VERY Junior developer help

[5ku112]

So i'm 13(just turned 13 1 week ago) and was wondering if I could gain some insight on becoming a developer for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.

First of all how many teenager,kid developers do you know? I've heard of a 12 year old make an app called Moo Cow Fury (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=302828886&mt=8). The game is okay for a TWELVE year old in fact i'm really impressed that he can develop at such an age, but does he reach a medium that other 20+ developers can attain? Sure he can develop and learn to code, i've never heard of other teenagers that can develop but if its just a small app it doesn't make a difference in the AppStore. Another developer i've heard of is Lim Ding Wen (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=302828886&mt=8),again very impressive but still not "denting" the AppStore. 4,000 downloads? That doesn't make it "popular" but it is worth a download. A very sucessful developer is Jonah Grant (http://krapps.com/2009/06/14/jonah-grant-pong-iphone-edition-app/), a twelve year old who made the classic game Pong better with features such as open feint and social networking. Definitely worth a mention as a good Pong port. But the point of this is to see if I can contribute to a medium that they havent obtained yet (getting featured on the top 50)

Do I have enough resources?
I have an iPhone 3G running 3.0
A VERY old PowerBook G4 (Doesnt have intel so it wont with the SDK but there's a hack I can use to get it to work on it)
I havent paid the 100$ for the developers program...yet
Java coding experience and some C++ coding knowledge.
So I need to buy a new laptop and pay the 100$ fee? Or is this unnecessary?

Is there anything important I need to know? Like if I need to fund small advertising if I release an app? Because its hard to get your app noticed if nobody knows about it.

Thx.

[dangerz]

I think you certainly can't go wrong in trying to develop. I started programming at a very young age (younger than you actually) and it's led me to a great career.

You will need a better laptop probably. You can get away with not paying the $100 fee until you're really ready to test on your phone.

The Java and C++ experience will help you out. You have a headstart, so take advantage of it. Even if you don't make it in the iPhone world, you will learn a lot that will really help you in the future.

[kohjingyu]

I'm 14, and I develop iPhone apps. I knew c++ and actionscript, before I started learning objective-c. It's very different though.

[5ku112]

Any advice on starting out from concept to reality? Like any beginner tips?

[dangerz]

Write down what you want your app to do and all the features you'd like. Organize them into a priority list.. what do you want for 1.0? What do you want to build out for the future?

After I do that, I write down the order that I want to program everything. This helps because it gives you a roadmap of where you should be.

After that, program :)

[5ku112]

So I was reading and researching and I came across this thing where you can get the iphone to talk to 3rd party hardware acessories. How does this work I heard the APIs or whatever weren't released, what is this and how do I use it?

[oioioi]

If you have some knowledge in c/c++ and want to make a 3d game you should check out sio2 iteractive which is a free 3d engine for the iphone(http://www.sio2interactive.com/HOME/HOME.html). It's written in pure c so it's very easy to understand and it have lots of great tutorials(http://www.sio2interactive.com/TECHNOLOGY.html).

[RookieStudio]

I don't think age is a problem if u are eager to learn and there are lots to learn. Let's say u are building a game and doing every thing, other then coding u will need graphic skill, 3d modelling for 3d, sound, marketting, building ur own web etc. Of cos u may sub out some task for professional.

It's good to start young! Start something u enjoy.

[WellSpentYouth]

I started programming when I was younger than you. I did my own graphics, coding, and marketing. It is tough to learn, but believe me, you will have a TON of fun!

[5ku112]

I'm sure I can make something good and push it onto the AppStore I just have to pay the 100$ and get a MacBook. Any suggestions for what kind of MacBook I should get?

[fazfznz]

Hrm, i want to geet in the App business but i have no knowledge in C/C+ or any of that stuff. 5ku112 , if you would need any help in advertisiing, i'd be glad to help you with that and some other things. Send me a PM or something lol , i'm a Junior in High school so yea i'm relatively young as well, not as young as u guys :p

[Kamazar]

Hey, I'm 14, developing Lunar Smoke, maybe we could create a developer/publisher company. Minor Development (what a crappy pun) or something.

[jammertk10]

Hi, I've been lurking around these forums for a while, but reading this got me motivated to create an account for posting. I'm 14, interested in developing for iPhone/iPod touch. I've tried some basic stuff using Obj-C/C but nothing very intensive (flip table views/touch and get alert messages) and I was wondering where to go from here, any advice would be great! Also, if it means anything/he could help, my father is a C veteran/guru/master, but nowdays he mostly codes in Java/J-Boss.

[5ku112]

@fazfznz
Whoah advertising already? A bit early for that considering I don't even know what to make, but im sure I'll ring you up once I get things going.

@Kamazar
Although it would be nice to be in a working group I would like to branch out into my own industry, maybe we could do crossovers and be supportive developers like sister companies? I might join you...hmmm I have to think about it.

@Jammertk10
Although this thread was intended for MY developer I guess it could be used for general developer help. I'm actually just about in the position where you are;small coding knowledge with a dad who knows a lot, have you tried asking your dad for help? Mine knows nothing about the iPhone platform but your dad has a lot of exp judging by your description. If you think you have enough experince you can join Kamazar( and me???) in the company group thing if you want some support on a project.

We could join kamazar and make a developing team, but I really want to make my projects individually...maybe we could be associated under one company but help each other develop and support each others apps as we see fit? If you(Kamazar) agree or can think of something, then yes! I will join your company.

[fazfznz]

5ku , Kamazar was talking to me about the Publisher/Developing thing. I'd be cool with helping u advertise too.

[Kamazar]

Well, since I'm using the GameSalad engine which requires no specific coding knowledge (just knowledge on coding concepts ;)), I obviously won't be able to help you much beyond, well, the bare concepts and maybe some math stuff (which I'm good at) if you ever need it. So yeah, I'm leaning more toward your idea. Independent companies that support each other with an umbrella title or something. Unless I can talk face to face with someone and we're dedicated to the same idea, I'd rather do my own thing, too :p

Like fazfznz, he's gonna try to help me a bit with ads and spreading the word. Not sure how well it'll work, but hey, the chance of success definitely makes it worth a shot. And since we're all pretty young, the experience'll no doubt help us out later on, as cliched as that sounds.

[5ku112]

5ku , Kamazar was talking to me about the Publisher/Developing thing. I'd be cool with helping u advertise too.

All right it's settled i'm joining our publishing group! Once we get everything set up we can start operating. Are you good with designing advertisments? You can help by promoting Kamazars game.

Whoops you posted first kamazar:p
Yes it's nice to be able to develop independently but still have people to support you rather then having all this work done by yourself. Unless you already came up with a company title we still have to exchange information so we can chat outside the forums. And I'm still not an official developer so I can only help you from the background with general stuff. And it would be nice if we could get jammertk10 to join since were all beginning devs and it would be a big help to add more to our "ragtag" group.:D

[Kamazar]

4 teens venturing into the world of programming. These are the moments I thank god I don't watch Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica :p

What we've got worked out seems like a good plan, though. I'll PM you my AIM, 5ku112. We can talk more about it later, kinda late here.

[Bluellama1]

So i'm 13(just turned 13 1 week ago) and was wondering if I could gain some insight on becoming a developer for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.

First of all how many teenager,kid developers
I am 13, and if I had the money I would make an application. It would take a while to get right, but I definately would like to contribute to the app store.

[Kamazar]

I am 13, and if I
had the money I would make an application. It would take a while to get right, but I definately would like to contribute to the app store.

Emphasis on the money. I'm gonna end up spending a good $500 getting Lunar Smoke off the ground :(

[WellSpentYouth]

Emphasis on the money. I'm gonna end up spending a good $500 getting Lunar Smoke off the ground :(
Tell me about it. I had to buy a new computer, monitor, cables, software, hardware, desks, and chairs. All of that together isn't cheap at all, but it was well worth it ;)

Best of luck to all of the young programmers!

[The Game Reaper]

Emphasis on the money. I'm gonna end up spending a good $500 getting Lunar Smoke off the ground :(


Hehe, that's why I applied to get a grant from the film board. Another 15k coming my way...

[jammertk10]

Hey I'm in for the dev group thing. My dad is more than willing to help as he is interested in the iPhone platform. Give me a name and I'll PM then with info.

Also I sympathize on the money. I had to buy a new intel mac put of my own pocketbook.

Best of wishes, Jammertk10

[atommo]

@The Game Reaper

Oooh! Film Board grant! What an awesome idea.
We're not youngsters like the other fellows in this thread, but I hadn't even thought of that. We might even qualify for a tech grant since our coder developed engine tech that lets us do 99% of the development on PC. Must look into that.

@rest of thread
As for the young developers getting organized, that's an excellent idea. It would be pretty cool if established developers could take first timers under their wings and publish under their studio as well. It does add somewhat of an accounting headache if it's not a free game, but it'll support brilliant young minds! :)

[Firestar]

Hi all.
I'm 13 as well, and am developing/porting a game with another 13yr old. We've named the company Ingenero Software, and are basically learning by trial and error. I've done the tutorials online, didn't find them that helpful, until I found MastersOfTheVoid.com, which started me programming in C. I already had an Intel Mac, and an iPod Touch. I am planning to cough up the US$99 when I'm sure we've got something to sell. The program I'm porting is written in C++, which is fine with the iPhone (just use .mm extension for files that contain both), but the hardest part is making sure it finds all the frameworks.
Hope what I've said is some help.

[Kamazar]

So all of you guys are in. What about you, Firestar?

And to make info exchange and all that other stuff easier, I'll create a group. I need a name though, even if it's temporary. Any ideas?

[fazfznz]

Teen Development Group?

[Kamazar]

Teen Development Group?

Might as well :p Teen Development (http://forums.toucharcade.com/group.php?groupid=69)... maybe we should've thought the title through a little better. Ah well, who cares.

[Firestar]

Sorry, but no, I am already in a company. Good luck to you though.

[The Game Reaper]

Cotton SoftWare?


I found another app made by two seventh graders from Chicago called The MathMaster (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=312338867&mt=8). I'm impressed by the design!

[99c_gamer]

you could do something like that Pong game which is VERY simple for an iphone game.
the networking features are a little more advanced though.

If it's your first game I'd try to keep it simple just to make sure you can make it all the way through the process.

Nothing wrong with that though, there's a lot of simple games that are really fun.

[rdklein]

very helpful is to get some books for reference and examples. There are a couple of them which are good, personally I would recommend the iPhone in Action, Beginning iPhone development and the iPhone cookbook (were to be careful as not all there is allowed by app store - but the author gives a hint at those parts). The iPhone SDK is also a nice addition.

I like books much more than online helps though they are important also for searching etc.

And the most important thing on programming is to test and test and test the program.

--
ps: I started doing my first programs at about 12 with BAsIC and machine language(before the yP time), some years after with assembly language on the first mikroprocessors. My first book I wrote while still in the school -- so its great and important to start EARY ;)

[WellSpentYouth]

...eary ;)


early ;)

[5ku112]

Might as well :p Teen Development (http://forums.toucharcade.com/group.php?groupid=69)... maybe we should've thought the title through a little better. Ah well, who cares.

Too generic. PixelGenGaming?

Hey I'm in for the dev group thing. My dad is more than willing to help as he is interested in the iPhone platform. Give me a name and I'll PM then with info.

Also I sympathize on the money. I had to buy a new intel mac put of my own pocketbook.

Best of wishes, Jammertk10

Okay WTFBBQ? You spent money for a new laptop just now? I'm still trying to convince my parents to get me a MacBook air as I'm running on a PowerBook G4 right now. You my freind have quite a bit of extra money, I only have 200$ to spare. Stupid intel. It sucks that you can't run the sdk on just any laptop it has to be an intel MacBook. Around 1000$ for me considering the MacBook, the program, the testing equipment, and my pretzels. Oh how I need my pretzels. My LOVELY pretzels.

[The Game Reaper]

Why not code on your G4, and then test it out on your parent's computer, provided they have intel macs.

[jammertk10]

Heh, saved money, well spent so far IMO. I'll buy in to the dev program when I've got enough *well*-written code or when what I'm testing can't be run (correctly) through the simulator >_>

[Kamazar]

Too generic. PixelGenGaming?



Okay WTFBBQ? You spent money for a new laptop just now? I'm still trying to convince my parents to get me a MacBook air as I'm running on a PowerBook G4 right now. You my freind have quite a bit of extra money, I only have 200$ to spare. Stupid intel. It sucks that you can't run the sdk on just any laptop it has to be an intel MacBook. Around 1000$ for me considering the MacBook, the program, the testing equipment, and my pretzels. Oh how I need my pretzels. My LOVELY pretzels.

MacBook Air? Really? The thing's gonna be obsolete and a couple years considering it's so damned underpowered and doesn't even have an optical drive. If you're gonna spend cash, at least get a used MacBook Pro. Seriously, these things are awesome, and they'll last you a good 5+ years. Unfortunately they don't fit in manilla envelopes :rolleyes:

And I'll have the group name changed by a mod sooner or later. PixelGenGaming... that's not generic at all, lol.

[5ku112]

Macbook air? whoops, I ment Macbook PRO. I guess its not much of a big deal but I should get the best of the best since this is the only mac my family owns besides my G4.

I still need to actually OBTAIN the sdk first I can run the hack that allows me to run it on my G4 but I still have to download it.2 GB? Thats going to take at least 17 hr on my slow connection.