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iOS How to design iphone apps??

djsound

djsound

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 4, 2006
791
17
So if someone wanted to learn how to design apps for iphone and ipad how would they go about doing that? I am just a graphic designer at this point ....what code/ languages would I need to learn? I know nothing about coding so far...Any recommendations? I am in Vancouver Canada....thanks!
 
Do you mean that you want to design the user interface for iPhone and iPad apps, or you want to create (i.e. program) fully working apps?
 
option two. i'd like to learn to do the coding and create the whole app
 
If you go back to the list of threads, you'll notice just above the list there is a link labeled:
How do I get started programming on the Mac (or iPhone)?
Click to expand...

In any event, I suggest you do the following:
1.) Pick up the C Programming Language (it's a book. White cover with a big blue C in the middle.) Follow the tutorials from the first chapter or two of the book. You're just looking to pick up the basics of C, the rest of it is good to know, but not strictly necessary to know to write functional code.)

2.) After learning the basics of C as described above, dive into Stanford's iOS programming lessons on iTunes U. They have 20 lessons or so, a little over an hour each, that will teach you everything you need to know to write all but the most advanced of iPhone / iPad / iPod Touch applications.
 
Thanks so much artofwar!! I thought I'd have to go to school or something....much appreciated. I'm on it! :D

Art have you created any apps?
 
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djsound said:
Art have you created any apps?
Click to expand...

I've released a single app, made a few apps for personal use (IE, I made a personal agenda program, but it was too buggy for anyone but me to tolerate,) and created many proof-of-concept / demonstration apps.

I also have two relatively simple apps I'm working on that I hope to release within the next two months and a vastly more complex game that I'm hoping to release within the next 18 months.

Regarding school... I just started down the path to get a BS in Computer Engineering. I'm hoping it'll teach me everything about building my own hardware so that I can stop being limited to only providing software for devices I have no control over the feature set of.
 
Cool!. I have a couple really good ideas (yes, everyone says that =) but have no idea how to get them from idea to finished product. But I am going to try.
 
Read Apple's Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for iOS. Study it. Study the UI and graphic design of several popular apps on your iOS device (if you don't have one, buy one and use it a lot).

Then draw up your ideas on paper (or maybe a photoshop mockup) and show them to some experienced iOS developers. Either they will laugh that you are out of your mind, or they will tell you how many weeks/months it might take an experienced developer (or team of developers) to code them.

If the latter, hire a developer, or add between 2 months and 2 years to this number for you to learn how to program and write code reasonably well (some learn quick, some fail after a year of university courses).

Or maybe your ideas are easy enough for a web app (or web app packager).

YMMV.
 
djsound said:
Thanks so much artofwar!! I thought I'd have to go to school or something....much appreciated. I'm on it! :D
Click to expand...

if you want to do anything complex, you'll likely need to go to school - to do a good job anyway. There's a reason a computer science degree takes several years, and not 20 hours.
 
hayesk said:
if you want to do anything complex, you'll likely need to go to school - to do a good job anyway. There's a reason a computer science degree takes several years, and not 20 hours.
Click to expand...

Sure, but that doesn't mean the OP can't do a good job without school. Some people are very good at picking up new talents.

djsound, I know BCIT had at least one iOS (iPhone) course going on. After you've learned programming basics, consider it. Stanford has several semesters of their iPhone programming course available on iTunes for free.

This question gets asked a couple of times a week here. So look through the list of threads and I'm sure you'll find plenty of good recommendations.
 
App Development For iPhone

Hi if you are really interested to learn about iPhone Apps you have to learn coding. Rest their are some websites which provide information on DEVELOP APPS without coding .. Try something like that.

We are into same industry from last 5 years. If you further think to know or go for any iPhone app development. Discuss here ..
 
Just pick up a good book and start coding! If you stick with it, you'll be creating good apps in no time.

hayesk said:
if you want to do anything complex, you'll likely need to go to school - to do a good job anyway. There's a reason a computer science degree takes several years, and not 20 hours.
Click to expand...

This is only true if you're going to write a game engine, some complex image editing software, etc.

You can write most of the apps in the app store without any kind of CS knowledge (CS != programming), think of Doodle Jump, Things, Twitter, ...
 
(marc) said:
Just pick up a good book and start coding! If you stick with it, you'll be creating good apps in no time.



This is only true if you're going to write a game engine, some complex image editing software, etc.

You can write most of the apps in the app store without any kind of CS knowledge (CS != programming), think of Doodle Jump, Things, Twitter, ...
Click to expand...

You have no idea about the underlying structure of Things, Twitter. But yes you don't need to go to school to learn how to program + most CS MScs I meet are **** at programming when compared to an average MFE, MSc Physics etc.
 
xStep said:
Sure, but that doesn't mean the OP can't do a good job without school. Some people are very good at picking up new talents.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The stickies/guides at the top of this forum will give the OP a good start. And will hopefully help him to determine if programming an app is actually something he can get to grips with...

RTP.
 
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Hansr said:
You have no idea about the underlying structure of Things, Twitter. But yes you don't need to go to school to learn how to program + most CS MScs I meet are **** at programming when compared to an average MFE, MSc Physics etc.
Click to expand...

Just curious, how well, in your opinion, do Computer Engineers generally do at it
 
(marc) said:
You can write most of the apps in the app store without any kind of CS knowledge (CS != programming), think of Doodle Jump, Things, Twitter, ...
Click to expand...

Doodle Jump was created by a guy with an MFA (i.e. a professional artist/designer) and his brother, who was an experienced applications engineer. I have no idea if the engineer had a degree, but you shouldn't discount the level of experience, if not education, that goes into creating well done applications like these.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
Just curious, how well, in your opinion, do Computer Engineers generally do at it
Click to expand...

LOL! You just had to ask. I'm more interested in which major he/she has that they feel above a CS MScs. :D

As for the thread subject; One must realize that learning this new skill is a very big time investment.
 
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I couldnt find the book "c prgramming" anywhere but I bought one called c++. Are they the same languages? I am hoping that they are. Otherwise I can take it back... Thanks for the ideas guys. Ya, if I got somewhere and needed schooling then I would proceed to school.
 
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djsound said:
I couldnt find the book "c prgramming" anywhere but I bought one called c++. Are they the same languages? I am hoping that they are. Otherwise I can take it back... Thanks for the ideas guys. Ya, if I got somewhere and needed schooling then I would proceed to school.
Click to expand...

You do not want a C++ book. C++, like Objective-C is a superset of C. Learning C++ will likely add confusion to your path.

Since you want to learn about coding for iPhone, start with a introduction to C book. Perhaps Learn C on the Mac. I haven't read it or the reviews. The title just seems appropriate.

The book ArtOfWarfare mentioned is the C bible.
 
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Ah ok....thanks guys I'll pick that one up instead. Still confusing to me =)
 
Keep the C++ book. You will need to learn the object oriented design concepts it uses.

To be honest it doesn't matter which language you start with. If you have never programmed before the concepts are more important than the syntax.

Look at Ruby or Python. You can program in them right away without having to worry about compile options and makefiles. There are many online resources you can check out before dropping money on a book. Google is the best programmers reference ever made.
 
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