[benguru]

Hello I am currently learning Java, but I want to learn Cocoa soon. Should I also learn Obj-C to program Cocoa, or can I use both to program Cocoa? It does not matter if it can run on Windows but it would be nice if it was easy to port. Also I have heard Cocoa with java is slow is that true? Also if I were to learn Obj-C how hard or how long is it to learn if you know Java and C? Also how hard or how long is it to learn Cocoa? Thanks
-Benguru

[Catfish_Man]

1) You can use both, but Objective-C is a bit faster and slightly better supported afaik.

2)Cocoa doesn't port well at all

3)Java is usually slower than C/Obj-C/C++

4)Objective-C is easy to pick up with a knowledge of C/C++/Java

5)Cocoa takes a bit longer to get the hang of, but is pretty easy to start doing simple stuff in.

[greenOne]

Originally posted by benguru:
Hello I am currently learning Java, but I want to learn Cocoa soon. Should I also learn Obj-C to program Cocoa, or can I use both to program Cocoa? It does not matter if it can run on Windows but it would be nice if it was easy to port. Also I have heard Cocoa with java is slow is that true? Also if I were to learn Obj-C how hard or how long is it to learn if you know Java and C? Also how hard or how long is it to learn Cocoa? Thanks
-Benguru

Hey! Wow, it's been a while, but my login still works.

Benguru, if you like OSX and are interested in writing apps for it, take a little detour and try learning obj-c/Cocoa.

Worst-case scenario: you end up spending a little time learning a fairly simple language that many folks think is really something special. It may even help you understand Java better.

Learning Java helped me to better understand C++.

[benguru]

Ok I think I will learn both Obj-J and Cocoa. I was thinking of getting "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X". Is that a good book? I heard a lot of other people like it. Also if I wanted to learn OpenGL how hard would it be and where would I start?

[ranga]

Hi,

I recently bought Cocoa Programming for MacOS X and I really like it. It is a well written book with lots of easy to follow examples and programming projects. It is MUCH better than the O'Reilly cocoa programming books. Using 'Cocoa Programming' I was able to port one of my command line programs from java to cocoa with very few problems.

The one thing that I had problems with was auto-release vs. manual release. There are some good articles on www.stepwise.com which were of great help.

--ranga

[greenOne]

I was thinking of getting "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X". Is that a good book?

Yes.

Also if I wanted to learn OpenGL how hard would it be and where would I start?

Not hard. It's just a C API with functions to set up and use a state machine. You tell this state machine about positions of triangles in 3D space, you tell it about lights and about from where you're looking at the scene and so on -- and it draws it all for you.

Start here:
http://www.opengl.org
http://www.idevgames.com

[PBG4 User]

I actually am working through the "Cocoa for Dummies" book. I'm actually liking it. I also picked up the "Cocoa Programming for OS X" book also. Looks good and I'll be working through it once I finish the Dummies book. If you want an idea of what the Dummies book teaches, goto www.dummies.com and search for the book and download the code for the chapters.

Another book I'm probably going to pick up is published by the people who put together the following Cocoa tutorials and information:

http://www.stepwise.com/StartingPoint/Cocoa.html

The book is called "Cocoa Recipes for Mac OS X—The Vermont Recipes" and looks like it is as worthwhile as the bignerdranch book.

I found two great sites directly related to OS X, Cocoa and Open GL last week. They are:

http://divide.zerobyzero.ca

and

http://www.withay.com/macosx/opengl/

Hope this helps you out!

[benguru]

Thanks a lot also some people say the book "Cocoa Programming" is better than "Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X" which should I get?

[cheerios]

search Amazon for Hildegass as the author... it's a brown book, the title escapes me. uber-awesome book. I 'd stay away from the O'Reilly books, they're just not that great. :/

[PBG4 User]

Originally posted by cheerios:
search Amazon for Hildegass as the author... it's a brown book, the title escapes me. uber-awesome book. I 'd stay away from the O'Reilly books, they're just not that great. :/

That would be Aaron Hillegass. He wrote the "Cocoa Programming for OS X" I mentioned in my earlier post.

[cheerios]

it was early, and i hadn't had my coffee that is indeed the one. Now that I'm concious and read the thread again i realize I'm rather repetitive.. .sorry. still another vote for Cocoa Programming for OS X, at least !

[benguru]

Ok thanks a lot but I was asking about this book which is made by Sams here is a link.

Book Link
Has anyone read it. By the way I will get the Hildegass book but is this book good for after it?

[cheerios]

just got it, haven't had a lot of time to look at it, but it was highly recommended and my boyfriend says it's good.

[seppak]

What's up benguru. I played chess with you awhile ago. I learned Cocoa and ObjC about two years ago with the help of the Hildegass. I had similar programming experience when I started learning. If you have any questions, feel free to email me...
seppak at mac.com

[benguru]

Hi seppak, I haven't been on Gridlock for a long time I was pretty busy.
Well I will try the Hildegass book. Thanks a lot guys. I tell you how it goes.