iOS MonoTouch - What do you guys think?

[PriapusZA]

So I have been learning to write apps using Xcode 4 + C + Object-C..

Then someone tells me I am doing it wrong and must rather learn C#.

And this:
http://xamarin.com/monotouch

What do you guys think of this?

 

[bogatyr]

So I have been learning to write apps using Xcode 4 + C + Object-C..

Then someone tells me I am doing it wrong and must rather learn C#.

And this:
http://xamarin.com/monotouch

What do you guys think of this?

If you already know C# and have $400 to drop on Mono Touch, then that might be a good way to go. If you don't know C#, then you might as well learn Obj-C. At least that is my opinion.

However - for myself - I already knew C# but went with learning Obj-C instead.

 

[PriapusZA]

Don't know C# at all, neither do I have $400 to drop into it.

I am finding Object-C quite tough though.

 

[bogatyr]

Don't know C# at all, neither do I have $400 to drop into it.

I am finding Object-C quite tough though.

In my experience, C# was easier than Obj-C - not $400 worth of easier though. But each person experiences different learning curves.

EDIT: If you have an iPad, the iTunes U app has some free college level courses on developing for iOS. I think they were by Stanford.

 

[dejo]

Then someone tells me I am doing it wrong and must rather learn C#.

Then someone lied to you. It certainly is an option, but there is no "must" about it.

 

[PriapusZA]

I do have an iPad and I have looked at those videos - but they require you to know some Object-C first.

So one can make iPhone apps with C# instead of object-C?

 

[bogatyr]

So one can make iPhone apps with C# instead of object-C?

Yes, but keep in mind that you still need an OS X computer. I would download the trial (simulator support only) to see if you prefer it over Obj-C before you drop $400 on it.

 

[PriapusZA]

Are there any limitations to using C#

I have a MacBook with Lion and running Xcode 4 - so IDE wise, I am ready.

 

[bogatyr]

Are there any limitations to using C#

http://ios.xamarin.com/documentation/limitations
http://docs.xamarin.com/ios/about/limitations
(not sure which is more up to date or if they're even different)

Some more info:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2696518/monotouch-c-sharp-vs-objective-c-for-iphone-app
http://mobiledan.net/2011/12/26/what-you-should-know-about-monotouch/

 

[PriapusZA]

Thanks for the information - I appreciate it.

I will stick with Object-C.

The syntax is not really the issue I am having - it's understanding, methods, objects, getters, setters = all quite confusing, lol.

Anyway, thanks

 

[1458279]

One other note about being dependant on an outside product like MonoTouch... If you use them, you become dependant on them. If Apple adds some new stuff to the API/OS you might end up waiting for MonoTouch to update so you can support it.

You could also be stuck in a product that gets dropped from the market, they could go out of business.

If you stick with Apple's native lang, you have their support.

 

[dejo]

Mod Note: A number of posts dealing with Objective-C have been moved to their own thread. Any further posts in this thread should relate to the MonoTouch topic. Thank you for your consideration.