NEW UPDATE: Updated to Alpha 1.0. All core features work!* Check green/yellow areas for updates!

* Some bugs do exist. There are also not active safety-nets (i.e. if the user intentionally tries to crash the program by entering invalid values).

Version: Alpha 1.0 [4/17/2013]

Note: Edits, new things, or updates, will be posted in a different colour to distinguish.

Yellow: Update(s).

Green: Change(s).

 

Hello everyone,

 

I'm quite new to the forums, but not new to Runescape in general. I have known about Runescape for probably close to 10 years (but have not played the entire time; on and off). Awhile back, I ventured into the wonderful field of item flipping. I started making quite a decent some of money, until it wasn't fast and efficient enough. To maximize profit and efficiency, I wished there was an app to help me boost profits. And then I started making that app...

 

I started working on a project in my spare time to allow me to manage transactions, monitor profit, and most importantly, notify me when I can reuse another item (due to the 4 hour trade limit on items).

 

It's still in alpha (roughly Alpha 1.0), although a lot of the core features are working. Below are some recent pictures:

 

[spoiler=Add new item/search]

Main new item/search screen...

 

 

 

[spoiler=Searching for a Santa Hat]

Searching for a Santa Hat...

 

 

 

[spoiler=History/Transactions]

History/Transactions page...

 

 

 

[spoiler=Selling an item]

Selling an item...

 

 

 

Screenshots, design, and the user interface are copyright © 2013 by me. Item names and item images seen in the screenshots are the property of their respective owners (Jagex).

 

Working Features:

• Saving and loading.
  
• Export to Microsoft Excel
  
• Search for item and extract item ID.
  
• Adds user-specified transaction (i.e. price per or total price, quantity, purchase date, etc.).
  
• Calculates profit for each transaction (when sold).
  
• Can now sell an item.
  
• Item notifications when an item can be reused (due to the 4 hour Grand Exchange trade limit) are now working! [Latest update/feature].
  

Planned Features:

• Notification when an item can be reused (due to the 4 hour Grand Exchange trade limit) (now working).
  
• Still working on the ability to sell an item (now working).
  

Possible Features:

• Way too many possible features that I can think off right off the bat. Right now, I'm focused on the core features and fixing bugs/errors.
  

Supported Operating System(s):

• The application is written in Objective-C and is currently only working on the Mac (OS X).
  
• I may or may not develop an iOS (iPod, iPhone, iPad) version depending on support/popularity.
  
• A Windows (and subsequently Android) version is not likely (although this could change at any moment).
  

Be sure to check this thread for updates. This is currently the only place which showcases my app and has announced its development. I have listed the version and date of the most recent updates at the top. I will edit those values whenever I make an update to this thread and/or the app.

 

What Do You Think?

I have set up a poll to gather feedback your feedback. Most importantly, I would love to hear what you have to say. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or comments, please feel free to post.

 

Cheers,

SAA

Moved to Programming & Web Design :).

Moved to Programming & Web Design :).

 

Okay :)

What method do you use for grabbing IDs? Do you just cross-reference it with a list you made?

What method do you use for grabbing IDs? Do you just cross-reference it with a list you made?

 

Hey,

 

When the user searches for an item, it gets the webpage source of the item from the Grand Exchange database and extracts the item ID.

 

Regards,

SAA

Oh, so you're just parsing http://services.runescape.com/m=itemdb_rs/results.ws?query=%22blue%20partyhat%22 and grabbing the IDs? That's a pretty good way to do it, but I was hoping you would have saved me the dirty work of making an updated list of item IDs :P

Oh, so you're just parsing http://services.rune..."blue partyhat" and grabbing the IDs? That's a pretty good way to do it, but I was hoping you would have saved me the dirty work of making an updated list of item IDs :P

 

Basically, yes.

 

Making a list would be a very long, tiring process.

 

Even worse, it could change at any time when items are added/removed/modified. My method will work for any item, including new ones. This also gives me the option to get prices, price changes, and graph data in the future should I choose.

 

SAA

 

P.S. What do you need an item ID list for?

No, as in no i don't want to use anything other than the grand exchange inside the game.

The advantage to using an item ID list is that it's much, much faster than parsing a long, slow HTML file. The disadvantages are that it's hard to compile and update, which is what has prevented me from doing so.

No, as in no i don't want to use anything other than the grand exchange inside the game.

 

That's fine. The primary reason I began developing this app was to allow me to flip much more efficiently and effortlessly (among other reasons).

 

Of course, if other people want to use it, that's fine too (although it's not quite ready for release).

 

The advantage to using an item ID list is that it's much, much faster than parsing a long, slow HTML file. The disadvantages are that it's hard to compile and update, which is what has prevented me from doing so.

 

There's only an initial search for an item, which by the way is not slow at all. It takes 1-2 seconds to search for an item. In most cases, I would assume that the user would know what they're searching for (i.e. they just bought two Santa Hats in-game and want to log it).

 

Once the ID is gathered, it's then stored to a file should the user decide to add a purchase for that item.

 

Although, for the purposes of this app, having an item ID is not necessary. It's just more of a convenience feature (along with item images).

 

SAA

 

P.S. Care to spill the beans on what type of project you're currently working on?

Oh, you don't even grab the ge price. You're just grabbing the images to make it look pretty. I get it now :P

Oh, you don't even grab the ge price. You're just grabbing the images to make it look pretty. I get it now :P

 

Grabbing the GE prices wouldn't always be reliable. The website (Grand Exchange database) isn't updated as frequently as in-game, and can be hours behind.

 

On top of that, there is no need to grab the GE price(s), as the app focuses on the user's specific transactions for monitoring profit.

 

But yes, I agree: the item images do make everything look more pretty.

 

SAA

I would use this, but I have quit playing. Regardless, I think it a very cool idea!

I would use this, but I have quit playing. Regardless, I think it a very cool idea!

 

I, too, honestly have not played in quite some time.

 

I have been considering playing again. To hear that Jagex is moving towards HTML5 and WebGL is definitely great news, which could very well alter the future of Runescape in a positive way.

 

Unfortunately, I have been slightly unhappy about some recent updates (i.e. the combat update), which is why I've been taking a "break".

 

Does one every really quit playing, or is quitting more of an extended break?

 

SAA

I picked it back up over winter break for about a month (like an hour a day, if that) but before I hadn't played in a few years, so I'd say quit haha

I picked it back up over winter break for about a month (like an hour a day, if that) but before I hadn't played in a few years, so I'd say quit haha

 

I'm still debating myself whether I should or should not.

 

SAA

Looks like a cool idea, and something that WoW (which has quite a large community of Auction House goblins) has had for a couple years now. Can be very handy if you're really into maximizing your time spent buying and selling.

Looks like a cool idea, and something that WoW (which has quite a large community of Auction House goblins) has had for a couple years now. Can be very handy if you're really into maximizing your time spent buying and selling.

 

Indeed. Which is why I started developing it in the first place.

 

SAA

No, as in no i don't want to use anything other than the grand exchange inside the game.

 

I agree with this. If such a thing became available it should be an in-game feature to use by everyone or not at all.

Yes please. Great concept!

No, as in no i don't want to use anything other than the grand exchange inside the game.

 

I agree with this. If such a thing became available it should be an in-game feature to use by everyone or not at all.

 

Why?

 

Unfortunately, Jagex would probably never add such features as it would be promoting flipping in their eyes. Once one gets the hang of it, flipping is a very powerful, and slightly easy method to make money. This app is only intended to make things even easier.

 

It would be about the same as if Jagex added an in-game tool to track gambling profits (but of course, flipping is no where near as controversial as those gambling games).

 

Yes please. Great concept!

 

I appreciate your feedback :)

 

Things are going great and I just got another major feature working (which, unfortunately, introduced new bugs that I now have to fix).

Yes, I have a Mac (OS X). (1 votes [8.33%])

Foreveralone.jpg :sad:

Yes, I have a Mac (OS X). (1 votes [8.33%])

Foreveralone.jpg :sad:

 

My best bet is to develop an iOS (iPod/iPhone/iPad) version.

 

However, to do so would be to a) apply as a Registered Apple Developer and b) involve some rewriting and complete redesign of the program. That being said, I would be more than happy to develop an iOS version should the Mac version receive a certain amount of support.

 

I have currently just updated to Alpha 1.0 and all core features are working. I'm trying to get in contact with Tip.It administrators to discuss my options.

So basically you're coding something which will let you look into what everyone is flipping so you know what to flip yourself? :D

So basically you're coding something which will let you look into what everyone is flipping so you know what to flip yourself? :D

 

The only internet access my app requires is when it a) searches for an item on the Grand Exchange, b) extracts the item ID, and c) extracts the image for that item. It never sends anything back to the internet.

 

Should it be a problem, I will definitely allow the possibility of no internet access (eliminating requirements for A, B, and C above). The Mac OS X is very safe, and if one truly wanted to be secure, they could bar all internet access to/from my app using the built in Firewall.

 

Besides, I already know what to flip anyhow :P

 

Regards,

SAA