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A full suite of free developer tools is available to Mac OS X developers, who can speed up their development process by using these tools to prototype, compile, debug, and optimize their software products. Xcode, Apple's integrated development environment, can be used with Cocoa, Carbon, or Java. Apple also provides a wide selection of open source tools, such as GCC.

A guided introduction for developers new to Mac OS X developer tools.   Essential information for developers using the Xcode software development tool set.  
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Dashcode User Guide (HTML) (PDF) (日本語 HTML) (日本語 PDF) (Français HTML) (Français PDF) (Deutsch HTML) (Deutsch PDF) (Español HTML) (Español PDF) (Nederlands HTML) (Nederlands PDF) (Italiano HTML) (Italiano PDF) (简体中文 HTML) (简体中文 PDF)
Explains how to use Dashcode to create Dashboard widgets.
Dashcode, Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-07-11
File System Overview (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and guidelines describing the structure and usage of the Mac OS X file system.
Files & Software Installation Guides 2008-07-11
Xcode Source Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to manage source changes using source control and snapshots.
Source Control, Xcode Guides 2008-07-11
The Objective-C 2.0 Programming Language (HTML) (PDF)
Introduces object-oriented programming and describes the main programming language used for Cocoa development.
General Guides 2008-07-08
Xcode Build System Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a detailed description of the Xcode build system and shows how to customize it.
Xcode Guides 2008-07-08
Xcode Project Management Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides practical descriptions of the major development tasks developers perform with Xcode.
Xcode Guides 2008-07-08
Xcode 3.1 Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Xcode 3.1
Xcode Release Notes 2008-06-26
OpenGL Shader Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to use OpenGL Shader Builder to develop and test GPU programs.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-06-23
Debugging with GDB (HTML)
Open-source document that explains how to use GDB to debug programs.
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2008-06-19
GDB Internals (HTML)
Open-source document that explains the GDB implementation.
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2008-06-19
GNU Make (HTML)
Documentation of the GNU make utility.
Compiling & Debugging Reference 2008-06-19
Libtool (HTML)
Documentation for GNU Libtool.
Compiling & Debugging Reference 2008-06-19
Netwide Assembler Guide (HTML)
Describes the Netwide Assembler for Intel-based Macs.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin Reference 2008-06-19
STABS Debug Format (HTML)
Open-source document that explains the STABS format of symbolic debugging information.
Compiling & Debugging Reference 2008-06-19
Customizing Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to enhance your Rails application with views and web forms, AJAX, and iPhone support.
General, Scripting & Automation, Xcode Articles 2008-06-09
Deploying Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to deploy your Ruby on Rails application on Mac OS X Leopard Server.
General, Scripting & Automation, Xcode Articles 2008-06-09
Developing Rails Applications on Mac OS X Leopard (HTML)
Learn how to develop your Ruby on Rails application using Xcode 3 and the tools in Leopard.
General, Scripting & Automation, Xcode Articles 2008-06-09
Using Doxygen to Create Xcode Documentation Sets (HTML)
Learn how to integrate your documentation into Xcode.
General, Xcode Articles 2008-06-09
Xcode Quick Tour Guide for Mac OS X (HTML) (PDF)
Provides a hands-on introduction to Xcode, Apple's comprehensive suite of software development tools for Mac OS X.
General, Xcode Guides 2008-06-05
Dashcode 2.0 Release Notes (HTML)
Dashcode Release Notes 2008-06-03
Interface Builder 3.1 Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Interface Builder 3.1
Interface Builder Release Notes 2008-05-30
Xcode User Default Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the user defaults developers can use to customize Xcode behavior.
Xcode Reference 2008-05-30
ld Release Notes for Xcode 3.1 (HTML)
Xcode Release Notes 2008-05-29
Xcode Installation Guide (HTML) (PDF) (日本語 HTML) (日本語 PDF)
Describes general installation issues for Xcode users.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-27
Xcode Overview (HTML) (PDF) (日本語 HTML) (日本語 PDF)
Describes the Xcode IDE and its major components, and provides and overview of the development process.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-27
What's New in Xcode (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of new and improved features in the Xcode application.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-22
Xcode Workspace Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the Xcode workspace, and shows how to use its components and features.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-22
Xcode Build Setting Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the build settings used in the Xcode build system to compile source code and produce binary files.
Compiling & Debugging, Xcode Reference 2008-05-21
Xcode Refactoring Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes source code refactoring and shows how to perform refactoring operations in Xcode.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-19
Xcode Debugging Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode debugging facilities and the recommended debugging techniques.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-16
Xcode Unit Testing Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to incorporate unit tests into your development process using Xcode.
Xcode Guides 2008-05-02
Mac OS X Man Pages (HTML)
HTML versions of the Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Xcode Tools, and CHUD man pages.
Darwin Reference 2008-04-29
Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode Design Tools for Class Modeling.
Xcode Guides 2008-04-15
Xcode Tools for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode modeling tools for Core Data.
Xcode Guides 2008-04-15
Shark User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to analyze code performance by profiling the system.
Performance Guides 2008-04-14
CPlusTest Reference (HTML)
Describes the CPlusTest framework, which provides an API for creating unit tests for C and C++ code.
Xcode Reference 2008-04-08
HeaderDoc User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to extract API reference documentation from commented header files.
Darwin, Xcode 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.
Darwin Guides 2008-04-08
Shell Scripting Primer (HTML) (PDF)
A guided tour of (Bourne) shell scripting, including control structures, numerical computation, regular expressions, subroutines, and error handling.
Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-04-08
CrashReporter (HTML)
TN2123: Describes CrashReporter and how to debug with crash logs.
Compiling & Debugging Technical Notes 2008-04-01
How to work around HIMovieViewCreate failing (HTML)
QA1417: Describes how to work around HIMovieViewCreate failing to initialize the view in QuickTime 7
Interface Builder Technical Q&As 2008-03-11
WebObjects 5.4.1 Reference (HTML)
Describes the WebObjects 5.4.1 classes in Javadoc format.
WebObjects Reference 2008-03-11
Missing Results in Xcode Project Find Window (HTML)
QA1580: A workaround for when a search that previously returned results generates no files found in Xcode
Xcode Technical Q&As 2008-03-06
Interface Builder 3.0 Release Notes (HTML)
Interface Builder Release Notes 2008-03-05
LLVM-GCC Release Notes (HTML)
Lists changes to LLVM-GCC technology.
Compiling & Debugging Release Notes 2008-02-11
Instruments User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Instruments application and explains how to use it to examine program behavior.
Performance Guides 2008-02-08
OpenGL Driver Monitor User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to view the properties supported by the OpenGL drivers available on the system.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-02-08
OpenGL Profiler User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to assess the efficiency of an OpenGL application.
Graphics & Imaging Guides 2008-02-08
GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor Internals (HTML)
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2008-01-23
GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.2 Preprocessor.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin 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.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin, Intel-Based Macs Reference 2008-01-23
GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) 4.2 Internals (HTML)
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2008-01-23
Programmatically causing restart, shutdown and/or logout (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1134: Describes how to programmatically cause restart, shutdown, sleep or logout.
Scripting & Automation Technical Q&As 2008-01-23
Connecting the Font Menu in Interface Builder 3 (HTML)
QA1571: How to connect and configure the Font/Format menus in Interface Builder 3.
Interface Builder Technical Q&As 2008-01-21
Apple JavaScript Coding Guidelines (HTML) (PDF)
Provides an overview of the JavaScript language, its object-oriented features, and coding best practices.
Dashcode, Files & Software Installation, Scripting & Automation Guides 2008-01-15
Web Kit DOM Reference (HTML)
Describes the API for accessing the Web Kit's Document Object Model.
Dashcode Reference 2008-01-15
Xcode Mapping Tool for Core Data (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the Xcode mapping tool for Core Data.
Xcode Guides 2007-12-30
AppleScript Studio 1.4 Release Notes (HTML)
Moving Tiger AppleScript Studio Release Notes to separate document.
Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2007-12-22
Debugging Process Startup (HTML)
QA1573: Describes techniques for debugging a process's startup code.
Compiling & Debugging Technical Q&As 2007-12-21
Automator Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the concepts and tasks for developing actions, which are bundles loaded by the Automator application.
Scripting & Automation Guides 2007-12-11
Boinx Starts with Sample Code: FotoMagico Is a Powerful Digital Slideshow (HTML)
Starting with Apple sample code, tools and technologies, Boinx wrote FotoMagico in a matter of months.
General Articles 2007-12-11
GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) Internals (HTML)
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2007-12-11
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Graphics & Media Overview (HTML)
Describes Leopard's graphics and media capabilities.
Graphics & Imaging Articles 2007-12-11
Leopard Technology Series for Developers: Objective-C 2.0 Overview (HTML)
Describes features and capabilities introduced in Objective-C 2.0.
General Articles 2007-12-11
WebObjects 5.4 Release Notes (HTML) (PDF)
Information about known issues and workarounds for WebObjects Release 5.4.
WebObjects Release Notes 2007-12-11
User's Guide to gperf 3.0.1 (HTML)
Compiling & Debugging Guides 2007-12-03
How can I get both Subversion (SVN) and CVS on Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)? (HTML)
QA1492: Explains where to find Subversion and CVS for installation.
Source Control, Xcode Technical Q&As 2007-11-15
AppleScript Studio Release Notes (HTML)
Describes late-breaking news and highlights of new or changed features in the latest release of AppleScript Studio.
Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2007-10-31
AppleScript Studio Terminology Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the scripting terminology for AppleScript Studio, through version 1.4.
Scripting & Automation Reference 2007-10-31
Automator Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for changes in Mac OS X version 10.5.
Scripting & Automation Release Notes 2007-10-31
Big Top User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to monitor the use of resources on Macintosh computers, locally and over a network.
Performance Guides 2007-10-31
Cocoa Application Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to build a simple Cocoa application using Xcode.
Xcode Guides 2007-10-31
Developer Documentation Release Notes for Xcode 3.0 (HTML)
Describes changes to the presentation of ADC Reference Library content.
Xcode Release Notes 2007-10-31
Documentation Set Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to integrate third-party documentation with the Xcode Documentation window.
Files & Software Installation, Xcode Guides 2007-10-31
dyld Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Mac OS X v10.5
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin Release Notes 2007-10-31
GCC 4 Release Notes (HTML)
Updated for Xcode 3.0
Compiling & Debugging Release Notes 2007-10-31
GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor User Guide (HTML)
Describes the Apple version of the GNU C 4.0 Preprocessor.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin 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.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin, Intel-Based Macs Reference 2007-10-31
GNU macro processor (HTML)
Documentation on the GNU macro processor.
Compiling & Debugging Reference 2007-10-31
Interface Builder User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Conceptual information and tasks explaining how to use the Interface Builder application to design user interfaces.
Interface Builder Guides 2007-10-31
Saturn 4.5 User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to analyze a program's function-calling structure.
Performance Guides 2007-10-31
Terminal 2 Release Notes (HTML)
Describes new features of the Terminal application in Mac OS X 10.5.
Xcode Release Notes 2007-10-31
WebObjects 5.4 Reference (HTML)
Describes the WebObjects 5.4 classes in Javadoc format.
WebObjects Reference 2007-10-31
WebObjects Deployment Guide Using JavaMonitor (HTML) (PDF)
Tools and techniques for deploying WebObjects applications. Includes application administration and performance-improving practices.
WebObjects Guides 2007-10-31
Xcode 3.0 Release Notes (HTML)
Release Notes for the previous version of Xcode
General, Xcode Release Notes 2007-10-31
ButtonMadness (HTML) (DMG) (ZIP)
Demonstrates how to use the various types of buttons using a nib file or programatically.
Interface Builder Sample Code 2007-10-30
Symbol Variants Release Notes (HTML)
Describes symbol variants, a way of providing multiple versions of symbols for backwards compatibility.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin Release Notes 2007-10-16
Kernel Core Dumps (HTML)
TN2118: Explains how to gather and use remote kernel core dumps.
Compiling & Debugging, Darwin Technical Notes 2007-09-18
Web Kit DOM Programming Topics (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use JavaScript in web content and Web Kit-based applications.
Dashcode Guides 2007-09-04
Preprocessing Info.plist files in Xcode Using the C Preprocessor (HTML)
TN2175: Describes workarounds for several issues concerning preprocessing Info.plist files in Xcode with the C preprocessor.
Xcode Technical Notes 2007-08-14
Speeding up your Xcode Builds (HTML)
TN2190: Speed up your Xcode builds by leveraging the power of the Xcode build system
Xcode Technical Notes 2007-08-14
Distribution Definition Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the schema of distribution definition files.
Files & Software Installation Reference 2007-07-23
Installer JavaScript Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the JavaScript object model used in distribution definition files.
Files & Software Installation Reference 2007-07-23
PackageMaker User Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes how to use PackageMaker to create installation packages.
Files & Software Installation Guides 2007-07-23
Interface Builder Plug-In Programming Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the process for creating custom Interface Builder palettes.
Interface Builder Guides 2007-07-18
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
IBInspector Class Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the methods for managing inspector views in Interface Builder.
Interface Builder Reference 2007-07-11
iSync Manual Test Suite Guide (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the suite of manual test cases that plug-in developers should run before shipping their product.
General, Syncing Guides 2007-07-11
Sync Services Tutorial (HTML) (PDF)
Explains how to debug multiple syncing applications using the Syncrospector development tool.
Syncing Guides 2007-07-11
WebObjects Application Properties Reference (HTML) (PDF)
Describes the command-line properties that can be passed to WebObjects application and tools when they start.
WebObjects Guides 2007-07-11