Developing Mac Os X Apps

The OS X operating system combines a stable core with advanced technologies to help you deliver world-class products on the Mac platform. Knowing what these technologies are, and how to use them, can help streamline your development process, while giving you access to key OS X features.

Developing Android Apps On Mac Os X
Developing Macos Apps In Swift

At a Glance

This guide introduces you to the range of possibilities for developing Mac software, describes the many technologies you can use for software development, and points you to sources of information about those technologies. It does not describe user-level system features or features that have no impact on software development.

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OS X Has a Layered Architecture with Key Technologies in Each Layer

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It’s helpful to view the implementation of OS X as a set of layers. The lower layers of the system provide the fundamental services on which all software relies. Subsequent layers contain more sophisticated services and technologies that build on (or complement) the layers below.

The lower the layer a technology is in, the more specialized are the services it provides. Generally, technologies in higher layers incorporate lower-level technologies to provide common app behaviors. A good rule of thumb is to use the highest-level programming interface that meets the goals of your app. Here is a brief summary of the layers of OS X.

The Cocoa (Application) layer includes technologies for building an app’s user interface, for responding to user events, and for managing app behavior.
The Media layer encompasses specialized technologies for playing, recording, and editing audiovisual media and for rendering and animating 2D and 3D graphics.
The Core Services layer contains many fundamental services and technologies that range from Automatic Reference Counting and low-level network communication to string manipulation and data formatting.
The Core OS layer defines programming interfaces that are related to hardware and networking, including interfaces for running high-performance computation tasks on a computer’s CPU and GPU.
The Kernel and Device Drivers layer consists of the Mach kernel environment, device drivers, BSD library functions (libSystem), and other low-level components. The layer includes support for file systems, networking, security, interprocess communication, programming languages, device drivers, and extensions to the kernel.

Relevant Chapters:Cocoa Application Layer, Media Layer, Core Services Layer, Core OS Layer, Kernel and Device Drivers Layer

You Can Create Many Different Kinds of Software for Mac

Developing Android Apps On Mac Os X

Using the developer tools and system frameworks, you can develop a wide variety of software for Mac, including the following:

Apps. Apps help users accomplish tasks that range from creating content and managing data to connecting with others and having fun. OS X provides a wealth of system technologies such as app extensions and handoff, that you use to extend the capabilities of your apps and enhance the experience of your users.
Frameworks and libraries. Frameworks and libraries enable code sharing among apps.
Command-line tools and daemons. Command-line tools allow sophisticated users to manipulate data in the command-line environment of the Terminal app. Daemons typically run continuously and act as servers for processing client requests.
App plug-ins and loadable bundles. Plug-ins extend the capabilities of other apps; bundles contain code and resources that apps can dynamically load at runtime.
System plug-ins. System plug-ins, such as audio units, kernel extensions, I/O Kit device drivers, preference panes, Spotlight importers, and screen savers, extend the capabilities of the system.

Relevant Chapter:Creating Software Products for the Mac Platform

When Porting a Cocoa Touch App, Be Aware of API Similarities and Differences

The technology stacks on which Cocoa and Cocoa Touch apps are based have many similarities. Some system frameworks are identical (or nearly identical) in each platform, including Foundation, Core Data, and AV Foundation. This commonality of API makes some migration tasks—for example, porting the data model of your Cocoa Touch app—easy.

Developing Macos Apps In Swift

Other migration tasks are more challenging because they depend on frameworks that reflect the differences between the platforms. For example, porting controller objects and revising the user interface are more demanding tasks because they depend on AppKit and UIKit, which are the primary app frameworks in the Cocoa and CocoaTouch layers, respectively.

How to change the default Mac app for specific file types

Right-click on a file that uses the file type you'd like to change the default for. For example, one with a .jpg extension (a photo).
Click on Get Info in the pop-up.
Click Open With if the section isn't already expanded.
Click the dropdown and choose an app.
Source: iMore
Click Change All...
Click Continue when the Finder asks you if you're sure.
Source: iMore

Now any time you open a file with that extension, the Finder will automatically open it with the app you've selected.

How to set your default web browser

Launch System Preferences from the dock, Finder, or by clicking the Apple icon in the Menu bar.
Click General at the top left of the window.
Click the dropdown next to Default web browser.
Click the web browser you'd like to use as the default.
Source: iMore

How to set your default email reader

Mail is likely the default email app on your Mac, but just in case you have others downloaded, you can set the default reader. Here's how:

Launch Mail from your dock or the Finder.
Click Mail in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Click Preferences.
Click the dropdown next to Default Mail Reader.
Click the app you'd like to set as the default.
Source: iMore

Questions?

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Updated February 2020: Updated for macOS Catalina!

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