"Programming in Objective-C"

Author	:	Stephen G. Kochan
Publisher	:	Sams Publishing
Price	:	RM 140
Rating	:

Without a doubt, the Macintosh graphical user interface (GUI) has always been the envy of other computer platforms. It is even more so since the introduction of the Mac OS X Aqua GUI. However don't be fooled by assuming that Mac GUI is merely eye candy (hmmm.... typical Mac basher bigotry I used to hear) or that the Mac is only good for simple computing and home-made projects like home video and organizing family photos. Every single Mac, including entry-level Macs like the Mac mini, can potentially become a software development machine. This is because all Macs are shipped with Apple's software development tool called Xcode.

Since I first laid my hands on Mac OS X (10.1), I had the craving to develop my own applications. All my efforts to understand Cocoa - a set of object-oriented frameworks designed for rapid application development in OS X - were unavailing even after purchasing numerous books on Cocoa development (enough to meet the income tax deduction quota!). It boils down to one reason - there wasn't any easy-to-understand self-help books on Objective-C, the programming language for Cocoa. That is, until the arrival of this book by Stephen Kochan which has truly turned things around for me.

"Programming in Objective-C" does not assume previous experience with C or other object-oriented programming languages. From the beginning, there isn't any boring text-book write-up on programming philosophy or theoretical software development concepts. The book immediately starts you off with setting up a compiler to compile a simple introduction program (like HelloWorld, but not quite).

The book is all about grasping by following examples. The same programs are being referred to throughout the book. Each new chapter simply expands the intricacy of the same programs, as you move on to new lessons. In addition to that, each program example is accompanied by a tutorial that explains line by line the codes you just typed and the rationale behind the output or result that you see.

If you would like to become accustomed to Mac OS X software development, you need to 'speak' the language: Objective-C. And Kochan's highly recommended book is just the thing to get you started. Just make sure that you're sitting in front of your Mac, installed with Xcode, when you read the book. I can assure you that eventually your hot 'cocoa' will taste better.