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Leopard Reference Library: Apple Applications
Dashboard is a display and management system for Mac OS X desktop utilities, called widgets. Developers can create widgets, such as a clock or a calculator, to provide functionality that doesn't require the complexity of a large application. Widgets can also act as an interface to other applications; for example, a widget can act as a remote control for iTunes.

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Enhance Your Dashboard Widgets with Quartz Composer Compositions (HTML)
Learn to create a composition and embed it easily in your widgets.
Articles 2007-02-13
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Introducing Dashcode (HTML)
Learn how Dashcode makes widget development easier than ever.
Articles 2007-01-09
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing Dashboard Widgets (HTML)
Learn how to create powerful mini-applications quickly and easily.
Articles 2004-12-07
Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
Guides 2009-03-04
Dashboard Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains Dashboard and WebKit technologies used in widgets.
Guides 2009-02-04
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.
Guides 2009-01-06
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
Guides 2008-11-19
WebKit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and WebKit-based applications.
Guides 2008-10-15
Dashboard Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the API for implementing Dashboard widgets.
Reference 2009-02-04
Birthdays (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Dashboard widget with a plug-in that queries AddressBook.framework for contacts with upcoming birthdays.
Sample Code 2008-09-10
Reminders (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Dashboard widget with a plug-in that displays upcoming iCal events, to do items, and calendars.
Sample Code 2008-07-25
Fader (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates fading of elements inside a Dashboard widget
Sample Code 2007-09-12
Goodbye World (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates display and use of widget preferences to save a widget's state
Sample Code 2007-06-28
Hello Welt (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates localization techniques for Dashboard widgets
Sample Code 2007-06-25
Voices (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates use of the widget.system command from Dashboard
Sample Code 2007-06-25
Resizer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A widget that demonstrates how to use the Apple Animation and Animator classes.
Sample Code 2006-08-01
Syncer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A widget that demonstrates how to use handle a Dashboard Sync event.
Sample Code 2006-08-01
Fortune (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Deprecated - Demonstrates use of a widget plug-in
Sample Code 2005-06-01
Hello World (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Introductory Dashboard widget example
Sample Code 2005-06-01
Debugging Dashboard Widgets (HTML)
TN2139: Dashboard widget troubleshooting techniques, from start to finish.
Technical Notes 2005-09-07
Availability of Quartz Composer Patches in Web Kit (HTML)
QA1505: Details which Quartz Composer patches are available in Web Kit
Technical Q&As 2007-03-05
Intel-Based Macs, Dashboard, Safari, and You (HTML)
QA1451: Concerns and details regarding widget and web development for Intel-based Macintosh computers
Technical Q&As 2006-12-13