How can I make the transition from being a beginner to an Intermediate/advanced level iPhone developer?

Question

I've been programming for the iPhone for quite some time now. I have read books like Beginning iPhone 4 Development by Jeff LaMarche and Programming in Objective C by Stephen Kochan. Right now I am pretty comfortable with view controllers, table views, gestures, GCD, Core Data etc.

I am now seeking to build a career in iOS (instead of a hobby as it has so far been). How can I take my knowledge to the next level so that I can be hired as a profesional iOS developer. What are the other technologies I must be familiar with in order to be comfortable building enterprise level applications for different industries like banking, telecommunications etc? Are there any good books that talk from the perspective of enterprise architecture for mobile applications ?

Answer 1

Instead of trying to find out additional domains to learn about - You should write a lot of code. In the process of doing the latter, you will invariably hit the domains you need to master.

Answer 2

One of the most common tasks you will need to do in an enterprise is communicate with databases and web services.

There is a book called Professional iPhone and iPad Database Application Programming by Patrick Alessi that covers the following topics: Introducing Data-Driven Applications The iPhone and iPad Database: Sqlite Displaying Your Data: The UITableView ipad Interface Elements Introducing Core Data Modeling Data in Xcode Building a Core Data Application Core Data-Related Cocoa Features Core Data Migration and Performance Working with Xml on the iPhone Integrating with Web Services

It is not as well written as the Beginning iPhone 4 Development book by LeMarche and Mark, but it will get you started on some of the skills you will need to use in enterprise development on the iPhone (and iPad).

Answer 3

To a considerable degree I've found that corps/managers that want to hire programmers expect that the programmers know the business of the corp or manager. Domain specific knowledge on the part of the programmer is at least as important as knowledge of platform or API or language.

If you want a contract in banking it would help a lot if you understand banking, if telecom then understand telecom. Knowledge of a platform or API or language is infrastructure: knowledge of the line of business gives you better design ability.

Answer 4

These are podcast from Standford University. ;-)

http://itunes.apple.com/it/itunes-u/iphone-application-development/id384233225

http://itunes.apple.com/it/itunes-u/iphone-application-programming/id384233222

http://itunes.apple.com/it/itunes-u/developing-apps-for-ios-hd/id395605774

Answer 5

One basic thing you need to do is show what you can accomplish. Write a good app or two and put it in the App Store. They don't have to make money, but they should be available for people you point them out to.

Many people judge on appearances, and they'll likely think that a guy who can write a good-looking app can pick up banking and databases and such more than they'd think that a bank database guy can write a good-looking app. (They're likely being accurate, too. Designing and writing a good-looking and functional iPhone app shows skills most people don't have.)