Objective-C Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide (Big Nerd Ranch Guides)

Want to write applications for iOS or the Mac? ¿This introduction to programming and the Objective-C language is the first step on your journey from someone who uses apps to someone who writes them. Based on Big Nerd Ranch's legendary Objective-C Bootcamp ,¿this book covers C, Objective-C, and the common programming idioms that enable developers to make the most of Apple technologies. This is the only introductory-level book written by Aaron Hillegass, one of the most experienced and authoritative voices in the iOS and Cocoa community. Compatible with Xcode 4.2, iOS 5, and Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), this guide features short chapters and engaging style to keep you motivated and moving forward. At the same time, Aaron's determination that you understand what you're doing—or at least why you're doing it—encourages you to think critically as a programmer. Here are some of the topics covered: Programming basics: variables, loops, functions, etc. Objects, classes, methods, and messages Pointers, addresses, and memory management Using Xcode, Apple's documentation, and other tools Classes from the Foundation framework ARC and retain cycles Properties Blocks Categories Delegation, target-action, and notification design patterns Annotation The best hands-on guide to mastering Objective-C: the language every Mac OS X and iPhone/iPod touch developer needs to know!Covers everything developers need to know, from syntax and control structures to best practices for object-oriented development. Shows how to make the most of underlying C features and Apple-specific Foundation classes. Part of a new series of Mac development guides from Aaron Hillegass and the legendary experts at The Big Nerd Ranch, the worldwide leader in training Mac developers! Before programmers can master Cocoa and write state-of-the-art software for Mac OS X, iPhone, or iPod touch, they must first understand the essentials of Objective-C. In this book, the world's leading Mac development trainers bring together all the knowledge programmers will need to program effectively with the latest version of this powerful language. The authors first review the basics of C, the language Objective-C is based on. Next, they systematically introduce today's best practices for object-oriented programming with Objective-C 2.0. Coverage includes: classes, objects, methods, data types, expressions, program control, inheritance, polymorphism, dynamic typing, preprocessing, and much more. Readers will learn how to make the most of both underlying C features and Apple's powerful Foundation classes; how to avoid memory leaks and other common problems; and much more. This title is part of the brand-new Big Nerd Ranch Press series: the world's best books on Mac and iPhone development, straight from the world's #1 Mac programming trainers - Aaron Hillegass and Big Nerd Ranch! Want to write applications for iOS or the Mac? This introduction to programming and the Objective-C language is the first step on your journey from someone who uses apps to someone who writes them. Based on Big Nerd Ranch's legendary Objective-C Bootcamp, ¿this book covers C, Objective-C, and the common programming idioms that enable developers to make the most of Apple technologies. This is the only introductory-level book written by Aaron Hillegass, one of the most experienced and authoritative voices in the iOS and Cocoa community. Compatible with Xcode 4.2, iOS 5, and Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), this guide features short chapters and engaging style to keep you motivated and moving forward. At the same time, Aaron?s determination that you understand what you?re doing?or at least why you?re doing it?encourages you to think critically as a programmer. --amazon.com Want to write applications for iOS or the Mac? This introduction to programming and the Objective-C language is the first step on your journey from someone who uses apps to someone who writes them. Based on Big Nerd Ranch's legendary __Objective-C Bootcamp__,¿this book covers C, Objective-C, and the common programming idioms that enable developers to make the most of Apple technologies. This is the only introductory-level book written by Aaron Hillegass, one of the most experienced and authoritative voices in the iOS and Cocoa community. Compatible with Xcode 4.2, iOS 5, and Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion), this guide features short chapters and engaging style to keep you motivated and moving forward. At the same time, Aaron’s determination that you understand what you’re doing—or at least why you’re doing it—encourages you to think critically as a programmer. Looks at the basics of Objective-C programming for Apple technologies, covering such topics as Xcode, classes, properties, categories, loops, and ARC