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iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide, 2/e (Big Nerd Ranch Guides)
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Product Details
| Binding: | Kindle Edition |
|---|---|
| EAN: | |
| Label: | Big Nerd Ranch Guides |
| Feature: | |
| Publisher: | Big Nerd Ranch Guides |
| Studio: | Big Nerd Ranch Guides |
Editorial Reviews
This is the eBook version of the printed book.
In this book, the world's leading Apple platform development trainers offer a complete, practical, hands-on introduction to iPhone and iPad programming. The authors walk through all the Apple tools and technologies needed to build successful iPhone/iPad/iPod touch Apps, including the iOS 4.3 SDK, the Objective-C language, Xcode 4 tools, Foundation framework, and the classes that make up the iPhone UI framework. The many topics covered in this book include:
Easily setting up elegant, efficient user interfaces with UIKit
Creating effective visuals, animation, and effects with Core Graphics, Core Animation, and OpenGL
Making the most of the iPhone's powerful multi-touch event handling
Building location-aware iPhone applications utilizing Core Location, MapKit, and the magnetometer
Localizing applications for international use
Creating applications that capture audio and play media
Storing data in files or SQLite databases
This edition has been updated to cover the iPad. New chapters added to this edition include:
Customer Reviews
One of the very few programming books that are both easy to read, have interesting, fun and useful exercises, and lead one to understand not only the language and frameworks, but also the underlying reasoning and concepts.
Maybe the best programming book I've ever read. I just bought the second edition, even though I don't really need it anymore: I've finished the first book and know how to solve my problems in objective-c, where to find further information, and what questions to ask. But I wanted it as an eBook, I was curious how much has changed, and I wanted to show my gratitude.
If you're wondering whether to buy it as an ebook or on paper, I'd suggest the paper edition. I think it has better layout, and the index is good enough that you don't really need the search feature an ebook provides.
Note: This book is much more suited for working through from the beginning than just looking stuff up. Do yourself a favor, start at the beginning, and do the quick exercises, even if you've already hacked together your first "Hello World" in Objective-C. There is a lot of very useful background information you'd otherwise miss, that will make your life much easier later on.
NOTE: iOS 5 is due to be released in the fall (or so). Some may think they should wait and then get books about iOS 5, because this one might be obsolete by then. Let me tell you, don't bother waiting. All the information in this book is still going to be helpful (even the stuff on retain and release; it's good to know a little background), and this book will prepare you to deal with the new stuff in iOS 5 on your own.
Do yourself a favor and get this book before you burn your fingers on other ones.
(Sorry for my english; I'm not a native speaker)
1. A lot more detail than the previous version, but still straight to the point.
2. It has better figures (e.g.. MVC Pattern, Preprocessing, Redrawing views, Lifecycle of a view controller, etc ).
3. Use of activity and other flow diagrams.
4. Added legend to some of the objects diagrams.
5. The source in-line comments has better detail.
6. Better detail on using Apple's documentation section (pp. 103).
7. XCode 4 updated.
8. includes a handy Xcode Quick Reference Card.
9. The book binding it seems to be stronger (On my previous book, I have to use marine glue to keep it together).
...
Still no OpenGl. But I think this topic will need a book on itself.
Although there are many tutorials available online, these resources provide minimal explanations on how the code actually works. This book provides clear and concise examples and explanations of how the code actually works. It will prepare you to write your own applications.
The authors support their publications by providing forums for readers to ask questions and the authors are actively involved in providing answers. It shows their level of commitment and involvement in helping developers master the content.
I feel I hit the jackpot by reading this book and look forward to other publications by the Big Nerd Ranch.
I started with another book, and for me at least this one was much preferable (although the other one is not bad either). They do a good job here of introducing conceptual material alongside the hands-on programming.
I read this book since I saw it as a challenge to try and learn something that I have heard is relatively difficult to do and not have the ability to try out the hands on coding that I enjoy. Having been the first iOS development book I've ever read I felt Aaron and Joe did a great job of relating concepts and patterns that are applicable across development practices. The diagrams they provided to illustrate their information were well done. The "For the more curious" sections within the chapters provided good additional information for those wanting more details regarding the material pertainent to the chapter.
Aaron and Joe's writing style for this book was very encouraging for a beginning iOS developer. There were a couple of times in the book where it felt that they were right there to pass along their confidence in learning the material. "Take a deep breath and wait it out. We'll get there and so will you" is an example of this to address the frustration that you as a developer will feel starting out developing in something you are new to. I can relate to this very well in watching new developers as they learn their trade.
If I were to start development for the iPhone or iPad I would recommend to have this book as a good starting point. Even without having the ability to try out the code I feel I could confidently with the material Aaron and Joe provided.
This teaching technique is very effective: you go through the chapters and there are mini projects that you have to do, from scratch, without using the templates, in order to really understand what's going on. Often you have "challenges" for which you have to go dig through the documentation so you get a good understanding of how this documentation is structured and how to proceed when you need to find something in it. In my opinion, this "go check out the documentation" thing is worth big bucks, because there's no way a book can teach you every little thing out there. So being able to find it all by yourself is essential. This book teaches this skill.
It has nice diagrams to help you understand the structure of a project you're going to do, and for all the hands on things you have detailed explanations and pictures.
I'm looking forward to finish the book and do my own projects. A big "thank you" to the authors! Great job guys!
This first title I purchased (Learning iPhone Programming) merely scratched the surface, so when I initially started working through this title I was a little confused as the concepts were shown rather differently. Rather than just creating projects using Xcode's built in templates (like the afore mentioned title), you are shown how to create the various views/controllers programatically which gives you a better understanding behind these concepts.
There are also plenty of diagrams included which help give you an understanding as to how the projects you build are held together using Apples preferred programming model MVC, as well as diagrams which simply help to get the points in the text across to the reader.
If I have one minor criticism, it would be that not every piece code is explained (the majority is), but then I guess that is what Apple's documentation is for, so I am probably expecting everything to be handed to me on a plate.
One of my favorite features in this book was that they do not use the default templates. Instead, you create a basic NSObject class and then add all the things that would normally be added by the IDE. This gives you a clear understanding (with their explanations) of what these elements do and what they are for.
iOS Programming also adds a lot more detail, charts, and images from its 1st edition predecessor. The extra material alone is worth buying the second book over the first one, even if you can get a cheaper price on the 1st edition. The 2nd ed will provide you with information on the latest (as of this book [iOS 4.0]) API calls and a great tutorial on Xcode 4 (the 1st edition was written for Xcode 3 and the changes between 3 and 4 are very significant).
The clear way in which the material has been presented in this book along with the real-world exercises that use features that belong in every app has made reading/working through this book a joy and something I look forward to when I get home from where (where I've been programming all day).
This book is great and I look forward to my next book that I plan on reading by the Big Nerd Ranch, Advanced Mac OS X Programming, which is my real interest, though iOS programming gave me a great background in Objective C and the iOS API. Advanced Mac OS X Programming (2nd Edition of Core Mac OS X & Unix Programming)
Good advice is found throughout the book on how to proceed as an iPhone (aka IOS) developer. However, Apple are making changes that could render some aspects out-of-date before you finish reading...IOS5 due to released soon, updates to Xcode. Fortunately the bignerd forums already have info about IOS5, and I suspect the underlying principles would still be valid. The most valuable knowledge I gained from using the book is an understanding of the libraries and frameworks available to a IOS developer, I imagine I will be coming back again and again to remind myself about things I have learnt.
The Big Nerd Ranch guide is still a great book to learn iOS programming, so pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
Rather than waiting until consumers purchase the book and saying in the intro regarding the new programming environment, which Apple had already released:
"These changes are part of any programmer's life and also part of any programming book developer's life. We just roll with them."
and providing a web link to "updated" material (essentially a bulletin board of user-contributed content), it would have been better if the book simply admitted the limitation upfront. While many would choose to purchase the book anyway, I was specifically looking for a tutorial for X-Code 4.2, which has been out long enough that other books are now available. I can't help feeling a little bit annoyed for being told this material was "updated" when in fact it's almost the same material, and still not current.
Both Mr. Conway and Mr. Hillegass have done an excellent job, yet again, in making this an even better, and fully up to date edition. Here's to an excellent followup that will hopefully come alongside the release of iOS 5! If you're buying only one book on this subject, this is the one to buy.
my only complaint is that some part of the book is incompatible with xcode 4.1, especially the core location chapter. although that's really apple's fault for constantly changing xcode that would result in code breakage with every update.
the author also provide good support for the book. you can post on their official forums if you have any questions regarding the book and the arthur would personally respond.
I read at least 6 technical books a year and this one is light years a head of every other book in many ways.
The newest version of Xcode 4.2 has different Interfaces and different layouts for its GUI and makes following examples in this book difficult. Hoping for an updated version of this book.
The authors run a series of programming courses - most recently in Australia - and their teaching experience really shows. They have seen most areas of confusion and take steps to stop you running of in various wrong directions. I've used a variety of books to get a grip on iOS programming, and I keep returning to this one (obviously the previous edition!) when my brain refuses to work. It is by far the most satisfying self-teaching book I've come across.
It has good (easy to follow) examples, but not too easy. Anybody interested in Objective-C and Cocoa Touch can benefit from it.
One thing though. I would wait for the third edition that's coming out around March or so (2012) because there are a few things that changed in Xcode 4.2.
I would have appreaciated, though, some more detailed explanation on some topics.
This book is that it uses a previous Xcode version. But this doesn't really hinder your learning. The only real problem is that in some subjects (such as rotation and saving an NSMutableArray) the iOS 4, which came after it, offer simpler ways of achieving the same results than the way shown in the book. Yet, it is nice to study the old way also, for the purpose of developing the SDK-way of thinking.
I have never read any other technical books so well written as Big Nerd Ranch's technical books and I've been in this business since 1985. Aaron has a special skill and talent as a trainer, author and mentor, I hope we will see more great books from him in the future! Readers truly benefit as these books really are capable of teaching you new skills!
I'm very satisfied I found Big Nerd Ranch books and I can wholeheartedly recommend these to anybody. Thank you!
This book encourages you to type code even if you don't understand what you're writing with the promise that you will later on. Well, I'm over halfway through the book and I still don't know what I'm writing and when you wanna look something up, it's either not there or not written in a friendly vernacular.
I'm afraid that I haven't picked up as much through osmosis as I was supposed to.
I picked up some, don't get me wrong, but I've found that I have spent HOURS trying to figure out basic things that the book should have helped me grasp by chapter 16.
The challenges were the only place where I learned anything. That's probably because that's where it requires you to apply knowledge (and look it up if you don't have it yet. The rest of the time I didn't learn.
There has to be a better way to teach this subject. Something with more homework, more step-by-step and more ENGLISH. Ya know?
( I notice other reviewers commenting that the book is out of date, and I admit that it does take some work to use XCode 4.2 with it. I was using this book prior to XCode 4.2 being released, and made the changeover to 4.2 while I was in the middle of the book. I found it fairly easy to create an empty project, then create a MainWindow.xib, change the project settings, etc, to get a default empty project that I used as a template for the later examples in the book.)
1. A simple iOS application
2. Objective-C
3. Memory management
4. Delegation and core location
5. MapKit and text input
6. Subclassing UIview
7. View controllers
8. The accelerometer
9. Notification and rotation
10. UITableView and UITableViewController
11. Editing UITableView
12. UINavigationController
13. Camera
14. UIPopoverController and modal view controllers
15. Saving, loading, and multitasking
16. Subclassing UITableViewCell
17. Core data
18. Localization
19. Settings
20. Touch events and UIResponder
21. Instruments
22. Core animation layer
23. Controlling animation with CAAnimation
24. Blocks and categories
25. Web services and UIWebView
26. UISplitViewController
27. Media playback and background execution
28. Bonjour and web servers
29. Push notifications and networking
The website of the book has all the code samples for download ([...]) and there's an interactive forum as well.
Great start to become an efficient iOS developer.
I was very critical of this book's first edition. So much so, that the authors contacted me to debate my issues with the book. After taking a year off from iphone programming for another project, I decided to buy a new iOS programming book so I could brush up on the changes like blocks, story boards, etc.
Wouldn't you know it, Big Nerd Ranch right there in the top of the list? The memories of the first edition rushed back to me, but wait, does that say.....2nd edition?? I jumped on it with a smile on my face because I knew if this book was good, that it proves my point to the author that the first edition was flawed!!!
It is good and the first edition was bad. They fixed all the mistakes and made things much more clear in this book.
However, it is not perfect, hence the 4 stars and not 5. If you want 5 stars you have to write each chapter as a self contained module and not have them depend on each other. For the readers, this means that some of the chapters will build off of a previous chapter.
The reason I dislike this method of writing is that I might not want to read the other chapter. Plus, if the other chapter was a project I felt was boring, I'm not looking forward to building on it.
However, the real life example came tonight, when thinking about an app I want to write I decided I needed to brush up on my core data skills. I remembered Big Nerd Ranch said something about a new core data section, so I got the chapter up, fired up xcode on my macbook, and got ready to write something.
That's when I felt disappointed. This chapter builds off of Homepwner (I almost removed a star for the app names), an app in a chapter I skipped over.
So, do I go back and read that boring chapter I don't want to read, or just push on into the core data chapter and hope it makes sense?
I did neither. I ended up buying a different book that has a chapter on core data, and said right in the description "Each chapter a contained module for easy learning".
If you haven't learned iOS programming yet you've missed your chance to make thousands of dollars by writing a flashlight app, but at least you finally have good books to make your education less painful. (Some of us had to really feel around in the dark in those early days)
-Very easy to learn.
-Good examples, useful for real implementations.
-It is updated for Xcode 4, most of other books are not.
-It has a preperforated keyboard shortcut guide at the end of the book for reference.
Bad:
-As quick as it is to learn, after a few days is not useful anymore.
The only thing I can mention is that inside the package was a tiny bit dusty. But not to much to complaint.
Thanks Amazon...
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