Objective-C: Learning Path & Resources.

Introduction: Objective-C is a high-level programming language that is primarily used for developing applications for Apple’s platforms, including iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS. It is an object-oriented language that is built on top of the C language and adds features such as dynamic binding and message passing.

Prerequisites: Before learning Objective-C, you should have a basic understanding of programming concepts such as variables, functions and control structures. Familiarity with C programming language is also helpful.

Step-by-Step Learning Path:

1. Learn the basics of C programming language, including variables, data types and control structures.
2. Learn about the object-oriented programming concepts such as classes, objects and inheritance.
3. Learn how to write Objective-C syntax and build basic applications using the language.
4. Learn how to use Objective-C to build iOS and macOS applications, including frameworks such as UIKit and AppKit.
5. Learn how to work with databases and perform basic data manipulation.
6. Practice building real-world projects to apply your skills.

What to Learn Next: After learning Objective-C, you can explore related fields such as mobile app development, game development and server-side programming. You can also learn more advanced topics such as Swift, which is the newer primary language for developing iOS and macOS applications.

Top Advantages:

1. Widely Used: Objective-C is widely used for developing applications for Apple’s platforms, making it a valuable skill for app developers.
2. Dynamic Binding: Objective-C’s dynamic binding allows developers to create flexible and adaptable code that can respond to changing conditions at runtime.
3. Object-Oriented: Objective-C is an object-oriented language, making it well-suited for building complex applications with large codebases.
4. Interoperability: Objective-C is interoperable with C and C++, making it easy to use with existing code and libraries.
5. Memory Management: Objective-C’s reference counting memory management model provides developers with fine-grained control over memory usage.

Top Disadvantages:

1. Steep Learning Curve: Objective-C can have a steep learning curve for beginners, especially when learning advanced topics such as memory management and dynamic binding.
2. Limited Ecosystem: Objective-C is primarily used for Apple’s platforms, which can limit its usefulness for developers working in other fields.
3. Syntax: Objective-C’s syntax can be verbose and difficult to read, which can make it harder to maintain large codebases.
4. Compatibility: Older versions of Objective-C code may not be compatible with newer versions of the language, which can make it difficult to maintain and update legacy code.

Top Learning Resources for Objective-C.

1. Apple Developer Documentation for Objective-C: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/ProgrammingWithObjectiveC/Introduction/Introduction.html
2. Learn Objective-C – Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-objective-c
3. Objective-C Tutorial – Ray Wenderlich: https://www.raywenderlich.com/ios/learn#toc-anchor-objective-c
4. Objective-C Cheat Sheet – Ray Wenderlich: https://www.raywenderlich.com/269-objective-c-cheat-sheet-and-quick-reference
5. Objective-C for Absolute Beginners (book): https://www.apress.com/gp/book/9781484219032
6. iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide (book): https://www.bignerdranch.com/books/ios-programming/
7. Objective-C Programming – LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/objective-c-essential-training-2/
8. Objective-C for Swift Developers – Pluralsight: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/objective-c-swift-developers
9. Objective-C Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ObjectiveC/
10. objc.io – Online Magazine: https://www.objc.io/
11. Objective-C FAQ – StackOverflow: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/objective-c-faq
12. CocoaDev – Wiki: http://cocoadev.com/
13. Objective-C Coding Style Guide – GitHub: https://github.com/github/objective-c-style-guide
14. Using Swift with Cocoa and Objective-C – Apple Developer Documentation: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Swift/Conceptual/BuildingCocoaApps/
15. Objective-C Style Guide – Ray Wenderlich: https://github.com/raywenderlich/objective-c-style-guide
16. Objective-C Runtime Reference – Apple Developer Documentation: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/objectivec/objective-c_runtime
17. Objective-C ARC (Automatic Reference Counting) – Apple Developer Documentation: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/releasenotes/ObjectiveC/RN-TransitioningToARC/Introduction/Introduction.html
18. Objective-C Blocks – Apple Developer Documentation: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/Blocks/Articles/00_Introduction.html
19. Effective Objective-C 2.0 (book): https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Objective-C-2-0-Specific-Development/dp/0321917014
20. Object-Oriented Programming with Objective-C (book): https://www.amazon.com/Object-Oriented-Programming-Objective-C-Dummies/dp/1119961463