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Leopard Reference Library
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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Using Doxygen to Create Xcode Documentation Sets (HTML)
Learn how to integrate your documentation into Xcode.
Open Source Articles 2008-06-09
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: OS Foundations (HTML)
Leopard Overview article on system-level updates.
File Management Articles 2007-09-04
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
Building an Open Source Universal Binary (HTML)
Learn to build a universal binary through this sample build that uses OpenSSL.
Intel-Based Macs Articles 2006-04-24
Getting Started with launchd (HTML)
Learn about launchd and see how to migrate your configuration files.
Performance, Process Management Articles 2005-08-22
Tiger Developer Overview Series: Developing 64-bit Applications (HTML)
Learn how Mac OS X Tiger breaks the limitations of 32-bit computing.
Performance, Porting Articles 2004-12-20
Writing Open Directory Plug-ins (HTML)
Learn how to write Open Directory plug-ins to help your application locate and manage network information.
Networking Articles 2004-09-13
Developing Cross-Platform UNIX Applications with Mac OS X (HTML)
Learn tips for developing code on Mac OS X for deployment on other UNIX platforms.
Porting, Tools Articles 2004-08-30
HID Class Device Interface Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop applications to communicate with or control HID class devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2009-05-06
Porting Drivers to Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Tips and code samples to help UNIX/Linux device driver developers bring their drivers to Mac OS X.
General, Porting Guides 2009-05-06
Audio Device Driver Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop kernel-resident drivers for audio devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2009-03-04
Network Kernel Extensions Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write a kernel extension for adding or modifying functionality of a networking stack (Mac OS X 10.4 and later).
Kernel, Networking Guides 2009-03-02
Dynamic Library Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to design, implement, and use dynamic libraries.
Runtime Architecture Guides 2009-02-26
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 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
Code Signing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how you can sign your code and why you should.
Security Guides 2008-11-19
System Startup Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains the boot process used to initialize the Mac OS X operating system.
Runtime Architecture Guides 2008-11-19
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
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
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
64-Bit Transition Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the 64-bit features available in Mac OS X.
Interprocess Communication, Performance, Porting Guides 2008-04-08
HeaderDoc User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to extract API reference documentation from commented header files.
Tools Guides 2008-04-08
Porting UNIX/Linux Applications to Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tips about porting UNIX and Linux applications to Mac OS X.
Porting, Tools Guides 2008-04-08
File System Events Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how applications can detect changes in the file system.
File Management, Interprocess Communication, Kernel, Performance Guides 2008-03-11
Network Device Driver Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Background and task information about developing network drivers for Mac OS X.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2008-03-11
Kernel Extension Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Combines the HOWTOs that were previously documented in Hello Debugger, Hello IOKit, Hello KEXT, Packaging KEXT, and KEXT Dependencies.
General, Kernel Guides 2007-10-31
USB Device Interface Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides background information and sample code for developing applications to communicate with or control USB devices and interfaces.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-09-04
CCL Modem Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Hardware & Drivers, Networking Guides 2007-06-28
I/O Kit Fundamentals (HTML) (PDF)
The basics of developing device drivers. Includes descriptions of I/O Kit families.
Hardware & Drivers, Resource Management Guides 2007-05-17
Mac OS X Notification Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Interprocess Communication, Runtime Architecture Guides 2007-05-15
Mass Storage Device Driver Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Background and task information about developing kernel-resident drivers for mass storage devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-04-03
Device File Access Guide for Storage Devices (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for using I/O Kit and POSIX functions to develop applications that communicate with storage devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-03-06
I/O Kit Device Driver Design Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Design guidelines and tips for developing, debugging, and deploying kernel-resident device drivers, including user clients.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-03-06
Accessing Hardware From Applications (HTML) (PDF)
Tips and guidelines for developing applications that communicate with or control devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-02-08
FireWire Device Interface Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop applications to communicate with or control FireWire devices and units.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-02-08
SCSI Architecture Model Device Interface Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop applications that communicate with or control SCSI Architecture Model devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-02-08
Open Directory Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement centralized storage and retrieval of information in Carbon.
Networking Guides 2007-01-08
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
Kernel Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Essential information for programming in the Mac OS X kernel. Includes a high-level overview.
Interprocess Communication, Kernel Guides 2006-11-07
GCC Porting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides guidance on how to migrate projects to new GCC releases.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2006-10-03
Network Kernel Extensions (legacy) (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to write a kernel extension for adding or modifying functionality of a networking stack (Mac OS X 10.3 and earlier).
Kernel, Networking Guides 2006-10-03
Performance Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces the factors that determine performance.
Performance Guides 2006-10-03
HBA Device Driver Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to develop a high-performance, kernel-resident driver for an HBA device.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2006-05-23
Open Directory Plug-in Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to implement dynamically loaded libraries that respond to Open Directory client requests in Carbon.
Networking Guides 2006-05-23
Apple Filing Protocol Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes high-level concepts for Apple Filing Protocol commands.
Networking Guides 2006-04-04
Writing PCI Drivers (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information about writing I/O Kit drivers for PCI, AGP, and CardBus (PC Card) devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2006-04-04
System Configuration Programming Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use system configuration services for network configuration and management, including determining reachability and getting connected.
Networking Guides 2006-02-07
Device File Access Guide for Serial Devices (HTML) (PDF)
Guidelines for using I/O Kit and POSIX functions to develop applications that communicate with serial devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2005-12-06
Coding in the Kernel (HTML)
Considerations and caveats about programming in the kernel.
Kernel Guides 2005-11-09
AltiVec/SSE Migration Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to convert PowerPC AltiVec code to Intel SSE code.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2005-09-08
User-Mode USB Device Arbitration (HTML)
Information about using USB device arbitration, available in Mac OS X version 10.1 and later.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2002-02-06
Building Darwin (HTML)
Explains how to work with the Darwin build system using the build tools provided.
General Guides 2001-10-08
Packaging UNIX Software (HTML)
Explains how to post UNIX and other command-line tools to Apple's Macintosh Product Guide.
Porting, Tools Guides 2001-04-20
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, Hardware & Drivers Reference 2009-03-04
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, Tools Reference 2009-02-04
Kernel Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the APIs and classes (including I/O Kit families) that support kernel-resident device drivers.
General, Hardware & Drivers Reference 2009-01-06
Bluetooth Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the C and Objective-C APIs that support user-space access to Bluetooth devices.
Hardware & Drivers Reference 2008-10-15
Netwide Assembler Guide (HTML)
Describes the Netwide Assembler for Intel-based Macs.
Tools Reference 2008-06-19
Mac OS X Man Pages (HTML)
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
General, Networking, Tools Reference 2008-04-29
DNS Service Discovery C Reference (HTML)
Describes the DNS Service Discovery API for implementing Bonjour in an application.
Networking Reference 2008-04-23
Bluetooth User Interface Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the C and Objective-C APIs that provide a consistent user interface to Bluetooth services.
Hardware & Drivers Reference 2008-04-08
Darwin Notification API Reference (HTML)
Describes the Darwin API for interprocess notification.
General, Interprocess Communication Reference 2008-04-08
Disk Arbitration Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes Disc Arbitration API, which includes information on mount/unmount notification and dissent.
General Reference 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 Reference 2008-04-08
FSEvents Reference (HTML)
Describes the API used to provide lightweight notification of directory changes in a file-system subtree.
File Management Reference 2008-04-08
System Configuration Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for configuration of network resources, the reachability of target hosts, and connection to network services.
Networking Reference 2008-04-08
GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor.
Tools Reference 2008-01-23
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 4.2.1 Compiler User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU 4.2.1 compiler.
Tools Reference 2008-01-23
GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor.
Tools Reference 2007-10-31
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, Tools Reference 2007-10-31
Core Endian Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the C API for creating and installing callbacks to byte swap custom data.
Intel-Based Macs Reference 2007-05-29
Miscellaneous User Space API Reference (HTML)
Describes APIs located in various headers in /usr/include.
General Reference 2006-09-05
KPI Reference (HTML)
Provides information on the NKE Sustainable API in Headerdoc format.
General, Kernel, Networking Reference 2006-07-17
Apple Filing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple Filing Protocol commands.
Networking Reference 2006-05-23
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs Reference 2006-05-23
Open Directory Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Carbon API for using Open Directory.
Networking Reference 2006-05-23
Mac OS X ABI Dynamic Loader Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the functions used to access Mach-O files.
Runtime Architecture Reference 2005-11-09
GNU C/C++/Objective-C 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools Reference
Affinity API Release Notes for Mac OS X v10.5 (HTML)
Explains how to influence which CPU core runs a group of threads (for performance optimization).
Performance, Process Management Release Notes 2007-10-31
CCL Modem Scripting Release Notes (HTML)
Explains changes to modem CCLs for Mac OS X v10.5 and what to do to change existing and supersede older scripts.
Hardware & Drivers, Networking Release Notes 2007-10-31
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
I/O Kit Power Management Release Notes (HTML)
Describes the latest changes to power management for Mac OS X v10.5.
Hardware & Drivers Release Notes 2007-10-31
Kernel Extensions Release Notes (HTML)
Kernel Release Notes 2007-10-31
Perl, Python, and Ruby Extensions Release Notes (HTML)
Describes how to create universal binary extensions for Perl, Python, and Ruby.
Porting, Tools Release Notes 2007-10-31
Symbol Variants Release Notes (HTML)
Describes symbol variants, a way of providing multiple versions of symbols for backwards compatibility.
Porting, Tools Release Notes 2007-10-16
System Configuration Reference Update (HTML) (PDF)
Summarizes the symbols added to the System Configuration framework.
General, Networking Release Notes 2007-07-18
Unix 03 Conformance Release Notes (HTML)
Describes features, issues, and workarounds related to Mac OS X v10.5 and its support of SUSv3 (Version 3 of the SUS).
General Release Notes 2006-10-06
SimpleUserClient (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to create a user client for an I/O Kit kernel driver.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Sample Code 2008-08-27
BootstrapDump (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Print Mach bootstrap namespace information.
Interprocess Communication, Process Management Sample Code 2008-06-18
UTXplorer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Uses the <utmpx.h> API to display current login sessions and login history.
Process Management Sample Code 2008-03-19
CryptNoMore (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to authenticate a user using Open Directory (Directory Services).
Security Sample Code 2008-03-17
FSMegaInfo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints information about various file system objects; helpful when debugging VFS plug-ins.
File Management Sample Code 2008-02-25
CFProxySupportTool (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the CFProxySupport APIs to decide whether a network connection should pass through a proxy.
Networking Sample Code 2007-10-29
NotifyTool (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to use the BSD notify API.
Interprocess Communication Sample Code 2007-09-25
MoreSCF (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
High-level wrapper around System Configuration framework, making common operations easy.
Networking Sample Code 2007-06-07
KauthORama (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints each Kauth request, illustrating how Kauth interacts with high-level operations, like copying files.
Kernel, Security Sample Code 2007-04-30
SCSIHBAEmulator (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstration of how to implement a virtual parallel tasking SCSI host bus adapter (HBA)
Hardware & Drivers Sample Code 2007-02-20
EmptyFS (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
A very simple VFS plug-in that mounts a volume that is completely empty.
File Management, Kernel Sample Code 2006-11-09
MFSLives (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Sample VFS plug-in for the Macintosh File System (MFS) volume format, as used on 400KB floppies.
File Management, Kernel Sample Code 2006-11-09