An iPad is a tablet PC that Apple produced, which allows users to combine the functionality of both a Mac and an iPhone. While an iPad is larger than an iPhone, it is extremely portable and lightweight, allowing users to take advantage of iPad apps from virtually anywhere. Although iPads are smaller than Macs, iPads have all of the same functions that are expected from personal computers. While iPads provide access to the Apple App Store, users are also able to create their own apps and share or sell them with others.

 

iOS SDK

The first thing that someone needs in order to develop applications for the iPad is the iOS SDK (Software Development Kit). The iOS SDK allows the creation of iPad applications, without the need for much programming skills via pre-built commands for various functions. The iOS SDK includes both a GUI (Graphical User Interface) as well as a command-line prompt to allow users to take advantage of pre-built commands as well as create their own from scratch. The iOS SDK is available from Apple’s Development Website, where users can also find the following development tools:

 

iOS Programming Guide

The iOS Programming Guide does not include any pre-built commands, but does instruct users on how to organize their commands and create commands from scratch. By browsing the iOS Programming Guide, users can get an idea of how various functions are created and how iPad applications are built. When the user is ready to implement these instructions, he/she can go back to the Apple Development Website main page and take advantage of the Sample Code category in order to use pre-built commands.

 

iOS Human Interface Guidelines

The iOS Programming Guide and Sample Code category allows the user to create individual functions and string commands together to create an iPad application’s framework . On the other hand, the iOS Human Interface Guidelines instruct the user on how to create a user interface in which others will be able to take advantage of the functions that the application itself provides without running it via a command-line prompt.

 

Creating Universal Applications

While the above categories are necessary in order to create a functional iPad application, the Creating Universal Applications category is only necessary if the user wishes to make his/her iPad application compatible with other Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, Apple TV, or other iPad applications.