iOS App Developing Question

[MacsBestFriend]

Hello everyone! I have what me and friends think is a great idea for an App and I had some questions. I am only a high school freshman and I have no idea how to write code, how would I learn how? The App I want to create is supposed to be in use the entire time you are using the device, unless you turn it off. This would mean being active in the corner when Safari, Music, Notes, home screen, etc. are in use. The App would have to know what program is being used also and be able to interact with the program sometimes. This App is supposed to be a little like Nintendogs or the Petz game series and will be targeted at kids 18 and under. Does anyone have advice as to how to start this? Thanks!

 

[ojstagg93]

iPhone cookbook

There is a things called the iphone developer cookbook or something and apple has some good videos on getting started with code just search around for objective c and you should find somethin related to the iphone

 

[The General]

What you want to make is would not be allowed in the AppStore. Your program would have to run in the background which is not allowed.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

What you want to make is would not be allowed in the AppStore. Your program would have to run in the background which is not allowed.

ok... i didnt know that. i can make it so it doesn't do that, it was only an additional idea. i originally thought of this as a regular computer app, but the app store gave me better ideas, thanks!

 

[liptonlover]

I don't want to sound like I think you're stupid, but if you want to make the next nintendogs, (which I would love to see, btw) you don't need to run in the background anyways. In fact, that would be the worst way to go about it on any device. All you need to do is log the time when the app is quit, and compare how long it's been since the user last opened the app. Make changes to your little world accordingly, then let the user play. Simple, elegant, and will work on the iphone.
Nate

 

[CommanderData]

I don't want to sound like I think you're stupid, but if you want to make the next nintendogs, (which I would love to see, btw) you don't need to run in the background anyways. In fact, that would be the worst way to go about it on any device. All you need to do is log the time when the app is quit, and compare how long it's been since the user last opened the app. Make changes to your little world accordingly, then let the user play. Simple, elegant, and will work on the iphone.
Nate

I think he wanted to make something a bit more like Microsoft's "Clippy" that hangs around on top of whatever you are doing acting cute and annoying.

Obviously not possible with the SDK thankfully.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

I think he wanted to make something a bit more like Microsoft's "Clippy" that hangs around on top of whatever you are doing acting cute and annoying.

Obviously not possible with the SDK thankfully.

Stupid question: SDK? Whats that?

And I wanted that and the person above you's thing.... someone will beat be to it so I'll just wait and purchase it when it comes out

 

[dejo]

Stupid question: SDK? Whats that?

And I wanted that and the person above you's thing.... someone will beat be to it so I'll just wait and purchase it when it comes out

SDK is the Software Development Kit, a set of tools used to develop iPhone apps. The fact you are asking the question indicates that you have much still to learn. If you're really interested in developing your own apps, I suggest you start looking at the iPhone Dev Center site as well as checking out the stickies at the top of this forum.

 

[jlegend]

Being a freshman in high school does not matter, I am a sophomore and I am proficient in Objective-C/Cocoa. I started in 8th grade. Anyway, "The iPhone Developer Cookbook" would not be a good choice for you because it just gives you code with minimal explanation. Its made to be more of a reference with a couple tutorials (or "recipes" as they call them in the book). You need to get familiar with Objective-C first, so pick up this book. Then get the iPhone Cookbook. Also, I assume that your game will include graphics, so you will need to look around for that as well.

Hope this helped.

 

[MacsBestFriend]

Being a freshman in high school does not matter, I am a sophomore and I am proficient in Objective-C/Cocoa. I started in 8th grade. Anyway, "The iPhone Developer Cookbook" would not be a good choice for you because it just gives you code with minimal explanation. Its made to be more of a reference with a couple tutorials (or "recipes" as they call them in the book). You need to get familiar with Objective-C first, so pick up this book. Then get the iPhone Cookbook. Also, I assume that your game will include graphics, so you will need to look around for that as well.

Hope this helped.

thanks, that did really help! i think that after i posted another thread the other day with all my ideas, and i had a good amount of positive feedback, i will just leave the ideas around for others to decide to develop.

thanks to dejo for telling me what sdk is!

 

[CocoaPuffs]

Objective C is a horrible starting language.

I still like Java better.

 

[firewood]

Javascript. You can write actual web apps for your iPhone right away, and there seem to be lots of beginning programming books on it.


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