What is the language that most programs for OS X use? What would be the best to learn if I plan on programming for Mac OS in the future? Thanks.
If you don't already know C, start with that.
Then Objective-C.
With that base to fall back on, you can use Xcode for C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, assembler, Java, AppleScript, and others. And with Xcode you won't get left behind when Apple updates things in the move to Intel.
you can use Xcode for C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, assembler, Java, AppleScript, and others. And with Xcode you won't get left behind when Apple updates things in the move to Intel.
Minor correction: you should ignore Assembler in light of Apple switching to another processor architecture.
IMHO, you need to start with C because it is the common base for C++, C# and Obj-C, which are supersets. It's impossible to program, for example, in C++ without being able to write in plain C.
C/C++, Java. Use an IDE like CodeWarrior (it's what I used in college). Oh, and you *really* should take a class on basic programming (turns out that programming is not straightforward on ANY level).
I guess you could start with Objective-C and Apple's Tutorials. They're very straightforward and you get an idea what it's all about.
If you start with C first, bear in mind that it's a very low level language and its concepts are sometimes rather hard to grasp for people new to programming. I guess Objectiv-C would be a better approach.
The best approach imho would be learning Smalltalk. But that's another story. ;-)
Comments
Originally posted by eekles77
What is the language that most programs for OS X use? What would be the best to learn if I plan on programming for Mac OS in the future? Thanks.
If you don't already know C, start with that.
Then Objective-C.
With that base to fall back on, you can use Xcode for C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, assembler, Java, AppleScript, and others. And with Xcode you won't get left behind when Apple updates things in the move to Intel.
Originally posted by lundy
you can use Xcode for C, C++, Objective-C, Objective-C++, assembler, Java, AppleScript, and others. And with Xcode you won't get left behind when Apple updates things in the move to Intel.
Minor correction: you should ignore Assembler in light of Apple switching to another processor architecture.
IMHO, you need to start with C because it is the common base for C++, C# and Obj-C, which are supersets. It's impossible to program, for example, in C++ without being able to write in plain C.
Oh, and don't even think about BASIC.
http://www.metrowerks.com/mw/default.htm
If you start with C first, bear in mind that it's a very low level language and its concepts are sometimes rather hard to grasp for people new to programming. I guess Objectiv-C would be a better approach.
The best approach imho would be learning Smalltalk. But that's another story. ;-)