I'm currently working as a full time C++ programmer. I have a Bachelors degree in Computer Science with 4 years of experience. I'm very interested in transitioning to mobile phone app development. I own an iPhone 4 and already have a very good understanding of the C/C++ languages. So I figure that Objective C wouldn't be too difficult to pick up and start using. I have purchased some books with my Amazon gift cards.
I have a lot of money saved up from working over the years (I'm not married and have no children). I thought about posting an ad somewhere looking for someone with a lot of experience with iPhone development who can teach me at an hourly rate. I'm not just looking for someone to teach me how to code the apps, but also someone who understands the market well and can teach me what it's all about. I also ran into a local iPhone boot camp meetup group. It wasn't so much about the cost but more about that I would have to take vacation days from work to do it. How can I find weekend workshops for learning iPhone development? What's the recommended path for starting out?
I'd say self learning is very viable, especially with your skill set. There are plenty of good books and lots of sample code/projects around the web to tinker with.
Also, fire up iTunes and check out iTunes U. I'm not sure if they're still available, but there was a Stanford iPhone course that posted all the lecture videos and materials for free. It was a big hit and is great as you can follow along at your own pace and do the assignments. There were also a number of other universities posting their lecture videos in iTunes U as well.
If you want something in person, check local colleges for iPhone short courses that seem to be popping up a lot nowadays. The few I've noticed in my area have been once a week, 2 hour evening sessions at local colleges. Probably pricy though and might be hard to work around a 9-5 job.
But again, with your experience, I've no doubt that you won't need to go the paid tutor/course/workshop route to pick it up.
As far as the market goes, there are plenty of blogs around the net to give you a good idea of what's going on there. And chatting with people at local meetups (look for a local cocoaheads chapter) will give you good insight as well.
edit: Just checked iTunes U, and yup there are a number of iPhone video lecture series still available. Stanford has at least their Spring 2009, Winter 2010, Fall 2010 courses up. Plenty of free material to get you going.
Hello friends...!
I think the best way to learn the iPhone development, hands down, is the Stanford university course available on iTunes University through the iTunes store....!
Honestly, if you have c/c++ experience, you should have enough personal ingenuity and resourcefulness to just learn by yourself.
My suggestion... come up with a cool unique easy idea for an app and start coding. Read the apress intro to iphone programming book for a starter, maybe some video podcasts, and google the rest.
I think you'd be wasting money taking a course. The coding part is easy. Coming up with a great idea with a great interface is the tough part.
In addition to looking to local colleges for short courses ask your University/College what they do/provide for iOS development. Perhaps they have a business/software start-up section, or perhaps they can help with internships.
On the subject of internships write to local iOS companies that you like and do the same kind of thing you're interested in.
Another idea would be to do a very small app yourself with short goals, cut out as much as needed to get something simple done and get it in the app store; nothing cuts more mustard with people in recruitment agencies then having an app in the app store.
Finally, try your local IT meet-up place, perhaps there is a user group in your area and one of which caters to iOS developers; that way you can network, ask them questions, etc.
If you are the type of person that benefits from personal interaction like I am just take the week off from work already and do a bootcamp. I'm telling you...it will be a good vacation...for yourself and your future.
I did not do a bootcamp and it took me a couple of months to get the swing of it while working ft and learning on my own on the weekend/evenings. I started with the Stanford classes too. I went to WWDC last year with very little knowledge and was overwhelmed but inspired to get it together. I did. I am about to release my second app next month.
When your developing applications in the objective-c programming language for any of apple application hubs,there are several different ways you can learn ranging anywhere from reading books and watching videos to attending college courses.Hopefully,their will be a method to help you understand and learn objective-c programming.
As I live in Brazil, I applied for the unique school that teaches iOS in Sao Paulo, understood the basics and then read forums, books, watched some videos and keep learning by myself ;p
OP: don't waste your money on tutors.Google and books are more than enough to get you familiar with the basics, then start working on an app and learning as you go along.
Best way to learn iPhone app development?
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