iOS App Development

Soldato
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With the start of the New Year, I've decided that I'd really like to learn a new skill this year. I'm really keen to learn iOS App Development, I realise this is no simple task and will take a lot of time and commitment.
The last time I did any sort of programming was back in High School (Pascal), and I don't remember anything really, so I've probably got an uphill task on my hands.

I volunteer with a charity, my eventual goal would be to develop an iOS App for the them, highlighting the charity's services for members to download and use.

I guess what I'm asking is for advice on how to start learning, from searching on the forums I've found a some great resources from book recommendations, free YouTube channels to paid online courses at Lynda.com

What would you recommend?
 
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First question would be do you have access to a Mac as full IOS (Xcode) app development can only be done on an Apple desktop/laptop device?
 
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Soldato
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First question would be do you have access to a Mac as full IOS (Xcode) app development can only be done on an Apple desktop/laptop device?

Sorry! Should've mentioned that....yes, I'm already using a late 2013 iMac (i7 CPU) and have downloaded and installed Xcode.
 
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I initially learnt by reading a book and then setting and completing a project for myself, that was 4 years ago and now I'm in my 3rd year of professional iOS development. You need to put a lot of time and effort in, you will hit a lot of walls, but keep going and you will get there.

I've been teaching a friend for the past 2 months and he has just completed his first app and has started his second. Remember to keep things simple to begin with, learn the objective-c concepts and if something seems 'magic' try to find out how it works so you can add that to your arsenal for later.
 
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Be sure to check this out, stanford on itunesU are doing a free app development course for IOS6 starting January.



if the link above doesn't work use http://itunes.stanford.edu/

I learnt the basics of IOS and objective C through the course last year and can't recommend it enough.
 
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Soldato
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Fantastic guys! Thanks for the information, I've subscribed to the Stanford Course for iOS 7 Development on iTunesU and have downloaded a few PDF's for reference.

Think I could be jumping in at the deep end but we'll see how things go.
 
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I learnt the basics of coding with xcode and I it is hard getting your head around getting it signed and stuff I did a flow chart but not got it digital on how to go from nothing to submitting the app.

Took me months! Yes, the app was declined but I was pleased enough to actually get it that far considering I knew nothing about coding.
 
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Just submitted my third app today, it becomes addicting, especially when you have all these new ideas for future updates. :D

My advice is to develop apps that you would use, not apps that you think will make you loads of money. Stick to it, even if you don't publish apps, its a great skill just to create simple apps for yourself.

I learnt from buying a book, got about half way through it and then just used sources like stack overflow.

Good luck.
 
Soldato
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Just submitted my third app today, it becomes addicting, especially when you have all these new ideas for future updates. :D

My advice is to develop apps that you would use, not apps that you think will make you loads of money. Stick to it, even if you don't publish apps, its a great skill just to create simple apps for yourself.

I learnt from buying a book, got about half way through it and then just used sources like stack overflow.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. Do you mind if I ask what book you used?
I've just started this afternoon with one of Apple's own guides and I'm already building a very basic app in Xcode with it's instruction.
 
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