Programming Mac OS X with Cocoa for beginners

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This wikibook aims to provide beginners with an introduction to programming Mac OS X with Cocoa, using Xcode, the free developer tools provided with the operating system. Some knowledge of another programming language, preferably C, is assumed. The main guide is aimed at users of Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4, but programming techniques that can only be used with 10.4 are avoided until the end.

In general, this text is written to be followed in order from start to finish. As each topic develops, it builds on the code written previously to add complexity and functionality.

Chapter headings

• What is Cocoa?
• Installing the developer tools
• Getting around in Xcode and Interface Builder
• First Cocoa program - Hello World
• Objective C, the language and its advantages
• Some Cocoa essential principles
• Building a GUI
• Containers - arrays, and dictionarys
• A more ambitious application
• Graphics - Drawing with Quartz
• Document-based applications
• Implementing Wikidraw
  • Wikidraw's view class
  • More shapes
  • An Inspector calls
  • Archiving
  • Adding finesse
• OS X 10.3 - a look at bindings
• OS X 10.4 - a look at Core Data
• Download code examples