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Ask HN: iPhone/iPad online app-development

3 points by zam 16y ago

I don't own a Mac, but would like to get started iPhone/iPad development using Objective-C. Is there any online tools which lets me submit code in Obj-C and which compiles and displays the app on a simulator? Please do share if you have any other suggestions on the easiest way to get started.

xsmasher 16y ago
You can get a Mac Mini for $599, hook it to your network, and access it using logmein.com or some other remote access method. That's what I did to get started, and it's worked very well.
Magneus 16y ago
Apple does not support any development environment other than XCode on an Intel Mac. Thus, if you want to do Objective-C development, your best bet is to get your hands on a Mac. Barring that, you could rig up Hackintosh, or Hackintosh VM in VMWare/Virtualbox. If you are willing to consider some zanier options, there's a open source project that's attempting to create a portable iPhone toolchain: http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/ http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/. If you're willing to forgo Objective-C, and try cross-compiled development, there's stuff like PhoneGap, xmlvm, etc.
- cherring 16y ago
  That's surely not something that can be recommended with the latest Apple License agreement that say that apps can't be cross compiled, there has been a lot of posts submitted here about it.
wallflower 16y ago
Check out: It might make more sense to buy your own Mac, after all. I initially assumed this service rented Mac Minis. "We are a mac mini colocation service. In other words, we place your Mac mini in a high-end data center where you can use it as a server. We provide you with a menu of services including redundant very high speed internet connections, remote control electrical power, a highly secure location to house your Mac mini, and remote human hands." http://www.macminicolo.net/ http://www.macminicolo.net/
samratjp 16y ago
Obligatory Obj-C+iPhone Tutorial: http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/ http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/

3 points by zam 16y ago

xsmasher 16y ago

You can get a Mac Mini for $599, hook it to your network, and access it using logmein.com or some other remote access method. That's what I did to get started, and it's worked very well.

Magneus 16y ago

Apple does not support any development environment other than XCode on an Intel Mac. Thus, if you want to do Objective-C development, your best bet is to get your hands on a Mac. Barring that, you could rig up Hackintosh, or Hackintosh VM in VMWare/Virtualbox. If you are willing to consider some zanier options, there's a open source project that's attempting to create a portable iPhone toolchain: http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/ http://code.google.com/p/iphone-dev/. If you're willing to forgo Objective-C, and try cross-compiled development, there's stuff like PhoneGap, xmlvm, etc.

cherring 16y ago
That's surely not something that can be recommended with the latest Apple License agreement that say that apps can't be cross compiled, there has been a lot of posts submitted here about it.

wallflower 16y ago

Check out: It might make more sense to buy your own Mac, after all. I initially assumed this service rented Mac Minis. "We are a mac mini colocation service. In other words, we place your Mac mini in a high-end data center where you can use it as a server. We provide you with a menu of services including redundant very high speed internet connections, remote control electrical power, a highly secure location to house your Mac mini, and remote human hands." http://www.macminicolo.net/ http://www.macminicolo.net/

samratjp 16y ago

Obligatory Obj-C+iPhone Tutorial: http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/ http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs193p/