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Leopard Reference Library
Cocoa is an object-oriented application environment designed for developing Mac OS X native applications. The Cocoa frameworks support rapid development and high productivity. Cocoa provides developers starting new Mac OS X projects the fastest way to full-featured implementations. Applications from other platforms can also be brought to Mac OS X quickly using Cocoa.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to Cocoa.   Essential information for developers using Objective-C.   Objective-C API references organized by framework.
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QTKit Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types and constants in the QTKit framework.
QuickTime Reference 2006-05-23
QTKit Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interfaces for working with QuickTime movies and media capture.
QuickTime Reference 2007-10-31
QTKit Frequently Asked Questions (HTML)
TN2138: Provides answers to many frequently asked QTKit questions.
QuickTime Technical Notes 2008-04-24
QTKit Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the QuickTime Kit framework.
QuickTime Release Notes 2007-07-18
QTKitButtonTester (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the QTMovieView methods for hiding and showing the buttons in the movie controller bar.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-08-01
QTKitMovieShuffler (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates a simple QTKit movie player application.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-01-03
QTKitPlayer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
QTKit example code to open, edit, play, import and export QuickTime movies
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-08-31
QTKitThreadedExport (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to export a QTMovie on a background thread.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-08-01
QTKitThreadsExporter (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates QTKit threading APIs by performing concurrent exports on separate threads.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-10-08
QTKitTimeCode (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the QuickTime 32-bit Timecode Media Handler to Add and Remove Timecode Tracks.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-09-19
QTMedia Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime media object.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
QTMovie Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime movie and movie controller.
QuickTime Reference 2009-01-07
QTMovieView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a view for playing a QuickTime movie.
QuickTime Reference 2007-05-01
QTNoStepsDemo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to subclass QTMovieView to override its default behaviors.
QuickTime Sample Code 2006-08-01
QTQuartzPlayer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
QTQuartzPlayer demonstrates how to render QuickTime Movies and live video with OpenGL and CoreVideo.
QuickTime Sample Code 2005-10-04
QTRecorder (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the new QTKit capture classes introduced in 10.5.
QuickTime Sample Code 2007-04-10
QTtoCG (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to create a CGImageRef with the proper ColorSync profile from a QuickTime image on disk.
Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Sample Code 2003-01-14
QTTrack Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a QuickTime movie track.
QuickTime Reference 2009-03-04
Quartz 2D Interpolation (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1186: Explains how to control Quartz 2D's image interpolation.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2002-10-29
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
Quartz 2D Thread Safety (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1238: Explains the thread-safety issues for the Quartz 2D API.
Graphics & Imaging, Performance, Printing Technical Q&As 2003-02-25
Quartz 2D Transformer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Quartz 2D to manipulate an image
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-06-21
Quartz Composer Custom Patch Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to create custom patches for distribution.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-12-11
Quartz Composer Live DV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to export a Quartz Composer composition as a real-time DV stream on the FireWire port.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Composer Matrix (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Quartz Composer to display a QuickTime movie as a series of frames in a 3D world.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Composer Offline Rendering (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to render a Quartz Composer composition as a series of images using an OpenGL pBuffer.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Composer Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to used the framework to load, play, and control compositions.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-10-15
Quartz Composer QCTV (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to build a fake TV system using Quartz Composer as the foundation motion graphics.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-07-06
Quartz Composer Reference Collection (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API that supports loading, playing, and controlling compositions.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2007-01-25
Quartz Composer Texture (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use a Quartz Composer composition as an OpenGL texture.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Composer User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use the Quartz Composer development tool to create motion graphics compositions.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2007-07-17
Quartz Composer WWDC 2005 Composition (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to build a parameterized motion graphics composition with Quartz Composer.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Composer WWDC 2005 TextEdit (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrate how to modify TextEdit's about dialog to display a Quartz Composer composition.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Quartz Core Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interfaces for Core Image and Core Video.
Graphics & Imaging Reference 2008-03-12
Quartz EB (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
WWDC 2001 Early Bird Quartz 2D tutorial of vector drawing and PDF import/export.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2003-01-14
Quartz2DBasics (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Carbon and Cocoa sample code demonstrating some basic usage of the Quartz 2D API
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2006-09-11
QuartzComposerSamplePatches (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A short list of new patches in Quartz Composer Mac OS X 10.5
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2007-06-11
QuartzLines (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Drawing Lines using Quartz's CGPath & CGContextStrokeLineSegments functions.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2005-06-01
Querying Metadata With Spotlight (HTML)
TN2192: Describes how a Cocoa application can search Spotlight metadata.
File Management, User Experience Technical Notes 2007-06-04
Quick Look Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for creating plug-ins that generate Quick Look previews and thumbnails.
User Experience Reference 2007-04-13
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
QuickTime Audio - Easy Frequency Level Metering with MovieAudio APIs (HTML)
QA1459: Describes how to perform frequency band level metering using MovieAudio metering APIs.
QuickTime Technical Q&As 2009-01-29
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.
QuickTime Guides 2005-11-09
QuickTime Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the main concepts and services of QuickTime.
QuickTime Guides 2005-08-11
Re-enabling dragging from NSTableView to other applications (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1220: Explains how to re-enable drag-and-drop from NSTableViews to other applications
Interapplication Communication, User Experience Technical Q&As 2008-02-08
Reducer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Simple utility for rescaling bitmapped images. Demonstrates use of Core Image, NSAnimation, view drawing redirection.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Sample Code 2005-06-06
Registering and unregistering for sleep and wake notifications (HTML)
QA1340: Explains how applications can register and unregister for sleep and wake notifications on Mac OS X.
Resource Management Technical Q&As 2008-08-08
Reminders (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Dashboard widget with a plug-in that displays upcoming iCal events, to do items, and calendars.
Objective-C Language Sample Code 2008-07-25
Requirements for Quartz GL (HTML)
QA1536: Describes the requirements for enabling Quartz GL.
Games, Graphics & Imaging, Performance, User Experience Technical Q&As 2008-08-08
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
Resolution Independent UI Release Notes (HTML)
Graphics & Imaging Release Notes 2005-04-29
Resolves may return an IPv6 address in Panther (HTML)
QA1298: Explains why you get an IP address of 0.0.0.0 when resolving a Bonjour service.
Networking Technical Q&As 2005-01-10
Resolving Alias Files Quietly (HTML)
FL30: Describes how to resolve alias files on remote volumes without user interaction.
File Management Technical Notes 1999-11-01
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
RGB Image (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates compositing to separate an NSimage into its RGB components, and how to recombine those components.
Events & Other Input, Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
RGB ValueTransformers (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Supersedes the "RGB Image sample". Sample now uses bindings. Color separation now done in an NSValueTransformer subclass.
Graphics & Imaging Sample Code 2003-11-18
RoundTransparentWindow (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Creating (in Cocoa) custom-shaped windows and transparent window content; plus changing the shape of windows dynamically.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Sample Code 2003-01-14
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).
Design Guidelines, Scripting & Automation, Tools Guides 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.
Text & Fonts Guides 2007-09-04
Runtime Configuration Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual and reference information for dynamically configuring your software.
Design Guidelines Guides 2008-07-08
Saving the current Core Graphics Path (HTML)
QA1056: Explains that the Core Graphics save and restore GState APIs do not affect the path.
Graphics & Imaging, Printing Technical Q&As 2001-10-02
SayIt (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Web Kit plug-in which speaks text passed via JavaScript
Internet & Web Sample Code 2006-08-04
SBApplication Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an Objective-C representation of a scriptable application.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-05-29
SBApplicationDelegate Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for receiving and handling Apple event errors from applications.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-05-29
SBElementArray Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes a mutable array for storing related Scripting Bridge objects.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-05-29
SBObject Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes an object in a scriptable application.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-05-29
SBSendEmail (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Using the Scripting Bridge to tell Mail.app to send an email message with an optional attachment.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Scripting & Automation Sample Code 2008-02-28
SBSetFinderComment (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Set/Get Finder Comments using Scripting Bridge
Scripting & Automation Sample Code 2007-12-04
SBSystemPrefs (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use Scripting Bridge to display a preference pane in System Preferences.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Sample Code 2008-10-13
Scoping Your Transition Projects (HTML)
Learn how to transition to Intel-based Macs.
Intel-Based Macs, Porting Articles 2005-09-27
Screen Saver Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for supporting and working with screen effects.
General, User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
Screen Saver Functions Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes functions and function-like macros available in the Screen Saver framework.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
ScreenSaverDefaults Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines a set of methods for saving and restoring user defaults for screen savers.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
ScreenSaverView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class that defines the interface for subclassers to interact with the screen saver infrastructure.
User Experience Reference 2006-05-23
Scripting Bridge Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface that allows Cocoa applications to communicate with scriptable applications.
Interapplication Communication Reference 2007-05-29
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.
Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-03-11
Scripting Bridge Release Note (HTML)
A release note that describes the classes and techniques used to control scriptable applications from Objective-C code.
Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2007-10-31
Scripting Interface Guidelines (HTML)
TN2106: Directions for providing a clean and consistent scripting interface for your application.
Scripting & Automation Technical Notes 2004-03-01
ScriptingBridgeiCal (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Adding/updating events in iCal using Scripting Bridge.
Interapplication Communication, Scripting & Automation Sample Code 2007-12-13
Scroll View Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use scroll views in Cocoa applications.
Graphics & Imaging, User Experience Guides 2006-06-28
Search Fields (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa search fields.
User Experience Guides 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.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience Guides 2005-12-06
Search Kit Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the interface for supporting user searches of textual content.
Data Management, Text & Fonts, User Experience Reference 2009-05-06
SearchField (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use and customize the features of the "NSSearchField" control.
Events & Other Input, User Experience Sample Code 2007-04-25
SearchKit Release Notes (HTML)
User Experience Release Notes 2005-04-29
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
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
Security Foundation Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Security Foundation framework for adding fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
Security Framework Error Codes (HTML)
QA1499: Explains how to interpret errors returned by the Security Framework with an overview of Security error handling.
Security Technical Q&As 2006-11-16
Security Interface Framework Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Objective-C API for creating views and dialogs relating to authorization, certificates, and keychains.
General, Security Reference 2006-07-14
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
Security Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the Security framework.
Security Release Notes 2007-07-18
SecurityInterface Data Types Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the data types found in the Security Interface framework.
Security Reference 2006-05-23
Segmented Controls Programming Guide for Cocoa (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use Cocoa segmented controls.
User Experience Guides 2006-02-07
Sending an Email (HTML)
QA1084: Shows how to create an email in the user's prefered email application.
Interapplication Communication, Internet & Web, Networking Technical Q&As 2004-11-05
SetMouseAcclSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Find HID System Manager and get/set cursor acceleration
Accessibility, Events & Other Input Sample Code 2006-11-28
Setting environment variables for user processes (HTML)
QA1067: Tells how to set environment variables for user processes.
Data Management, Games, Porting, Runtime Architecture, Tools Technical Q&As 2001-10-25
Setting the ColorSync profile for a NSBitmapImageRep object (HTML)
QA1369: Setting the ColorSync profile for a NSBitmapImageRep object
Graphics & Imaging Technical Q&As 2004-09-08
SFAuthorization Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class used to restrict a user's access to particular features in a Mac OS X application or daemon.
Security Reference 2009-01-06
SFAuthorizationPluginView Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the class an authorization plug-in uses to display a custom view within the Apple-supplied authorization views.
Security Reference 2006-07-14