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Find Your App Idea

I always encourage my students to come up with their own app idea when start learning app development. This idea doesn't have to be big. You do not need to build the next Uber app or come up with a new idea to change the world. You just need to start with a very small idea that solves a problem.

Let me give you a couple of the examples.

One classic example that I used to mention is Cockpit Dictionary. It is an app built by Manolo Suarez, who is a pilot by profession. He had an app idea while learning app programming. The idea was not fancy but solved his own problem. There are tens of thousands of Aviation terms in abbreviated form. Even for an experienced pilot with over 20 years of aviation experience, it is impossible to remember all the acronyms and technical terms. Instead of using a print dictionary, he thought of building a handy app for pilots to look up all kinds of Aviation terms. A simple, yet a great idea to solve his own problem.

Another example is the NOAA Buoy Data app. This app retrieves the latest weather, wind, and wave data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center (NDBC). Developed by Leo Kin, he came up with the app idea during his recovery from surgery.

"After the surgery, I had to wear a neck brace for three months. During those three months, I couldn’t move a lot and even had a hard time walking or even raising my arms. My physical therapist advised that I go walking as much as I can to get exercise and to build back my atrophied leg muscles.

There is an island close to where I was living that I really enjoyed walking to. The only problem was that it can only be reached during low tide. And if the tide came in, there’s no way to get back home except by swimming. Since I was very physically weakened, I was very scared of getting stuck on the island with no way back. While walking, I was always going to NOAA’s website to check how high or low the tide was and if I had enough time to walk to the island and back.

During one of my walks, the idea came to me that I should build an app. Even if no one else uses the app, it wouldn’t matter because it would help me keep track of the tides and get back in time."

- Leo Kin

His app may not interest you, but it was solving a problem he faced at the time. Probably people on that island would benefit from his app too.

Having your own app idea will give you a clear goal and motivate you to keep learning. Now spare some time and write down three app ideas below:

Be Patient

Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out. Not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

- Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth

Some of my students asked, "How long would it take to become a good developer?"

It takes time to master programming and become a great developer. It usually takes years. Not weeks, not months but years.

This book will help you kick start the journey. You will learn all the basics of Swift and iOS programming and eventually, build an app. That said, it takes time and lots of practices to become a professional programmer.

Be patient. Don't set your expectations too high for your first app. Just enjoy the process, create something simple and fun. Keep reading and coding daily. You will eventually master the skill.

Find a Buddy

"The best way to learn is to teach" is an old saying. It still works in the modern world, however. You don't need to be an expert to teach. I'm not talking about giving a lecture at a university or teaching a bunch of students in a formal class. Teaching does not always happen that way. It can be as simple as sharing your knowledge with a colleague or a classmate sitting next to you.

Try to find someone who is also interested in learning iOS programming. When you learn something new, try to explain the materials to your buddy. For example, after building your first app, teach your close friend how it works and how he/she can create an app too.

What if you can't find a buddy to share what you've learned? No worries. Start a blog on medium.com(or whatever platforms you like), write a blog post every day, and document everything you learn.

This is one of the most effective ways of learning as I learn so much while publishing tutorials on appcoda.com, as well as, developing my first book.

Sometimes you think you know the materials well. But once you need to explain the concept to someone else and answer questions, chances are that you didn't understand the material thoroughly. And this will motivate you to study the materials even harder. Give this method a shot while you learn iOS programming.