It seems as if everyone is writing applications for Apples iPhone and iPad, but how do they all do it? Its best to learn Objective-C, the native language of both the iOSand Mac OS X, but where to begin? Right here, even if youve never programmed before!

Objective-C for Absolute Beginners will teach you how to write software for your Mac, iPhone,or iPad using Objective-C, an elegant and powerful language with a rich set of developer tools. Using a hands-on approach, youll learn to think in programming terms, how to use Objective-C to build program logic, and how to write your own applications and apps.

With over 50 collective years in software development and based on an approach pioneered at Carnegie Mellon University, the authors have developed a remarkably effective approach to learning Objective-C. Since the introduction of Apples iPhone, the authors have taught hundreds of absolute beginners how to develop Mac, iPhone,and iPad apps, including many that became popular apps in the iTunes App Store.

What youll learn

• The fundamentals of computer programming: how to understand variables,design data structures, and work with file systems
• The logic of object-oriented programming: how to use Classes, Objects, and Methods
• The flexibility of Apple's developer tools: how to install Xcode and write programs in Objective-C
• The power of Cocoa and Cocoa touch: how to make Mac OS X applications or iOS apps that do cool stuff

Who this book is for


Everyone! This book is for anyone who wants to learn to develop applications for the Mac or apps for the iPhone and iPad using the Objective-C programming language. No previous programming experience is necessary.

Table of Contents

1.  Becoming a Great iPhone/iPad or Mac Programmer 
2.  Programming Basics  
3.  Its All About the Data  
4.  Making Decisions Aboutand Planning Program Flow  
5.  Object Oriented Programming with Objective-C  
6.  Introducing Objective-C and Xcode 
7.  Objective-C Classes, Objects, and Methods 
8.  Programming Basics in Objective-C  
9.  Comparing Data  
10.  Creating User Interfaces with Interface Builder  
11.  Memory, Addresses, and Pointers  
12.  Debugging Programs with Xcode  
13.  Storing Information
14.  Protocols and Delegates  

Customer Reviews & Comments
DOWNLOAD ALL THE CODE AT APRESS WEBSITE BEFORE YOU START at [...] !!!! The book was very good with the introduction of Alice and how it could be used to help get your program completed (the concept of Objects, methods, classes and how Apple's Objective C is used). Where they fall miserably short 100% is in chapter 8. They provide slices of the code that is used in the program, but do not show the actual code in it's entirety. The "Absolute Beginner", unless they have a Ph.D. in computer science and specifically work on Apple computers, is lost at this point. I really had high expectations on this book. Notably (dumb) corrections for example on pages 131. In the code for Listing 7-5, you have to import "RadioStation.h", otherwise the "Absolute beginner" will wonder why is program doesn't work. Chapter 8 just boggles my mind. Snippets of the code just doesn't cut it...we are dealing with the "Absolute Beginner". THEY HAVE PROVIDE ALL THE CODE TO DEMONSTRATE! There were a few other issues but they did teach you enough by chapter 5 to look for the items that they left out in other chapters. I'm going to still completely read the book, but I was looking forward to completing it and understanding all the concepts with Objective-C. I'm just hoping chapter 9 - 12 are prepared better. They almost do a great job up to chapter 8. It was a 4 (out of 5) going up to chapter 8. Chapter 8 just pisses me off (very annoying...rewrite chapter 8). Unless you have the code (and eventually I'll find it), it becomes very annoying. I hope they provide the second revision with all the corrections to the people who bought this book. The code is on apress's website (one little indication at the bottom of the back cover in the lower left-hand corner. They should have told the reader to download the code prior to attempting chapter 8. It really could have been a winner. I would think that the publishing company would have someone review this book before it is published. You have to blame both the writers and publishing company on this one. With the code from apress, I will give the book a 3. If it didn't have the issues I just discussed, it would be a 4. I hope that when I get to chapter 14, the book get's better. This book could eventually be a 5. So this is how the rating goes: Chapters 1 - 7 Excellent: 5. Chapter 8 - 9: 1. Remember "Absolute Beginner". Chapter 8 and 9 must have been written by another person who had no idea who this book was for.

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