There is literally a world of opportunity waiting for anyone with the skills to build for iOS. But like any journey to success, there is a path you have to take, and the question is, what’s the quickest (or shall we say “Swiftest?”) way from Point A to Point B? To answer that, let’s consider the beginning and end of the journey.

At Point A, you’re computer competent. You know your uploads from your downloads, and you set up your new phone yourself when it arrived. At Point B, you’re an iOS App Developer. You’re impacting lives on a global scale with the apps you build. Now, how long is the distance between these points?

That depends on a number of variables. The most critical is the question of whether you have programming experience. Traditionally this can be a real barrier, and that’s understandable. When you’re standing on the wrong side of the water from where the programmers are, it can seem really, really difficult to get across. To continue the water metaphor, you need stepping stones.

It’s that need that drove Udacity to create the Beginning iOS App Development Nanodegree program (BIOS NDP). A lack of programming experience shouldn’t be a barrier, and if you know iOS is where you want to be, then the opportunity to learn Swift (Apple’s custom programming language designed specifically for building iOS and OS X apps) is the first stepping stone you need.

Any stage of the journey has the potential to be difficult, but there is something unique to the early days; to succeed you need a really special degree of mentoring, support, and instruction. The suite of resources built into all Nanodegree programs becomes particularly important for those taking their first steps into programming. All Nanodegree programs feature:

• An innovative online model that is accessible, affordable and inclusive.
• A focus that is outcome-based and project-oriented
• Intensive coursework, expert instructors, and cutting-edge curriculum
• A compact and flexible model that allows for structured self-pacing
• One-on-one coaching and facilitated peer interaction
• Best-in-class project review that is both rigorous and timely
• Empowering and informative career support

Combine all this with an explicit focus on transforming pre-programming students into adept coders with solid programming foundations, direct experience working in Xcode, and a growing facility with Swift, and suddenly there exists a very clear path forward to that next big stepping stone, the iOS Developer Nanodegree program (INDP). Think of the this as the advanced, career-track portion of the learning journey.

When you emerge from the INDP with a Nanodegree credential, you are genuinely ready to begin a career as an iOS Developer.

Our thanks to Udacity for sponsoring MacStories this week.

The Mac mini continues to prove itself as a very reliable and capable server. Macminicolo has been hosting Mac minis for nearly eleven years and they’d love for you to give it a try. The El Capitan Promo offers a colocation package with all you’ll need for just $10/month. While supplies last, they also have rental options as well.

Putting your Mac mini in a data center brings all sorts of benefits. The high-end facility will give your machine security, speed and safety. Since you’re the only one with access to the machine, you can set it up with any services you’d like to use. Here are 50 ideas to get you started.

On top of all that, Macminicolo has good personal support. They’re a part of the Mac community. Send an email, get a personal response right back. You can also get them on Twitter (@Macminicolo) or iMessage ([email protected]).

My thanks to Macminicolo for sponsoring MacStories this week. (Side note: MacStories runs on a Mac mini from Macminicolo, and we love it.)

There’s a mountain of data inside your car waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is plug in a quick little connector and download a mobile application.

Automatic is a smart driving assistant that plugs into your car’s data port and lets you connect your smartphone (either iPhone or Android) with your car. By  talking to your car’s onboard computer and using your smartphone’s GPS and data plan to upgrade your car’s capabilities, Automatic will allow you to easily diagnose your engine light, never forget where you parked your car, and save hundreds of dollars on gas.

Automatic learns your driving habits and gives you suggestions through subtle audio cues to drive smarter and stop wasting gas. Thanks to a map view available on your phone, Automatic can display a trip timeline after every driving session, showing you how you’re doing with a Drive Score; the app can even track local gas prices and tell you how much you’re spending.

In case of engine problems, Automatic can decipher what the “check engine” light means and show you a description of the issue with a possible solution. And thanks to a feature called Crash Alert, Automatic can detect many types of serious crashes and automatically alert local authorities as well as your loved ones when you can’t.

Automatic is currently available in the US for iPhone and Android devices, with a 45-day return policy and free shipping in 2 business days.

MacStories readers can go to automatic.com/macstories to get $20 off and buy Automatic at just $79.99. For more information, check out Automatic’s website.

Our thanks to Automatic for sponsoring MacStories this week.