Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode ranges from tech troubleshooting to major WWDC reactions: Skype’s recurring permission prompts, the absurdity of app ownership and macOS permissions, the rise of SwiftUI and Combine, the implications of Catalina’s APFS changes and user-space drivers, and the new Mac Pro’s design, pricing, and monitor strategy. The hosts mix practical developer concerns with skepticism about Apple’s choices and a few lighter follow-ups, ads, and Ask ATP questions.
Main Topics: Skype prompts, macOS permissions, and app behavior: The show opens with repeated Skype helper-tool permission dialogs, leading to speculation about whether the app is misbehaving or whether permissions and ownership on macOS are the issue. The discussion broadens into how software like Skype, Office, Dropbox, and Evernote increasingly behaves annoyingly or wastefully. Swift, SwiftUI, and the challenge of Apple’s development tools: The hosts discuss learning Swift as a “dick” but necessary language, building a trivial Safari extension wrapped in a notarized app, and the need for better Xcode onboarding. They also compare SwiftUI and Combine, especially the promise of SwiftUI on watchOS and the need for Catalina for the best experience. Catalina, APFS, and file system innovations: A major portion of the episode covers Catalina’s read-only system volume, APFS volume groups, firmlinks, and new volume replication features. John explains why these changes matter for system integrity, backups, and future Time Machine efficiency. User-space drivers and de-kernelizing macOS/iOS: The hosts discuss Apple moving mass-storage and file-system drivers out of the kernel into user space, reducing the blast radius of bugs and enabling safer file system access for features like iOS Files and Dropbox-like cloud file systems. Mac Pro design, expansion, and pricing controversy: The conversation dives deep into the new Mac Pro’s internal storage options, Pegasus modules, case design, air flow, the controversial $999 stand, and whether the product is too expensive. They argue Apple is targeting workstation buyers, not mass-market users. Display strategy and the Pro Display XDR: The hosts criticize the lack of a lower-cost Apple display and note the disappearance of competing 5K monitors. They argue the Pro Display XDR makes sense for reference-monitor workflows but is a poor fit for most developers who just want a high-quality Mac monitor. Follow-up and Ask ATP: The episode closes with follow-up on ASCII-art apps, a blending-stump/lasso tool clarification, a sponsored-ad segment, and listener questions about macro lenses, aging electronics, and Tesla Autopilot usage.
Key Arguments: Repeated permission prompts can indicate either buggy app behavior or macOS permission/ownership quirks, but users often end up just canceling because nothing seems to change. SwiftUI is promising but currently limited; it is especially compelling on watchOS because the problem space is small and the UI system is a huge improvement over WatchKit. Catalina’s APFS changes—read-only system volume, firmlinks, and volume groups—hide complexity from users while improving system integrity and update safety. Volume replication in APFS/ASR can become more efficient by copying only changed blocks between snapshots, which could eventually make Time Machine much better. Moving drivers into user space is a big security win: crashes become app/driver failures instead of kernel panics, and it can enable safer file-system integrations for cloud-storage apps. The Mac Pro is expensive, but Apple is targeting the workstation market, where expensive modular systems are normal; the bigger optics problem is the equally expensive display ecosystem. The Pro Display XDR is strategically aimed at reference-monitor buyers, but Apple still needs a lower-cost high-quality monitor for the wider Mac audience. The new Mac Pro’s internal storage options are notable because they restore a kind of internal-expandability that has been missing from modern Macs. Autopilot-like systems should be treated as advanced cruise control, not self-driving, because human attention inevitably drifts when the car handles steering. For macro photography, lighting and stabilization matter more than maximum aperture or exact focal length; around 100mm is a versatile choice.
Data Points: Skype helper prompt frequency: every few hours - Marco says Skype repeatedly asks to install a helper tool at this interval. Office update prompt frequency: again in a day or two - Microsoft Office notifications recur even after choosing turn on/not now. Safari extension code size: 1 line - The Safari reload extension is described as essentially a one-line app: Page.reload(). CSS/UI size of reload glyph: 22 points wide by 26 points tall - Casey measures the reload control to argue it is a real button. Catalina install target space: half a terabyte external SSD - Casey used a 500 GB external SSD for the Catalina experiment. Mac Pro base price: $6,000 - The new Mac Pro’s entry price becomes a central point of controversy. Monitor stand price: $999 - Apple’s Pro Display XDR stand is discussed as a shockingly expensive accessory. Apple Watch Edition price: $15,000 - Used as a comparison for how long expensive prices stay on screen or in memory. Linode promo code credit: $20 - Linode sponsor offer for ATP listeners. Away promo discount: $20 off - Away suitcase promotion during the sponsor segment. Eero promo discount: $100 off - Eero package discount with promo code ATP. Speaker birth age: 37 - Casey says he just turned 37 and jokes that he had miscomputed his age. Speaker age: 44 - John realizes he is 44 again after miscounting his age. Time on screen for stand price: 56 frames (~1.9 seconds) - John notes Apple did not dwell on the $999 stand price in the keynote.
Pivotal Quotes: "Swift is a dick, but I have to be its friend for lots of other reasons." — Casey: A humorous but serious framing of why he continues learning and using Swift despite frustration. "The operating system is still running." — John: A reference to the classic demo proving that user-space crashes no longer bring down the whole system. "It is not a substitute for paying any attention." — Marco: Marco’s explanation of how he uses Tesla Autopilot only as advanced cruise control.
Implications: Apple is pushing macOS/iOS toward safer, more modular architecture while also re-asserting itself in high-end pro hardware. For listeners, the takeaway is that future workflows will increasingly depend on Catalina-era tools, user-space drivers, and Apple’s premium workstation ecosystem.