My Journey to Becoming an iOS Developer
This is my very first blog post—how exciting! My objective with this blog is to detail my journey as a self-taught iOS developer, along with my side ventures in game development.
The Path to iOS Development
Before I became an iOS developer, I worked in various roles, from building surveying and managing retail departments to being a qualified CPC transport manager. These roles paid the bills but never excited me. My educational background includes a BSc in Property Construction and an MSc in Building Surveying. However, I struggled to find something I truly loved.
Discovering Development
Interestingly, I had dabbled in development as a child. At 12, I taught myself to create simple apps in Visual Basic 6.0, driven by a fascination with understanding how things worked. This curiosity led me to explore game hacking, reverse engineering games like GTA and Well of Souls, and using tools like W32DASM and SoftICE. Though my intentions were never malicious, this experience sparked a lifelong passion for coding.
Career Shift
Years later, while working in retail management, I realised I needed a change. I craved a better work-life balance and wanted to rekindle my creative side. Inspired to make a game for my son, I started learning Python but soon switched to Swift/Xcode for its comprehensive package. Despite the challenges, my perseverance paid off. Creating apps, even basic ones, filled me with a sense of accomplishment and drove me to pursue iOS development full-time.
The Journey Continues
I committed to iOS development, buying a MacBook Pro and diving into online courses and tutorials. My persistence led to landing my first iOS developer position, where I’ve grown significantly over the past two years. I even created an ARKit game called Eggsplode, which simulates an egg hunt using the camera.
Lessons Learned
My work now feels like a passion rather than a job. I’ve learned that continuous learning and problem-solving are crucial. Each project presents new challenges, and I enjoy taking the initiative to learn and grow. Embracing the “student” mindset is essential in this ever-evolving field.
Thanks for reading!
Faiq