iOS Beginner to Programming

[Josh Kahane]

Hi

I am absolutely brand new to programing. Not really much knowledge in that area. I am striving to end up in the near future to be able to make apps to iPhone and iPod Touch. I heard I need to know Objective-C before making iPhone apps. So whats a good place to start learning, whats the top selling books out there for beginners learning? And then what the next step after learning Objective-C? Thanks, any help much appreciated.

 

[SilentPanda]

You can refer to the FAQ at the top of this forum:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Cocoa_FAQ

 

[Josh Kahane]

Thanks SilentPanda thats great, but I would appreciate some personal opinions to be posted. Thanks.

 

[ryan]

You might want to try searching these forums, similar questions have been asked (and answered) many times.

Good luck!

 

[SilentPanda]

Thanks SilentPanda thats great, but I would appreciate some personal opinions to be posted. Thanks.

That is the personal opinion. Early on when that question was asked (and asked and asked and asked) the people of this forum gathered together and made a thread. That thread was converted into that guide.

 

[ChrisA]

Hi

I am absolutely brand new to programing. Not really much knowledge in that area. I am striving to end up in the near future to be able to make apps to iPhone and iPod Touch. I heard I need to know Objective-C before making iPhone apps. So whats a good place to start learning, whats the top selling books out there for beginners learning? And then what the next step after learning Objective-C? Thanks, any help much appreciated.

How to start? Do simple things first. Work at the command line. Write some simple command line programs like (say) a postal scale that computes postage based on weight and class of service. an ATM simulater or whatever. Don't try and jump right into graphical programs. Allso write stuff for the Mac first. Larger computers are so much easier to program. Small devices take more work.

Don't expect this to go fast. Those programming books are like math text books, read a few pages a day and work all the problems. Spend a few hours a day at it and after a year or so you will be able to write smaller applications.

 

[LtRammstein]

I'd recommend buying Hillegass' book, Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X.

I bought it, and it's really nice. He goes over everything you need to know about Cocoa and Obj-C, plus he worked for NeXTStep and Apple.

To go along with Obj-C and Cocoa, try teaching yourself C. This way a lot of concepts of Obj-C come easier.

 

[grimreaper1377]

Dude, read. The guide lists ideas for beginners, the most commonly asked question. Your question doesn't need a personal response since so many people ask each day.

 

[nick9191]

I'd recommend Kochans book, Programming in Objective-C 2.0.

Very easy to follow, assumes little/no prior programming knowledge, good examples, released this month so completely up to date.

 

[TotalLuck]

Also very new--

Hey josh,
I am also very new to programming. ( about 2 months ) i am working through the Obj. C 2.0 by Kochan. It is very easy to read and understand by a layman. There are some errors in the book and some exercises reference material not in the book. ( only 1 or 2 through 11 chapters) However the author does read the forums here and has answered mine and others questions.
I highly recommend it.

Just for Backround.. I am 38, in construction for 20 years and just decided to to this for kicks.

Have fun.

 

[Josh Kahane]

After reading 'Programming in Objective-C 2.0'....

Hi

To all of those who have read Steve Kochan's 'Programming in Objective-C 2.0' and Steve himself:

So, I have just ordered the above book, and have read some gleaming reviews and am highly looking forward to dipping into the programming. I am brand new to programing, if there was a cat or dog in programming, I wouldn't know which end the head is.

I want to get ahead of the game, so I'm asking after I have thoroughly gone through everything in that book, what should I do next? Learn more Objective-C? Or Cocoa? Or something else? I want to learn to develop for the iPhone, so obviously that will probably change what I need to do next. If there are any good books to go through after this one let me know, any help much appreciated, thanks.

 

[skochan]

Hey josh,
There are some errors in the book and some exercises reference material not in the book. ( only 1 or 2 through 11 chapters) However the author does read the forums here and has answered mine and others questions.
I highly recommend it.

The first run of a new text typically seems to go this way in today's publishing environment. The good news is that the print runs are typically small and so it's possible to make corrections early on.

I will have a chance to address any issues found in the next printing (3rd), but I need to get anything that's been spotted so far to my publisher by Monday (Jan. 26th). I've taken note of what's been posted here and is being accumulated on this page: (http://www.classroomM.com/objectivec). I will be monitoring the posting of any other typos or omissions to this forum or on that page.

Cheers,

Steve Kochan

 

[hiddenpremise]

I came to the mac programming world with a C++ background. I learned objective-C with this book that came out last month Learn Objective-C on the Mac

For someone without programming experience I would suggest you read the predecessor to that book called Learn C on the Mac

Once you are done with those two, there is another book that is GUI intensive that comes out this spring called Learn Cocoa on the Mac

I'm still a n00b myself, but these books are really helpful.

Best luck,
-Whit

 

[Josh Kahane]

Ok thanks, I have ordered Steve Kochan's Programming in Objective-C 2.0. Though now I think I may order Learn C on the Mac as well, then afterwards see if i need Learn Objective-C on the Mac.

All of the Appress Citrus books have had darn good reviews so I'll keep a close eye on them. Do you think its a good idea to read 'Learn C on the Mac' before 'Programming in Objective-C 2.0'?

 

[skochan]

Ok thanks, I have ordered Steve Kochan's Programming in Objective-C 2.0. Though now I think I may order Learn C on the Mac as well, then afterwards see if i need Learn Objective-C on the Mac.
Do you think its a good idea to read 'Learn C on the Mac' before 'Programming in Objective-C 2.0'?

Josh,

That's up to you, but it's not necessary. I wrote Programming in Objective-C 2.0 assuming no prior C programming experience. The Objective-C language is taught as one language not as "here's C and now here's Objective-C."


Cheers,


Steve Kochan

 

[Josh Kahane]

Ok, thanks Steve, I'll post back in a few days letting you know how I get on reading your book.

 

[GoKyu]

Great thread, I'm interested in getting into iPhone programming too. I just purchased Steve's book online.

I had some previous basic programming experience with C, but it's been about 8 years...

Thanks,

-Bryan

 

[Josh Kahane]

Ok the book just arrived, and when first seeing it I peed myself in excitement, the thought of learning to program for the first time.

Ok, one minute later I peed myself again....this time in fear for my life. Thick book, small print. LOADS to learn.

Well I'm going to start reading now and I'll post back again on how I get on.

 

[CommanderData]

Ok the book just arrived, and when first seeing it I peed myself in excitement, the thought of learning to program for the first time.

Ok, one minute later I peed myself again....this time in fear for my life. Thick book, small print. LOADS to learn.

Well I'm going to start reading now and I'll post back again on how I get on.

Better spread a few newspapers on the floor around you before you crack that book open again Good Luck!

 

[Josh Kahane]

Haha, well I have recovered, had some nice dinner, and now at an early page of 19 reading about comments. Although at this point I am understanding everything ok. I'll post back soon, with another update.

 

[Josh Kahane]

Ok so all good so far, a little confusing seen as before I opened this book about 3 hours ago I had no knowledge in any programming language what so ever.

It really easy to understand the way Steve Kochan has written it, and im getting on well, I just reached the end of chapter 2 page 26. (Im taking it nice and slowly.) The exercises at the end of the chapter really helped, and tested my knowledge, Im going to try and repeat them as often as I can to keep this stuff stuck in my head.

 

[Josh Kahane]

Ok, so I have just finished reading chapter 3 of Programming in Objective-C 2.0 after flying through the content before it with ease. I have to say it's stopped me in my tracks early, all of chapter 3 on Classes, Objects and Methods I basically didn't understand (except for a couple of bits).

Any tips on helping me learn this? Other resources or anything which might make it a bit clear?

Hope you. An help would really appreciate it, thanks.

 

[JPGR_Fan]

Ok, so I have just finished reading chapter 3 of Programming in Objective-C 2.0 after flying through the content before it with ease. I have to say it's stopped me in my tracks early, all of chapter 3 on Classes, Objects and Methods I basically didn't understand (except for a couple of bits).

Any tips on helping me learn this? Other resources or anything which might make it a bit clear?

Hope you. An help would really appreciate it, thanks.

Wow. I had the exact same experience! Stopped in my tracks inside Chapter 3.

Got hold of "Learn Objective-C on the Mac", Dalrymple/Knaster (Apress). They don't claim you can do this w/o knowing "C", but up to pp. 118, at least I am not stopped out. Feeling frisky enough to go back to Kochan in the next day or two.

 

[skochan]

Wow. I had the exact same experience! Stopped in my tracks inside Chapter 3.
.

Thanks for the feedback. That chapter has remained unchanged for five years (since the first edition) and I've had many readers write and tell me how that chapter in particular helped to clearly explain the concepts of OOP to them. I'd appreciate an email indicating what it was that you found difficult to understand.

Cheers,

Steve Kochan

 

[XnavxeMiyyep]

I learned a good amount from http://cocoadevcentral.com/

I recommend that site, even though some of the tutorials reference out of date versions of XCode.