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xStreamPredator

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 17, 2012
5
0
Hey! I'm new to coding, but I want to build an app for the mac. I download xCode, but I have no idea on how to use it. I have no coding background, and I don't know where to begin. Everywhere I look, I find tutorials for C coding, but none of it makes sense. What language do I need to learn to do this? I'm 15 by the way. Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

ChristianVirtual

macrumors 601
May 10, 2010
4,122
282
日本
Objectice C will be the language which makes most sense to learn on Mac; getting know to C before would make great sense. The problem: you need to invest first some time to really learn it; no really a quick start.

If you sign up for the developer program with Apple you will find a huge number of ready–to-run tutorials for all aspects of Mac programming; those could be also a good start to have something which works, to understand and to modify.

If the developer program is not an option there are also programming classes in iTunes which are quite nice; but sometime require already knowledge

Maybe look here: http://objectivectutorial.org/

Or here. http://cocoadevcentral.com/

You will need to invest lots time but it's a fun journey.


One more thing: welcome to MR
 

Mark FX

macrumors regular
Nov 18, 2011
159
17
West Sussex, UK
Well you need to learn the basics of programming, and that will take you some
time and effort, it's not easy when your starting out, and it does not get any
easier in the short term.

First you need to learn some basic C programming, and then move onto
Objective-C programming, and I would advise doing it in that order.

You can find loads of tutorials on the net, but I would advise learning from
a book of which there are many, books give you the chance to go back
and relearn from earlier chapters, and give you more revision time.

This is the book I would recommend for a beginner.

http://www.amazon.com/Objective-C-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321706285/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329515574&sr=1-1

If you learn the stuff in this book, and more import understand it, then you
can perhaps look at this book as a follow on.

http://www.amazon.com/Cocoa-Programming-Mac-OS-4th/dp/0321774086/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329515574&sr=1-3

My final advise is that there is no short cut to learning programming, you have
to be prepared for lots of effort and study, but give it a go, and dont give up
when your struggling, just take a break, and start again.

Regards Mark
 

chrono1081

macrumors G3
Jan 26, 2008
8,446
4,146
Isla Nublar
+1 for Objective-C the Big Nerd Ranch Guide.

It'll get you started, but like others have said its a LONG journey.

I've been programming off and on for 15 years and am still a noob at it. (I've never done it professionally, only as a hobbyist so thats part of the reason :p )
 

xStreamPredator

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 17, 2012
5
0
Thanks

Thanks, but the thing is. I have no idea on how to incorporate those things into xCode. Like sure, I know that in x=3, 3 is the integer, but I don't know how these things go into making an app. Any help is much appreciated. :confused:
 

xStreamPredator

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 17, 2012
5
0
I have a feeling you have unrealistic expectations for what writing an application actually entails.

Haha, I know what I'm getting into. It'll be hard, but it'll pay off. I really want to do something like this as my job when I get older.
 
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