macOS Mac OS X Programming

[FalconsMalteser]

Hey everyone

I have been working through some tutorials on youtube for C and objective C programming using Xcode and I have learnt some basics. However I have seen some suggestions around that Xcode is a bit to big a beast to start off with.

I thought I would check out some php as I'd read it was good to start with and again learnt some basics (if statements, while loops, forms etc etc. ) however web development really isn't what I want to do. I am a lot more interested in app/game development. I understand though, that this is pretty advanced stuff, but I want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction. I'm using a MacBook Pro with OS X Snow Leopard.

Any tips etc. you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

- George

 

[Cromulent]

Hey everyone

I have been working through some tutorials on youtube for C and objective C programming using Xcode and I have learnt some basics. However I have seen some suggestions around that Xcode is a bit to big a beast to start off with.

I thought I would check out some php as I'd read it was good to start with and again learnt some basics (if statements, while loops, forms etc etc. ) however web development really isn't what I want to do. I am a lot more interested in app/game development. I understand though, that this is pretty advanced stuff, but I want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction. I'm using a MacBook Pro with OS X Snow Leopard.

Any tips etc. you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

- George

Don't start with PHP. If you want to make games try out using Python and Panda3D (Python 3D game engine). You'll need to learn Python first but once you have you should be able to jump right in.

 

[holmesf]

Hey everyone

I have been working through some tutorials on youtube for C and objective C programming using Xcode and I have learnt some basics. However I have seen some suggestions around that Xcode is a bit to big a beast to start off with.

I thought I would check out some php as I'd read it was good to start with and again learnt some basics (if statements, while loops, forms etc etc. ) however web development really isn't what I want to do. I am a lot more interested in app/game development. I understand though, that this is pretty advanced stuff, but I want to make sure I'm heading in the right direction. I'm using a MacBook Pro with OS X Snow Leopard.

Any tips etc. you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

- George

PHP is not any easier to learn than C/Objective-C (in fact it may be harder to learn since you'd be dealing with a server environment), so if web programming is not the direction you want to go then learning PHP first would be a mistake. Most games these days are programmed in C++, often used in conjunction with some scripting language.

 

[seepel]

What kind of apps/games are you looking to work on? This may help indicate which path you should take to get started.

 

[FalconsMalteser]

Don't start with PHP. If you want to make games try out using Python and Panda3D (Python 3D game engine). You'll need to learn Python first but once you have you should be able to jump right in.

Okay, cheers for the advice. I believe MAC OS X has python built in, am I correct? What else do I need though?

 

[FalconsMalteser]

PHP is not any easier to learn than C/Objective-C (in fact it may be harder to learn since you'd be dealing with a server environment), so if web programming is not the direction you want to go then learning PHP first would be a mistake. Most games these days are programmed in C++, often used in conjunction with some scripting language.

O right, okay, that's interesting to know, thanks. Does C++ differ a lot from from C and Objective C?

What kind of apps/games are you looking to work on? This may help indicate which path you should take to get started.

Well eventually I would love to be able develop apps for Mac OS X and iOS, and I know this can be done in Xcode. Should I just continue to learn objective C then?

 

[Hansr]

O right, okay, that's interesting to know, thanks. Does C++ differ a lot from from C and Objective C?

C++ is C with classes plus some "magic". I found the C++ syntax easier to understand than Obj-C when starting out but that might differ person to person.

Well eventually I would love to be able develop apps for Mac OS X and iOS, and I know this can be done in Xcode. Should I just continue to learn objective C then?

Yes. Go buy a book and follow it step by step and then start working on your own stuff. Also make sure you do a lot of coding. If you read through the basics and think "hey I could do this as a test" then go code that thing. If you get stuck go read a bit more in the book. Then iterate that process.

It's most likely best to also pick up a book on game logic programming before starting on the gaming stuff. You need to think in a specific way when you structure gaming logic.

 

[FalconsMalteser]

C++ is C with classes plus some "magic". I found the C++ syntax easier to understand than Obj-C when starting out but that might differ person to person.

Am I right in saying that Cocoa applications in Xcode use Obj-C? Or do they use C++ as well?

Thanks for your help.

Yes. Go buy a book and follow it step by step and then start working on your own stuff. Also make sure you do a lot of coding. If you read through the basics and think "hey I could do this as a test" then go code that thing. If you get stuck go read a bit more in the book. Then iterate that process.

It's most likely best to also pick up a book on game logic programming before starting on the gaming stuff. You need to think in a specific way when you structure gaming logic.

Okay Thanks, are there any particular books you'd recommend?

 

[Hansr]

Am I right in saying that Cocoa applications in Xcode use Obj-C? Or do they use C++ as well?

Thanks for your help.

Generally in Obj-C but you can include logic in C++ although GUI stuff needs to be Obj-C. Generally there is nothing gained from using C++ unless you already have code in C++ you'd like to reuse.

Okay Thanks, are there any particular books you'd recommend?

http://guides.macrumors.com/Helpful_development_resources#Game_development + the book section there

 

[FalconsMalteser]

Generally in Obj-C but you can include logic in C++ although GUI stuff needs to be Obj-C. Generally there is nothing gained from using C++ unless you already have code in C++ you'd like to reuse.

Okay, I think I'll stick to Obj-C then.

http://guides.macrumors.com/Helpful_development_resources#Game_development + the book section there

Have you ever heard of, or read this book -
http://teachyourselfiphone.com/?page_id=43

I know it is for iPhone app development, but obviously that means it is about Obj-C. It sounds quite good I thought - obviously I'm not going to learn in 24 hours though.

 

[Blakeasd]

For game development you might want to look at Cocos2d for iPhone, while the name implies it is iPhone specific when you download it there are two folders -- Mac and iPhone. I would recommend Cocos2d because it is probably the best way for beginners to create Objective-C Mac games. If you don't want to program there is always the option of Gamesalad.

 

[FalconsMalteser]

For game development you might want to look at Cocos2d for iPhone, while the name implies it is iPhone specific when you download it there are two folders -- Mac and iPhone. I would recommend Cocos2d because it is probably the best way for beginners to create Objective-C Mac games. If you don't want to program there is always the option of Gamesalad.

Thanks very much, I'll check those out!

How much Obj-C knowledge do you need for Cocos2d?

I am definitely interested in the actual programming, so I don't think Gamesalad is for me. Thanks though.