I had another setback when my certificates no longer worked. But things seem to be looking up:

• After about 3 days of not being able to approve the certificate request that I uploaded on the program portal, today I logged in and was able to approve (I’m the agent) the submission. My hope is that the rest of the process will go smoother.
• I believe I actually really and trully have got the initial configuration of a nib file down pat… so, when using it in a program, the program won’t crash!
• I can now make a very workable navigation controller type app with multiple branchs to its navigation tree using Apple’s navigation controller template.
• I am persuaded… at the moment at least… that I can make a navigation controller type app from scratch without using Apple’s navigation controller project template.
• I am getting a fundamentally better understanding of the workings of View Controllers.
• I was able to create a working view (with no controls at this point) operating in a navigation controller type app where everything is done in code! If I comment out one line and un-comment out another line in this project, it works the same way but uses a nib file for its view.
• I’ve got some code for building a button completely in code which will respond to it being touched. I’m champing at the bit to try it out.
• I have learned that a view object inside of the view controller that does not use a nib file starts out as black. One can use a line of code in the ViewLoad or ViewDidLoad methods of the view controller sub class to change the color to white or some other color.
• Though I don’t have a complete understanding of the MainWindow.xib file, I do understand it allot more than I used to, and believe I know enough to not need it if I choose.
• I know that if you change the button type of a UIButton that you create to custom that it creates a nice invisible rectangle that you can place on the screen somewhere to capture the user’s touch and do something.
• I know how to use the NSLog function for debugging/logging of my apps.

I’m sure there’s a few things I missed but I’ve come along way baby! I’m feeling really encouraged about iPhone development right now!