iOS Which book for learning Objective-C should I choose?

[BoxerRobban472]

Hi!

I would like to learn Objective-C, but I'm not sure which book I should chose. I have some experience in JavaScript but I don't think that will help me in Objective-C, so I'm looking for a book that is aimed to beginners.

I Googled a bit, and I found these two books that seem to be popular:

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Objective-C-Edition-Developers-Library/dp/0321967607

And this one: http://www.amazon.com/iOS-Programming-Ranch-Edition-Guides/dp/0321942051/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

Have any of you learned from any of these books? Or which one do you think is the best (and why)?

Thanks in advance

(I know this thread is similar to this one (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1726468/), but I still thought that I should make a new thread since I'm a beginner and the creator of the other thread was looking to update his knowledge)

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

Indeed both of those books are highly regarded here. I seem to see more people talking about the Big Nerd Ranch books.

I have the Kochan book and I find that it explains things very well for beginners as it assumes no prior programming experience. Looks like Amazon has it for half price which is great!

 

[Poxer]

That Big Nerd Ranch book you link I believe is the one that assumes prior experience. They have one in a second edition dealing with Objective-C that assumes no experience.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/032194206X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1398997182&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

 

[Jnesbitt82]

What about the stuff available over at Ray Wenderlich's site? I have a couple of their books. iOS Games is a fun one. You are allowed to even use the source code in your own stuff. His wife even has a site where you can get graphics and animation to use. She just asks that people give the proper credit to the creator.

 

[dotri84]

Programming in Objective-C

I lean to "Programming in Objective-C" because I read it before 2-3 years ago. But I only often read a half of a book then come to Google because you knew the basic and it's time for you to practice. Then google is a best tutor at that moment.

 

[BoxerRobban472]

Thanks for all of your answers guys!

Indeed both of those books are highly regarded here. I seem to see more people talking about the Big Nerd Ranch books.

I have the Kochan book and I find that it explains things very well for beginners as it assumes no prior programming experience. Looks like Amazon has it for half price which is great!

I went to my local bookshop today and I was very surprised when I found Kochans book there! I read a few pages, and maybe that's too little to make a "fair judgment", but I understood what he wrote and I liked the explanations! So for me, Kochan takes the lead!

That Big Nerd Ranch book you link I believe is the one that assumes prior experience. They have one in a second edition dealing with Objective-C that assumes no experience.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/032194206X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1398997182&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Thank you very much for the tip! I definitely check it out since it seem to be so popular!

What about the stuff available over at Ray Wenderlich's site? I have a couple of their books. iOS Games is a fun one. You are allowed to even use the source code in your own stuff. His wife even has a site where you can get graphics and animation to use. She just asks that people give the proper credit to the creator.

Cool! I have never heard of him but I will definitely look up the website and his books! Thanks for the tip!

I lean to "Programming in Objective-C" because I read it before 2-3 years ago. But I only often read a half of a book then come to Google because you knew the basic and it's time for you to practice. Then google is a best tutor at that moment.

Thanks for the tip, I'll look up the book!

 

[TouchMint.com]

I started with Kochan as well and never looked back. I have since created 15 apps and now make enough to develop as a fulltime job. I also just submitted my first ios game.

 

[joshuatbrown]

The Big Nerd Ranch book is highly recommended by people I've talked to (fellow iOS developers), and the entire internet seems to love it (Amazon reviews, reddit, etc.) I'd probably go with the BNR one over Kochan's, though I don't think you can really go wrong with either of these.

 

[BoxerRobban472]

I started with Kochan as well and never looked back. I have since created 15 apps and now make enough to develop as a fulltime job. I also just submitted my first ios game.

The Big Nerd Ranch book is highly recommended by people I've talked to (fellow iOS developers), and the entire internet seems to love it (Amazon reviews, reddit, etc.) I'd probably go with the BNR one over Kochan's, though I don't think you can really go wrong with either of these.

I read a little from both of them and I guess I just "liked" Kochan a little better, so I'm gonna go with that! But as you said, joshuatbrown, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them either

Anyway, thanks for all of your help guys! I really appreciate it!

 

[chrono1081]

The Big Nerd Ranch book is highly recommended by people I've talked to (fellow iOS developers), and the entire internet seems to love it (Amazon reviews, reddit, etc.) I'd probably go with the BNR one over Kochan's, though I don't think you can really go wrong with either of these.

I find they both compliment each other really well.

I started off with Kochans book and then was away from Objective-C for a few years. I then used the BNR Objective-C book (right after it came out) to brush back up on it. It is great to get you up and going very fast and Kochans book is a great compliment to fill in the holes.

I love Kochans book but it is a fairly dry read. BNR keeps things fast and exciting.

I'm now going through this process all over AGAIN because I'm doing Objective-C again and a few things have changed since I last touched it. (No more synthesizers for one).

 

[iMacFarlane]

I started with Kochan as well and never looked back. I have since created 15 apps and now make enough to develop as a fulltime job. I also just submitted my first ios game.

I also started with Kochan, really liked it. Developed 3 apps a few years ago. Been struggling to get rolling again, I have so many ideas. I found your post motivational, thanks!

I find they both compliment each other really well.

I started off with Kochans book and then was away from Objective-C for a few years. I then used the BNR Objective-C book (right after it came out) to brush back up on it. It is great to get you up and going very fast and Kochans book is a great compliment to fill in the holes.

I love Kochans book but it is a fairly dry read. BNR keeps things fast and exciting.

I'm now going through this process all over AGAIN because I'm doing Objective-C again and a few things have changed since I last touched it. (No more synthesizers for one).

Me too. Been kinda out of it for a few years now. Finished my degree, ready to get serious again. My biggest personal problem is an utter distaste for the whole iOS 7 "flat" paradigm, and how much I loathe the way xCode's UI looks now.

But, it's time to get going again. I bought BNR's Obj-C book as a primer, I have Ray Wenderlich's iOS7 and iOS Game digital editions, and a whole bucketload of cool ideas.

Take care, both of you. See you at WWDC (in spirit).

 

[hassoon]

Hi, well i recommend Programming in Objective-C 4th edition Addison-Wesley. I started from there before iOS development. On a second note, i'm picky with books and i remember this one was great for practice and get's you started right from scratch! Good luck!

 

[0488568]

There is a great course in iTunes U from Stanford university for iOS 7 development. It does assume you at least know some object oriented progamming. Its really good though.

 

[grandM]

apparently he'd better learn swift

 

[SilentPanda]

I got the BNR Objective-C book on June 6th and it was quite helpful. I just finished it yesterday and am moving on to iOS programming. It takes me a year to read a fiction book but I can knock out a programming book in a week or two... obviously I don't know the language forwards and backwards but having programmed professionally in Java for more years than I have fingers, it wasn't too difficult to grasp. I'll certainly be going back to it as I progress in the iOS book.

I did read the first few chapters of the Swift book but I think it'll still be necessary to know Objective-C and current iOS programming for a while. Especially since there won't be any books out for a bit for iOS programming with Swift. Knowing Objective-C won't be a wasted effort and I'm guessing most of the iOS frameworks will be quite similar if not the exact same in Swift, just a curly brace here and colon there instead for the new syntax.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Hi!

I would like to learn Objective-C, but I'm not sure which book I should chose. I have some experience in JavaScript but I don't think that will help me in Objective-C, so I'm looking for a book that is aimed to beginners.

I Googled a bit, and I found these two books that seem to be popular:

This one: http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Objective-C-Edition-Developers-Library/dp/0321967607

And this one: http://www.amazon.com/iOS-Programming-Ranch-Edition-Guides/dp/0321942051/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t

Have any of you learned from any of these books? Or which one do you think is the best (and why)?

Thanks in advance

(I know this thread is similar to this one (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1726468/), but I still thought that I should make a new thread since I'm a beginner and the creator of the other thread was looking to update his knowledge)

Love this book so far....

----------

I got the BNR Objective-C book on June 6th and it was quite helpful. I just finished it yesterday and am moving on to iOS programming. It takes me a year to read a fiction book but I can knock out a programming book in a week or two... obviously I don't know the language forwards and backwards but having programmed professionally in Java for more years than I have fingers, it wasn't too difficult to grasp. I'll certainly be going back to it as I progress in the iOS book.

I did read the first few chapters of the Swift book but I think it'll still be necessary to know Objective-C and current iOS programming for a while. Especially since there won't be any books out for a bit for iOS programming with Swift. Knowing Objective-C won't be a wasted effort and I'm guessing most of the iOS frameworks will be quite similar if not the exact same in Swift, just a curly brace here and colon there instead for the new syntax.

Im hoping to finish the ObjC book this week then move on to the iOS programming book.

 

[BoxerRobban472]

Wow, thanks for all the answers guys! I realize this is a very late answer, but better late then never

I ended up buying the BNR book and I'm super happy with it! Just as chrono1081 said, they keep things very exciting and even though there often is a lot of technical terms (which I suppose is a little harder for me since English isn't my native language), I never get tired of reading! I think the authors have a very good style of writing!

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who wants to learn Objective-C!

And again, thanks everyone for your answers!

I got the BNR Objective-C book on June 6th and it was quite helpful. I just finished it yesterday and am moving on to iOS programming. It takes me a year to read a fiction book but I can knock out a programming book in a week or two... obviously I don't know the language forwards and backwards but having programmed professionally in Java for more years than I have fingers, it wasn't too difficult to grasp. I'll certainly be going back to it as I progress in the iOS book.

I did read the first few chapters of the Swift book but I think it'll still be necessary to know Objective-C and current iOS programming for a while. Especially since there won't be any books out for a bit for iOS programming with Swift. Knowing Objective-C won't be a wasted effort and I'm guessing most of the iOS frameworks will be quite similar if not the exact same in Swift, just a curly brace here and colon there instead for the new syntax.

Oh good! I remember I bought the book very close to the presentation of Swift and was worried that I wasted time learning Objective-C. But just as you say, I think Objective-C will stay for a while longer, and I will probably not learn Swift within near future.

 

[AxoNeuron]

I bought Kochan's book as well. While I can learn from books relatively well, I have found that when it comes to programming, I think the video medium is much better. So I have bought the iOS 7 course from bitfountain.io by Eliot Arntz. I saw it on Stack Social for $80 and took the plunge a few months ago, and it has been absolutely invaluable to me. I am more than halfway through the course (which is impressive, given he has over 400 lectures and I have a full time job!) and I cannot say enough good things about it. I have gotten to the point where I can write rudimentary binary search algorithms for arrays.

However, I am also a big fan of lynda.com as well. Right now I am taking a small detour with a Lynda course on Apple's Core Data before going back to finish the Bitfountain course. I am really happy with the combination of Bitfountain's course and Lynda.com. I am using the Bitfountain course as my main resource for learning, but when the Bitfountain course gets to something that I would like to go a lot deeper in to (like Core Data) there's usually something really great on Lynda that goes more in to detail. Lynda is really good because they have a lot of courses, so when you subscribe (like $25 per month) you can learn as much as you possibly want, it has courses on EVERYTHING.

I mainly just use Kochan's book as a resource for when I have a question.