ios developement - Easy to get into?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I was thinking of getting into ios development as a possible plan B - I do have an idea of an app I can do which can deliver some kind of service. As a fall back I will at least have some skills in mobile app development.

I was just wondering if there was any advice somebody could give on how difficult this would be to learn? I have 8+ years in database development a few years in .NET (C# and VB) development as well as web scripting experience (classic asp, php). Lots of experience with JavaScript as well.

I appreciate I will need to buy a Mac for some development, which I am happy to do! I understand ios will require me to code in Java.... which I haven't done since uni.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I appreciate I will need to buy a Mac for some development, which I am happy to do! I understand ios will require me to code in Java.... which I haven't done since uni.

Bit more research needed I'm afraid! iOS apps are written in Objective-C, not Java (the Android platform uses Java).

There's no reason why any experienced programmer can't learn Objective-C and iOS (or Mac) development. Having some grasp of the fundamentals of C will help (basic stuff like pointers and memory management, although at lot of Objective-C memory management is automatic these days).

Sorry to sound skeptical but it's very difficult to make a decent income from an "app" these days, unless you're one of the few lucky ones. App development (especially bespoke/enterprise app development) on the other hand can be quite lucrative, if you're good. There's a lot of work out there.

You don't need a high-spec Mac to do iOS development although a decent CPU will help with compile times. You could use a Mac Mini just fine.

Perhaps this should be in technical?

[VectraMan]

There is something that allows you to do iOS apps in Java, and various technologies allowing HTML5/Javascript apps without having to buy a Mac yourself, although whether it's as good as proper native development is debatable. Have a google for Intel XDK for one.

[Gittins Gal]

Sorry to sound skeptical but it's very difficult to make a decent income from an "app" these days

I would echo this. The problem is reaching your target audience, how are you going to market your app?

From my own dalliances with this kind of adventure, I think you would have more chance of success if your app has a niche market. This would make it easier for you to target your market, particularly from an SEO perspective.

Of course, the potential profits won't be as much as an app with a more general appeal.

[SpontaneousOrder]

and various technologies allowing HTML5/Javascript apps without having to buy a Mac yourself, although whether it's as good as proper native development is debatable. Have a google for Intel XDK for one.

If you're thinking fo IBM WorkLight / phonegap etc you still need a mac to actually get the app onto a store, or to sign the device ids etc. As already said, though, a MAc Mini has made a perfectly good build server.

[d000hg]

I am using a 2008 MacBook as a dev machine and it actually works pretty well with XCode 4.5 and OSX 10.8. I'd say even the lowest-spec new MacMini would be just fine for dev work. Or get a 2nd-hand one of the previous generation, even.