WSPluginSwitcher: Cocoa based tool for switching Flash plug-in on OS X
January 2nd, 2009
It’s never to late to learn a new (programming) language 
So I’ve been starting to learn Cocoa, Apple’s Objective-C based programming environment for Mac OS X.
My “Cocoa”-trip started with building a little application called “WSPluginSwitcher“, which is a Cocoa based tool for switching Flash plug-ins on OS X (Leopard).
Check it out – it’s open source, including its source code: WSPluginSwitcher on Google Code
Screen shots
Download WSPluginSwitcher including full source
You can download WSPluginSwitcher at its Google Code project.
To get the full source checkout the latest code using WSPluginSwitchers repository at Google Code.
It’s open source!
BTW: I’m very new to Cocoa, so I’m very happy about any feedback
Helpful links for learning Cocoa as an ActionScript Developer
About 10 days of programming a new language is not enough to make a real statement… However, what I’ve have learned so far is: To learn Cocoa as quick as possible you will need a good book! Apple delivers tons of Cocoa guides, but it takes me (too) much time to find basic solutions. I know why I love Adobes Flex and AIR docs
So I highly recommend the book called “Cocoa Programming for Max OS X” by Aaron Hillegass, which helps me a lot!
Further helpful links (not only for ActionScript Developers) are:
- Cocoa Dev Central: Learn Cocoa
- Theocacao: A Quick Objective-C 2.0 Tutorial
- Andy Jacobs: “Cocoa touch for actionscript developers (basics)“, “AS3 to Cocoa Touch: Array’s“, “AS3 to Cocoa touch: XML“, “AS3 to Cocoa touch: JSON (Part 1)”
- Keith Peters: Gravity Tutorials for iPhone Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
P.S.: Happy Flash plug-in switching using WSPluginSwitcher!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
[...] After diving into Objective-C for the last two weeks I have now the time to dive into Swiz. So I ported…. [...]
January 8th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I’ve twice checked my permissions on both the 2 files in the Library and my pluginArchive folders, but I still get the error
Operation not permitted. You have to change the file permission of the installed Flash Player Plugin OR of the files located in: ‘/Applications/WSPluginSwitcher/pluginArchive/10.0.12.36d/’
And ideas?
Thx.
January 8th, 2009 at 8:07 am
@J: How did you change the permissions? Using the Finder (Finder -> Get Info -> Sharing & Permissions) or using the Terminal?
For moving all needed files its permission have to be “777″. On my machine (Leopard 10.5.6) I can only change it successful using the Terminal (chmod command). Using the Finder I have the same issues (some permissions can be set to 775 only, but we need 777).
At WSPluginSwitchers wiki page you will find a description how you can set the permission to 777 using Terminal. Check the chapter called “Set write permissions for installed Flash plug-ins”
-Jens
January 8th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
@sectore: You’re right, Finder wasn’t switching the permissions. Used sudo su to do the CHMOD in Terminal across the 2 plugin files in Library and across all the files within the archive folders. App launches without the error, but when I switch and the browsers restart, playerversion.com (nice touch btw) still says I’m using the original player.
I’ll keep at it, but do you have any thoughts?
January 8th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
@J: Maybe a cache issue by the browser…?
-Jens
January 8th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Looks like the app isn’t overwriting the Flash Player.plugin file in Library/Internet Plugins/. File was last modified last night when I did a complete uninstall / reinstall of the player. Checked permissions for all involved files, all 777.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@J: One more try: Could you remove the files of the current installed Flash Player Plugins from the “Internet Plugins” folder? You may back up these files. Than open WSPluginSwitcher and run it.
-Jens
January 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Worked! Thanks so much. Good luck on your next Cocoa app.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
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