Developing Mobile Apps - Getting Started
 

My son is interested in getting his feet wet with software development by doing some mobile apps. What is the easiest way to do this. I'm sure they have a lot of app development applications out there and sorting through them all would be tough. Any suggestions?

For which platform?

I think he'd like to start with iPhone, but eventually do Android and tablets as well. I guess the ideas application would work with everything.

having switched from .net to iOS mobile development a few years back I can point you in the right direction.

1. He needs a mac book
2. Install Xcode.
3. via iTunes you can audit the Stanford class 'developing Apps for iOS', go through these lectures
4. develop the sample app they develop in the class. If you look online you can find soft copies of all the class materials and code used in lectures.
5. Make you own app. Apple has hundreds of sample apps available for download if you are a registered app developer $99. This is a great way to learn some good coding practices.

note, If he doesn't have any experience with coding/programming, even simple languages like javascript or html, jumping both feet into full application development might be overwhelming. Concepts picked up in any computer engineering 101 class would help a lot.

but Xcode does make a lot of this easier. The Storyboards and Interface builder let developers get away with writing very little code. Then as he wants to learn more of the 'under the hood' stuff he can start skipping storyboards and interface builder fore more 'savvy' approaches.

He has zero experience, so I want the simplest approach and then we'll get into coding and all the nitty gritty as he learns. Oh, and he's got a PC for now.

If he wants to skip a lot of learning steps, there are some engines out there that use proprietary syntax to create mobile apps. Rarewire is a local company here in KC that does that. You just have to learn their xml format, write your own xml file then feed it into their engine and out pops a mobile iPhone app.

but without a Mac, guess you'll need to go the Android route.

With a PC and going with Android he'll learn a ton of stuff for sure. There are lots of online resources out there too.

I messed around with several Android devices and software as a refresher on how things work and piece together.