Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Apple banished app developer Thuat Nguyen and all of his applications from the iTunes online store. It was a severe punishment for a prolific book app provider, but a necessary one. It seems that Nguyen was breaching user’s accounts to make purchases (of his own applications) without their permission.

But it’s unlikely that a little security issue can slow down the big business of iTunes applications. Apple reports that the App Store currently has more than 225,000 applications for sale, with more than 5 billion downloaded.

So how do you get in on the action, without having to go through another graphic design education? Well, it’s Mac, so they make it relatively simple. Here’s how to get started:

1. Come up with the next big app idea.

This takes more than just brilliance. Get into the iTunes store and do your research. What works? What’s popular? What’s already been done? Who’s your market? Find a way to make your app stand out, and think about what  makes people actually want to buy it.

2. Get a Mac.

In addition to the fact that you need to be intimately familiar with the iPhone or iPad to design for it, you also need a Mac to use their app development tools.

3. Register as an Apple Developer.

To work with Mac’s development tools, you have to register, but it’s free. You can even use the same username and password you use for your iTunes account. Once you’re an official Apple Developer, you’re cool to design apps for any Mac product.

4. Download the tools.

Next you need the Software Development Kit For iPhone (SDK), which allows you to actually build your app. You also need XCode if you don’t already have it.

At this point you are armed with a great idea and the tools to make it happen. Next up: How to actually build it!