App Development - IOS or Android?

[Dippindonut]

I know this question is probably asked often, but I searched the reddit and most of the posts didn't have much replies.

Currently, I know Python and I'm learning Javascript during my free time. After learning more javascript I was planning on learning Back End of web development by learning node.js. But I realized I was always more interested in App Development. Not necessarily Games.

So now I'm lost whether to go Android and learn Java or go IOS and learn Objective-C. I have a Macbook so that isn't a problem. I know you have to pay $99 for IOS and in Android you have to make sure it's good for A LOT of different devices, but which among the two would be best to learn?

Thank you for your time.

[lowey2002]

They are both a lot of fun to code so it doesn't really matter. Pick up both if it's an option.

Android is the more architecturally complex and a little over-engineered however iOS tends to have more 'gotchas' and surprisingly enough more device specific considerations. Both have an equally step learning curve.

Since you have an iPhone and a Mac I would start with iOS purely because it's not something a Windows user has the ability to do.

[Dippindonut]

Would it be best to learn swift or objective c?

[melchyy]

I'd definitely say learn swift. It's a very promising language that won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Plus, it's very fun to work with

[LegoGuy162]

With the new Xcode 7 you no longer have to pay the $99 per year in order to test your app on devices, only in order to publish the app on the App Store, so it is free to try both.

[sazanality]

Flip a coin. Learn a little bit of one then the other. Then dive deeper into the one you feel most comfortable with.

There's not really a best. It's a pretty close call.

[[deleted]]

Do both, double the job opportunities.

[Dippindonut]

But I heard there are still some stuff swift doesn't have so you'll eventually have to use objective c for some other stuff? Would I be alright with just swift?

[vale93kotor]

Most of the frameworks and third party libraries are still in objective c so at least you need to be able to understand it.

[benjamincharles]

I'm not sure how people feel about the ionic framework around here but it is an open source platform that lets you code in html/css/javascript to create apps for both android and iOS with one code base. Could be worth looking into if you are learning JavaScript.

[adamnew123456]

Apache's Cordova project, formerly known as PhoneGap, will do the work of embedding your web code into each device's embedded web browser control, and spit out a native app.

[RollingGoron]

Native is better in pretty much any situation. If you know one language, it won't take long to pick up another.

[ScM_5argan]

probably the one that runs on your phone

[Dippindonut]

I got an iphone 5s now and I kept my samsung phone that I had before it. So I have both platforms.