Learning How to Code: The Best iOS Apps

One of the most powerful skills that can be acquired in an era of electronic and technological change is the ability to code various programs. While this may have been reserved for those who have a formal education, many online resources have been made available to enable everyone to learn. From basic programming to more advanced algorithms, the notion of learning to program has been democratized significantly so that anyone from anywhere in the world can begin. To further this elimination of barriers, apps can serve as a mobile source of education which this article explores in depth.

Encode: Learn to Code

Websites are one of the most popular things to start creating when a user wishes to learn how to code. As a basic but comprehensive guide on how to develop webpages, Encode takes users through step-by-step lessons that cover everything from images to styles. By offering the lessons in smaller portions as opposed to larger lectures, comprehension and retention is maximized, especially for beginners. Beyond just being able to learn how the code works, Encode enables users to also code right on the app with a series a tests and challenges to reinforce what they have learnt. Through learning HTML and CSS, real webpages can be created directly on the app with the ability to quickly refer to the lessons if needed. As an all-in-one tool for those who wish to learn the basics and fundamentals of web programming, Encode is a highly recommended app that gives lessons, the interface to code, and the ability to make real websites in a single location.

Khan Academy: you can learn anything

As Khan Academy is well recognized for providing learning materials for student beyond the classroom, a large portion of the available content is dedicated to teaching various aspects of programming. From basic web programming to mobile apps, Khan Academy covers nearly the entire realm of coding in the form of videos that are broken down into logical segments that are easy to follow. As the lessons are done through videos instead of text, it is much easier to follow along with the material which can be played multiple times and wherever a user is so that learning can take place from anywhere. With only the most qualified instructors to give the lesson, Khan Academy is perfect for those who are just starting out with programming to those who are professionals looking to expand their skillset. Given that so many programming languages are offered in the app, it is one of the best tools available on the App Store.

Learn to Code with Python

Python is one of the most sought after programming languages that are out there as a result of the applications that are possible to build with it. To learn Python right on the phone, Learn to Code not only teaches the fundamentals, but also lets users code right on the app so that no special program needs to be downloaded to begin. Furthermore, the app gamifies the learning process by introducing various badges when a user achieves a certain level or milestone in their coding career. In doing so, it becomes more of a game and challenge to learn the language as opposed to a typical classroom lesson. To further this, those on the app can engage in coding challenges that involves levels, experience points, and various rounds to make it significantly more fun to learn. With access to the community of Python coders, Learn to Code is a highly recommended app for those who wish to learn the language with a highly engaged and like-minded community.

Swifty: Learn to code tutorials for Swift

As Swift is the new standard for iOS apps, it is only natural to be able to program iOS apps right from the phone. Swiftly is a tutorial-based app designed to help beginners and experts further develop their skills ranging from the fundamentals of “ifs” and “variables” to “arrays”. Similarly to the previous coding apps, Swiftly also lets its users practice through incorporating challenges that can be completed to gauge how well a person is progressing in their learning. As learning to code can be a tedious task that is frustrating for many, the app implements various mechanisms to encourage motivation and consistency in learning. For example, by having achievements that can be earned once specific milestones have been met, users are encouraged to learn more while the streaks helps incentivize users to return to the lessons on a consistent basis otherwise the streak will be restarted. For those who are interested in learning how to develop apps for iOS, Swiftly is one of the most comprehensive tools that can help anybody learn or improve.

Mimo: Learn to code on the go

For an exhaustive curriculum that encompasses everything from websites to apps, Mimo is an extremely popular source of technical content for new and veteran developers alike. From websites to apps and even hacking, users can choose which field they would like to pursue and then be given the corresponding lessons. With challenges that make each lesson more engaging, no matter which field of programming a person may be interested in, they can learn at a much faster rate than simply reading books. Furthermore, one of the best features of Mimo is that real projects can be developed so that coding can be done whenever it is most convenient for the user right from the app. Similar to the other apps listed in this article, achievements can be earned as a means to encourage progress. With so many different languages available on Mimo, the app is one that is highly recommended for anybody looking to further their development skills.

As software and programming becomes increasingly important, the apps listed in this article can significantly benefit those who are new to coding or are professionals seeking to expand their skillset. From websites to algorithms, mobile apps have greatly contributed to the democratization of learning code from only those who are formally educated in the space to nearly anyone with a computer.

Source: Appolicious

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3 Helpful Ways For Developers To Improve IoT Security On Their Devices

Following these three simple tips, you can enhance your IoT security without creating a needless hassle or paying too much as a developer.

The much-beloved Internet of Things has come to fundamentally reshape how firms in virtually every industry operate. Nonetheless, the 21st century phenomenon that’s connected us all has some significant downsides, chief among them its vulnerability to outside attacks.

As consumers and producers of IoT gadgets alike are finding their privacy and security increasingly jeopardized, many don’t know where to turn to for advice. By following these three simple tips, you can enhance your IoT security without creating a needless hassle or paying too much.

Ensure your gadgets are patchable

A staggeringly large amount of everyday IoT gadgets sold on the market come equipped with pre-prepared passwords which are essentially impossible to change, or, even worse, are just entirely impossible to patch. In the ever-changing digital world of the 21st century, IoT devices need to be patchable so they can be updated to resist the latest trends in malware attacks.

While leaders of the industry such as Apple or Microsoft take steps to send out regular updates and prevent their products from being vulnerable to the latest attack, many smaller companies fail to do the same. As more and more computers and sensors become embedded in virtually everything in society – from our infrastructure to our businesses – an unpatchable nightmare is developing. If this problem isn’t remedied soon on the supply-side of the IoT, it could unravel into an unfixable mess.

Focus on simplicity

The IoT industry is already well-acquainted with the idea of simplicity, as it’s long been a hallmark of digital gadgets. Nonetheless, many firms don’t take the steps necessary to ensure that the process of using and, critically, updating their gadgets and software is as easy as possible on the consumer-end of things.

Companies responsible for protecting your device should make the process of patching their products as easy as possible for their consumers, many of whom may not be particularly tech-literate. Users should be alerted about the latest security breaches, and receive a number of messages detailing what specific steps they need to maintain their security.

Small measures like this, which help strengthen the weakest-link in most security structures, everyday human users, can go incredibly far in strengthening your IoT security. Making it simple and easy for your users to regularly change their usernames or passwords, for instance, is a relatively stress-free change developers of IoT gadgets and applications could make to remove some vulnerabilities.

As attackers rely on hijacking huge numbers of relatively under-protected (and sometimes entirely unprotected) devices, the small steps that make even a few gadgets harder to break into can have a huge impact on their ability to successfully carry out attacks.

Don’t rely on a silver bullet

Many producers and consumers of IoT devices often have unrealistic security expectations, meaning the battle has been lost before it’s even really begun. While guaranteeing perfect security is a pipedream, those tasked with securing the IoT aren’t entirely helpless, and shouldn’t rely on a magical silver bullet to come and save them.

There is no true consensus for what the best IoT security practices are – many different experts and companies take their own unique approaches to the problem, and their responses are often very different from one another. Rather than waiting on innovation to deliver a god-sent solution to their problems, security experts would be well advised to keep pushing the envelope and trying to develop multi-faceted approaches to security.

As Wind River points out in their white paper on IoT security, itself entitled “searching for the silver bullet”, security experts would be better suited to take the developments of the last 25 years and attempt to modernize them to meet today’s problems. Constant reengineering will be necessary to meet the ever-shifting demands of tomorrow, but IoT users would be letting decades of progress go to waste if they turned their backs on yesterday’s achievements.

Building security infrastructure “from the bottom up,” as Wind River encourages, is the only effective way to guarantee the IoT well into the future. While we’re unsure of what threats we’ll face from malicious hackers and software tomorrow, we can rest assured that expanding user’s access to security features and educating the public on common security-pitfalls is a step in the right direction.

As Wind River’s paper highlights, security cannot be thought of as an after-measure. Rather, producers of IoT gadgets and apps must commit the necessary funds – no matter how expensive – to ensure security as early in the development process as possible.

The IoT is far too wonderful to be sacrificed to malevolent attackers who seek to exploit gaps in its security. Companies and users alike must rely on their own determination and commitment to a new, ever-expanding set of security norms if they hope to benefit from the IoT well into the future.

Source: Networkworld

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