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  #1  
Old 02-05-2009, 08:52 PM
Mew2468 Mew2468 is offline
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Default Best Book for Learning Objective-C?

I'm a newbie developer, and I'm looking for books to learn Objective-C. The only programming language I know is Visual Basic and, to be honest, I'm not very good at it. Actually, I'm horrible. Anyways, I was looking at 2 books...
  • Programming in Objective-C - Author: Stephen Kochan
  • Learn Objective–C on the Mac - Mark Dalrymple, Scott Knaster
Which one would you recommend? Remember I have no programming experience . Or do you recommend a different book?
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Old 02-06-2009, 03:05 AM
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InsertWittyName InsertWittyName is offline
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The only book you will ever need is Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X 3rd Edition by Aaron Hillegass.
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Old 02-06-2009, 05:31 AM
wastedyuthe wastedyuthe is offline
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I have had no experience with C, but found bits and bobs online to help me understand it's ways. I have bought the book "Beginning iPhone Development" by Dave Mark and Jeff LaMarche, however, they do state that you ought to have some knowledge of C before reading. I am getting on fine, but if I was starting from scratch without any help from the net, then I would probably struggle. So I wouldn't recommend this book to you personally.
The problem is, I don't think I have read of one book yet that teaches you Objective C without expecting you to already know about C.
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Old 02-06-2009, 06:45 AM
Misguided Misguided is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wastedyuthe View Post
The problem is, I don't think I have read of one book yet that teaches you Objective C without expecting you to already know about C.
That's precisely what the Kochan book aims to do, which is why I got it. Haven't gotten that far into it, though, so can't provide much feedback as yet.
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Old 02-09-2009, 10:51 AM
wastedyuthe wastedyuthe is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Misguided View Post
That's precisely what the Kochan book aims to do, which is why I got it. Haven't gotten that far into it, though, so can't provide much feedback as yet.
Yes, I just had this book delivered today. I have just had a quick read and Stephen even implies that newcomers shouldn't learn C before learning Objective C as it "starts the pogrammer in the wrong direction, and gives the wrong orientation and mindset for fostering a good object-oriented programming style". He goes on to say "Just because Objective C is an extention to the C language doesn't mean you have to learn C first".

Sounds good to me, except it doesn't go into iPhone development till quite late into the book.

Last edited by wastedyuthe; 02-09-2009 at 10:55 AM..
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Old 02-09-2009, 06:44 PM
Misguided Misguided is offline
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I've gotten through the first 4 chapters and I think it's pretty good so far. The author often anticipated the questions I have had at various points, which is an important criterion in my book. We're still very much covering the basics, though.
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Old 02-09-2009, 07:11 PM
Mew2468 Mew2468 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Misguided View Post
That's precisely what the Kochan book aims to do, which is why I got it. Haven't gotten that far into it, though, so can't provide much feedback as yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wastedyuthe View Post
Yes, I just had this book delivered today. I have just had a quick read and Stephen even implies that newcomers shouldn't learn C before learning Objective C as it "starts the pogrammer in the wrong direction, and gives the wrong orientation and mindset for fostering a good object-oriented programming style". He goes on to say "Just because Objective C is an extention to the C language doesn't mean you have to learn C first".

Sounds good to me, except it doesn't go into iPhone development till quite late into the book.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Misguided View Post
I've gotten through the first 4 chapters and I think it's pretty good so far. The author often anticipated the questions I have had at various points, which is an important criterion in my book. We're still very much covering the basics, though.
I decided to order this book, and it will be arriving shortly (hopefully...). I looked at the overview and it does say you don't need any past experience, so it should help me...
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