View source for IPhone iOS 5 Development Essentials Preface

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= Preface =

This publication represents the third edition of the iPhone Application Development Essentials series of books. The first edition addressed iOS 4 development for the iPhone using Xcode 3 whilst the second revision was updated for the release of Xcode 4. This current edition has been fully updated to coincide with the public release of iOS 5. 

This latest SDK release is by far the most significant upgrade to the operating system and development kit in the history of iOS and introduces new features such as iCloud support, Twitter integration, new document handling paradigms and automatic reference counting. The revision of this book was, similarly, no small undertaking involving over five months of work that evolved through the course of no fewer than seven iOS 5 SDK Beta releases prior to the final release. Much of the new content in this book would not have been possible without the timely responses from Apple’s iOS development team to beta SDK bug reports and also without the persistence and support of other iOS 5 beta testers who were also working through the learning curve of the new features of iOS 5 with little in the way of documentation for guidance.

Without a doubt now is an exciting time to be an application developer. Prior to the iPhone and the App Store a developer was responsible for finding a way to bring a completed application to market. Success invariably went to the developer with the largest marketing budget or most web search traffic. The App Store, however, has brought a more level playing field to the application market with both large and small developers given equal status within the marketplace. Never before have hundreds of millions of users been required to go to a single place to locate and purchase software applications. Every one of those users is a potential customer for your applications.

Before you begin your journey into the world of iPhone application development I’d like to begin by imparting some things I have learned that don’t necessarily relate to the actual coding of an application. Firstly, try to choose an application idea that fits in with something that interests you. Both the development and subsequent sales of an application can be a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. Addressing a market about which you are passionate will provide the drive you need to overcome any obstacles. 
Secondly, check Apple’s terms and conditions for acceptance into the App Store before beginning development work. There is nothing worse than spending months of effort developing an application only to have it declined during the application review process. That said, however, do not be too discouraged by an initial rejection. Apple allows, and indeed encourages, developers to modify and resubmit applications for review, and minor adjustments based on Apple’s feedback will often lead to subsequent acceptance into the App Store.

Thirdly, try to get the application as feature complete and polished as possible before submitting it to the App Store (but not the extent that you never actually finish it). If possible, get unbiased feedback from friends, colleagues and potential customers before going live. This will increase the chance that early reviews of the application will be positive thereby leading to more downloads. 

Finally, remember to have fun. Opportunities as exciting as the smartphone application market come along in the technology business once every 10 to 20 years. You are right in the middle of a vast shift in the way that users acquire and use software applications. Once you’ve mastered the skills necessary to develop iPhone applications there really are no limits. Take this opportunity to learn the necessary skills and then, in the words of the late Steve Jobs, use this knowledge to build something “insanely great”.