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Leopard Reference
Darwin is the UNIX technology-based foundation of Mac OS X. Darwin integrates several technologies. Among the most important are 4.4BSD-based operating-system services (built on the Mach 3.0 microkernel), the I/O Kit, networking facilities, and support for multiple integrated file systems. Developers can use Darwin to port UNIX/Linux applications and create kernel extensions.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Darwin.   Essential information for developers working in the Darwin environment.   C and Objective-C API references organized by framework.
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FSEvents Reference (HTML)
Describes the API used to provide lightweight notification of directory changes in a file-system subtree.
File Management 2008-04-08
Darwin Notification API Reference (HTML)
Describes the Darwin API for interprocess notification.
General 2008-04-08
Disk Arbitration Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes Disc Arbitration API, which includes information on mount/unmount notification and dissent.
General 2008-04-08
I/O Kit Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the I/O Kit classes that support non-kernel access to I/O Kit objects through the device-interface mechanism.
General 2009-03-04
Kernel Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the APIs and classes (including I/O Kit families) that support kernel-resident device drivers.
General 2009-01-06
KPI Reference (HTML)
Provides information on the NKE Sustainable API in Headerdoc format.
General 2006-07-17
Mac OS X Man Pages (HTML)
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
General 2008-04-29
Miscellaneous User Space API Reference (HTML)
Describes APIs located in various headers in /usr/include.
General 2006-09-05
Bluetooth Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the C and Objective-C APIs that support user-space access to Bluetooth devices.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-10-15
Bluetooth User Interface Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the C and Objective-C APIs that provide a consistent user interface to Bluetooth services.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-04-08
Force Feedback Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the public interfaces to the Force Feedback implementation in Mac OS X, including support for plug-ins.
Hardware & Drivers 2008-04-08
I/O Kit Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the I/O Kit classes that support non-kernel access to I/O Kit objects through the device-interface mechanism.
Hardware & Drivers 2009-03-04
Kernel Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the APIs and classes (including I/O Kit families) that support kernel-resident device drivers.
Hardware & Drivers 2009-01-06
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs 2006-05-23
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Intel-Based Macs 2007-05-29
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Intel-Based Macs 2007-10-31
Darwin Notification API Reference (HTML)
Describes the Darwin API for interprocess notification.
Interprocess Communication 2008-04-08
KPI Reference (HTML)
Provides information on the NKE Sustainable API in Headerdoc format.
Kernel 2006-07-17
Apple Filing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple Filing Protocol commands.
Networking 2006-05-23
DNS Service Discovery C Reference (HTML)
Describes the DNS Service Discovery API for implementing Bonjour in an application.
Networking 2008-04-23
KPI Reference (HTML)
Provides information on the NKE Sustainable API in Headerdoc format.
Networking 2006-07-17
Mac OS X Man Pages (HTML)
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
Networking 2008-04-29
Open Directory Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for using Open Directory.
Networking 2006-05-23
System Configuration Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for configuration of network resources, the reachability of target hosts, and connection to network services.
Networking 2008-04-08
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture 2005-11-09
Mac OS X ABI Mach-O File Format Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data structures that make up the Mach-O file format.
Runtime Architecture 2009-02-04
GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor.
Tools 2007-10-31
GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor.
Tools 2008-01-23
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.0.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.0.1 compiler.
Tools 2007-10-31
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.2.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.2.1 compiler.
Tools 2008-01-23
Mac OS X ABI Mach-O File Format Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data structures that make up the Mach-O file format.
Tools 2009-02-04
Mac OS X Man Pages (HTML)
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
Tools 2008-04-29
Netwide Assembler Guide (HTML)
Describes the Netwide Assembler for Intel-based Macs.
Tools 2008-06-19