Good resources for learning Objective-C

Question

I have developed for a number of years in Java, primarily for Linux and Windows. During my undergrad and grad school times, I also did quite a bit in C and C++. I have recently (in the last year and a half) started using primarily Apple computers at home, and am interested in exploring their Xcode development environment. I am interested in learning how to use the Cocoa interface, etc. However, I know nothing (or next to nothing) about Objective-C. I am aware it is a pure superset of C, however I am interested in some resources for learning it.

In the past, to teach myself concepts of Swing for Java, I have used O'Reilly books, such as the Swing Bible, Java Swing by Marc Loy et. al. Is there a similar book for Objective-C, or a book that is really good to learn from? I would prefer if it was fairly technical, had examples, etc. Has anyone else attempted to learn Objective-C this way? Are there any specific things I should look at?

Just to note, yes I do have K&R, I have read it too many times to count, and I am aware of C syntax. It has been a while, but I do remember large amounts of it. :) I did see this question, but I did not see any particular resources mentioned, simply some general statements about learning.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X (3rd edition) by Aaron Hillegass is great! As the title implies, it's about cocoa, but you'll learn a lot about Objective C from that book, and Cocoa is the most likely use case for Objective C as well.

Answer 2

Here is a good resource.

Answer 3

Not the best way to learn but Apple's Objective-C 2.0 docs aren't too bad.

The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language

Most definitely follow August's recommendation though.

Answer 4

I personally really liked this book, the writing style really worked with me

Learn Objective–C on the Mac

Answer 5

I asked this question a while back. There were several good resources listed: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/461426/what-are-some-of-the-best-online-resources-for-learning-objective-c

Answer 6

• The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language - Apple's official documentation of the language itself.
• Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X - The definitive book for Cocoa newcomers. It's actually focused on the Cocoa frameworks more than Objective-C, but still invaluable.
• Programming in Objective-C 2.0 - Focuses on Objective-C itself more than Cocoa; may have more basic information than an experienced programmer would need, but covers plenty of good stuff.
• CocoaDevCentral - Excellent tutorials. Start with the "Learn ..." and "Objective-C Style" tutorials.
• CocoaDev.com wiki - Especially good for specific questions about a specific class or task.
• Stanford's free CS193E and CS193P courses
• BYU CocoaHeads - A large list of resources (books, website, and code) about Cocoa/Objective-C.
• HyperJeff's Cocoa Literature List - A huge compendium of useful information, etc.
• Cocoa With Love - An excellent blog with specific, useful snippets and in-depth explanation.
• Cocoa Is My Girlfriend - A fun and useful blog (usually) about Cocoa.
• CocoaBlogs.com - Links to other useful/interesting Mac-related blogs
• Best Practices for Cocoa Programmers (by Aaron Hillegass) - A bit dated, but contains some nuggets and guidelines for understanding and following Objective-C/Cocoa conventions

There are also several related SO questions:

• Cocoa and Objective-C resources?
• What are some good resources for learning Objective-C?
• What are some of the best online resources for learning Objective-C?
• Best way to learn Objective-C
• Where can I find sample iPhone code? (accepted answer lists learning resources instead)