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Cocoa is an object-oriented application environment designed for developing Mac OS X native applications. The Cocoa frameworks support rapid development and high productivity. Cocoa provides developers starting new Mac OS X projects the fastest way to full-featured implementations. Applications from other platforms can also be brought to Mac OS X quickly using Cocoa.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Cocoa.   Essential information for developers using Objective-C.   Objective-C API references organized by framework.
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Secure Coding Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes techniques to use and factors to consider to make your code more secure from attack.
Security 2008-05-23
Security Overview (HTML) (PDF)
An introduction to computer security concepts and the security APIs in Mac OS X and iPhone OS.
Security 2008-10-15
Sync Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add syncing to your applications.
Syncing 2007-10-31
Sync Services Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to debug multiple syncing applications using the Syncrospector development tool.
Syncing 2007-07-11
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Text & Fonts 2007-06-04
Dictionary Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create a dictionary and access it programmatically.
Text & Fonts 2007-05-30
Font Handling (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the Cocoa font management system and how users select fonts.
Text & Fonts 2008-02-08
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
Text & Fonts 2004-08-31
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Text & Fonts 2007-09-04
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
Text & Fonts 2005-12-06
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Text & Fonts 2004-02-09
String Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, search, concatenate, and draw strings in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts 2008-10-15
Text Attachment Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Expalins how to add graphics and other attachments to text.
Text & Fonts 2006-12-05
Text Attributes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with attributes, the distinguishing characteristics of rich text.
Text & Fonts 2004-02-16
Text Editing Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to control the behavior of the Cocoa text system as it performs text editing.
Text & Fonts 2008-02-08
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
Text & Fonts 2004-02-09
Text Input and Output (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write text files in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts 2004-02-10
Text Input Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use input servers, input managers, and text views in Cocoa.
Text & Fonts 2007-02-08
Text Layout Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system lays out text on pages.
Text & Fonts 2008-10-15
Text System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system works. Includes a tutorial.
Text & Fonts 2009-04-08
Text System Storage Layer Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how the Cocoa text system stores the information it needs to lay out text.
Text & Fonts 2005-08-11
Text System User Interface Layer Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement the main, high-level interface to the Cocoa text system.
Text & Fonts 2006-06-28
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
Text & Fonts 2004-02-09
AppleScript Studio Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create script-driven applications with complex user interfaces based on Cocoa UI classes. Includes tutorials.
Tools 2006-04-04
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Tools 2007-12-11
Cross-Development Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to build software for versions of Mac OS X other than the one the development tools are running on.
Tools 2006-11-07
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Tools 2008-06-19
Interface Builder Plug-In Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the process for creating custom Interface Builder palettes.
Tools 2007-07-18
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Tools 2008-11-19
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
Tools 2009-05-06
Ruby and Python Programming Topics for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Ruby and Python on Mac OS X, and especially the bridges between them and Objective-C and OSA (AppleScript).
Tools 2007-10-31
Software Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to distribute and install Mac OS X software using PackageMaker and Installer.
Tools 2006-07-24
Sync Services Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to debug multiple syncing applications using the Syncrospector development tool.
Tools 2007-07-11
Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling.
Tools 2009-02-04
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Tools 2009-01-06
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Tools 2009-01-06
Xcode Quick Tour for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a hands-on introduction to Xcode, Apple's comprehensive suite of software development tools for Mac OS X.
Tools 2008-10-15
Xcode Tools for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode modeling tools for Core Data.
Tools 2008-04-15
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Tools 2009-01-06
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications make their user interface available to external assistive applications.
User Experience 2007-02-08
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
User Experience 2007-10-31
Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the Mac OS X user experience and explains how to design an application for Aqua.
User Experience 2008-06-09
Application Menu and Pop-up List Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa menus and lists work and how to manipulate items within them.
User Experience 2007-06-26
Boxes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa boxes.
User Experience 2003-02-15
Browsers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa browsers.
User Experience 2004-08-31
Button Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa buttons.
User Experience 2008-10-15
Cocoa Bindings Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to rapidly develop sophisticated user interfaces using Cocoa binding technology.
User Experience 2009-03-08
Combo Box Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa combo boxes.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Control and Cell Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the relationship between Cocoa control and cell objects.
User Experience 2008-10-15
Cursor Management (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to set the cursor and handle cursor-update events in Cocoa applications.
User Experience 2008-03-11
Dialogs and Special Panels (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create alert panels. Includes links to documents about other types of panels.
User Experience 2009-02-04
Dock Tile Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide an icon and contextual menu in Carbon applications.
User Experience 2009-03-04
Drag and Drop Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement drag and drop in Cocoa.
User Experience 2006-06-28
Drawers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa drawers.
User Experience 2003-02-04
Font Panel (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa Font panel.
User Experience 2004-08-31
Forms (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa forms.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Image Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa image views.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Matrix Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa matrices.
User Experience 2006-11-07
Online Help (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add help to a Cocoa application.
User Experience 2006-06-28
Outline View Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa outline views.
User Experience 2006-06-28
Pasteboard Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to transfer data using pasteboard operations in Cocoa.
User Experience 2007-07-13
Preference Panes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create dynamically loaded plug-ins that provide a graphical interface to user preferences.
User Experience 2006-10-03
Progress Indicators (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa progress indicators.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Quick Look Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the purporse and architecture of Quick Look generators and explains how to create them.
User Experience 2008-02-08
Resolution Independence Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Describes resolution independence and how to start updating applications to support high-resolution monitors.
User Experience 2007-05-04
Scroll View Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use scroll views in Cocoa applications.
User Experience 2006-06-28
Search Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa search fields.
User Experience 2008-02-08
Search Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Search Kit architecture and workflow, and how to add search capabilities to Carbon and Cocoa applications.
User Experience 2005-12-06
Segmented Controls Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa segmented controls.
User Experience 2006-02-07
Sheet Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sheets.
User Experience 2006-09-05
Slider Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sliders.
User Experience 2006-10-03
Software Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to distribute and install Mac OS X software using PackageMaker and Installer.
User Experience 2006-07-24
Speech (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Cocoa's interfaces to the speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies.
User Experience 2003-08-08
Speech Synthesis Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes speech synthesis in Mac OS X and explains how your application can produce customized spoken output.
User Experience 2006-09-05
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
User Experience 2004-02-09
Status Bars (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa status bars.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Steppers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa steppers.
User Experience 2002-11-12
System Services (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how Cocoa applications can extend their capabilities seamlessly to other applications.
User Experience 2002-11-12
Tab Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa tab views.
User Experience 2003-11-06
Table View Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa table views.
User Experience 2006-04-04
Text Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text fields.
User Experience 2004-02-09
Text System User Interface Layer Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement the main, high-level interface to the Cocoa text system.
User Experience 2006-06-28
Text Views (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa text views.
User Experience 2004-02-09
Token Field Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to set up and programatically manage a token field.
User Experience 2007-12-11
Toolbar Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa toolbars.
User Experience 2009-02-04
Undo Architecture (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to record information in Cocoa so a user can reverse an operation's effect.
User Experience 2002-11-12
User Defaults Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Cocoa defaults system to create and save user preferences.
User Experience 2007-10-31
User Interface Validation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the standard mechanism to validate user interface items in Cocoa.
User Experience 2007-07-10
WebKit Objective-C Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the WebKit to embed web content in both Cocoa and Carbon applications.
User Experience 2008-10-15
Window Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa windows and panels.
User Experience 2009-02-04