Hi everyone. First, I'm new to this list, so I'm not sure if someone has already posted about this here. I'm writing to the list to make you all aware of an exciting development over on the MV-Dev Google Group that will impact all VoiceOver users positively, and will impact VoiceOver users that are programmers even more so.
As some of you might know, XCode is the main software development environment for the Mac. It is a huge system, but the two main tools are the XCode integrated development environment (where you write your code and build the code in to finished programs), and Interface Builder (where you design the menus, windows, and other parts of the interface that people will use to operate your program). Over the last few years, the accessibility of XCode has been greatly improving, and, currently, a blind programmer can operate most every part of it that they would need to create programs. However, Interface Builder has been a different story. Interface Builder requires that programmers create the new program's interface by dragging user interface objects from a library window on to a design surface that represents the program's eventual interface. VoiceOver's drag and drop features weren't compatible with Interface Builder, so blind programmers weren't able to add user interface objects to their programs. Recently, though, a few of us on the MV-Dev Google Group have figured out an alternative approach. We're still working out some details regarding the best way to arrange objects, but blind programmers on the Mac can now use Interface Builder to create their program's user interface by adding objects to menus and windows, can position objects on design surfaces, and can edit the outlets and other programmatic connections between objects and classes in their code. Basically, we've figured out a workaround. No scripts required. Before our recent discovery, I'd searched the web extensively in the hope that someone had worked out a way for blind programmers to use Interface Builder, but all I saw was thread after thread on the Apple Accessibility list MacVisionaries, and other forums where people had asked, but had come up empty handed. I hope that those that were discouraged in the past will be excited about this development, and will get involved with programming for the Mac. If you know a VoiceOver user that is interested in programming for the Mac, please let them know about the MV-Dev Google Group and what is now possible. Since we can now create software, complete with graphical user interfaces, they should join us and get up to speed. The fact that blind coders can now create applications with interfaces will undoubtedly mean that we can expect to see an increasing number of software tools to improve how we use Macs. Here is the link to the Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mv-dev Bryan
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