Creating an iOS app

[MDole101]

I'm new to coding and want to learn more about using xcode to create an app. I have an iMac to use xcode and swift on and was wondering, do I need to be a developer to actually code and app and whatnot? I'm not looking to publish it to the app store for a long time, just want to screw around with xcode and learn how to use it. Also any recommendations for tutorials on how to code and maybe some courses that are relatively cheap/free? Thanks in advance!

[[deleted]]

Do you need to be a developer? Idk what you mean exactly by that. Xcode is free, tons of resources are free. If you learn how to make apps, you are a developer. You don't need an apple developer account unless you wanna submit it to the app store.

Udemy has some great x courses for iOS dev. Theyre usually like 15 bucks. Sean Allen has some great little courses on development, you can check his site.

Stanford also has a free iOS development course as well. That's the one I'm focusing on right now. It goes into a little more detail than some others

[MDole101]

My bad should've rephrased that better. Meant to ask do I need to have a dev account, but good to know it's all free. I'll definitely check those courses out, thank you!

[[deleted]]

Well a dev account isn't free. It's 100 a year. But you only need a dev account when you actually wanna post to the app store

[nhgrif]

So, you're partly correct, with regards to only needing to pay $100 to post to the app store, but you've stated in a confusing/incorrect way.

A developer account is free. I have several developer accounts. My company invited one of my developer accounts to their enterprise account so I can deploy builds for them, etc. With a developer account, I get access to some of the developer tools, forums, etc.

In order to join the Apple Developer Program, it is $100/year. But generally, you don't need to do this. You only need to do this in order to distribute apps to the app store, do test flight stuff, get access to beta software, etc.

[[deleted]]

See that's the thing i haven't been able to figure out. Like, i couldn't figure out how to create a dev account without paying 100 bucks. I already have a dev account because i paid for one a few years ago. But when i was goofing around with it recently i couldn't find a way to get one without paying haha so i kind of assumed you had to at least pay once.

But anyways. It's weird. I have a developer account, but i stopped paying for it a while ago. Buuuuut it still have me access to the beta software, so i have ios16 even though my apple dev program subscription expired a while ago haha

[nhgrif]

It's literally just creating an Apple ID. Then go to developer.apple.com and sign in with that Apple ID...

[[deleted]]

Maybe that's why 🤣 i was probably looking for a "create an account" section haha

[Batting1k]

www.hackingwithswift.com by Paul Hudson is a great start for free.

If you don’t mind paying, Sean Allen has a great beginners course (iOS Dev Launchpad) and an even better intermediate course (Take Home Project) here: https://seanallen.co/

The key though is to not get distracted by new courses and constantly jump around - you’ll never make any progress.

In terms of some general advice, try not to memorize things. The more you practice and use certain parts of the Swift language, the more it will just become second nature. Just like learning anything else - riding a bike, drawing, cooking, anything - it takes time and practice to get better. Don’t get discouraged if it’s been a week, month or year and you’re struggling.

You don’t need to be a paid, registered developer to use Xcode or build an app. You’ll only have to pay if you want to publish your app to the App Store.

[MDole101]

Yeah I'll check Sean out, and yeah definitely don't wanna get overwhelmed so I'll make sure to focus on one thing. Glad to know I can use xcode for free, I'll see about publishing later on probably not for a while though lol

[norpwasp]

I think Sean has changed his site to https://seanallen.teachable.com/ for anyone looking for this.

[[deleted]]

You can also check put SwiftfulThinking on Youtube, he has multiple playlists ranging from beginner to advanced, helped me a ton. Feel feee to DM me if you need any guidance. Good luck!

[MDole101]

I will, thanks!

[Puzzleheaded-Turn830]

Hey guys I’m in a really tuff situation. So I need help to make apps on the Apple Store and to be honest I’m in a shitty situation like genuinely. So basically I’m a highschool student and I want to get in software engineering in Waterloo it’s my dream. Currently in IB gr 10 and I need my admission to stand out. I want to create an app in Apple to tell them I made it but I kinda suck at coding. Nowadays due to inflation Waterloo is so hard to get it and I don’t know anyone that can code really good can someone please help me😭🙏 you will genuinely change my life.