Xcode 4 Cookbook review

The iOS platform is a large and exciting field. In order to develop on the iOS platform, you need Xcode. Learning to use Xcode on your own can be a challenge. The Xcode 4 Cookbook by Steven F Daniel can help you get familiar with getting tasks done using Xcode 4 and iOS 6. This book takes the approach of “learn by doing”, and dives right into showing you how to create applications that work on the iOS device. 

This book presents to you a series of recipes, a short section of step-by-step instructions aimed at accomplishing a specific goal. The book can be read as a textbook or as a reference guide. For those of us with little Xcode experience, starting at the beginning may be the best place to start. With those with previous knowledge of Xcode may find themselves starting on a later chapter.

The content of this book is organized into chapters. Each chapter has a theme, such as integrating your application with Twitter. Each chapter contains many recipes. When read in order, we are shown how you can start from nothing and end with a working application. However, each recipe can be read out of context from the rest of the chapter. 

I quite liked how this book was quick to show results. With so much to learn about Xcode, it was great to be guided through actually building an application. For me, trying to learn by reading the documentation was not helpful in giving ideas on how to actually create an application. This book first shows you how to complete the task and then when needed provides links to the Apple Documentation for those who want to learn more about what is being discussed. 

There is one downside to quick and easy step-by-step instructions. Sometimes trying to follow a step would not produce the same results the book did. Without additional information I was left to investigate the answer. However, often by simple pressing on and reading additional recipes in the chapter did I finally understand what I had misunderstood before. 

The best part about this book is how useful it will be in the long run. I am going to forget how to do some things and not know how to do other things. Instead of trying to search across the Internet for a suitable answer, I can simple look through this recipe book for the recipe I need. A quick read and I find my answer. If I need a code example, the assets that come with the book have the code already set up. 

To summarize, this book might not be for everyone. If you are a beginner perhaps you may want to try a beginners guide. However, if you have programmed before, this book can help you learn by doing. The quick access to answers makes this book a great resource to have with you as you venture out and build your own iOS applications. 

I did receive a free copy of the book for this review.