macOS Getting Started

[IBrown]

Hi,

I'm a recent PC>Mac semi-switcher.
I say 'semi' because I still need Windows for some stuff. I'm a .Net software developer so I need VS.Net for example.

I'd like to start learning a bit about OSX programming. What would be a good starting point? I'm used to proper IDEs (some may wish to argue that point!) and would like one for the Mac. Any suggestions? I've heard that some have separate form designers - you create the form in a separate application and then import it to the code. Sorry, that's too early 1990's for me. Mind you, that's when I was writing Mac code for my degree.

Thanks in advance.

 

[iSee]

I'm feeling bad for you that no one's responded. It's probably because this question has been answered innumerable times before.

So here:

XCode is the VS.Net of the Mac world. It's included with OS X, though you probably want to download the latest version from Apple (sign up ADC--it's free at the basic level). There are various bunch of language options, but if you really want to get a feel for Mac programming, try Objective-C with the Cocoa API. Apple has pretty decent resources on getting started with Objective-C and Cocoa. There's a lot more info and possible directions to go in, too. Search these forums.

Also, if you are expecting everything to be just like VS.NET, you are going to be frustrated, initially. If you stick with it, you will discover a lot of things that will amaze you. I actually think VS, overall, is a better IDE than XCode (no one hit me, please!). But XCode is certainly very capable. Put it this way: a lot of the best software in the world is made with it.

 

[IBrown]

Thanks for that - I'll have a play over the weekend!