iPad Application Development For Dummies, 3rd Edition

Foolish Assumptions

To begin programming your iPad applications, you need an Intel-based Macintosh computer with the latest version of the OS X on it. (No, you can’t program iPad applications on the iPad.) You also need to download the iOS Software Development Kit (SDK) — which is free. And, oh yeah, you need an iPad. You won’t start running your application on it right away — you’ll use the Simulator that Apple provides with the iPad SDK during the initial stages of development — but at some point, you’ll want to test your application on a real, live iPad.

This book assumes that you have some programming knowledge and that you have at least a passing acquaintance with object-oriented programming, using some variant of the C language (such as C++, C#, or maybe even Objective-C). In case you don’t, I point out some resources that can help you get up-to-speed. The application example in this book is based on the frameworks that come with the SDK; the code is pretty simple (usually) and straightforward. (I don’t use this book as a platform to dazzle you with fancy coding techniques.)

I also assume that you’re familiar with the iPad itself and that you’ve at least explored Apple’s included applications to get a good working sense of the iPad’s look and feel. It might also help to browse the App Store to see the kinds of applications available there and maybe even download a few free ones (as if I could stop you).