Learn how to program iphone apps: HOW-TO GUIDE – First steps November 7, 2009
Posted by Mike in : Mike, Programming , trackbackThat was my Google question. Here are the steps to get started doing that:
Step 1: Get a hold of a MAC. Download the newest Operating System, if you can’t that is fine, Apple has different SDK’s (Software Development Kit) for whatever version of MAC OS you have. You do not need an iPhone nor a iTouch to create an application for they have a built in emulator that looks and works just like the iPhone, however you will need one eventually to see it live…clever clever Apple. Gotta buy the computer and the device.
Step 2: Go to Apples iPhone Development Center and sign up. Sign up for the SDK at the bottom left, you have to create a userid and password, they ask for a physical address also, but once you do this you can download the 1.3 gig SDK for free. That’s all you need to get started. When you go to distribute your product, it will cost you $100 dollars to get a license, you can then post it on the Apple site for free, however they will take 1/3 of any charge you apply to your product…again…clever clever Apple.
Step 3: Pick a product you want to create. Don’t do anything with Graphics (animation, etc) or Audio unless you have a very specific product in mind. Those are much harder to learn to start. I picked something that was a list, as you start to create your product, the need for graphics or storing data on the iPhone will present itself and you will then learn how to do it. So start easy, its what I have learned is the best way. You can always go back an edit it for additional things.
Step 4: Pick a place to teach you how to program the iPhone. Try the Apple iPhone Tutorials (There are also videos available once you sign up), however I found they are NOT tutorials. They are instructions. When I went to learn it I was all excited at what seemed like an amazing array of information on their site. The problem is they do not show you the complete picture for what they are trying to teach you. Like me saying “Okay, to change your oil, just take off the old filter and remove the drain plug” and I show you a picture of a filter and a drain plug. But then I don’t show you were they are on the car and how to get to them. That’s the feeling that kept coming through on Apple so I had to find others sources.
- Lynda.com online iPhone Development tutorials. This was the best choice for me. It costs about $25 a month to get access, but it is well worth it. Unlike a book, you can see the development as it goes along, huge difference. Even though I’m a book guy, the visual tutorials blew away learning with books for the beginning steps because for each new item to learn, the person teaching started a brand new app and you saw the WHOLE thing, not just snippets like the iPhone developer center gives you. A bonus is Lynda.com has other great tutorials on such things as web development languages, using Photoshop, etc. For those of you on a budget, there is a fee alternative below which in many ways is superior to Lynda, though for me I liked the speed of which I could learn at Lynda. Lynda has 6 hours worth of video there broken up into 14 chapters and 4-11 minute segments.
- Stanford University iPhone Development online course for FREE is taught by professionals that have worked at apple. It is an extensive course with 23 hours of video taught in a classroom setting. For now it was too long for me, however after reviewing the first few classes, it WILL be something I will do next for they seem to discuss everything Apple and books give you but with real life screw ups and best practices. To get the videos, go to iTunes STORE on your iTunes and search by “Stanford iPhone Application Programming” or the link on iTunes is “Stanford > Science and Technology > iPhone Application Programming – Video”. Each video is about 500 meg a piece, so quite large to get them all but its nice to have them available offline. You can also download the sample code from the link above which is great for just jumping right in and seeing what they do.
- Here is a good book if your a book person.
iPhone in Action
iPhone in Action: Introduction to Web and SDK Development. Turns out you can develop Apps for the iPhone in 3 ways. True apps that reside on the iPhone or iTouch. A web site that is designed to be viewed on the iPhone or iTouch. And a hybrid where some of the functionality is on the iPhone/iTouch and the data can reside on the server. “YouTube” or “Google Maps”.
Step 5: Review the Apple iPhone Human Interface Guidelines. This is important because if you don’t follow some of the basic items, like NOT making buttons so small users can’t press them, they will reject your application. But don’t freak on this, the tutorials above will help you keep it within the guidelines. I recommend downloading the PDF version of the iPhone Human Interface Guideline (look at the top right corner for PDF on the link I just provided). It’s easier to read and you don’t have to worry about the internet tanking at your local cafe. Again, this is a LOOONG document, you don’t have to read it, but it would be wise to skim it after you do the tutorials for it has references on branding your product, design, creating custom icons for your product, etc.
Step 6: Get sample code and cannibalize the shit out of it. That is the best way, don’t reinvent the wheel if you don’t have to. Apple Sample Code is a great place to start. The biggest problem with this stuff is its sophistication level. And take it from me, if you open the perfect sample code that does just what you want, but there is so much foreign stuff in there, you’ll end up spending a month banging your head against a wall just to take the MAC and throw it across the room. So, word of caution, try the above tutorials first, then step into these.
Step 7: Steal $100 dollars to get your product live on Apple store. There is a waiting period for Apple to review the app so be prepared for 2 weeks + to get approval. Go to the Apple iPhone Developer program to pay your $100 dollars and your on your way.
Lastly, I will add additional posts on iPhone development “How to guides” as I learn new things that were a pain in the ass to find out.
If your curious to why I am doing the iPhone applications, you can read the post on Found a way to make money in 45 days!
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[...] where to start? (Here is a post of the steps involved) Apple brilliantly requires you to have a MAC to write an iPhone app. I have none. Luckily the [...]
This is a great source for how to make a demo video of your application:
http://www.mobileorchard.com/five-tips-for-producing-a-demo-video-for-your-iphone-app/