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iOS The path to iPhone Development

M

mi986

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
40
0
Victoria, Australia
Just to verify-

Should I learn the following to help me develop iPhone apps:
1. Some C and C++
2. Objective-C
3. Cocoa
4. Cocoa Touch
5. Then study iPhone SDK Doccuments

Is this what I should do?
Have I missed anything or can I leave something out?

Thx
Kris
 
you can probably skip 1. and 3. ^^
oh and you can't really do 4. without doing 5. as well
 
Resources I used to learn iPhone development

mi986 said:
Ok, so I should learn Objective-C and then just jump into the SDK?
Click to expand...

Here are the resources I used to learn iPhone dev:
1. Programming in Objective-C by Stephan Kochan
2. Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X by Aaron Hillegass
3. Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK by Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche

At the same time, I read through Apple's docs several times while studying the books above. You could actually skip the 2nd book, but no iPhone dev books were available when I started learning. Also, it might be good to learn a little about Mac development since the iPhone will eventually be comparable to a Mac. Good luck Kris! ü
 
mi986 said:
Ok, so I should learn Objective-C and then just jump into the SDK?
Click to expand...

I would not skip (1) as large portions of the API (including Open GL ES and Quartz) are in standard C, and a lot of performance critical code works far far better in the lowest level of C, even if an Obj-C API is available.

Others disagree, but IMHO Obj-C is not really a great programming language for beginners. (C isn't really either, but with well over several hundred books and web tutorials available, one at least has a fighting chance of finding the help and explanations that a beginner needs.)

imho
 
It wasn't hard for me to learn Java first and then make the switch to objective-c.

Idea is to first learn "programming", then you decide what you want to program.
 
filjedi said:
Here are the resources I used to learn iPhone dev:
1. Programming in Objective-C by Stephan Kochan
2. Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X by Aaron Hillegass
3. Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK by Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche

At the same time, I read through Apple's docs several times while studying the books above. You could actually skip the 2nd book, but no iPhone dev books were available when I started learning. Also, it might be good to learn a little about Mac development since the iPhone will eventually be comparable to a Mac. Good luck Kris! ü
Click to expand...

did you have any programing knowledge before learning iPhone dev
 
Metal Dice said:
did you have any programing knowledge before learning iPhone dev
Click to expand...

Nope, zero programming experience, though I had very basic HTML/CSS knowledge, but that's it.

Learning C first is not essential, but once you learn Objective-C, you can easily pick up the C-based APIs included in the iPhone SDK, as well as the SQLite C APIs needed for database stuff. The first book in my list discusses some C concepts in one chapter, so that could also help.
 
filjedi said:
Nope, zero programming experience, though I had very basic HTML/CSS knowledge, but that's it.

Learning C first is not essential, but once you learn Objective-C, you can easily pick up the C-based APIs included in the iPhone SDK, as well as the SQLite C APIs needed for database stuff.
Click to expand...

Yep, my feelings exactly. But then again, I'm biased. :D

Cheers,

Steve Kochan
 
skochan said:
Yep, my feelings exactly. But then again, I'm biased. :D

Cheers,

Steve Kochan
Click to expand...

Also. I know that many people just start learning Objective-C before they know C. I think thats great but i wanna learn C too. So which programming language is best to start with. Obj-C or C.

Of course i want to program for the iPhone. So only Obj-C is needed, but i thought it would be better to know some C. Since Obj-C is built on the C language. Currently I'm reading the "Beginning Programming All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies"
 
Metal Dice said:
Also. I know that many people just start learning Objective-C before they know C. I think thats great but i wanna learn C too. So which programming language is best to start with. Obj-C or C.

Of course i want to program for the iPhone. So only Obj-C is needed, but i thought it would be better to know some C. Since Obj-C is built on the C language. Currently I'm reading the "Beginning Programming All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies"
Click to expand...

if you know C/C++, you will have an easier time understanding Objective C but I dont think you need to learn C/C++ to learn Objective C, if that makes sense.

For me, I started out in the Java world, then jumped into C so it was kinda backward then learned Obj-C.
 
Metal Dice said:
Also. I know that many people just start learning Objective-C before they know C. I think thats great but i wanna learn C too. So which programming language is best to start with. Obj-C or C.
Click to expand...
If you want to learn C as well, I suggest you learn C first and then learn Objective-C.
 
filjedi said:
Here are the resources I used to learn iPhone dev:
1. Programming in Objective-C by Stephan Kochan
2. Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X by Aaron Hillegass
3. Beginning iPhone Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK by Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche

At the same time, I read through Apple's docs several times while studying the books above. You could actually skip the 2nd book, but no iPhone dev books were available when I started learning. Also, it might be good to learn a little about Mac development since the iPhone will eventually be comparable to a Mac. Good luck Kris! ü
Click to expand...

Same as mine. Actually you can skip the 2nd book and use the 3rd instead.
The 1st and 3rd books will provide you strong background before you can read and understand most of the Apple documentation.
 
filjedi said:
Wow, thanks again for the great resource/book Steve. I wish I could shake your hand right now. :)
Click to expand...

Forget the handshake, just click on my "Donate" button. Just kidding--no such button exists! :)

By the way, thanks for endorsing my endlessly-debated approach on being able to learn Objective-C without learning C first.

Cheers,

Steve Kochan
 
Thanks for the answers everyone. Although there are some conflicting remarks here, I think I understand what to do.

For the momment, i'm just gonna continue studdying Objec-C, as I only have HTML experience (and Scratch, but I don't think thats relevant here:D).


Thx
Kris
 
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