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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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The "/.vol" directory and "volfs" (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1113: Describes how the Carbon File Manager interacts with BSD via "volfs" and the "/.vol" directory.
File Management Technical Q&As 2002-02-14
64-Bit Transition Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the 64-bit features available in Mac OS X.
Interprocess Communication, Performance, Porting Guides 2008-04-08
Accessing Hardware From Applications (HTML) (PDF)
Tips and guidelines for developing applications that communicate with or control devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2007-02-08
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
Allocating and sharing memory with user space from an I/O Kit driver (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1197: Describes the preferred technique for allocating and sharing buffers in an I/O Kit kernel driver.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2008-10-13
AltiVec/SSE Migration Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to convert PowerPC AltiVec code to Intel SSE code.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2005-09-08
Apple Filing Protocol Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes high-level concepts for Apple Filing Protocol commands.
Networking Guides 2006-04-04
Apple Filing Protocol Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Apple Filing Protocol commands.
Networking Reference 2006-05-23
Are the Name Registry device tree nodes unique? (HTML)
Deprecated - HW64: Discusses whether Name Registry nodes copied from the Open Firmware device tree are unique.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Q&As 1999-10-11
Audio Device Driver Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to develop kernel-resident drivers for audio devices.
Hardware & Drivers Guides 2009-03-04
Authorization Services Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to add fine-grained control of privileged operations in an application.
Security Guides 2009-01-06
Avoiding Kernel Event Conflicts (HTML)
QA1063: Documents the namespace for the vendor_code field of the kern_event_msg structure.
Kernel Technical Q&As 2001-09-14
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
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
Bonjour enforces the TXT record format in Panther (HTML)
QA1306: Explains how mDNSResponder enforces the proper TXT record format in Panther.
Networking Technical Q&As 2004-07-14
Bonjour Printer Subtype for HTTP (HTML)
QA1555: Describes how printer vendors can register their bonjour service such that Safari can see them.
Networking, Printing Technical Q&As 2008-03-25
BootstrapDump (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Print Mach bootstrap namespace information.
Interprocess Communication, Process Management Sample Code 2008-06-18
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
Building Darwin (HTML)
Explains how to work with the Darwin build system using the build tools provided.
General Guides 2001-10-08
Building Universal Binaries from "configure"-based Open Source Projects (HTML)
TN2137: Describes some methods for building some existing "configure"-based Open Source packages as universal binaries.
Porting, Tools Technical Notes 2006-10-05
Building Universal I/O Kit Drivers (HTML)
TN2163: How to build a universal I/O Kit kernel driver while avoiding common pitfalls.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Notes 2008-08-18
Byte-Order Utilities Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes Core Foundation byte-order functions.
Intel-Based Macs Reference 2006-05-23
Can't attach during two-machine debugging with GDB (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
Deprecated - QA1019: Describes a workaround for a problem attaching during two-machine debugging on Mac OS X 10.0.x.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2003-06-02
CCL Modem Scripting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Hardware & Drivers, Networking Guides 2007-06-28
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
CD-ROM Driver Calls (HTML)
Deprecated - DV22: Discusses public interface to Apple CD-ROM driver and supersedes information in AppleCD SC Developer's Guide.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Notes 2000-08-14
CFLocalServer (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Uses UNIX domain sockets to communicate between client and server programs on the same machine.
Networking, Process Management Sample Code 2005-07-26
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
CheckExecutableArchitecture (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Determine whether a particular Mach-O executable contains a version suitable for executing on a given processor architecture.
Runtime Architecture Sample Code 2006-02-07
The "chosen" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW88: Describes how to find the "chosen" node in the Open firmware device tree.
Networking Technical Q&As 2000-09-05
Code Signing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how you can sign your code and why you should.
Security Guides 2008-11-19
Code Signing Release Notes (HTML)
Security Release Notes 2007-10-31
Coding in the Kernel (HTML)
Considerations and caveats about programming in the kernel.
Kernel Guides 2005-11-09
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
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
CryptNoMore (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to authenticate a user using Open Directory (Directory Services).
Security Sample Code 2008-03-17
CryptoSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Contains sample code showing symmetric encryption and message digest calculation.
Security Sample Code 2003-02-06
Customizing Process Stack Size (HTML)
QA1419: Describes methods for setting the stack size of a process and/or thread.
Process Management, Resource Management Technical Q&As 2008-02-20
Daemons and Agents (HTML)
TN2083: Describes the most common problems encountered with daemons and agents, and suggests detailed solutions.
Process Management Technical Notes 2007-11-05
Darwin Notification API Reference (HTML)
Describes the Darwin API for interprocess notification.
General, Interprocess Communication Reference 2008-04-08
Descriptor Passing Problems (HTML)
QA1541: Describes how to work around common problems with descriptor passing.
Kernel, Networking Technical Q&As 2007-10-29
Determining console user login status (HTML)
QA1133: How to determine whether a user is logged in on the console, and be notified of changes.
Process Management Technical Q&As 2008-04-14
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
Developing for VFS (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1242: Describes Apple's position on developing external file systems (VFS plug-ins) for Mac OS X.
File Management, Kernel Technical Q&As 2006-12-22
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
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
Directories Appear as Volume Aliases (HTML)
QA1351: Discusses how VFS plug-ins should handle device numbers to ensure compatibility with Carbon applications.
File Management, Kernel Technical Q&As 2004-05-25
Disabling Processor Cores on a Multi-Core System (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1141: Describes how to disable processor cores on a multi-core system for testing purposes.
Performance Technical Q&As 2008-09-16
Discovering all advertised Bonjour service types (HTML)
QA1337: Explains how to discover all Bonjour service types being advertised on the local network.
Networking Technical Q&As 2004-06-01
Disk Arbitration Framework Reference (HTML)
Describes Disc Arbitration API, which includes information on mount/unmount notification and dissent.
General Reference 2008-04-08
dist_fft (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Gigaelement FFTs on Apple G5 clusters
Performance Sample Code 2004-08-23
DNS Service Discovery C Reference (HTML)
Describes the DNS Service Discovery API for implementing Bonjour in an application.
Networking Reference 2008-04-23
DNSServiceMetaQuery (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how to discover Bonjour service types being advertised on the local network.
Networking Sample Code 2005-06-01
The dreaded "incompatible flag -framework" error (HTML)
QA1096: Explains how to eliminate the incompatible flag -framework error in Project Builder.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Q&As 2001-12-05
Driver Tuning on Panther or G5 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
TN2090: Describes potential issues when using drivers in Panther or later, or on a Power Macintosh G5.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Notes 2003-06-24
Dynamic Library Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to design, implement, and use dynamic libraries.
Runtime Architecture Guides 2009-02-26
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
Energy Star PCI Device (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1108: Provides useful information for developers of Energy Star-compliant PCI devices.
Kernel Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
ExpressCard Prevents System Sleep (HTML)
QA1517: Describes how some ExpressCard cards can prevent system sleep and how to fix the problem.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Q&As 2007-02-28
File Manager Text Encoding Hints (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1223: How to use Text Encoding Hints.
File Management Technical Q&As 2003-01-20
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
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
FileNotification (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
kqueue file notification introduced in 10.3. Notification API to detect file system modifications.
File Management Sample Code 2005-10-27
filesystem_examples (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Collection of command line tools illustrating filesystem features.
File Management Sample Code 2006-01-10
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions about the X Window System (X11) for Mac OS X (HTML)
TN2165: Answers several FAQs about the Mac OS X implementation of X11
Open Source Technical Notes 2007-01-22
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
FSMegaInfo (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Prints information about various file system objects; helpful when debugging VFS plug-ins.
File Management Sample Code 2008-02-25
GCC Porting Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides guidance on how to migrate projects to new GCC releases.
Intel-Based Macs Guides 2006-10-03
GDB for MacsBug Veterans (HTML)
TN2030: Translate your experience with MacsBug into a working knowledge of the GNU source-level debugger (GDB).
Performance Technical Notes 2001-10-18
Generating a Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1264: Explains how to generate a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) on modern Macintosh systems.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2008-10-13
GetMACAddressSample (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to retrieve the MAC address for each Ethernet interface from the Mac OS X I/O Registry.
Networking, Security Sample Code 2003-01-14
GetPrimaryMACAddress (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates retrieving the MAC address of the built-in Ethernet controller. Useful for uniquely identifying a Macintosh system.
Networking, Security Sample Code 2005-10-27
Getting a Packet Trace (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1176: Lists tools available for looking at the network packets on the wire.
Networking Technical Q&As 2008-06-03
Getting List of All Processes on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1123: Describes how, using Carbon and BSD respectively, to list all applications and processes.
Kernel, Porting Technical Q&As 2002-03-05
Getting Started with launchd (HTML)
Learn about launchd and see how to migrate your configuration files.
Performance, Process Management Articles 2005-08-22
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 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 3.3 Compiler (HTML)
Explains how to use the GNU compilers from the command line.
Tools Reference
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
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
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
HeaderDoc User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to extract API reference documentation from commented header files.
Tools Guides 2008-04-08
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
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
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
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
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
Installing an I/O Kit KEXT Without Rebooting (HTML)
QA1319: Describes the state of the art of installing I/O Kit kernel extensions (KEXTs) without requiring a restart.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2003-10-28
Integrating With The Connect to Server Dialog (HTML)
QA1387: Describes problems integrating a third-party network file system with Finder's Connect to Server dialog.
File Management, Kernel Technical Q&As 2006-11-16
IODeviceTree and the I/O Registry (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1120: Describes the IODeviceTree plane in the Mac OS X I/O Registry.
Hardware & Drivers Technical Q&As 2008-09-18
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel, Networking, Tools Technical Q&As 2002-01-15
IOKitWithLibrary (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Shows how an I/O Kit driver can link with a C library from a separate kernel extension.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Sample Code 2003-08-27
IOLog and Interrupt Context (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1100: Describes when IOKit runs at primary (hardware) interrupt context.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2002-02-13
IOPrintSuperClasses (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Given the name of a class, this tool will print all of the super-classes of that class.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Sample Code 2005-08-17
Is dlopen available on all versions of Mac OS X? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1180: Describes how to dynamically link to libraries and plug-ins, typically done with dlopen.
Porting, Runtime Architecture, Tools Technical Q&As 2008-08-19
Issues with boot time KEXT loading (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1087: Explains how to solve problems with loading KEXTs at boot time.
Hardware & Drivers, Kernel Technical Q&As 2004-01-15
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
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