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Kevin Tanner
3,385 PointsKeep Going or Review...?
I have completed the Objective-C Basics Deep Dive, and just finished the Build a Simple iOS App (iOS7). I don't really know what i am doing. I can answer all the questions and do the challenges but i feel like i should know more about what i am doing. Is this natural? Should i try to keep going through the iOS Development Track or Review what i've done. (I am a newbie to programming)
4 Answers
Mike Baxter
4,442 PointsThat's a great question. Maybe do a quick review of the things you don't feel you understand, and then move on? In my opinion, our goal in learning iOS should be primarily to understand how and why you do something.
I think of it like this: there's a lot of code I don't remember off the top of my head, like how to get the extension of a URL from an NSString. I think it's [_somepath pathExtension], but I'm not 100% sure. And is it something I do with a NSURL or a NSString? That I'm not sure about either. But I can find it in the class reference in about 30 seconds if I need to. Eventually I want to have those things memorized, but for now the most important things for me are the paradigms and practices: when do I declare a reference as __weak, and when do I declare it as __strong? How do I make a Singleton instance, and why does it work? How do I make an app that works for both iPhone and iPad without it looking ridiculous? What's the proper way to override a class when you make custom initializers? (Because you need to make a default initializer.)
I think you'll find that you can pick up a lot of the language nuances by osmosis and practice when you're focusing on these bigger concepts and solidifying them in your head.
I learned iOS from Aaron Hillegass' book, so I can't comment on where you should go next on Treehouse. But "Build a Blog Reader" and "iOS Foundations" look good.
dungeonkeeperhf
3,272 PointsI would recommend going over to solidify your knowledge or do what I did. Have a go at making your own basic app. Just use the simple knowledge you have learned and go from there. The first simple app I made was that when you pressed a button it returned your phone serial number.
Kevin Tanner
3,385 PointsThanks guys. I just tried to make a simple app with a button that displays an answer in a text box below and couldn't so i think i will review and continue once i know why i am doing some things a little better. I think i've rushed myself a little and should slow down to process what i'm trying to learn. Mike i think i have that book but never opened it because i preferred the video tutorial method better, but i'll use that to help me understand why. And I like your philosophy Mike, I try to remember that when I'm getting frustrated for not have some code memorized.
John Carr
Courses Plus Student 1,984 PointsI have asked myself the same question. I am doing the first ios7 app project and will review after that. Would be nice if we could have a few small tasks to do that would help us along the way. Practice makes perfect i guess so plenty of practice and learning will help in the long run.