Winner of a 2012 Jolt Productivity Award! Updated and expanded to cover iOS 5 and Xcode 4.3, iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide leads you through the essential concepts, tools, and techniques for developing iOS applications. After completing this book, you will have the understanding, the know-how, and the confidence you need to tackle iOS projects of your own. Based on Big Nerd Ranch's popular iOS Bootcamp course and its well-tested materials and methodology, this best-selling guide teaches iOS concepts and coding in tandem. The result is instruction that is relevant and useful. Throughout the book, the authors clearly explain what's important to know and share their insights into the larger context of the iOS platform. This gives you a real understanding of how iOS development works, the many features that are available, and when and where to apply what you've learned. Here are some of the topics covered: * Xcode 4.3 , Instruments, and Storyboards * ARC, strong and weak references, and retain cycles * Interfacing with iCloud * Handling touch events and gestures * Tool bars, navigation controllers, and split view controllers * Localization and Internationalization * Block syntax and use * Background execution and multi-tasking * Saving/loading data: Archiving and Core Data * Core Location and Map Kit * Communicating with web services * Working with XML, JSON, and NSRegularExpression * Using the Model-View-Controller-Store design pattern

第3版更新了iOS5和Xcode4.3的内容。全书涵盖了开发iOS应用的方方面面。从Objective-C基础知识到新增加的语言特性；从AppKit库到常见的Cocoa设计模式；从Xcode技巧到Instrumen t st等。如果读者刚接触iOS编程，阅 读本书前两章可以快速入门。如果读者已经有iOS编程经验，阅读本书可以拾遗补缺。本书的另一个特色是教读者以正确的方法解决问题。Objective-C的习惯约定有哪些（例如命名约定，内存管理约定），创建子类时如何处理初始化方法，Cocoa的常见设计模式有哪些，如何选择数据保存方法等。这些问题，如果读者自己摸索，难免费时费力。本书已经将这些知识整理、归纳并清楚地呈现在读者面前。
Big Nerd Ranch培训系列中文图书网站：http://www.iosprogrammingbook.com/

Updated and expanded to cover iOS 7 and Xcode 5, iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide leads you through the essential concepts, tools, and techniques for developing iOS applications. After completing this book, you will have the know-how and the confidence you need to tackle iOS projects of your own. Based on Big Nerd Ranch’s popular iOS Bootcamp course and its well-tested materials and methodology, this bestselling guide teaches iOS concepts and coding in tandem. The result is instruction that is relevant and useful.
Throughout the book, the authors explain what’s important and share their insights into the larger context of the iOS platform. You get a real understanding of how iOS development works, the many features that are available, and when and where to apply what you’ve learned.

本书针对Xcode 4编写，涵盖了开发iOS应用所需知道的方方面面。从Objective-C基础知识到新增加的语言特性；从AppKit库到常见的Cocoa设计模式；从Xcode技巧到Instruments，等等。如果读者刚接触iOS编程，那么阅读本书的第一章和第二章能快让你速入门。如果读者已经 有大量的iOS编程经验，那么通读本书可以拾遗补缺。无论读者是开发新的应用，还是为应用增加新功能，十之八九能在书中找到答案或是解决思路。
除了内容全，本书的另一个特点是教读者以正确的方法解决问题。Objective-C的习惯约定有哪些（例如命名约定，内存管理约定）？创建子类时如何处理初始化方法？Cocoa的常见设计模式有哪些？如何选择数据保存方法？等等。所有这些问题，如果读者自己摸索，自己查阅散落于各处文档的知识点，难免费时费力。本书已经将这些知识整理、归纳并清楚地呈现在读者面前。
目前，iOS开发针对的设备有iPhone、iPod touch和iPad。因为使用的是同一个体系，所以本书介绍的绝大部分内容均可通用。对于有差异的部分（例如iPad界面），本书也做了一定的介绍。
此外，作者在编写本书时使用的是当时最新的iOS SDK，其中包括4.1版本的Xcode。虽然iOS SDK一直在升级，但在本书译者翻译完全书之际，绝大部分和SDK有关的内容都是有效的。