Jump To:
Leopard Reference Library
Carbon is a set of C APIs offering developers an advanced user interface tool kit, event handling, the Quartz 2D graphics library, and multiprocessing support. Developers have access to other C and C++ APIs, including the OpenGL drawing system and the Mach microkernel.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Carbon.   Essential information for developers using procedural C.   C API references organized by framework.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sort by
Topic
Sorted by
Resource Type
Sort by
Date
Using the Web Services Core Framework and CFNetwork to Access Remote SOAP Services (HTML)
Learn how to access remote SOAP-based web services that require HTTP Basic or Digest authentication.
Internet & Web, Networking Articles 2007-03-07
Kerberos: Highly Secure Single Sign On Authentication in Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn how you can take advantage of Kerberos in your application.
Security Articles 2007-02-05
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Leopard Developer Application Technologies Overview (HTML)
Learn how Leopard will help you create powerful and innovative features for your users.
Design Guidelines Articles 2006-12-07
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Leopard Developer Tools Overview (HTML)
Learn how Leopard developer tools make it easier than ever to create exciting applications.
Tools Articles 2006-11-15
Going Universal: Audio Developers Catch the Wave (HTML)
Learn how audio developers who built universal binaries of their applications are reaping the benefits.
Audio, Intel-Based Macs, Porting Articles 2006-07-18
Developing Games on Mac OS X Using Third-Party Game Engines (HTML)
Create your own game using the powerful game engines that run on Mac OS X.
Games Articles 2006-06-05
Working with Quartz Composer (HTML)
Learn to build a sample composition without having to write code.
Graphics & Imaging Articles 2006-02-13
Moving Your Project from CodeWarrior to Xcode (HTML)
Get started moving your project from CodeWarrior to Xcode.
Porting, Tools Articles 2005-11-28
The Sound of Opportunity Knocking: The Audio Units Community Takes Off (HTML)
Learn how one developer created a successful business using audio units.
Audio Articles 2005-10-31
Designing Network-Friendly Applications (HTML)
Learn to make your application management-aware and reliably accessible on a network.
Design Guidelines Articles 2005-10-24
Taking Advantage of the Accelerate Framework (HTML)
Learn how your application can run on PowerPC- or Intel-based Macs without processor-specific customization.
Performance Articles 2005-10-03
Scoping Your Transition Projects (HTML)
Learn how to transition to Intel-based Macs.
Intel-Based Macs, Porting Articles 2005-09-27
Adopting Universal Binaries on Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn about universal binaries and how to get your applications ready for Intel-based Macs.
Intel-Based Macs, Porting Articles 2005-08-26
Simplifying Data Handling with Uniform Type Identifiers (HTML)
Learn to use UTIs to take advantage of key Mac OS X technologies in your application.
Data Management, File Management, Interapplication Communication Articles 2005-07-12
Porting Multithreaded Applications from Win32 to Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn how Mac OS X handles multithreading, before porting your Win32 application.
Performance, Porting, Process Management Articles 2005-06-20
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing with Core Image (HTML)
Learn how Core Image can help you take your graphics development to the next level.
Graphics & Imaging Articles 2005-03-09
Turn up the Volume with Audio Units (HTML)
Learn to build a sample volume unit, test it, and integrate it into GarageBand.
Audio Articles 2005-01-31
Tiger Develop Overview Series: Working with Spotlight (HTML)
Learn to make the most of Spotlight's powerful search technologies within your own applications.
File Management Articles 2004-10-07
Carbon Pasteboards: Enhanced Data Sharing (HTML)
Learn how to add Clipboard support to your application, including copy and paste and drag and drop.
Data Management, Events & Other Input, Interapplication Communication Articles 2004-08-16
Universal Access: Computers That Everyone Can Use (HTML)
Learn how to make your applications usable by everyone, including those with disabilities.
Accessibility Articles 2004-08-02
The Benefits of HIToolbox: the Evolving Widget Set (HTML)
Learn how to get started working with HIView control types.
Human Interface Toolbox Articles 2004-06-14
Using the Web Kit for Application Registration (HTML)
Learn how to use the Web Kit to handle your application's online registration.
User Experience Articles 2004-03-09
Switching from Code Warrior to Xcode (HTML)
Learn how to import your projects from CodeWarrior.
Porting, Tools Articles 2003-10-24
Maximizing Mac OS X Application Performance (HTML)
Learn how to achieve better performance on Mac OS X.
Performance Articles 2003-06-23
CFNetwork Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation networking functions to work with low-level BSD sockets.
Security Guides 2009-05-06
Image Unit Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write image processing kernels and package them for distribution.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2009-05-06
Keychain Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
This document explains how to use Keychain Services to store and retrieve passwords.
Security Guides 2009-03-12
Dock Tile Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide an icon and contextual menu in Carbon applications.
User Experience Guides 2009-03-04
Mac OS X ABI Function Call Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the function-calling conventions used in the architectures supported by Mac OS X.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2009-02-04
Universal Binary Programming Guidelines, Second Edition (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tips for writing code that runs on PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macintosh computers.
Intel-Based Macs, Porting Guides 2009-02-04
Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling.
Design Guidelines, Tools Guides 2009-02-04
Authorization Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security Guides 2009-01-06
Internationalization Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to support multiple languages in software.
Internationalization Guides 2009-01-06
Resource Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to work with nib and bundle resources in Mac OS X applications.
Resource Management Guides 2009-01-06
Web Services Core Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the new Web Services client-side frameworks available in Mac OS X.
Internet & Web, Networking Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Tools Guides 2009-01-06
Certificate, Key, and Trust Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Shows how to evaluate trust for a certificate and recover from a trust failure.
Security Guides 2008-11-19
Code Signing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how you can sign your code and why you should.
Security Guides 2008-11-19
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Tools Guides 2008-11-19
Animation Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the animation facilities provided by Mac OS X.
Games, Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-10-15
Handling Unicode Text Editing With MLTE (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Apple's multilingual text engine.
Internationalization Guides 2008-10-15
Locales Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use locales to retrieve, interpret, and display localized information in Core Foundation.
Internationalization Guides 2008-10-15
Memory Management Programming Guide for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to allocate and deallocate objects in Core Foundation.
Core Foundation, Resource Management Guides 2008-10-15
Quartz Composer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to used the framework to load, play, and control compositions.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-10-15
Security Overview (HTML) (PDF)
An introduction to computer security concepts and the security APIs in Mac OS X and iPhone OS.
Security Guides 2008-10-15
WebKit Objective-C Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the WebKit to embed web content in both Cocoa and Carbon applications.
Internet & Web, User Experience Guides 2008-10-15
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 Guides 2008-10-15
XML Programming Topics for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to parse XML documents into structured objects.
Core Foundation, Data Management, Internet & Web Guides 2008-10-15
File System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and guidelines describing the structure and usage of the Mac OS X file system.
File Management Guides 2008-07-11
Runtime Configuration Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual and reference information for dynamically configuring your software.
Design Guidelines Guides 2008-07-08
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Tools Guides 2008-06-19
Apple Human Interface Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the Mac OS X user experience and explains how to design an application for Aqua.
Design Guidelines, User Experience Guides 2008-06-09
Core Image Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview and explains how to use and create image filters and image units.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-06-09
Core Text Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to do text layout and font-related operations using the Core Text programming interfaces.
Text & Fonts Guides 2008-06-09
Secure Coding Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes techniques to use and factors to consider to make your code more secure from attack.
Security Guides 2008-05-23
Xcode Unit Testing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to incorporate test cases to validate individual units of source code.
Design Guidelines Guides 2008-05-02
Uniform Type Identifiers Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Describes uniform type identifiers and how to use them.
Data Management, File Management, Interapplication Communication Guides 2008-04-08
Accessibility Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the accessibility features built into Mac OS X.
Accessibility Guides 2008-03-11
AppleScript Language Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the AppleScript scripting language. Includes many brief sample scripts.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-03-11
Strings Programming Guide for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create, manipulate, and search strings in Core Foundation, and how strings interact with encodings and character sets.
Core Foundation, Data Management, Internationalization, Text & Fonts Guides 2008-03-11
Quick Look Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the purporse and architecture of Quick Look generators and explains how to create them.
User Experience Guides 2008-02-08
Threading Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use threads in Cocoa applications.
Performance, Process Management Guides 2008-02-08
64-Bit Guide for Carbon Developers (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the changes necessary to create a 64-bit executable version of a Carbon application.
Design Guidelines, Performance, Porting Guides 2007-12-11
Apple Type Services for Fonts Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access fonts using the ATS-based font management API. Includes implementing the Fonts window.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-12-11
Managing Fonts: QuickDraw (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - Explains how to use the deprecated QuickDraw-based font-management API replaced by Core Text or ATS.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-12-11
PDF Kit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces basic PDF concepts and describes how to use PDF Kit to display PDF documents in your application.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-12-11
Quartz 2D Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Quartz 2D. Includes illustrations and sample code.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-12-11
Apple Events Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides conceptual information and programming examples for working with Apple events.
Events & Other Input, Scripting & Automation Guides 2007-10-31
Apple Help Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to author, package, and display user help content in Mac OS X.
Apple Applications, User Experience Guides 2007-10-31
AppleScript Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the technology for writing scripts to control applications. Useful for scripters and application developers.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Guides 2007-10-31
Audio Queue Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to play and record audio using Audio Queue Services.
Audio Guides 2007-10-31
Audio Unit Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Audio frameworks and the Core Audio SDK to create audio units.
Audio Guides 2007-10-31
Carbon-Cocoa Integration Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use both Carbon and Cocoa in developing an application.
Design Guidelines Guides 2007-10-31
HIView Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes view-based controls and how to implement them in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Guides 2007-10-31
Multiprocessing Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement preemptive tasks in Carbon applications.
Performance, Process Management Guides 2007-10-31
Providing PDF Workflow Options in the Print Dialog (HTML) (PDF)
Installation information and examples, including the use of Automator workflows.
Printing Guides 2007-10-31
Launch Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how an application can open document files, other applications, and URLs.
File Management, Interapplication Communication Guides 2007-08-23
Data Browser Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to present data in lists similar to the list and column views in the Finder.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Guides 2007-08-07
ATSUI Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to lay out, process, and draw Unicode text.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Guides 2007-07-10
Navigation Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to provide a user interface for navigating to, opening, and saving files.
File Management, User Experience Guides 2007-07-10
Image I/O Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to read and write image data using the Image I/O framework.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-07-02
Attributed Strings Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use attributed strings, which manage attributes of character strings or individual characters.
Data Management, Text & Fonts Guides 2007-06-04
Dictionary Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to create a dictionary and access it programmatically.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-05-30
Spotlight Importer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the role of metadata importers and how to write them.
File Management Guides 2007-05-27
Spotlight Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main components and services of Apple's metadata technology.
Design Guidelines Guides 2007-05-27
Image Capture Applications Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interaction between applications programs and image capture devices such as cameras and scanners.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-05-16
Resolution Independence Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Describes resolution independence and how to start updating applications to support high-resolution monitors.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Guides 2007-05-04
Accessibility Programming Guidelines for Carbon (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to access-enable Carbon applications.
Accessibility, Design Guidelines, User Experience Guides 2007-02-08
Core Audio Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of Core Audio and its programming interfaces.
Audio Guides 2007-01-08
Data Formatting Guide for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Core Foundation formatters to create and validate text in text fields and other cells.
Data Management Guides 2006-12-21
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 Guides 2006-11-07
Porting CodeWarrior Projects to Xcode (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to move software projects from CodeWarrior to Xcode and compares the two development environments.
Intel-Based Macs, Porting, Tools Guides 2006-10-26
Extending Printing Dialogs (HTML) (PDF)
A guide to developing printing dialog extensions, including basic concepts and a documented Carbon-based sample project.
Printing Guides 2006-10-03
GCC Porting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides guidance on how to migrate projects to new GCC releases.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2006-10-03
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Performance Guides 2006-10-03
Preferences Programming Topics for Core Foundation (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to manage Core Foundation user preferences.
Core Foundation, Data Management Guides 2006-10-03
Quartz Programming Guide for QuickDraw Developers (HTML) (PDF)
Provides strategies to help Carbon programmers replace QuickDraw code with Quartz.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2006-09-05
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 Guides 2006-09-05