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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.
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Time Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for scheduling routines for execution at a later time.
Resource Management Reference 2006-03-08
Carbon Accessibility Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for making Carbon applications accessible to assistive technologies.
Accessibility Reference 2006-02-07
Ink Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Defines the C API for customizing handwriting recognition.
Events & Other Input Reference 2006-01-10
Unicode Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API that allows applications and input methods to operate on Unicode text.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2006-01-10
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2005-11-09
Mathematical and Logical Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for mathematical and logical data manipulation.
Data Management Reference 2005-11-09
Text Services Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for communicating between client applications and provider modules.
Events & Other Input, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-11-09
Authorization Services C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security Reference 2005-11-08
HIToolbar Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating toolbars in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2005-09-08
HIArchive Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for storing and retrieving data in HIArchives.
Human Interface Toolbox, Interapplication Communication, User Experience Reference 2005-08-11
HIObject Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and manipulating human interface objects in Carbon applications.
Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2005-08-11
Code Fragment Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for loading and preparing PEF binaries.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2005-07-07
Keychain Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy C API for managing passwords for multiple users and databases. Replaced by Keychain Services.
Security Reference 2005-07-07
Open Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon compatibility library for accessing TCP/IP networks at the transport level.
Networking Reference 2005-07-07
Text Encoding Conversion Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for transferring text across other platforms or over the Internet.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2005-07-07
ColorSync Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for ColorSync, the platform-independent color management system in Mac OS X.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2005-06-04
MDQuery Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata query.
File Management Reference 2005-06-04
ABRecord C Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type that represents a generic Address Book record.
Apple Applications Reference 2005-04-29
MDImporter Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the plug-in architecture and callbacks required by a document metadata importer.
File Management Reference 2005-04-29
MDSchema Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a metadata schema.
File Management Reference 2005-04-29
Secure Transport Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating a Secure Sockets Layer session over any transport layer.
Security Reference 2004-08-31
HIShape Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for manipulating HIShape objects.
Graphics & Imaging, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Reference 2004-06-28
Carbon Help Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for displaying short onscreen hints in help tags.
User Experience Reference 2004-03-01
Interface Builder Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for unarchiving interface objects.
Tools, User Experience Reference 2004-02-17
ABGroup Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type used to group Address Book records.
Apple Applications Reference 2003-08-20
ABMultiValue Reference for C (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the opaque type for accessing Address Book properties with multiple values.
Apple Applications Reference 2003-08-20
Printing Plug-in Interfaces Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the various callback interfaces that Mac OS X printing plug-ins implement in Carbon.
Printing Reference 2003-07-31
Internet Config Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the legacy technology for managing Internet preferences in Classic Mac OS.
Networking Reference 2003-05-01
Collection Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for implementing an abstract data type that stores related pieces of information.
Data Management Reference 2003-04-01
Language Analysis Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon shared library that performs morphological analysis for Japanese text.
Internationalization Reference 2003-04-01
Mixed Mode Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that supports PowerPC computers running 680x0 code.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2003-04-01
Speech Recognition Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C interface for recognizing and accepting spoken input.
Accessibility, Events & Other Input, User Experience Reference 2003-02-01
Debugger Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for standard exception-handling and assertion functions used in Carbon applications.
Performance Reference 2003-01-01
Error Handler Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for a Mac OS 9 service that assumes control when certain low-level system errors occur.
Performance Reference 2003-01-01
Notification Manager Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by background applications to communicate information to the user.
Events & Other Input Reference 2002-12-01
Keyboard Layout Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for managing key-to-character mappings used to support various languages.
Events & Other Input, Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2002-11-18
Ticket Services Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API used by printer modules and PDEs to communicate printing information to the system.
Printing Reference 2002-10-23
FontSync Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for content-based font identification and comparison.
Text & Fonts Reference 2002-10-01
MIDI File Format (HTML)
Describes the QuickTime implementation of the MIDI file standard.
Audio Reference 2002-09-17
Locale Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for supporting conventions of a specific language or region.
Internationalization, Text & Fonts Reference 2002-01-24
Sound Manager 3.3 (HTML)
Deprecated - Summary of Sound Manager legacy releases 3.1, 3.2.1, and 3.3.
Audio Reference 2001-11-15
Carbon Result Codes Index (HTML)
An alphabetic list of result codes in the Carbon application environment, with links to their API reference pages.
General Reference
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools Reference
2D Graphics Release Notes for Mac OS X v10.5 (HTML)
Describes the changes and issues related to Core Image and Quartz 2D in Mac OS X v10.5.
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2008-04-08
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.5.2) (HTML)
Describes HIToolbox enhancements for Mac OS X v10.5.2.
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2008-03-11
AppleScript Studio Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late-breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript Studio.
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Carbon Core Release Notes (HTML)
File Management, Internationalization, Resource Management, Text & Fonts Release Notes 2007-10-31
Carbon Developer Tools Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
CoreFoundation Framework Release Notes (HTML)
Core Foundation Release Notes 2007-10-31
DiscRecording Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Audio, File Management, User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.5) (HTML)
Describes new HIToolbox features and enhancements for Mac OS X v10.5.
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2007-10-31
Launch Services Release Notes (HTML)
File Management Release Notes 2007-10-31
OS Services Framework Release Notes (HTML)
General, Networking, Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
Speech Release Notes (HTML)
New document that describes new features, notes, and known issues for speech synthesis on Mac OS X v10.5.
User Experience Release Notes 2007-10-31
Application Services Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Application Services framework.
File Management, Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2007-07-18
Carbon Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Carbon framework.
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2007-07-18
Core Services Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Core Services framework.
General Release Notes 2007-07-18
Security Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Security framework.
Security Release Notes 2007-07-18
AppleScript Terminology and Apple Event Codes Reference (HTML)
Lists terms used in AppleScript, AppleScript Studio, and Standard Additions with their matching codes.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2006-06-28
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4.2) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
High Level Toolbox Release Notes (10.4.3) (HTML)
Human Interface Toolbox Release Notes 2006-01-10
Carbon Resolution Independence Release Notes (HTML)
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2005-04-29
Resolution Independent UI Release Notes (HTML)
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2005-04-29
SearchKit Release Notes (HTML)
User Experience Release Notes 2005-04-29
QTCarbonShell (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A skeleton of a modern Carbon QuickTime application demonstrating how to incorporate QuickTime support into a Carbon application.
QuickTime Sample Code 2009-03-19
QTMetaData (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates the QuickTime 7 MetaData APIs in a Carbon application.
QuickTime Sample Code 2009-03-16
PMPrinterTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using the PMPrinter APIs to obtain information about the connected printers.
Printing Sample Code 2009-02-13
SpotlightFortunes (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to provision a Spotlight importer plug-in for a custom UTI, and how to use a NSMetadataQuery with bindings to display live query results in a table view.
File Management Sample Code 2008-06-06
AlbumToSlideshow (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates using CF and NSXML to create Final Cut Pro XML.
Core Foundation Sample Code 2008-05-15
WhackedTV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A Cocoa version of the venerable HackTV sample code, demonstrating usage of the Sequence Grabber API's
QuickTime Sample Code 2008-05-09
HID Config Save (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Human Interface Device Manager Configuration sample
Games Sample Code 2008-05-07
SampleScannerApp (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
This project implements a simple client accessing an ICA scanning device.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2008-05-07
CIColorTracking (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
An Objective-C applicaton that implements a GPU-based technique to find the location of a uniquely colored object in a scene
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2008-04-24
CarbonCocoaTempConverter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to integrate Carbon and Cocoa user interfaces in the same Cocoa application.
Events & Other Input Sample Code 2008-03-10
FSMegaInfo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints information about various file system objects; helpful when debugging VFS plug-ins.
File Management Sample Code 2008-02-25
HackTV Carbon (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
HackTV Carbon shows how to use the sequence grabber to preview and record QuickTime movie files.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-11-16
Son of Grab (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the new CGWindow to get window images from the Window Server.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-11-01
PreLoginAgents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Pre-login launchd agents to display UI using AppKit and HIToolbox.
Process Management Sample Code 2007-10-26
MassiveImage (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use a CGDataProvider to save a very large image with Image IO
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-09-27
DTSCarbonShell (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Provides a modern Mac OS X Carbon Application Skeleton
Human Interface Toolbox, Text & Fonts, User Experience Sample Code 2007-09-20
Quartz 2D Shadings (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use CGShading and CGGradient objects to draw simple gradients.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-08-31
Cocoa PDE with Carbon Printing (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Application that uses a Cocoa PDE along with the Carbon Printing APIs.
Printing Sample Code 2007-07-27
Quartz 2D Transformer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Quartz 2D to manipulate an image
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-06-21
CoreTextArc (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Illustrates the use of fonts, lines, and runs in a CoreText text drawing Carbon application.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2007-06-04
CrossEvents (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to send CarbonEvents and NSNotifications between Carbon and Cocoa.
Design Guidelines, Events & Other Input, Porting, Process Management Sample Code 2007-05-31
HIView-NSView (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to embed an NSView within an HIView in a Carbon window.
Design Guidelines, Human Interface Toolbox, User Experience Sample Code 2007-05-29
StarMenu (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to create a Custom Star Shape menu using the new HIMenuView class.
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2007-05-24
HIFleetingControls (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Implements fleeting controls such as seen in QuickTime Player full screen mode or iPhoto slideshow
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2007-05-08
AESendThreadSafe (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to send Apple events from threads other than the main thread.
Interapplication Communication Sample Code 2007-03-09
RecordAudioToFile (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates recording audio to an AAC file using Core Audio
Audio Sample Code 2007-02-27
FSReplaceObject (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
FSReplaceObject is an example command line tool showing how to exercise the FSReplaceObject and FSPathReplaceObject related APIs.
File Management Sample Code 2007-02-14
Cocoa_With_Carbon_or_CPP (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to call Carbon routines and C++ code from within an Objective-C Cocoa program.
User Experience Sample Code 2007-02-05
CarbonCocoa_PictureCursor (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use NSCursor from a Carbon based application.
Human Interface Toolbox, Porting, User Experience Sample Code 2007-01-12
CoreTextTest (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to handle the CoreText objects to display text.
Text & Fonts Sample Code 2006-12-19
SetMouseAcclSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Find HID System Manager and get/set cursor acceleration
Events & Other Input Sample Code 2006-11-28
LittleArrowsShowcase (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
How to increment and decrement the LittleArrows value when the user clicks on the up and down buttons.
Human Interface Toolbox Sample Code 2006-11-09
TremoloUnit (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Audio unit sample demonstrating how to build an effect unit with a generic view.
Audio Sample Code 2006-10-26
SimplePlayThru (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Use the HAL's Audio Output Unit (AUHAL) for device input and output on a single device (play-thru)
Audio Sample Code 2006-10-25