Beginning my trek in Programming

Discussion in 'Mac Programming' started by admo, Jan 20, 2012.

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  1. admo, Jan 20, 2012

    admo macrumors member

    Joined:
    Aug 24, 2009
    #1
    I've got an itch to possibly learn to develop for Mac and iOS. So here I am, starting with Aaron Hillegass's book "Objective-C Programming" (his iOS book seems to be those who already know C).

    Is this a good place for complete noobs to bounce ideas around, and help get unstuck? Any other beginner friendly resources or forums out there?

    So far, I am really enjoying the book. Confusing just enough, but once I get my head around some of the logic, it seems to make sense.

    Also, since my mac desktop (MacPro 1,1) is 10.6, I've been using Lion installed on my Asus laptop (using VMWare). I am actually surprised how well 10.7 runs withing Windows 7.

    Just saying hi, now onto chapter 6.
     
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  2. chrono1081, Jan 20, 2012

    chrono1081 macrumors 604

    chrono1081

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    Isla Nublar
    #2
    Welcome :)

    That book is a great start and this forum is a great place for info. Its a lot more friendly than the "RTFM" style forums out there.

    I'm sure you know this but incase you don't if you get stuck always post code (you'd be surprised how many people don't do that :p ) as well as a description of the problem and usually someone is only minutes away with help.

    Good luck on your programming!
     
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  3. Mac_Max, Jan 20, 2012

    Mac_Max macrumors 6502

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    #3
    You should also learn C at some point. Here's a good primer:

    http://c.learncodethehardway.org/

    Thats hard as in "don't be lazy" not "and now I will crush your confidence into 10,000 pieces."
     
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  4. xJus10x, Jan 20, 2012

    xJus10x macrumors regular

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    #4
    Literally just ordered the same book from Amazon today. I've got a lot more free time with school this semester so I figured it's a good time to finally start learning. You going to school for anything programming related or just a hobby? Good luck!
     
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  5. admo, Jan 21, 2012

    admo thread starter macrumors member

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    Aug 24, 2009
    #5
    I'll take a look at that, but the book I have starts with C.

    ----------
    Just a hobby. Don't know why. Haven't programmed since I learned Basic on an Apple IIe in 8th grade!
     
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  6. larswik, Jan 21, 2012

    larswik macrumors 68000

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    #6
    Last year I started with Learn C on the Mac book. If you have never programmed before I recommend that book. I started with Objective C and it was to hard. I stepped back to C and learned how to program first from the basics. When I finished the book a 5 months later (spent my time on each subject till I learned it) I wrote a console based Black Jack game. The code was ugly but it worked.

    Once you learn the C part of the book you are reading try to write a console based Black Jack program. Doing a project like that helped me break down a big projects in to smaller manageable parts to complete a big project. I spent almost 1 year working with just the console and never making a GUI so I really learned.

    So in my opinion, keep the BJ idea in the back of your head till you are ready. It's educational and fun because the logic is a little tricky since an A's are 1 and 11. I also dealt with using Arrays, number generators, switches, if-else statements, int char, functions and more. A huge chunk of the C language.
     
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  7. Calcien, Mar 4, 2012

    Calcien macrumors newbie

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    Mar 4, 2012
    #7
    hey admo,

    I'm pretty much the in exact same place. Hobby BASIC programming in the 80's. Have played about with Python a but but generally stall when I get close to having to work a GUI.
    Will try and get the same book.

    Cal
     
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  8. balamw, Mar 4, 2012

    balamw Moderator

    balamw

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    Location:
    New England
    #8
    In order to become really productive, you should go a bit deeper in to C than the first part of that book allows. It really only gives you enough to bootstrap the Objective-C parts of the book.

    I really like Hillegass' book, but am also very fond of Kochan. I find Kochan fits my learning style a bit better, but even then I recommend some more C after you have finished Hillegass or before you embark on the GUI bits of Kochan.

    B
     
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