Hey there, CodeIgniter Screencasters (and prospective Screencasters)!
As a CodeIgniter newbie, I have to say that creating my own code along with a well done screencast (like the official “intro” and “blog”) and then looking at the proper page of the User Guide to learn more about a particular feature, is a GREAT way to get up and running fast with CodeIgniter. I’m sure that everyone would agree that newbies (especially) can benefit by seeing more CodeIgniter screencasts.
If you work on a Mac, you’ve probably been frustrated by the fact that there aren’t a lot of great (and powerful and easy) options for screencasting on a Mac. Jing Project is decent (and free) but has a 5 minute limitation, for example.
Well all that has changed (in a BIG way) with Screenflow by Vara Software, the makers of Wirecast and Videocue. Screenflow won not one, but two 2008 Apple Design Awards last week, which tells you something immediately. RAVE reviews like this one are popping up all over the web.
I’ve downloaded the trial software and created a short screencast myself, which you can view see attached to this blog post. (I hope to have some even better screencasts showing off this app’s capabilities without the humongous watermark in the near future).
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I haven’t even taken advantage of any of Screenflow’s more advanced features, which (for example) allow you to do some great post-production work on your screencast. It exports to QuickTime .mov files, but these can be easily converted to Flash for use on YouTube/Revver/etc. using (for example) VisualHub.
I’m not affiliated with Vara Software in any way, just excited to finally see a Mac app catching up to (and in many ways PASSING) the Windows offerings in this arena. I think a lot more Mac CodeIgniters can share their expertise with this great tool.
Another benefit of developing screencasts on an Intel-based Mac is that you can run Parallels with Windows and use Screenflow to create screencasts that capture either the Mac or Windows environment for your viewers. Another advantage is that the window within the screencast can be used to capture you presenting it, using the Mac’s built-in iSight camera (or an external webcam or DV camera).
I’m pretty dang excited about this great new tool and wanted to let the CodeIgniter community know about how they can use it to get the word out about all of CodeIgniter’s great features.