February 25, 2015
Is it possible to go from knowing almost nothing about iOS development to getting an app in the app store in 3 months? with a family? while working a full-time job? and freelancing?
I think that it is, and I intend to find out.
A wee bit of Context about the Motivation
I’m a developer. I’ve been coding for more than 10 years. I’ve done Java, Ruby, Erlang, Flex/Actionscript (It was a job okay? I’m not proud), Clojure, Javascript/Coffeescript, some HTML & CSS, and a smattering of other languages.
But I’ve wanted to do Mac and iOS development for a long time. I’ve played around with it some, but never got very far. I was never able to get into a position to learn it for work at any of my jobs.
So now I’m in the position where I’d like to become an iOS developer, to the point where I could get hired as a full-time iOS dev.
However, as I mentioned, my time is limited. I have to use what time I have as efficiently as I can. So I’m going to use the next 3 months to check a few things off my bucket list (okay, so it’s a lame list so far, but I’ve got time to revise it…I hope).
In this post I outlined a high-level plan for learning iOS development quickly. As part of that, I mentioned that both of the rapid-learning methods (DiSSS and LoS) required stakes to focus the mind and effort. Stakes are anything that would be motivating, like a deadline of some sort, something concrete. Now, while I am plenty self-motivated to toy around with new technology, this endeavor presents something different: trying to move into another specialty, rapidly, on my own, while working a 9-5, freelancing, and spending time with my family. So…
The Stakes
I need something more than a self-imposed deadline. The options are public accountability and financial stakes. I’m going to try public accountability first. This page serves as that accountability.
So this is a formal, public challenge to have my first app in the app store by May 18, 2015
What’s in it for you
There’s a lot of stuff out there on the intertubes about learning iOS development. Busy people like you can’t spend time figuring out where to start, what content is worth it and what’s crap. What topics are really important, and what can wait. So I’m doing it for you. I’m taking that bullet. I’m going to run through this challenge and then you’ll be able to sit back in your comfy Aeron chair (lucky bastard) and learn from my successes and failures.
I plan to post weekly updates (probably video, I’m just that crazy) at a minimum. I’d like to post more often, but I’m not sure I’ll have the time (work and kids and all, ya know).
Obviously the app that I make will have a large impact on whether I can succeed at this challenge or not. A stupid simple fart app probably won’t take 3 months, even with all my other responsibilities. But a simple app isn’t a good learning experience either.
On the other hand, making an Angry Birds clone in 3 months is probably (slightly) unlikely. So I have to find a Goldilocks app idea that walks the line between stupid simple, and holy hell what have I done.
I already have an idea for an app, but I’m going to review my other ideas that I’ve collected to see which one I want to do. I’ll make that decision in the next two days.
I’d love it if you’d follow along and learn some iOS development with me!