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General Discussion

Greg Kitchin
Greg Kitchin
31,522 Points
Posted by Greg Kitchin
Greg Kitchin
31,522 Points

Suggested apps to buy for developers.

I've already got an iPad, I've just bought myself an iPod Touch. Can't do app development though, since I don't have a MacBook. Yet.

What apps would people recommend for developer students? I'm doing a part-time IT degree with Java programming and web technologies, but would like to expand my knowledge of IT in general before I specialize, so anything goes as far as apps. Is there specific ones for programming? Web design? Ways to make studying easier?

1 Answer

Justin Black
Justin Black
24,793 Points
Justin Black
Justin Black
24,793 Points

It really depends on WHAT you want to develop. IE: Mobile apps for apple, then all you really need is xcode on a mac ( you can also install mac on a Virtual Machine so you can do it without the need to buy a mac )

If it's websites, then you would need to really figure out what language you want to use.

In essence, there are too many quantifiable questions that would need to be answered in order to properly answer this question. Also, Java is dead -- only reason to learn it is to build apps for android devices..

That being said, each person learns differently. I am a visual learner, and I learn by doing. That makes this website particularly perfect for someone like me, as I get to visually see what someone else is doing, and try it myself.

source: i've been in the industry for 20 years

Greg Kitchin
Greg Kitchin
31,522 Points
Greg Kitchin
Greg Kitchin
31,522 Points

I thought Java was still a very big thing in IT. Saying that though, most of the jobs I've seen where I am (Aberdeen, in Scotland), for programming want .net developers, and I've only ever seen one Ruby developer job up here.

I learn by doing as well. If I don't see a practical use for something, my brain just won't accept it, so Treehouse is great for me.

Justin Black
Justin Black
24,793 Points
Justin Black
Justin Black
24,793 Points

Different countries definitely have different jobs. Out here ( San Diego, CA, USA ), it's mostly PHP, Ruby or Objective C for iOS with the odd smattering of Java for android apps. If most of the jobs are for .net, i'd suggest moving in all honesty. It was big years ago, and sadly still has a large group of developers that swear by it. But, the technological ecosystem is changing dramatically in that respect.

.net, being developed by microsoft, is literally used for windows applications and websites built in ASP which can only run on windows servers... Personally, I think that if you are a '.net programmer', you're not a real programmer. But, I refuse to support anything built by microsoft ( I'm sure you can guess that I do not run windows ).