https://github.com/dreamengine/DECategories

What It Does

DECategories is a collection of useful categories for the modern iOS developer. These categories make the creation process easier and faster by providing a multitude of conveniences.

How It Works

Below is a list of included categories and what they provide.

NSData+DEImageMimeType

Problem: You have an image but aren't sure if it's a png or gif.

Solution: Just use -imageDataMimeType on the image's NSData representation and get a mime type string (e.g. @"image/png").

NSMutableArray+DEWeakReferences

Problem: You want to store an array of objects but don't want to retain them (e.g. a list of prioritized delegates).

Solution: Use +mutableArrayUsingWeakReferences and stash away!

NSMutableDictionary+DENonNil

Problem: You are populating a dictionary, but some of the objects are optional and you're tired of safety checking to make sure that each one is non-nil before adding them.

Solution: Use -setObjectIfNonNil:forKey:, and your object will only be added if it is non-nil.

NSMutableSet+DEWeakReferences

Problem: You want to store a set of objects but don't want to retain them (e.g. an unordered list of delegates).

Solution: Use +mutableSetUsingWeakReferences and stash away!

NSNotification+DEConveniences

Problem: Your app only ever uses the default notification center [NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] and you are so very tired of always having to reference it. You also tire of having to manually package NSNotification objects whenever you want to send data.

Solution: Just use +postNotificationWithName:, postNotificationWithName:object:, and postNotificationWithName:object:userInfo:, which will automatically package an NSNotification for you and send it out to the default notification center.

NSString+DERelativePaths

Problem: You have an absolute file path, but you only want the file's path relative to some directory. (E.g. your app utilizes user-provided files and folders and you want to store certain paths, but an app update may change where those files are stored and break the absolute paths you saved.)

Solution: Use -stringWithPathRelativeTo: and get the relative path.

UIButton+DEBackgroundColor

Problem: You want the background color of your UIButton to change as the control state changes.

Solution: Use -setBackgroundColor:forState:.

UIColor+DEConveniences

Problem: You want to create a UIColor from a hex string, or you want to make a UIColor without all the verbosity.

Solution: For creating a hex string, use colorWithHexString:, or you can use the convenience function UIColorFromHexString(NSString).

All convenience functions:

• UIColorFromValues(float, float, float),
• UIColorFromValuesWithAlpha(float, float, float, float),
• UIColorFromIntValues(int, int, int) (0-255),
• UIColorFromIntValuesWithAlpha(int, int, int, int) (0-255), and
• UIColorFromHexString(NSString).

UIGestureRecognizer+DECancel

Problem: You want to be able to manually cancel a UIGestureRecognizer.

Solution: Use -cancel.

UIImage+DEColorRect

Problem: You want to create a UIImage that's filled with a certain color.

Solution: Use +imageWithColor:ofSize:.

UIImage+DEResize

Problem: You want to resize a UIImage, perhaps to save on memory if the image is too large.

Solution: Use +imageWithImage:scaledToSize:, or -resizedImageScaledToSize:.

UIImage+DETintColor

Problem: You want to add a tint to a UIImage.

Solution: Use -imageTintedWithColor:fraction:.

UINib+DEConveniences

Problem: You want to inflate an object from a nib file without all the hassle.

Solution: Use +firstObjectWithNibName:, which will automatically create a UINib object and send the first item in that nib back to you.

UITableView+DEHideEmptyCells

Problem: You have a table view with short cell contents, and you don't much care for the empty cells and lines that are drawn underneath your cells.

Solution: Use -applyHideEmptyCellsStyle.

UIView+DEConveniences

Problem: You want to directly get and set x, y, width, and height values without going through the frame. Or, you want to inflate a UIView from a nib file and wish it was just a little easier.

Solution: x, y, width, and height properties are provided. To quickly instantiate from a nib file, use +viewFromNib (just make sure that your nib file matches the class name).

UIView+DEFirstResponder

Problem: You don't know who the first responder is, but you sure would like to find out.

Solution: Use -findFirstResponder. (If you want to resign the first responder and don't care who it is, you can just use the built-in -endEditing: on your main UIView container).

UIViewController+DEConveniences

Problem: You wish there was a factory method for easily constructing UIViewController instances.

Solution: There is! You can simply use +controller, and it will automatically attempt to load a nib file with your class's string representation. If a nib file is not found, it will programmatically instantiate your controller.