Apple posts guide for iOS development newcomers

Entitled "Start Developing iOS Apps Today," the public guide begins with an overview of how to get set up with the proper tools and then delves into the basic principles of development for iOS and the App Store, as noted by The Next Web.

"This road map provides the perfect starting point for iOS app development," Apple wrote in the document.

The guide starts at a very elementary level, basically assuming that the reader has virtually no knowledge of the app development process. The first step listed is to download the Xcode toolkit from the Mac App Store. The reader is then encouraged to enroll as an Apple Developer in the iOS Developer Program.

The next section, "Jump Right In," then directs the reader to a "Your First App" tutorial on building a simple application to become familiar the tools and the software development kit. Apple then guides the reader through three articles on the fundamentals of iOS app development: tools, language, basic tasks.

Apple also covers the basic principles of development in the guide with sections on frameworks, design patterns, human interface design, app design, and the App Store. It concludes by offering suggestions on next steps for fledgling developers, such as where to find detailed technical information and which documents will help further enrich their knowledge of app development.

The Cupertino, Calif., company has been largely credited with sparking an "App Economy" through the iPhone and the App Store. According to one recent study, the rise of app development has created 466,000 U.S. jobs in the past four years.

“The App Economy, along with the broad communications sector, has been a leading source of hiring strength in an otherwise sluggish labor market,” author Dr. Michael Mandel wrote earlier this month.

California has seen the largest growth in app-related jobs, followed by New York and Washington. In 2011, the average number of wanted ads in the technology industry that contained the word "app" was 45 percent higher than in 2010.

Apple on Friday began counting down to the 25 billion download milestone for the App Store and is offering $10,000 to the person whose download marks the achievement. The countdown comes a little over a year after the digital storefront reached the 10 billion download mark.

The iOS platform continues to attract plenty of new developers and applications. One recent analysis showed that the number of new apps launching on the App Store has outpaced those from the competing Google Market for Android by three to one.

Apple announced last month that the App Store had 550,000 applications on offer, including more than 170,000 for the iPad.