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I want to design an app. Where to start FIRST?

L

LittleDebby

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 27, 2012
9
0
Hey everyone this is my first post to the Forum. I randomly decided the other day that I want to try my hand at the app designing world. Since then I have been brainstorming, doing research, and sketching up some ideas. I have ABSOLUTELY NO designing background whatsoever. I could hire a developer but am interested in learning a bit about developing myself and trying out some simple ideas.

My question is: As an absolute beginner, what is necessary for me to learn and in WHAT ORDER should I learn them? (Java? C++? Objective-C? HTML?)

Please help!

-Debstah
 
CylonGlitch said:
Yeah, apps are programs, thus you need to know programming.
Click to expand...

I realize this. What I'm saying is I can't just Google "How to program an app" because then it tells me how to program an app as if I already know basic programming. What I want to know is where I should start if I want to learn the basics? C++, Objective-C, or something else?
 
LittleDebby said:
I realize this. What I'm saying is I can't just Google "How to program an app" because then it tells me how to program an app as if I already know basic programming. What I want to know is where I should start if I want to learn the basics? C++, Objective-C, or something else?
Click to expand...

Try googling "Learn C" or "Beginning C"
 
santaliqueur said:
Sounds like app development might not be for you.
Click to expand...
I didn't mean learning the programs will be too difficult, I'm ready to learn. I meant, all I asked was where to start and you guys are giving me a hard time instead of just giving me a straight answer. I'm gonna start with C.
 
1. Start with Objective-C. It's an easy to learn modern language, with XCode as a very powerful environment for development, debugging, testings, and releasing.

2. Use google to find some easy-to-learn sample hello world apps. Once you go through several sample apps, you can start building some small projects.

3. Use Google Docs or Evernote to record EVERY piece of important knowledge you've learnt. It's important; it saves you tons of times when you need it later.

Hope you'll enjoy!

LittleDebby said:
Hey everyone this is my first post to the Forum. I randomly decided the other day that I want to try my hand at the app designing world. Since then I have been brainstorming, doing research, and sketching up some ideas. I have ABSOLUTELY NO designing background whatsoever. I could hire a developer but am interested in learning a bit about developing myself and trying out some simple ideas.

My question is: As an absolute beginner, what is necessary for me to learn and in WHAT ORDER should I learn them? (Java? C++? Objective-C? HTML?)

Please help!

-Debstah
Click to expand...
 
To the OP:

I'd like to apologize for the attitude displayed by some of the previous posters. You came here looking for advice, obviously curious and excited, and you were met with sarcasm and disdain. There is no excuse for this, but all I can say is, 1. Welcome to the forum, and 2. Take what people say here with a grain of salt.

Now to actually answer your question:

Making apps for the iPhone / iPad requires some fairly advanced programming skill, but it's nothing that can't be done with due diligence and patience for the results you hope to achieve.

First, learn programming, C, and Objective-C. Fortunately, this can be one-stop shopping with this excellent book that starts at the beginning and moves slowly through the concepts. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Objective-C

Second, learn the iOS frameworks and the basics of programming in a graphical touch-based user interface. Aaron Hillegass is a master at making the difficult and dry into the exciting and fun. You'll learn by doing, with tons of little projects that show you not only what iOS can do, but what you can do!

http://www.amazon.com/iOS-Programming-Big-Nerd-Ranch

Both of these books, of course, would require you to have a Mac with Xcode installed.

Enjoy. And again, welcome to the forums!
 
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iMacFarlane said:
To the OP:

I'd like to apologize for the attitude displayed by some of the previous posters. You came here looking for advice, obviously curious and excited, and you were met with sarcasm and disdain. There is no excuse for this, but all I can say is, 1. Welcome to the forum, and 2. Take what people say here with a grain of salt.

Now to actually answer your question:

Making apps for the iPhone / iPad requires some fairly advanced programming skill, but it's nothing that can't be done with due diligence and patience for the results you hope to achieve.

First, learn programming, C, and Objective-C. Fortunately, this can be one-stop shopping with this excellent book that starts at the beginning and moves slowly through the concepts. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Objective-C

Second, learn the iOS frameworks and the basics of programming in a graphical touch-based user interface. Aaron Hillegass is a master at making the difficult and dry into the exciting and fun. You'll learn by doing, with tons of little projects that show you not only what iOS can do, but what you can do!

http://www.amazon.com/iOS-Programming-Big-Nerd-Ranch

Both of these books, of course, would require you to have a Mac with Xcode installed.

Enjoy. And again, welcome to the forums!
Click to expand...

Back in the day we used to have more posts like this. People helping people. It was great.

I have to say thank you to iMacFarlane as well, as I am in the same boat os the OP, and have similar interests.

This seems like a great starting point.
 
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