iOS New to XCode.. I have some Questions.

Is your project an assignment, for which you will receive a grade? If not, then you would be far better off simple creating a website with all the content on it, and make it accessible using a plain ordinary browser.

Why do I suggest this? Because all the content is already on the web-server. The app is doing nothing but caching content locally, which a web browser already does. So other than caching content, what is your app doing?


You should also think about this critical aspect: distribution.

If you intend for others to use your app, you must join the paid Developer program, and have your app accepted into the App Store. Since the described app is nothing more than a specialized web-browser with cache, it's unlikely to be accepted. So then how would you plan to distribute your app if it's not accepted in the App Store?

You also haven't said anything about how much time you have to complete this task. Since you don't know Objective-C or the Cocoa Touch frameworks, you have a lot of learning to do just to get the fundamentals in place.

Web pages and web-apps don't need Apple's approval, aren't distributed in the App Store, and don't need a paid Developer membership to produce. There are features in JavaScript for storing content locally, and you can also save a URL as an app-like icon on the iPhone's home screens. You should at least check those out, and consider distribution options, before starting to develop anything.

Xadiant said:

I also do have limited experience with C++ which feels nearly the same as objective C.

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I think you're underestimating the difference, by quite a lot. And it's not just the basic language, it's the whole process of learning the Cocoa Touch framework, Xcode, designing with xibs or Storyboard, etc.

Of course, it's typical for programmers with limited experience to underestimate things by quite a lot. I strongly recommend that you at least go completely through one book or tutorial on iOS programming. If you've never written a complete app before, you're just guessing how long it will take.

If you want to make it a real-world experience, estimate how long it will take you to go through that learning process, then actually measure how long it takes, and compare the two at the end. There's nothing like cold hard facts to calibrate your estimating skills.

In the process of going through a complete book or tutorial, you should also learn enough to answer your First Question of how to get resources from web servers and store them locally, how to present those in a webview, etc. So the short answer to your question is, "Yes, there are". I could tell you what they are, but if you don't already know Objective-C and the relevant frameworks, you have no basis for understanding what I'd tell you. You have to start with the basics and work up from there.


I also remind you that there's no guarantee the completed app will be accepted to the App Store. It doesn't matter if it's free or not. Price is irrelevant. If Apple considers your app to be little more than a web-site, they can reject it and you will have little to no recourse. There are no free passes onto the app store.