What programming language do I need to learn to make iPhone apps?

sakau2007 · Jun 21, 2012, 12:23 PM

I'm an engineering student just scratching the surface of programming. In the next few months I will want to start developing an iPhone app. What language is the programming done in? And do I have to have a Mac computer to do it?

Any other super basic information I should know before getting started not covered in the sticky here?

moonman239 · Jun 21, 2012, 12:42 PM

Objective-C and Cocoa-Java. App development uses a combination of those. You should also learn how to use the GUI tools in Xcode.

The iOS Developer Center has resources you can tap into to help you develop an iPhone app.

If you really want to, you can start by learning C and Java, but I prefer to dive right in.

firewood · Jun 21, 2012, 01:22 PM

The native language supported by most of the iOS frameworks is Objective C. But Objective C is a superset of ANSI C, and there are tons of engineering related APIs (Accelerate, et.al.) and data types in iOS that involve plain C, so you should learn both.

Python is also useful for scripting Xcode build and debug features.

You can also do a lot with web apps and web views for iOS, so knowing HTML5/Javascript is also extremely helpful.

If you want to be able to figure out the gnarliest compiler bugs, then knowing ARM assembly language would the key.

You will need a Mac that can run Lion (OS X 10.7).

LagFighter · Jun 23, 2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonman239

Objective-C and Cocoa-Java. App development uses a combination of those. You should also learn how to use the GUI tools in Xcode.

The iOS Developer Center has resources you can tap into to help you develop an iPhone app.

If you really want to, you can start by learning C and Java, but I prefer to dive right in.

This is misleading. There isn't any Java in the iOS SDK by default - it's more or less all Objective-C API's with a few level C API's buried in Cocoa.

I would not necessarily start with Java if your end goal is iOS development.

saqibjaan · Jun 26, 2012, 01:28 AM

You need to learn Objective C language. Then move on to different frameworks in iPhone SDK according to your needs.

If you have any previous experience of C/C++ language, then learning Objective-C would be a cakewalk for you.

As far as your development environment is concerned, Mac machine is preferred. But you can develop iPhone apps on non-Mac machines using VMWare workstation OR VMWare Player.

Nick johnson · Jun 26, 2012, 05:27 AM

Objective C............
If u are comfortable using C/C++, then you will not face any serious problems in Objective C....

amorya · Jun 26, 2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LagFighter

This is misleading. There isn't any Java in the iOS SDK by default - it's more or less all Objective-C API's with a few level C API's buried in Cocoa.

Agreed. moonman239's advice is many years out of date. There used to be a Java SDK for Cocoa, but it was a long time ago and well before the iPhone.

Jun 21, 2012, 12:23 PM	#1
sakau2007 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2011	What programming language do I need to learn to make iPhone apps? I'm an engineering student just scratching the surface of programming. In the next few months I will want to start developing an iPhone app. What language is the programming done in? And do I have to have a Mac computer to do it? Any other super basic information I should know before getting started not covered in the sticky here?
	0

Jun 21, 2012, 12:42 PM	#2
moonman239 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2009	Objective-C and Cocoa-Java. App development uses a combination of those. You should also learn how to use the GUI tools in Xcode. The iOS Developer Center has resources you can tap into to help you develop an iPhone app. If you really want to, you can start by learning C and Java, but I prefer to dive right in. __________________ Now available on the iPad App Store: Clean Cuisine Click here to load its App Store page.
	-1

Jun 26, 2012, 01:28 AM	#5
saqibjaan macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Lahore	What programming language do I need to learn to make iPhone apps? You need to learn Objective C language. Then move on to different frameworks in iPhone SDK according to your needs. If you have any previous experience of C/C++ language, then learning Objective-C would be a cakewalk for you. As far as your development environment is concerned, Mac machine is preferred. But you can develop iPhone apps on non-Mac machines using VMWare workstation OR VMWare Player.
	1

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Jun 21, 2012, 01:22 PM	#3
firewood macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Silicon Valley	The native language supported by most of the iOS frameworks is Objective C. But Objective C is a superset of ANSI C, and there are tons of engineering related APIs (Accelerate, et.al.) and data types in iOS that involve plain C, so you should learn both. Python is also useful for scripting Xcode build and debug features. You can also do a lot with web apps and web views for iOS, so knowing HTML5/Javascript is also extremely helpful. If you want to be able to figure out the gnarliest compiler bugs, then knowing ARM assembly language would the key. You will need a Mac that can run Lion (OS X 10.7).
	1

Jun 26, 2012, 05:27 AM	#6
Nick johnson macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: USA	Objective C............ If u are comfortable using C/C++, then you will not face any serious problems in Objective C....
	0


MacRumors Forums > Apple Systems and Services > Programming > iPhone/iPad Programming