Ash Furrow Lead iOS Developer at 500px

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Ash Furrow and I work as the Lead iOS Developer at 500px. Ok, well, as the only iOS Developer.

But still.

I have a few side projects, notably this monstrosity, but my best work is definitely the 500px iPad app. I'm incredibly conscious of good design (for a developer, anyway) and I love making apps that people want to use. I enjoy writing about my work and Apple-related things and I also co-host a podcast with some coworkers called "--force." You should follow me on Twitter at @ashfurrow.

How did you get started in iOS development?

I started iPhone development in 2009 as a university student. I had lots of time and a MacBook, and over Christmas I learned the basics. That got me a student scholarship to attend WWDC in the Summer of 2010, when things got serious. I started taking on small contracts and built my skills up.

What is your computer and workspace setup while developing?

I've got a 15" MacBook Pro upgraded to 8GB RAM and an SSD connected to a 27" Apple Display. My desk is littered with headphones, papers, and every manner of gadgetry, and my backside rests on a Herman Miller chair.

What are your favourite Apple iOS API's to use within apps you develop?

I know a thing or two about the UIGestureRecognizer subclasses. All your favourites: pan, tap, pinch, the list goes on. I think Apple made a strategic move to introduce these and make them as easy to use for developers; the gesture recognition libraries lead to apps where users interact with their data and not some UI chrome.

What is some essential software that you use outside of Xcode for development?

For regular text editing, I use Smultron. I'd be completely lost without 1Password and Sparrow.

What do you do to stay up to date on new iOS features, frameworks and SDK's?

I'll be vying for a WWDC ticket again this year and/or watching the videos when they come out.

I learn by tinkering and I've found the best way to learn a new framework is to fork an open source project using it and to play around. It gives me a starting point where things still work and I can play with them; if I break things, no problem! I'll just revert.

From a developers perspective, what are your hopes for the next major iOS update?

For the next iOS update? I'd be happier with more stable libraries. Even as a young platform, there is some cruft that I'd like to see shaken free from iOS. Apple's done a lot to advance the environment, like LLVM and ARC, and I'm confident that they'll continue the trend.

But what I'd really like is a new version of Xcode. One that doesn't, you know, crash all the time.

Finally, what is your favourite app?

Favourite app…that's a tough one. I'd have to say Tweetbot since Twitter jumped the shark with the recent update to 4.0.