Practical Objective-C for App Developers

By Harper M. Chandler

Have you ever wondered why so many long-lasting, high-performance iOS and macOS applications still rely on Objective-C? Or why professional developers continue to value a language that has quietly powered Apple's ecosystem for decades? More importantly-what could mastering Objective-C mean for your journey as an app developer?

This book invites you into a conversation. A conversation about skill, about craftsmanship, about building apps that don't just "work," but endure.
Because let's be honest-can you truly call yourself a complete Apple developer without understanding the language the ecosystem was built on?

Inside these pages, you won't just read explanations-you will engage with ideas.
You'll question things like:

• Why does Objective-C's dynamic runtime still outperform expectations?

• How does memory management really work beneath ARC?

• What makes Cocoa and Cocoa Touch so elegantly flexible?

• And how does knowing Objective-C make you a stronger Swift developer?

You'll explore not just the "how," but also the "why"-because great development isn't about memorizing syntax; it's about understanding systems deeply enough to bend them to your will.

This book walks with you step-by-step, starting from the foundations of C programming, moving through Objective-C's unique concepts, and guiding you into building complete iOS and macOS applications.
And along the way, you'll often catch yourself thinking:

"Why didn't anyone explain it this clearly before?"

You'll learn to question frameworks, challenge assumptions, and push past surface-level knowledge. You'll move from running basic programs to mastering blocks, runtime introspection, protocols, concurrency, and real-world app development workflows.

And here's a question worth asking yourself right now:
If you want to become a serious Apple developer, is it wise to ignore the language that shaped all the frameworks you rely on?

This book makes sure the answer becomes a confident "no."

By the end, you won't just "know" Objective-C-you'll think in Objective-C.
You'll read APIs differently.
You'll solve problems with deeper intuition.
You'll finally understand what the system is doing under the hood-and why that matters more than ever.

Whether you're a beginner who wants clarity, a Swift developer seeking deeper understanding, or an aspiring professional preparing for industry work-this book becomes your companion, your coach, and your guide.

Don't wait. Turn the page and start your journey today.