Mac Power Users 538: I Predate the Home Computer, with James Thomson
May 31, 2020
James Thomson, an independent software developer and the mind behind the beloved PCalc app, shares his rich background in Mac software development. He reminisces about the early days of personal computing, discussing his adventures with iconic machines like the Apple II. The conversation dives into his creative journey at Apple, exploring the challenges and innovations he faced. Thomson also reflects on the evolution of PCalc, detailing its impressive upgrades and enduring success, all while contemplating the future of app development and technology.
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Episode notes
WWDC Value
- James values WWDC for the labs and networking, not the sessions.
- He believes making WWDC virtual will benefit more developers overall but will miss the in-person interactions.
PCalc's Origin
- PCalc started as a UI class project for a central heating controller, leveraging seven-segment LCD graphics.
- James then decided to create a calculator app as a test project.
PCalc on iOS
- James ported the PCalc engine to the iPhone SDK in 30 minutes, launching it on the App Store's first day.
- It was the only calculator app among 400 and did surprisingly well.
