Gizmodo’s Developers Cubed series offers a behind the scenes look into Australia’s up and coming dev scene. This week: We chat with Sydney-based Peach Pellen about Corona SDK, helping others learn to code and why it’s necessary to eat lunch at your desk.
Developers! Developers! Developers!
It’s not just Steve Ballmer’s favourite sweat-laden catchcry! If you’d like to be featured in Developers Cubed, shoot a note to alex.kidman at alluremedia.com.au. I’d love to hear from you.
Who are you and where do you work?
My name is Peach Pellen and I’m currently located in Sydney, although I work with mostly US based clients. I also work part time for Ansca Mobile, (also US based,) providing help and support for other iOS and Android developers using the Corona SDK.
Why do we know you? What have you created?
Most people come to find about me though Techority, a website I run which is devoted to taking people who have never written a line of code in their life and turning them into iOS and/or Android application developers.
Techority has been around since late 2010 and in that time has helped over a thousand people create their first apps by providing free tutorials aimed at people who are learning to program without prior experience – so if you know me, it’s from researching app development.
What platforms do you develop for?
I develop using Corona SDK exclusively which allows a developer to write one set of code and then build that app for iOS and Android, so I would say I develop for both of those – although if I’m honest I focus 90% of my efforts on iOS because I dislike dealing with the fragmentation of Android.
What are you working on right now?
I’m currently working on three projects simultaneously; an educational app for kids, a train-and-battle style app focussed on dealing with bullies (not as “after school special” as it sounds) and putting together the Techority 48 Hour Challenge, which is an annual worldwide coding event that takes place the last weekend in February.
What do you think about the rise and rise of App Stores? How has it influenced your titles?
The growth of the App Store has made it possible for an indie developer to make money from their couch – something I’m totally in favour of. Unlike developing for other portable gaming devices like the Sony PSP or the Nintendo DS you don’t need a huge cash infusion to get started and become profitable.
That said, the best part about the rise of the App Store is the number of third party SDKs that have sprung up; the Corona SDK lets me develop an app in about 20% of the time it would take using Xcode and Objective-C and that kind of productivity is important to people like me who can get burned out if they have to work on any one thing for too long without seeing much progress.
What’s your favourite app that you didn’t create?
It’s a three way tie between ChocoRun, My Little Monster and The Lost City.
What phone do you use? Why?
I use a HTC Incredible S as my work phone and an iPhone4 as my personal phone. I like them both but the iPhone really can’t be beat, it’s beautiful, fast and the touch screen keyboard is the nicest I’ve ever used, which really matters to me as I try to keep up to date with emails even away from the computer.
What advice do you have for budding Aussie developers out there?
If you haven’t already, look into the Corona SDK. It’s a very easy way to start developing while still being powerful and flexible. The first app is the hardest because there are lots of hurdles (technical and psychological) to overcome but if your grind through that you will discover the wonderful feeling of knowing something you created is in pockets around the world.
Also, get used to eating at your desk.
olearymo
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 5:11 PMcool stuff, think i’ll take a look at that site.
eating your lunch at your desk is very bad for you. I know, because I do it every day.
Mohamed
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 7:05 PMPeach is the best when it comes to helping newbie developers. She is always helpful and supportive. She will never let you down if you shout for help. I follow her blog which is indispensable for anyone thinking of developing in Corona SDK which is awesome. Thanks Peach!
Rodrigo RSCdev
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 8:28 PMHonestly, this girl is a MASTER one!
Mrs. Peach Pellen from CoronaSDK Developer to a Helpful Guru is just one step.
Deserves ALL THE BEST.
I am your FAN! .)
Cheers,
Rodrigo.
Renjith
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 9:03 PMThats our Peach…. :) CHEERS !!
Renjith (Yet Another Corona Developer Inspired by Peach)
Nathan
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 9:16 PMPeach and her support is the reason I chose Corona over other SDKs. When I couldn’t build my first app because of certificate and bundleID (n00b) errors she stayed up with me until 5 in the morning so I could submit it that day. She also writes great motivational stuff for developers on her personal site, http://peachpellen.com (I hope am allowed to post links here.)
As long as Peach is at Corona I think we are all very lucky people.
Mike Kelly
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 9:25 PMI was able to create the first level of an iPad game in a little over eight hours – my first app ever- using the unbridled power and ease of Corona. I had no previous experience with Lua (Corona’s language), but I found it the most unmachine like coding style of any I had encountered, and with the help of people like Peach Pellen – no, I take that back: I haven’t found another spirit out there half as generous as she is – I have broken through the many barriers inherent in finding your voice in a new language. I am so happy to see her getting the recognition that she deserves and to see Corona in the spotlight again as well. It deserves every evangelist it can get, and in Peach Pellen, it has one with no peers when it comes to easing the path into app making for the uninitiated, aiding their entry into the world of Corona SDK implementation!
Cleo
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:19 AMPeach is a rockstar!! She’s an excellent teacher and provides support and encouragement for newbies like me. She has a positive outlook and helped me to believe that I could develop, with no prior experience in coding what so ever, with the CoronaSDK, and she was right :)
Diginutscorp
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 1:32 AMPeach, saves me a lot headaches Ego and unlock leve l examples helped in creating my upcoming game
thanks so much
carlos icaza
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 1:02 AMGreat post and nice t-shirt. Thank you Peach for your indefatigable support.
C
Jerry Pine
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5:15 AMI can tell you from experience that Peach has the rare gift of being a natural teacher.
Husam Abu Sarris
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 9:08 AMI’m one of many people who greatful for Peach Pellen. She’s always there, so helpful and supportive. I can’t say enough!
Joey King
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 9:47 AMid just like to add that peach is awesome. i think i speak for many when i say that she has made me a better developer. she very much deserves this writeup.
much appreciation and respect from
crayotic games
Joey King
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 9:48 AMcorrection on my email. its Gmail and not yahoo.
sheraz
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 2:05 PMHi Peach, about fragmentation of android, how well hae it been handled by corona? Whateverbit claims it still cant cover all the pieces of it.
Sam Fareed
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:00 AMPeach work in the Corona mobile development community is quite amazing. Her work and endless support particularly for new comers via her online presense and Techority web site make her an outstanding contributor to this community. For those of us who got to know her in person, she is not only one of the smartest people to meet but the nicest too. Congrats Peach and keep the good work.
omae
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 8:46 AMyou are the best Peach ..you make excited to improve my self in corona .. so thnx a lot ..
Nick G.
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 5:04 AMPeach is a BAMF. She is extremely helpful, and guide you in the direction you need to. I try not to eat up much of her time, as I’ll research something and try it and beat it down for a long while, then I may have to reach out. Never let me down yet! She’s cool, and very knowledgeable.
She’s also a bit oddball, but with magic monkeys flying from the 9th dimension, it’s a given.
-Nick G
@cellphonegamine
@angrycarrot