Re: why are there zero examples in the cocoa docs?!

FROM : Boyd Collier
DATE : Sat Jan 19 23:59:25 2008

One small comment on the comments by I. Savant, who is generally right 
on target:  Objective-C is a superset of C, not C++, as I'm sure he 
knows.  Thought I should mentioned it, lest the originator of the 
original question (rant?) thinks he needs to start learning C++ (God 
forbid).

Boyd




On Jan 19, 2008, at 12:36 PM, I. Savant wrote:

>> why does the documentation suck so much (for beginners)? :-)

>
>  A counter-question: Why do beginners always assume the trouble 
> they're having with documentation is automatically the 
> documentation's fault?
>

>> am i researching the wrong place?

>
>  Probably. There is a *lot* of documentation and, contrary to your 
> opinion, many say that this is the best documentation they've seen 
> for a platform / language / API. I'd tend to agree.
>
>  No matter how well-written the technical specifications are for the 
> design of every part of a given car, you're not going to be able to 
> build a car just like it from scratch just by reading the individual 
> specs of each of its parts. You've got to read the blueprint, the 
> materials list, an overview of the sub-assemblies, etc.
>
>  In short, you're going about this ass-backwards.
>
>  The best place is the beginning:
>
> Getting Started with Cocoa
> http://developer.apple.com/referencelibrary/GettingStarted/GS_Cocoa/index.html
>
> The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language
> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/ObjectiveC/Introduction/chapter_1_section_1.html
>
> Cocoa Fundamentals
> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/CocoaFundamentals/Introduction/chapter_1_section_1.html
>
> Cocoa Application Tutorial
> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/ObjCTutorial/01Introduction/chapter_1_section_1.html
>
>  Take your time. I was a complete newbie to Cocoa a few years back 
> and, though it was difficult and took awhile to pick up Objective-C 
> and Cocoa's architecture, I found the documentation (and the books 
> recommended on the Fundamentals page) invaluable and an excellent 
> resource that's constantly improved.
>
>  *There is no substitute for doing your research.*
>

>> - (void)addChapters:(NSArray *)chapters withAttributes:
>> (NSDictionary *)attributes error:(NSError **)errorPtr
>> so probably i have to call something like:
>>
>> [myMovie addChapters:myChapterArray]

>
>  No, this is where reading the introductory material above 
> (particularly the Objective-C guide) comes in handy (as well as a 
> good working knowledge of C++, of which Objective-C is a superset). 
> You have to call:
>
> [myMovie addChapters:myChaptersArray 
> withAttributes:myAttributesDictionary error:&someErrorPointer];
>
>  You can't simply ignore the method signature. It's not the API 
> reference's fault that you do not know Objective-C syntax. It's also 
> not the API reference's job to teach it to you. That's the guide 
> above's job. It's *your* job to read it.
>

>> looking forward for the "initial hint" that will hopefully light 
>> the spark :-)

>
>  It sounds superior and smug, I know (and it is somewhat because 
> it's a rather obvious concept), but that's really the best advice 
> you're going to get: Read and re-read the introductory material 
> until you understand it because you won't get anywhere without 
> mastering the basics.
>
>  If you get lost and have questions on what you're reading, post 
> back to the list for clarification.
>
> --
> I.S.
>
>
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