Marc Charbonneau

It’s with great pleasure that I announce the 1.0 release of my latest application; Runner’s Log. I started work on Runner’s Log late last fall, when I was looking for the best solution to record distances and times when I went running. Looking at my options at the time, I realized I had a few neat ideas I didn’t see anywhere else, and so I began work on Runner’s Log.

Before posting this I spent a few days trying to think of any advice I could offer other developers, but I think if you spend a little time reading mailing lists and sites like CocoaDev, there’s not much anyone needs to add. Definitely start with a few core requirements, rather than try to come up with a laundry list of features that probably aren’t that important. Even the smallest of applications is going to take a lot of your time, especially when you start thinking about things like designing a licensing scheme, or making a nice website and storefront. Pay attention to your customers, and respond to any questions, comments or complaints they might have. Also try to make sure that all of the features of your application fit and work together in a nice way. Even if it’s something small, like the design of a toolbar icon, if it’s not done correctly it might detract from the genuinely good aspects of your application.

Most of all though, have fun. Take a break from your office desk every now and then and spend some time working outdoors, from cafes, or listening to some live music. It’s how I ended up programming a lot of Runner’s Log, especially parts that were becoming tedious or boring. I genuinely enjoyed working on it, and I hope some of that shows through in the application itself.

With 1.0 out of the way, it’s time to go back and fix some of the minor bugs that still exist. After that, there’s a lot I plan to add in the near future, so definitely check back in the future and send me an email if there are any features you would like to see.