i want to start writing mobile apps. where do i start?

ebtek

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Oct 21, 2008
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serious answers only please.

i have an iphone 4s (32gb) btw so it should make it easier to get started
 


thanks dude. appreciate the direction.

specifically i want to get into location services, gps, etc. im hoping its not too difficult...

Not a problem. Once you get into coding, the location stuff shouldn't be too difficult because of the APIs of things like Google Maps and Bing. The developer communities can be very helpful for that sort of specialization and great guides do exist.

Save these links for when it comes time :-)

Developing Location Based Services: Introducing the Location API for J2ME | mobiForge

Obtaining User Location | Android Developers

-ice
 
stackoverflow.com

When you have any problems with your code, post a detailed question on StackOverflow and you will have 3 answers in 15 minutes.

Also, what helped me to begin with was searching out pre-written code for whatever part of the app I was trying to do and then hacking it together and modifying to my needs.

Android or iPhone? (I know you mentioned you have an iPhone but you just stated mobile apps). Having a handset does help but isn't necessary as all the OS's offer device emulation for your PC.

P.S - FYI, to code for iOS you need to have a Mac or run OSX in VMware. Cunts.
 
Any programming experience in other languages?

Good question. If you don't, you may want to look into a WYSIWYG app creator...of-course the wont be as robust for deep customizations but they can be useful (haven't used one myself quite yet but I've heard things about..

DAPP
iPhone Apps Development | Mobile Development by SwebApps
iPhone Apps Development | Mobile Development by SwebApps
Mobile JavaScript Framework for HTML5 Web App Development | Sencha Touch | Products | Sencha
Build Ajax-based Rich Internet Applications - Morfik

-ice
 
img4e2e6d68e6cd1.jpg
 
I had to learn Xcode and iOS programming a few months ago, because an app for a client had to be delivered within a week. I had a developer working on it, but he went M.I.A.. I had some programming experience, but none with Xcode, Objective-C and iOS whatsoever.

Luckily, I found the site linked below this post and managed to learn the language and complete the app before the deadline.
List of Videos for iPhone Development
List of Videos for Objective-C
The guy is a good teacher. A bit slow perhaps, but he makes it enjoyable.
 
stackoverflow.com

When you have any problems with your code, post a detailed question on StackOverflow and you will have 3 answers in 15 minutes.

Also, what helped me to begin with was searching out pre-written code for whatever part of the app I was trying to do and then hacking it together and modifying to my needs.

Android or iPhone? (I know you mentioned you have an iPhone but you just stated mobile apps). Having a handset does help but isn't necessary as all the OS's offer device emulation for your PC.

P.S - FYI, to code for iOS you need to have a Mac or run OSX in VMware. Cunts.

any resource for pre-written codes? Appreciate your help
 
I would suggest a different approach, that being to start with a couple of small Android apps and then moving into iPhone. That is what I did and it has served me well.

Android apps are easier to create, due to the free Android SDK and open source code examples, and the Android Market interface is simple, powerful, and gives you total control of what you are going to sell and when, even your graphics for the app display, etc. It is the best place to start.

Once you have a grip on creating and marketing Android apps it is fairly easy to then migrate to iPhone and then finally to Blackberry (Blackberry being the most difficult in every single aspect, their whole process - from creation to submission - is like trying to run through mud).

I have never bothered with the Microsoft OS.
 
Download Xcode and read any Apple tutorials on making applications. They give you plenty to get started.
 
First thing as people have said is you need xcode, its in the app store (mac one) and its free. You also need a mac since since xcode is mac only.

Second thing you need to figure out who you want to make apps, what kind of apps, and what language you are going to learn. This is the most important part.

Your options are Objective-C for totally native apps. You can make any kind of app you want but its a bitch to learn. Just need time and xcode. On the plus side the best 'book' on how to learn objective-c is the free training apple provides to developers.

You can use HTML5, you can use frameworks such as PhoneGap to turn webpages you make into native app. This is fine for information based stuff, but no games. You may also be limited a bit since this stuff is always being worked on. Worth checking out for simple apps that are content based.

You can learn JavaScript, there are a bunch of frameworks that turn JavaScript and API's into fully working apps. The benefits to this are the apps work on all platforms with some tweaks. The API's allow for fully functional apps no limits and the JavaScript is much easier than Objective-C. This is what I personally use for development. The major frameworks are Appcelerator and SenchTouch for normal apps, If you want games there is CoronaSDK and Cocos2d. I have made apps using both CoronaSDK and Appcelerator its pretty easy. These frameworks all cost extra money and each have their own unique api's you will need to learn and they each have their own limits.

ConronSDK sucks for content apps but is very easy for games and interactive books. You could make a game in a weekend with basic programing know how and tutorials. Bad part its $300/yr.

SenchTouch has no chance of making a game so content only.

PhoneGap is content only also, it 'sort of' supports java games but it wont work. Simple information sites only.

Appcelerator is great for content apps and just just bought a gaming api which they plan to merge into the api but I would say it is still a no go for games.

Cocos2D great for games bad for content. Its FREE which brings a lot of support and tutorials on how to make games. This is what high school classes use, you will see a lot of stuff geared toward making your first game. Books, YouTube, Websites stuff is everywhere.