Welcome to iOS Development Immersive!

Welcome to the iOS Development Immersive at General Assembly!

We're really excited to have join our General Assembly community! In order to ensure your success in the course, we’ve created the following pre-course onboarding materials. Depending on your level of prior knowledge, these tutorials, modules, and projects may take you between 40-60 hours to complete.

Please complete all items before your first day of class, so that both you and your computer will be prepared to hit the ground running. If you have questions in the meantime (or just want to say hi!), feel free to reach out to your instructional team!

Sincerely,

GA + your iOS Immersive Team

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Pre-Course Checklist

1. Accounts
2. Install
3. Tutorials
4. Projects
5. Resources

Accounts

First, you'll need to set up a few accounts, if you haven't already.

• Required: Create a Github account, if you don't already have one.
• Required: Register for an Apple ID, if you don't already have one.
• Optional: Use your Apple ID to sign up for a paid Apple Developer account.

Note: Students will need to sign up for a paid Apple Developer account in order to submit apps to the app store. We'll discuss this further in-class!

Technology

Next, let's review the technology required and do some light installations. For more information, check out our policy below.

• Required: Make sure you have a Mac laptop, with an updated OS (currently 10.11 "El Capitan").
• Required: Install the latest version of Xcode.
• Required: Configure Xcode for your Command Line.
• Required: Download Git.
• Required: Configure Git for your command line.
• Required: Download Slack! Slack is the primary messaging platform we'll use in this course.
• Required: Join our GA-Students group, where you'll be able to share resources and tips with fellow students in our iosi-precourse channel.
• Optional: We highly recommend installing a text editor like Atom or Sublime Text 3.
• Optional: If you have a secondary iOS device (e.g. iPhone or iPad), bring it to class so you can use it to test your apps!

Technology Policy

Due to the necessary tools used for iOS development, Macs are required for this course. We strongly suggest that students bring laptops with screens of at least 13-inches. Having an 11-inch (or smaller) screen has been shown to adversely affect student performance.

Student laptops should be using OS X 10.10 or higher, ideally 10.11 (El Capitan). This rules out some older MacBook models. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with your instructor!

Tutorials

Ok, now onto the good stuff! Below is a list of tutorials and modules we'd like you to complete before starting the course. Remember to work through all of the required material at a minimum, although we highly recommend completing the optional materials as well, if you have the time!

• Master the Command Line

  • Required: Complete our basic Command Line Overview.
  • Optional: You know what's important? Practice, practice, practice!

• Control Your Versions

  • Required: Complete this entire Git Tutorial.
  • Optional: Here is a fun overview of many common Git functions.

• Practice the Fundamentals

  • Required: Practice these Computer Science basics.
  • Optional: If you have time, review some of the materials from Stanford's famous CS101 course. Specifically, look at concepts in weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6!

• Experiment with Xcode

  • Required: Work through Apple's online lesson on Xcode & Swift Fundamentals.
  • Optional: If you want some more help navigating Xcode, check out Apple's friendly Guide.
  • Optional: It never hurts to practice. Try this sample Xcode project from our favorite "We <3 Swift!"

• Mobile Networks 101

  • Required: It's important to understand how the internet works. Complete this module as a refresher.
  • Optional: This short tutorial is a great overview of the mobile ecosystem.

• Apple & iOS

  • Optional: Take a quick peek at Apple's Human Interface Design Principles.
  • Optional: Apple's guide explains how iOS technology stacks together.

Projects

[ ] Next, click here for instructions on how to complete our required pre-course project!.

Optional Resources

Last - but not least, check out some of these awesome additional resources! While none of these are really required, we highly recommend that you spend extra time preparing for the course. Remember, this is your learning experience, so make the most of it!

• Listen to "Developing iOS 9 apps with Swift" from Stanford on iTunes U.
• If you want to be an iOS developer, you'll need to get comfortable with Apple's technical documentation.
• Have a look at GA's original iOS textbook! While slightly outdated, there's a lot of great material in here for new programmers.
• Try working through Ray Wenderlich's beginner iOS series. Hint: sign up for free access to access the "iOS Apprentice" tutorials.
• Some students have recommended the following textbook as a helpful resource.