Help with an app idea

[callumacrae]

I want to make an app (for either iPhone or Mac OS X) using either Cocoa or Objective C or something (no, I know nothing about programming in Mac OS X), but I can't really think of anything.

I was thinking maybe a widget or a web app to start with (because they use HTML + javascript with only a little bit of UNIX commands).

Any ideas?

~Callum

PS Please no posts saying "Make something for Windoze!" (:

[xav0989]

Let's go with the basics. Do you feel that there is something missing, or something that could be improved?

[lemon-tree]

Widgets are a really good way of getting to grips with the Mac development tools and they are surprisingly versatile. Applescript is something that can also be used in Xcode, but I wouldn't recommend it (I once wrote a whole app in Applescript, not fun). Cocoa still messes with my mind though.
As for ideas, perhaps you could look here for inspiration or if you have a website you could make one that links with that.

[callumacrae]

I was thinking maybe a computer uptime widget, or a server status widget.

Or maybe an iPhone app that checks the status of your computers (power on/off, logged in?, ip, uptime etc)

Is it worth getting XCode? My ISP will probably kill me if I download anything else

~Callum

[lemon-tree]

You don't need to download the developer tools, they should be an optional install on your OS X disk. You will need to install the developer tools anyway if you want to make a widget without coding every single bit by hand, which really isn't worth it when you can install Dashcode.
If you want to make an iPhone app you will though have to download the iPhone developer SDK, which is a GB or so if I remember correctly. I also think it costs to download, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

[Smith6612]

A server "up" monitor would be nice, given it can make basic HTTP requests to the server. Otherwise for app details, I'm pretty much blanked at the moment since I don't know what has already been made so to speak.

[callumacrae]

I've got Xcode now.

It's complicated XD

@lemon-tree: It doesn't cost to download, but it costs to submit the apps to apple (and I don't get my money back if it isn't submitted)

I'm thinking the server monitor first, then the uptime widget later.

~Callum

[lemon-tree]

@lemon-tree: It doesn't cost to download, but it costs to submit the apps to apple (and I don't get my money back if it isn't submitted)

Knew there was some cost involved there somewhere.

[callumacrae]

Theres the free membership, which just allows access to documentation and the SDK and stuff, then theres the select and premium memberships, ($99 and $399 respectively) which allow access to prerelease software and the app store.

~Callum

[monkeymhz]

I think there's already apps like that. And the market for Iphone apps is brutal, I know professional coders who've done some solid 3D games and they can barely pull off 250$ profit off them because most people just check the top 25 or 100 apps and download those.

But if ur doing it for fun then there's nothing to loose!

If your not experienced with C++ or Objective C, Id highly recommend not starting with a Iphone app. However, if you have previous experience in a low level coding language then catching on wont be hard. Good Luck!