daijobu Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Dd knows a fair amount of Python, but is no expert. How big of a leap is it to learn objective C with the "objective" (ha, ha) of developing an iphone app? (We don't own any Apple computers at home, so we want to scope out this project before investing in a new computer that we really don't need...except for producing iphone apps.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissySC Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Versus objective C ... I would go to C++ first. I know the other is the primary for apps on the i's, but it is much more difficult to make the transition in my opinion. Once you write in C++, you can probably switch over to objective C a bit easier. I don't find o-C to be as easily recognizable or relatable to other types of languages. It's probably a bit more relatable to javaScript actually. Are you a programmer? Do you know other languages? If so, go for it. If Python is your only experience .... possible if you are determined. I would be so I can't say no. :D So, take what I blabbed or not ... only you know your skill level and determination. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avilma Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I think it depends how well you dd knows Python and how easy/difficult is the app she is planning to write. Is she planning to do a game? If she has already written it in Python than it will not be very difficult to rewrite it in Objective C. Objective C is kind of strange looking but is not really more difficult than other languages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Asked my tech guys- Python is so totally different that he thinks it'll be too hard. He thinks she should do JavaScript, then C, before tackling objective C, and not to rush through but to become proficient to mastery on each one. Ie read and do all the tutorials in many books for each language, ESP. JavaScript, create applications, take online tutorials, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avilma Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I would consider myself an expert programmer today. I wrote an application in Objective C in 1997 when I had just started to learn programming. While I already knew some C, my first Objective C program was the biggest program I had written up to that point (It was an ant activity simulation that had an UI). It took me 1 week to go from not knowing Objective C to presenting the application in front of a class I was taking. Just to be clear that was about 50 hours of work in a computer lab and there was a helpful tutor in the lab at all times, so I am not claiming that everybody can write an application on their own in just one week. During that week I did not become an expert or really understand a lot of how Objective C functions but the application worked. When IPhone came out in 2007, I thought I was in a privileged situation to write some apps since I already knew Objective C. I haven't written any yet. The main reason is that I think I don't have any good ideas for apps. I guess what I am trying to say is that the only way to write an app in Objective C is to start writing the app. If you do those online tutorials for the other languages you might become an expert programmer but that doesn't bring you much closer to writing your app. It might even prevent you from writing it as you might think at that point the app you had in mind is too easy and not worth it. If your daughter feels really strongly that she wants to write an app and you can afford to buy a Mac than you should get it. But first you could make her show at least a detailed written plan of what the app will look like and what will it do. Better yet if she could program the same thing in Python first, you can bet that she will be able to write the app in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daijobu Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 WTM really came through for me! Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughtful responses. It really does help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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