Introduction

Technology Overview

Mac OS X Server combines the most popular open source server technologies with Apple's easy-to-use setup, management, and monitoring tools. It comes with an extensive suite of services for supporting Mac, Windows, and mixed-client environments in businesses, departments, and educational institutions. And because it's all based on open standards, Mac OS X Server integrates easily with existing networks.

Start Here

Before you begin to write any code, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the features of OS X Server. If you haven’t already done so, read the product overview, the administration guides, and the developer introduction.

Choose a Learning Path

Mac OS X Server, based on the open source Darwin project and expanded through the integration of many industry-standard open-source services, provides many opportunities for you to add functionality in the form of scripts, plug-ins, and applications, and even to extend the capabilities of the operating system itself.

If you are an in-house developer who, in keeping with the best UNIX traditions, needs to extend or modify the services provided by Mac OS X Server, start by viewing the Apple Server Solutions site for Mac OS X Server to see the wide range of options open to you.

Providing Access to Network File Services

Providing Access to Network Printing Services

If you want your application to take advantage of Mac OS X Server’s managed network printing services based on the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS), read Getting Started with Printing.

Hosting Web Content

Web hosting services in Mac OS X Server are provided by an Apple-optimized version of the open source Apache web server. Streaming multimedia content over the Web is supported by Apple’s open source QuickTime Steaming Server.

Next Steps

The Mac OS X Server Reference Library includes the following high-level resource pages, which can be bookmarked for easy access: