywhere (again, spelling might be wrong).

There's one difference: A nil element will throw an exception, instead of ending the list.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Array and dictionary literals are a plain compiler feature. They are translated int "arrayWithObjects:" and "dictionaryWithObjects:andKeys:" and work anywhere (again, spelling might be wrong).

You'd think so but, nope. I discovered this a few months ago in this thread:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1578005/

 

[devilofspades]

Were we discussing that? No, we were discussing the fact that according to Apple's documentation the Objective-C compiler behaves in a way that is totally different from the behaviour of any C compiler in existence. And the fact that Apple's documentation doesn't mention the tiny little detail that it applies only to ARC.

And there are some pretty good reasons for some people to not use ARC. For example, using non-ARC source code from third parties with a license that makes it very hard legally to make any changes to the source code. Or having an old code base that relies heavily on Core Foundation.

So it's pretty important for many people that this applies only to ARC. And it is essential for everyone to know that htis applies only to Objective-C pointers, and not to any other pointers.

considering that apple says the adoption rate of newer operating systems is over 90%, and since ARC has been around from iOS 5 & 10.6.x the benefit of using it far outweighs the benefit of not using it. i get supporting older platforms and operating systems but you're talking sub single digit percentage at this point.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

considering that apple says the adoption rate of newer operating systems is over 90%, and since ARC has been around from iOS 5 & 10.6.x the benefit of using it far outweighs the benefit of not using it. i get supporting older platforms and operating systems but you're talking sub single digit percentage at this point.

You assume that all markets are identical. They aren't. Schools tend to be running old OS's on old hardware, but still want current software.