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Vikram Rajkumar
1,521 PointsHow many years would it take to become proficient in a language like Swift? Can you learn 2 languages together?
Normally, how long does it take to become good in a programming language? Would learning Swift take less time than Objective-C? Is it a good programming practice to learn 2 languages together or should you become strong in one before exploring more? I was thinking of focussing on Swift for 2-3 years.
3 Answers
Iago Wandalsen Prates
21,699 PointsSwift is a somehow simple language, if you have prior programming experience. Swift should take you way less time to learn than Objective-C, as it's a higher level language, and it abstracts more stuff. If you know programming, you could start studying couple new languages at same time, doens't really matter because after you learned the concepts, its mostly focused on syntax than actually learning new concepts. If you are not a programmer, might be better to learn in a single language, as you will most likely confuse programming with programming in that language, and might get confused when you try to apply something you learned in a language to another, where that concept works differently.
2-3 years is more than enough to learn Swift, what you will really have to learn to develop iOS is XCode and the Cocoa Framework.
Luke Glazebrook
13,564 PointsHey Vikram!
As far as how long it will take it is really up to you I guess. If you are only working on it for one hour on a weekend it will take you a far longer time than if you program for 2+ hours a day. Similarly, it depends on how well you are able to pick up new concepts and a new syntax. It shouldn't take you very long at all to create some simple applications but it may take you quite a while to create a fully polished and finished application.
As far as learning two languages at the same time goes, it also depends on the time you spend programming and your prior experience. If you only program for a short amount of time a week it would be very difficult to learn two languages whereas if you program quite a lot it will be easier. If you have never programmed before it is not advisable to try and learn two languages at the same time as you may get confused with the syntax of both and etc. It is best to stick with one language while you learn all the core concepts and then you will be able to use this knowledge to pick up a second language easier in the future. If you already have quite a lot of programming experience though and know the core concepts try picking up two languages and if it doesn't work just narrow it down to one.
I hope this helped out!
-Luke
Vikram Rajkumar
1,521 PointsThanks Luke. Appreciate your feed back. I need to learn all the core concepts of Swift and then the Cocoa framework.
Luke Glazebrook
13,564 PointsNo problem! Seems like you have a path set out which is great.
I wish you the best of luck!
Aurelian Spodarec
7,369 PointsSwift is a new language , so there are people that are good at it for now and can create nice things or even clones. I think, by the look , swift somehow look similar to JavaScript witch I think its easier instead of Obj-C.
To do an simple appl in Obj-C I would say it would take you around 4 months to you to build what you want , or at least try , you don't need to know everything, you need to learn the syntax, and some commands . You will look for things you need and not trying to memorize them .
I would say it could be two years, but a year is enough or even 6 months do do anything . At the moment Obj-C is standard on for apple, in cople of years , when swift will develop , swift will be probably be standard so if you start it now, in 5 years you will have e.g and expert understanding , no one have a year in swift of experience .
To develop in swift , you need to buy and iOS licence . Objective-C will help you too, as its really powerful language with a long history . basically with C you can do anything, that's why I choosed C and not Java and that's why I choosed C over swift at first. You can also combine them together.
When I get better with Obj-C, I will go and learn basics on swift , get a good grasp on it as it would give a benefit in future in my opinion.
Hope this helps too :)
Vikram Rajkumar
1,521 PointsThanks Aurelian for your thoughts. You have mentioned some nice tips. :-)
Vikram Rajkumar
1,521 PointsVikram Rajkumar
1,521 PointsThank you Lago for your valuable inputs. I am going to focus on Swift for now and than the Cocoa framework. Helped me decide and know that I am on the right track.