1 reply to this topic

[nick.melin]

Hello all,

I'm just getting started in Objective-C as I really like what I have heard so far about the technology behind it, and the marketplace that is available to apple developers. My main objectives in learning coding are:
- being able to build applications for Mac, iphone, and other RELEVANT new systems, like android, and other linux / open source systems.
- understanding programming concepts enough to pick up and run with different languages
- I'm not overly concerned about not being up to speed with microsoft-specific languages and techs. I know many of you might think that is a bad call, but my preference is not to focus on MS specifically.

so my questions are:
1. Am I correct in understanding that Objective-C is not limited to only Apple products? are there objective-C compilers, and objective-C based programs for Linux as well? I.E. is learning Objective-C a relevant starting point for new coders that are interested in more than just apple?

2. I have some upcoming projects that will eventually require a rough understanding of Java coding, and a LITTLE bit of C#. Is learning objective-C going to make it difficult to understand them? How similar are these 3 languages?

3. Related to 2, any reccomendations for books that cover programming concepts that apply to many languages?

4. Is learning Obj-C going to help me understand anything about AJAX, and other web coding standards?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I'm looking forward to hanging out here.

[marwex89]

Welcome!

To give you my opinion:

1. Objective C is not Apple specific, but that's where it is most used today. For Linux development, you want to learn C. Knowing Objective C will make that easier.

2. Knowing a language only helps in understanding others, I have never heard of the opposite being true. Objective C, C# and Java are quite different, but you will find some similarities.

3. Books on data structures, problem solving, algorithms, code design etc. are often not language specific. They will often have code examples in a particular language, though

4. Not really, as far as I know.