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Ask HN: Best way to learn ios dev?

18 points by taphon ↗ HN
I've got an idea for an ios app and I want to build it myself. Only problem, I've never written a non trivial app before.

Here what I'm doing to lean ios dev:

1. Reading the docs on Apple's Dev site.

2. Working through Paul Hegarty's CS193P class up on itunes U.

Are their any better methods for learning ios dev?

13 comments

[ 19.7 ms ] story [ 116 ms ] thread
dazmiller
check out the Ray Wenderlick tutorials, really well explained, up to date with storyboards and really well paced tutorials. Our staff loved them, and helped them get up to speed very quickly. http://www.raywenderlich.com/
taphon
The tutorials look great, thank you. I'll give'em a run through. I like setting time frames whenever I'm trying to learn something new. Just as a reference point, how long on average did it take for your staff to get up to speed?
callmeed
I've got 1 app in the app store and 2 more on the way. I finally feel really comfortable with ios development now.

Here's what helped me most:

- Taking a pragmatic studios course in Chicago. (might be expensive for some but worth it for me as I needed to get away and focus)

- Apple sample code

- The big nerd ranch book is great IMO

- maniacdev does a great job aggregating tutorials

- ray wenderlich's stuff is great (I've purchased all his products)

taphon
Thanks, maniacdev looks like a great resource. The format of the four day course may be a bit too much for me to handle at my current level, but I'll keep it in mind.

[edit] What's the name of the app in the app store?

callmeed
Oh, it's just a farmers market directory for the west coast. It's old and I'm not proud of the design ... but hey, I shipped something.

http://farmersmarkitapp.com/

taphon
The app looks useful, if I was on the west coast I would buy it. Have you given any thought on expanding east?

Just looking at the screen cap you could increase the design aesthetic by using a solid frame instead the wood. The wood makes the titles hard to read.

freshfey
Awesome list, I'd add the iTunesU course CS193P (Fall 2011) and Treehouse - with these resources, you're more than set!

Also: +1 for the interest in the apps you released.

joshschreuder
Are there any interactive resources (like CodeSchool / Codecademy) available for iOS?
freshfey
Yes, check out Treehouse, very hands-on and updated (explains all the nitty gritty new stuff of iOS 5) (if you like it, I'd appreciate you using my referral link: http://referrals.trhou.se/freshfey - thanks! :))!
smoody
also check out lynda.com -- they have a number of video courses.
stuntgoat
The book `Programming iOS5` by Neuburg is probably amazing. I read a good amount of his last book `Programming iOS4` and it was, by far, the most comprehensive book I found on the subject. I hope it is fair that I am recommending a book I have not read yet, based on his last book with the same subject :).