Mac OS X Programming

This book provides the reader with definitions, details, and explanations of the various components that make up this new operating system. Understanding the operating system helps the reader use the programming tools and the Carbon application programming interface (API) - both of which are covered extensively in this book. Mac OS X is a blend of old and new. Much of the original programming API (now referred to as the Classic API) is still usable. But it's been revamped and renamed - it's now the Carbon API. This modified set of functions includes plenty of new routines that make a Mac programmer's work easier and more powerful - provided that the programmer knows how to make use of the new code. The reader learns about the all new Carbon Event Manager, as well as the changes and enhancements that have been made to existing managers (such as the Window Manager and the Menu Manager). Readers new to Mac programming will appreciate the journey that takes them from the start of a new Macintosh project to the final build of a standalone Mac OS X application. Readers experienced in programming the Mac will also find this same material of great interest - and these readers will also benefit from the lengthy section on porting existing Mac OS 8 and 9 applications to Mac OS X. Finally, all readers will appreciate the Carbon API reference section that provides information and example code for dozens of the most commonly used Carbon routines.

Dan Parks Sydow is a software engineer and writer based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has written over twenty computer-related books, including a dozen Macintosh programming books. Whether it's by way of a beginner-level book, such as Mac Programming for Dummies 3rd Edition (IDG Books Worldwide, 1999), or an advanced-level text, such as The Metrowerks CodeWarrior Professional Book (Ventana, 1997), Dan welcomes the opportunity to help others master the art of Macintosh programming. When functioning in the real world (that is, when working in business as opposed to writing), he has worked on Macintosh programs that performed tasks such as the manipulation of hear magnetic resonance (MR) images, and he has designed complex fourth dimension databases that interface Macs to mainframe computers.

These reviewers contributed their considerable hands-on expertise to the entire development process for Mac OS X Programming. As the book was being written, these dedicated professionals reviewed all the material for technical content, organization, and flow. Their feedback was critical to ensuring that Mac OS X Programming fits our reader's need for the highest-quality technical information.

Dennis Groves was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. While a sophomore in high school, Dennis began his career as a software engineer for a well known CADD company. It was there that he discovered UNIX and began to run a multi-user BBS with Usenet news feed. Since that time he has advised clients on the large scale implementation of systems and network administration software with a focus on security. Dennis also has over six years with system administration, network administration, integrating heterogeneous platforms and information security. He has spent the last five years pen-testing high profile websites, and web application security consulting for many significant companies in the financial arena.

Since graduation, Bill Larson has worked for software vendor companies in the semiconductor and security software industries. He has worked with the Macintosh since Mac OS 6.5 and UNIX since Solaris 2.2. He is currently working on security consulting projects and with an application security company. His newest toy is Mac OS X 10.1 with OpenBase, PHP 4.0, Apache, and XDarwin. He's starting to explore the new changes with Project Builder and Interface Builder and to write wrapper GUI's for open source security tools using the Mac OS X development tools. Bill lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife, Karen, and three children. He has an AA in Applied Science Electronics Technology and a BS in Electrical Engineering.