Foreword

If asked to define Mac OS X in 5 words or less, I would call it “a collection of new beginnings.”

Some of these beginnings are obvious. With Mac OS X, Apple has delivered on its promise to bring a pre-emptive multi-tasking, memory-protected operating system to the Mac-using masses. Apple has also introduced a new user interface for Mac OS X, called Aqua, which is simple, inviting, and powerful. If you read through Apple's Web site, you will find many more examples, some even with color pictures.

But some beginnings are more profound. Many computer users are for the first time considering using an Apple computer, in part because of Mac OS X's power and ease of use. Many others are switching back to the Macintosh platform from other systems, drawn by Apple's innovative hardware and software efforts. Even IT managers are beginning to treat Mac OS X as a viable server platform.

When Mac OS X shipped in March, 2001, Apple began including developer tools with every copy—for free. This is a serious invitation to developers to explore Mac OS X from every angle: from writing applications using C, C++, Objective C, and Java; to writing web services using Perl, PHP, and Python. Mac OS X demystifies the previously complex, bringing shared libraries, plug-ins, and device drivers to the programming populace. For some, Cocoa represents the first time they really “got” object-oriented design. And there are those who view Mac OS X's POSIX API and tools, both from the UNIX world, as a major asset. In these ways and more Mac OS X offers something for every developer.

In the pages that follow, Joe Zobkiw will guide you through many of these stops on the Mac OS X road. Use these stops as departure-points when you begin your own projects. And once you feel comfortable, go off and explore the rest of Mac OS X's new beginnings on your own.

Michael Trent
Santa Clara, California
March 2003