macOS Help with programming of a dictionary

[Jens Ulrik]

Hello everyone,

I am a beginner to programming, in fact I've never tried it before. But I would like to learn. I have a Mac OS X 10.5.6.

My goal is to program a dictionary.

The only problem is that I do not know how. So I hope there are some who can help me: how I can program a dictionary (which the program/programs are needed) and how do I create a design for the dictionary (which program/programs are needed)??

And as I said before; I am starting from scratch in terms of knowledge about programming, so if there is a handbook for the program/programs, it would be nice.

 

[kainjow]

Do you have a language/framework in mind? Are you going to write a GUI (windows, buttons, etc) or a command-line app?

These are are some basics you need to first know first. Did you read the How do I get started programming on the Mac? link at the top of the Mac Programming page?

 

[Jens Ulrik]

Do you have a language/framework in mind? Are you going to write a GUI (windows, buttons, etc) or a command-line app?

These are are some basics you need to first know first. Did you read the How do I get started programming on the Mac? link at the top of the Mac Programming page?

I had in mind that it should be a program similar to the dictionary which is located under applications, the main menu on the mac.

I have briefly looked at the link, but it suggests Xcode to begin with, but it requires an user at the Apple Developer Connection, to download it.

 

[robbieduncan]

but it requires an user at the Apple Developer Connection, to download it.

Which is not a problem: you can create a free account and download the entire developer tool chain complete with all documentation.

 

[Jens Ulrik]

Which is not a problem: you can create a free account and download the entire developer tool chain complete with all documentation.

What do I do with the box: "Company/Organization"? Should I just write the name I want? Or should it exist?

I have previously been looking there, but I never could find anything specific about whether you just type the company name you want.

 

[robbieduncan]

What do I do with the box: "Company/Organization"? Should I just write the name I want? Or should it exist?

I have previously been looking there, but I never could find anything specific about whether you just type the company name you want.

Just leave it blank.

 

[Jens Ulrik]

Just leave it blank.

It isn't possible to continue by leaving the field blank. I just tried too.

 

[robbieduncan]

It isn't possible to continue by leaving the field blank. I just tried too.

Really? How odd. I can't imagine what I put there when I filled it in. Maybe just put your name...

Edit to add: I've just checked my developer profile. I put "None" (without the quote marks)

 

[Jens Ulrik]

Really? How odd. I can't imagine what I put there when I filled it in. Maybe just put your name...

Edit to add: I've just checked my developer profile. I put "None" (without the quote marks)

I think I will come up with a company name and then use it.

By the way do you know some good websites with some tutorials.

And thanks for all the help.

 

[robbieduncan]

It is odd that you have been able to continue, while I can not

See the above edit. I put None. As I registered personally, not as a company.

 

[Jens Ulrik]

See the above edit. I put None. As I registered personally, not as a company.

I think I just stick to "none"

 

[chrono1081]

Um....I'm gonna say if your new to programming do not try and program a dictionary.

You really should learn the fundamentals first such as loops, if/thens, switch statements, variable types etc. Then learn about object oriented programming.

I would say start with learning a language, maybe something higher level (higher meaning easier) such as Java or C#. Once you learn one language and how to program switching to other languages is fairly simple, mostly just the syntax changes.

Good starting programs to try would be hangman, tic tac toe, Madlibs, calculators, etc.

 

[Jens Ulrik]

Um....I'm gonna say if your new to programming do not try and program a dictionary.

You really should learn the fundamentals first such as loops, if/thens, switch statements, variable types etc. Then learn about object oriented programming.

I would say start with learning a language, maybe something higher level (higher meaning easier) such as Java or C#. Once you learn one language and how to program switching to other languages is fairly simple, mostly just the syntax changes.

Good starting programs to try would be hangman, tic tac toe, Madlibs, calculators, etc.

I never said that I would start by programming a dictionary, just that it is my goal
But thank you for the advice. And I will follow some of the examples you gave before I throw myself into something big.

Do you know of any websites where there are some tutorials that I can start out with?

 

[robbieduncan]

Do you know of any websites where there are some tutorials that I can start out with?

Hasn't been updated in quite a while but there are lots at cocoadevcentral...

 

[chrono1081]

I never said that I would start by programming a dictionary, just that it is my goal
But thank you for the advice. And I will follow some of the examples you gave before I throw myself into something big.

Do you know of any websites where there are some tutorials that I can start out with?

Depends on what all you want to try and program and what platform you are targeting. I'm going to assume your targeting mac so unfortunately I am not much help here since I program in windows and just started getting into mac programming.

I haven't looked online but I picked up a book called "Learn Objective C on the Mac" and the little I read of it I like it a lot. It reminds me a lot of when I used to program C (cant image why ).

If you aren't sure where you want to start you usually can't go wrong learning Java. Its a very popular language and you can do a lot with it. Its also not very difficult. Once you learn one language its easy to learn others because the concepts remain mostly the same, its just the syntax that changes.

Oh, and one more thing, if you enjoy programming you will end up with lots and LOTS of books

 

[Awesomeness]

Depends on what all you want to try and program and what platform you are targeting. I'm going to assume your targeting mac so unfortunately I am not much help here since I program in windows and just started getting into mac programming.

I haven't looked online but I picked up a book called "Learn Objective C on the Mac" and the little I read of it I like it a lot. It reminds me a lot of when I used to program C (cant image why ).

If you aren't sure where you want to start you usually can't go wrong learning Java. Its a very popular language and you can do a lot with it. Its also not very difficult. Once you learn one language its easy to learn others because the concepts remain mostly the same, its just the syntax that changes.

Oh, and one more thing, if you enjoy programming you will end up with lots and LOTS of books

I agree. The way I got to where I stand in mac and java programming was through books, my dad, documentation, and the internet. I would not be where I am in java right now without them.