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Apple's developer guides provide conceptual and task-oriented information. They include overviews, tutorials, programming guides, server administration guides, and, for developer tools, user guides.

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PackageMaker User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use PackageMaker to create installation packages.
Tools 2009-01-06
Packaging UNIX Software (HTML)
Explains how to post UNIX and other command-line tools to Apple's Macintosh Product Guide.
Darwin, Porting, Tools 2001-04-20
Pasteboard Manager Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to create and manage pasteboards in Carbon applications.
Carbon 2005-07-07
Pasteboard Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to transfer data using pasteboard operations in Cocoa.
Cocoa, User Experience 2007-07-13
PCI Developer Note (HTML)
Provides an overview of PCI technology and describes PCI support on Mac computers.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-04-28
PDF Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic PDF concepts and describes how to use PDF Kit to display PDF documents in your application.
Carbon, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Audio, Carbon, Cocoa, Core Foundation, Darwin, Games, Graphics & Imaging, Hardware & Drivers, Java, Open Source, Performance, Tools 2006-10-03
Plug-ins (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the plug-in architecture provided by Core Foundation.
Carbon, Core Foundation, Open Source 2005-03-03
Porting CodeWarrior Projects to Xcode (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to move software projects from CodeWarrior to Xcode and compares the two development environments.
Carbon, Porting, Tools 2006-10-26
Porting Drivers to Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Tips and code samples to help UNIX/Linux device driver developers bring their drivers to Mac OS X.
Darwin, Open Source, Porting 2009-05-06
Porting to Mac OS X from Windows Win32 API (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to port your Windows Win32 applications to Mac OS X.
Porting 2009-05-06
Porting UNIX/Linux Applications to Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tips about porting UNIX and Linux applications to Mac OS X.
Darwin, Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Open Source, Porting, Tools 2008-04-08
Power Mac G5 -- Single Processor Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the single processor Power Mac G5 introduced October 2004.
Hardware & Drivers 2004-10-19
Power Mac G5 Developer Note (HTML)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Power Mac G5 introduced in October 2005.
Hardware & Drivers 2007-03-06
Power Mac G5 Developer Note (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the Power Mac G5 introduced in April 2005.
Hardware & Drivers 2005-04-29
PowerMac G4 (HTML) (PDF)
Specifies the internal design, I/O features, and expansion capabilities of the PowerMac G4 introduced in January 2003.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-02-20
PowerPC Numerics (PDF)
Describes the Mac OS X numerics environment for implementing IEEE standards 754 and C99.
Performance 2004-01-22
Predicate Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to specify queries in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2009-05-06
Preference Manifest Files for Managed Clients Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the format of preference manifest files, which are XML documents for storing and managing application preferences.
Mac OS X Server 2008-10-15
Preference Panes (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create dynamically loaded plug-ins that provide a graphical interface to user preferences.
Cocoa, User Experience 2006-10-03
Preferences Programming Topics for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manage Core Foundation user preferences.
Carbon, Core Foundation 2006-10-03
Printing Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support printing in Cocoa applications.
Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging, Printing 2006-06-28
Programming with the Appearance Manager (HTML)
Explains how to make an application's user interface look like the Mac OS user interface.
Carbon, User Experience 2001-11-20
Programming With the Language Analysis Manager (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how morpholgical analysis is performed by the system.
Carbon, Internationalization 2003-05-01
Programming With the Text Encoding Conversion Manager (HTML) (PDF)
Explains character encodings, Unicode conversion, and custom converter plug-ins. Lists encoding variants.
Carbon, Internationalization, Text & Fonts 2005-07-07
Progress Indicators (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa progress indicators.
Cocoa, User Experience 2002-11-12
Property List Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use structured, textual representations of data in Cocoa.
Cocoa 2008-11-19
Property List Programming Topics for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use structured, textual representations of data in Core Foundation.
Carbon, Core Foundation 2006-02-07
Providing Help Tags in Carbon (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add contextually sensitive help content to an application's user interface.
Carbon, User Experience 2002-07-01
Providing PDF Workflow Options in the Print Dialog (HTML) (PDF)
Installation information and examples, including the use of Automator workflows.
Carbon, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging, Printing 2007-10-31
Publication Subscription Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
A guide describing the framework for subscribing to RSS and Atom feeds.
Internet & Web 2007-05-11
QTKit Capture Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to capture media and output it QuickTime movies.
Cocoa, QuickTime 2007-10-31
Quartz 2D Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Quartz 2D. Includes illustrations and sample code.
Carbon, Games, Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
Quartz Composer Custom Patch Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to create custom patches for distribution.
Apple Applications, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging 2007-12-11
Quartz Composer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to used the framework to load, play, and control compositions.
Carbon, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging 2008-10-15
Quartz Composer User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Quartz Composer development tool to create motion graphics compositions.
Apple Applications, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging, Tools 2007-07-17
Quartz Composer WebKit Plug-in JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for manipulating Quartz Composer compositions in webpages and Dashboard widgets via the Quartz Composer WebKit Plug-in.
Apple Applications, Graphics & Imaging, Internet & Web, Scripting & Automation 2009-01-06
Quartz Display Services Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Shows how to configure and control display hardware using Quartz Display Services.
Carbon, Graphics & Imaging 2006-06-28
Quartz Programming Guide for QuickDraw Developers (HTML) (PDF)
Provides strategies to help Carbon programmers replace QuickDraw code with Quartz.
Carbon, Graphics & Imaging 2006-09-05
Quick Look Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the purporse and architecture of Quick Look generators and explains how to create them.
Carbon, Cocoa, User Experience 2008-02-08
QuickTime 6.3 + 3GPP (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes features, changes, and new capabilities of QuickTime 6.3 plus 3GPP.
QuickTime 2003-06-01
QuickTime 7 for Windows Update Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual and reference material about the changes, features and enhancements, along with new APIs, available in QuickTime 7 for Windows.
QuickTime 2005-11-09
QuickTime 7 Update Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the new features, functions, and data structures in QuickTime 7.
QuickTime 2005-04-29
QuickTime 7.1 Update Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the new features, enhancements, and APIs available in QuickTime 7.1, including code samples that illustrate usage.
QuickTime 2007-03-06
QuickTime 7.1 User's Guide (PDF)
Explains how to use QuickTime Player and QuickTime Pro for Mac OS X and Windows computer users.
Apple Applications, QuickTime 2006-07-24
QuickTime 7.2.1 Update Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the new features, changes, and enhancements in the QuickTime 7.2.1 release available in Mac OS X v10.5.
QuickTime 2007-10-31
QuickTime Audio (HTML)
Explains how to enable recording and playback of various audio media.
Audio, Carbon, QuickTime 2002-09-17
QuickTime Component Creation Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Tells you how to build new media handler and preview components to extend the capabilities of QuickTime.
QuickTime 2007-01-08
QuickTime Compression and Decompression Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the QuickTime data compression and decompression technologies.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Guide for Windows (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces Windows programming techniques for QuickTime.
Internet & Web, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Import and Export Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes QuickTime's technology for importing and exporting graphics and other data into and out of movies.
QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Initialization Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to initialize the QuickTime working environment and how to determine the version of QuickTime installed.
QuickTime 2005-04-08
QuickTime Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a tutorial on how to build and extend a QTKitPlayer application using the QuickTime Kit framework in Cocoa.
Cocoa, QuickTime 2005-11-09
QuickTime Media Types and Media Handlers Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes video, sound, text, time code, and tween media handlers.
Audio, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Movie Basics (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces some of the basic concepts you need to understand when working with QuickTime movies.
Carbon, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Movie Creation Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes some of the different ways your application can create a new QuickTime movie.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime 2007-01-08
QuickTime Movie Internals Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes technologies inside QuickTime movies, including time management, modifier tracks, access keys, posters, and movie and file previews.
QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Movie Playback Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to open and play QuickTime movies using the Carbon and QuickTime API.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime 2005-08-11
QuickTime Music Architecture Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to enable synthesizing and playing of sounds and musical sequences.
Audio, Carbon, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main concepts and services of QuickTime.
Carbon, Cocoa, Games, Graphics & Imaging, Internet & Web, Mac OS X, QuickTime 2005-08-11
QuickTime Streaming & Broadcasting Administration (PDF)
Explains how to capture and encode QuickTime content and deliver media streams live or on demand.
Internet & Web, Mac OS X Server, QuickTime 2007-10-31
QuickTime Streaming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the QuickTime streaming technology.
Internet & Web, Mac OS X Server, QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Streaming Server Modules Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create plug-in modules for the QuickTime Streaming Server.
Mac OS X Server, QuickTime 2005-04-29
QuickTime Transport and Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes components that transport data between QuickTime movies and specific devices.
QuickTime 2006-01-10
QuickTime Video Effects and Transitions Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes QuickTime video effect components and how to use them.
QuickTime 2007-05-03
QuickTime VR (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to construct interactive movies using QuickTime VR.
QuickTime 2005-06-04
RAM Expansion Developer Note (HTML)
Details requirements of RAM modules for use in Mac computers.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-04-28
Rendering FxPlug Effects in Final Cut (HTML) (PDF)
Apple Applications 2007-05-21
Resolution Independence Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Describes resolution independence and how to start updating applications to support high-resolution monitors.
Carbon, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience 2007-05-04
Resource Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with nib and bundle resources in Mac OS X applications.
Carbon, Cocoa, Core Foundation 2009-01-06
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).
Cocoa, Scripting & Automation 2007-10-31
Rulers and Paragraph Styles (HTML) (PDF)
Explains paragraph styles and how to work with the rulers that enable users to manipulate them.
Cocoa, Text & Fonts 2007-09-04
Runtime Configuration Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual and reference information for dynamically configuring your software.
Carbon, Cocoa, Mac OS X, Open Source, Tools 2008-07-08
Safari JavaScript Database Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the JavaScript Database, a SQLite database built into Safari that provides local storage accessible to JavaScript applications.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web 2009-01-06
Safari User Guide for Web Developers (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the developer tools built into Safari for analyzing, testing, and debugging HTML, JavaScript, style sheets, and DOM structure.
Apple Applications, Internet & Web, Networking, Scripting & Automation 2009-01-06
Safari Visual Effects Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to add visual effects to web content that is supported by Safari on the desktop and iPhone OS.
Internet & Web 2008-11-19
Saturn 4.5 User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to analyze a program's function-calling structure.
Tools 2007-10-31
Scripting Bridge Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Scripting Bridge technology, which bridges OSA-compliant applications to Objective-C, and explains how to use it in Cocoa programs.
Cocoa, Scripting & Automation 2008-03-11
Scroll View Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use scroll views in Cocoa applications.
Cocoa 2006-06-28
SCSI Architecture Model Device Interface Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop applications that communicate with or control SCSI Architecture Model devices.
Darwin, Hardware & Drivers 2007-02-08
Search Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa search fields.
Cocoa, 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.
Carbon, Cocoa, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2005-12-06
Secure Coding Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes techniques to use and factors to consider to make your code more secure from attack.
Carbon, Cocoa, Darwin, Mac OS X Server, 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.
Carbon, Cocoa, Darwin, Mac OS X, Networking, Open Source, Security 2008-10-15
Segmented Controls Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa segmented controls.
Cocoa, User Experience 2006-02-07
Setting Up Your Carbon Application to Use the Services Menu (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to make a Carbon application share functionality with other applications.
Carbon, User Experience 2003-12-10
Shark User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to analyze code performance by profiling the system.
Performance, Tools 2008-04-14
Sheet Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sheets.
Cocoa, User Experience 2006-09-05
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
Enterprise IT, Mac OS X Server, Open Source, Scripting & Automation, Tools 2009-04-08
Slider Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa sliders.
Cocoa, User Experience 2006-10-03
Slope/Intercept Audio (HTML)
Explains how to store floating point audio data in QuickTime files.
Audio, QuickTime 2002-09-17
Smart Card Setup Guide (PDF)
Explains how to configure Mac OS X version 10.4 to use smart cards.
Enterprise IT, Mac OS X Server, Networking, Security 2006-08-07
SMIL Scripting Guide for QuickTime (HTML) (PDF)
Defines support for using SMIL to communicate with the QuickTime browser plug-in, ActiveX control, and QuickTime Player.
Internet & Web, QuickTime, Scripting & Automation 2005-06-04
Software Delivery Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to distribute and install Mac OS X software using PackageMaker and Installer.
Carbon, Cocoa, Tools, User Experience 2006-07-24
Sort Descriptor Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use sort descriptors to specify the sorting of collections.
Cocoa 2007-07-10
Sound Programming Topics for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to load and play audio data in Cocoa.
Audio, Cocoa 2006-11-07
Speech (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Cocoa's interfaces to the speech synthesis and speech recognition technologies.
Cocoa, 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.
Carbon, Cocoa, User Experience 2006-09-05
Spell Checking (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the spell-checking facilities in the Cocoa text system.
Cocoa, Text & Fonts, User Experience 2004-02-09
Spotlight Importer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the role of metadata importers and how to write them.
Carbon, Cocoa, Core Foundation 2007-05-27