Best book for iOS programming?

Discussion in 'iOS Programming' started by MaxOrlcok, Feb 6, 2013.

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  1. MaxOrlcok, Feb 6, 2013

    MaxOrlcok macrumors newbie

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    #1
    Hi all, I'm a front-end dev with a little background in C# and I'd like to learn iOS programming. At the moment I'm studying Objective-C with a good book that I found researching online:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Objective-C-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321706285/

    After I've finished this book I'd like to know which one is the best to learn actual iOS programming. Researching online I've found that the following two books are the best to start with. Which do you think is the best one?

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/iOS-Programming-Ranch-Guide-Guides/dp/0321821521/

    or

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teach-Yourself-Application-Development-Hours/dp/0672334437/

    Thanks
    Max
     
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  2. balamw, Feb 6, 2013

    balamw Moderator

    balamw

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    #2
    If the style of the BNR book works for you stick with their iOS book.

    SAMS "24 hour" books tend to be a lot more verbose than Big Nerd Ranch, but for some folks that's a better approach.

    B
     
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  3. dejo, Feb 6, 2013

    dejo Moderator

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    #3
    I've heard nothing but bad things about the "SAMS Teach Yourself" books for iOS development. They seem to like doing things the non-standard way.
     
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  4. balamw, Feb 6, 2013

    balamw Moderator

    balamw

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    #4
    Given that, the sole five star rating at Amazon is interesting to say the least. You'd think some of that criticism would have showed up there by now, no?

    B
     
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  5. dejo, Feb 6, 2013

    dejo Moderator

    dejo

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    #5
    Yeah, the lack of negative reviews does seem strange. But the number of people that come to these forums to inquire about issues encountered while following the SAMS book had led me to question their quality and approach.
     
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  6. MattInOz, Feb 6, 2013

    MattInOz macrumors 68030

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    #6
    The big nerd ranch team have been around for so long that the content of their book is treated as assumed knowledge in so many online tutorials you'll find. More so they are a great induction to not just the content but now it's expressed, language style, word usage the sort of stuff that turns out to be really valuable when you start reading online tutorials trying to figure out the more specialist API's.
     
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  7. MaxOrlcok, Feb 7, 2013

    MaxOrlcok thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #7
    thanks!

    Thanks guys for your replies. I've made up my mind and I think I'll go for The Big Nerd Ranch Guide book, wish me luck :)

    Max
     
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  8. TouchMint.com, Feb 7, 2013

    TouchMint.com macrumors 68000

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    #8
    A membership to safari books allows you to get pretty much any ios or other programming text book in pdf and reader form. I learned to program on the iphone this way I went through about 3-4 books starting with "Programming in Objective-C" by Stephen Kochan. I think you even get a 1 month free trial its pretty sweet.
     
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  9. kevinloyed, Mar 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 5, 2013

    kevinloyed macrumors newbie

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    #9
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  10. andrewobrien, Mar 6, 2013

    andrewobrien macrumors newbie

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    #10
    Hi, if you already know about Objective C, then I would recommend you to read a book called "The iOS Developer's Cookbook" by Erica Sadun. In the book, you'll see working examples of lots of things you need to know how to do in order to create iOS apps which is very important. The book assumes a working knowledge of computer science concepts so if you already know about Objective C then this is for you. Hope this helps.
     
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  11. dejo, Mar 6, 2013

    dejo Moderator

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    #11
    I wouldn't recommend The iOS Developer's Cookbook for learning iOS programming. Once you're comfortable with the fundamentals, it's a good book for the more educated developer to use for the recipes.
     
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  12. Duncan C, Mar 7, 2013

    Duncan C macrumors 6502a

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    #12
    I agree. This is probably my favorite iOS development book series, but its best for experienced developers.

    The newer versions (iOS 5 and iOS 6) cover basics more than the older versions do, but it is not a "programming for dummies" book.
     
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  13. IDMah, Mar 22, 2013
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2013

    IDMah macrumors 6502

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    #13
    I actually like : Beginning iOS 5 Application Development Wei-Meng Lee
    despite the cover... also reasonably priced.

    It even helped me through provisioning and itunes upload nightmare.
     
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