How would I get started with mobile application development?

[Cam42]

I'm thinking of developing for Android and iPhone OS mainly. I've heard that for iPhone I should be familiar with C or a language based on C before I get started with iPhone development. What about Android? Anything else I should know?

[myrtle1908]

What about Android?

Java.

Here is a short comparison http://tedwise.com/2009/02/24/androidiphone-development-comparison/

Also have a look here http://www.appcelerator.com/

[GregBrannon]

Android ap development is done in Java. You can learn about the Android SDK, download it, get instructions on how to install it, learn what development environments it works with, etc. from the Google Android development pages.

[Cam42]

so I should learn Java and a C based language, then?
Which C based language would you recommend? I'm mostly new to programming...

[Simian Man]

so I should learn Java and a C based language, then?
Which C based language would you recommend? I'm mostly new to programming...

Java is a C-based language :). iPhone development is done in Objective-C, another C-based language. I'd recommend sticking with Java and Android. Learning two languages/platforms at once will be needlessly tough for a new programmer.

[Nickedynick]

There's a native development kit for Android (here (http://developer.android.com/sdk/ndk/index.html)) that lets you do the bulk of your development in C if you're looking to develop the same app fot iPhone and Android.

[chemouna]

the best suitable solution is to learn Objective C and use XCode on a MAC , so you dont have trouble later to submit your app in AppleStore or to put it in Iphone.
here's a great tutorial of Objectif C http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xqn5IHbusA&feature=channel

[Cam42]

Java is a C-based language :). iPhone development is done in Objective-C, another C-based language. I'd recommend sticking with Java and Android. Learning two languages/platforms at once will be needlessly tough for a new programmer.

Again, I'm new to programming. ;) haha
I've actually been thinking of starting with Android, mainly because I currently don't have a mac, and I don't wanna pay $99/year to develop iPhone apps if I don't end up liking it.
What books or online resources would you recommend for Java?

[Cam42]

bump.

[carolinehill]

Hello Cam42,

Android Applications Develops in JAVA Language, So if you want to Know more about Android, then You have to aware about java First.

_________________________________
iPhone App Development (http://appsdev.plaveb.com/iphone-application-development) | Android Application Development (http://appsdev.plaveb.com/android-application-development)

[alan2796]

I Vote Android.

Ubuntu Software Center > Eclipse. - Download and install

Then go read This (http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html#installing)

After you have android working on eclipse I would start here:
Java Tutorials (http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/)

Android and iOS have Emulators for testing applications. so no need to own an Android or iPhone. but it's recommended.

and as stated before you would need a Mac to be able to publish on the Apple App Store.and nothing will compare to OSX's development tools(Xcode).

[lykeion]

I work as a mobile developer (Android, iPhone, Blackberry, etc) and my tip is to start with Android development and just dive into it. You don't need to read abunch of Java books first, just go to Android Developers' site and go for it. For simple apps you can get a long way with the tutorials on the site without any pre-knowledge of Java. Next tip is to get a device and run your apps on it, because it's a real motivator to actually run your developed apps on a real device instead on just an emulator. If you get into Android development I'm sure you get deeper into Java along the way.

[MindSz]

^ this ... The ADT Plugin for Eclipse page was my starting point. You can find pretty much anything on the web to help you get started with code. It's always a good idea to start with the HelloWorld tho ;)