Legacy Document

Empty Project

A project with no files or targets.

Action

Automator actions are loadable bundles that perform discrete tasks for users to link together in a workflow, using the Automator application. For more information, see Automator Programming Guide .

AppleScript Automator Action

An Automator action written using AppleScript.

Cocoa Automator Action

An Automator action written in Objective-C.

Application

AppleScript Application

An AppleScript Studio application: a simple Cocoa application which can be written in AppleScript, Objective-C, and other languages.

AppleScript Document-based Application

An AppleScript Studio application that uses the Cocoa document architecture.

AppleScript Droplet

An AppleScript Studio application that processes files dropped on it.

Carbon Application

An application, based on the Carbon framework, that uses nib files for resources (a nib file typically defines and lays out objects for a product’s graphical interface).

Cocoa Application

An application, based on the Cocoa framework, that is written in Objective-C and relies on nib files to define its graphical interface.

Cocoa Document-based Application

A Cocoa application that uses the Cocoa document architecture.

Cocoa-Java Application

A Cocoa application that is written in Java.

Cocoa-Java Document-based Application

A Cocoa application that is written in Java and uses the Cocoa document architecture.

Core Data Application

An application, based on the Cocoa framework, that is written in Objective-C and uses the Core Data framework to save and restore objects. For more information on the Core Data framework, see Data Modeling Guide and Core Data Programming Guide.

Core Data Document-based Application

A Core Data application that uses the Cocoa document architecture.

Bundle

A bundle is a file system directory that stores executable code and the software resources related to that code. Bundle templates are for loadable bundles—code (such as application plug-ins) that can be loaded when it is needed. For more information, see Bundle Programming Guide.

Carbon Bundle

A bundle that links against the Carbon framework.

CFPlugin Bundle

A bundle that links against the Core Foundation framework.

Cocoa Bundle

A bundle that links against the Cocoa framework.

Command Line Utility

A command-line tool is a utility without a graphical user interface. Command-line utilities are typically used in the command-line environment.

C++ Tool

A tool that links against the stdc++ library.

CoreFoundation Tool

A tool that links against the Core Foundation library.

CoreServices Tool

A tool that links against the Core Services library.

Foundation Tool

A tool that links against the Foundation framework. (Foundation is one of the frameworks in the Cocoa framework.)

Standard Tool

A tool written in C.

Dynamic Library

A dynamic library is a library for which binding of undefined symbols is delayed until execution; code in dynamic shared libraries can be shared by multiple, concurrently running programs.

BSD Dynamic Library

A dynamic library, written in C, that makes use of BSD (a part of the Mac OS X kernel environment; BSD stands for Berkeley Software Distribution)

Carbon Dynamic Library

A dynamic library that links against the Carbon framework.

Cocoa Dynamic Library

A dynamic library that links against the Cocoa framework.

External Build System

A project that contains no files but has a single target which you can configure to use any command-line build tool.

Framework

In Mac OS X, a framework is a hierarchical directory that encapsulates a dynamic library and shared resources in a single package. You access many Mac OS X technologies in Xcode through frameworks. For more information, see Framework Programming Guide. Note that Cocoa is an application framework—one which supplies the basic building blocks of an application, to which you add your own code and features—that is implemented as a framework (as defined above).

Carbon Framework

A framework that links against the Carbon framework.

Cocoa Framework

A framework that links against the Cocoa framework.

Java

Ant-based Application Jar

An application, written in Java and built as a JAR file ( JAR is the Java Archive file format). The application is built using the Ant build tool. The project contains a default build.xml file.

Ant-based Empty Project

An empty project with no files, that contains a single external target configured to use the Ant build tool. You must supply the build.xml file.

Ant-based Java Library

A library, written in Java and packaged as a JAR file, that is built using the Ant build tool. The project contains a default build.xml file.

Java AWT Applet

An AWT-based Java applet, built as a JAR file (AWT is the Advanced Windowing Toolkit).

Java AWT Application

An AWT-based application, built as an application bundle.

Java JNI Application

A JAR file-based JNI Application (JNI is the Java Native Interface).

Java Swing Applet

A Swing-based Java applet, built as a JAR file.

Java Swing Application

A Swing-based application, built as an application bundle.

Java Tool

A library or application, built as a JAR file.

Kernel Extension

A kernel extension (or KEXT) is a piece of code that can be dynamically loaded into the Mac OS X kernel. A driver is a kernel extension that supports one or more devices.

Generic Kernel Extension

A kernel extension.

IOKit Driver

A device driver that uses the I/O Kit (an object-oriented framework for developing device drivers for Mac OS X).

Standard Apple Plug-ins

Plug-ins for standard Apple applications, including Interface Builder, preference panes, the Screen Effects pane in System Preferences, and Sherlock.

Address Book Action Plug-in for C

A C-based plug-in that implements an Address Book action. See Address Book Programming Guide for more information.

Address Book Action Plug-in for Objective-C

An Objective-C-based plug-in that implements an Address Book action.

AppleScript Xcode Plug-in

An AppleScript-based plug-in for Xcode.

IBPalette

A plug-in for Interface Builder that adds a palette of user-interface items.

Image Unit Plug-in for Objective-C

An Objective-C-based plug-in that implements one or more image filters for Core Image. For more information on creating image units, see Core Image Programming Guide.

Installer Plug-in

An Objective-C-based plug-in that implements a custom interface for the Installer.

Metadata Importer

A metadata importer that allows Mac OS X to extract metadata from custom document formats for use with Spotlight. See Spotlight Importer Programming Guide.

PreferencePane

A plug-in for a preference pane bundle that can be used with the System Preferences application or an application’s user preferences.

Screen Saver

A plug-in for a screen saver bundle that can be used with the Screen Effects panel in the System Preferences application.

Sherlock Channel

A plug-in for a Sherlock Channel that can be used with the Sherlock Internet search application. See Sherlock Channels.

Sync Schema

A .syncschema bundle that allows your application to sync user data with other applications and devices on the same computer using Sync Services. See Sync Services Programming Guide.

Static Library

A library for which all referenced symbols are bound at link time.

BSD Static Library

A static library, written in C, that makes use of BSD (see BSD Dynamic Library above)

Carbon Static Library

A static library that links against the Carbon framework.

Cocoa Static Library

A static library that links against the Cocoa framework.