The Cocoa frameworks are some of the most powerful for creating native
OS X apps available today. However, for a first-time Mac developer, just
firing up Xcode 4 and starting to browse the documentation can be a
daunting and frustrating task. The Objective-C class reference
documentation alone would fill thousands of printed pages, not to
mention all the other tutorials and guides included with Xcode. Where do
you start? Which classes are you going to need to use? How do you use
Xcode and the rest of the tools?
Learn Cocoa for the Mac, Second Edition, completely revised for OS X
Mountain Lion and XCode 4*,* answers these questions and more, helping
you find your way through the jungle of classes, tools, and new concepts
so that you can get started on the next great OS X app today. Jack
Nutting and Peter Clark are your guides through this forest; Jack
and Peter have lived here for years, and will show you which boulder to
push, which vine to chop, and which stream to float across in order to
make it through. You will learn not only how to use the components of
this rich framework, but also which of them fit together, and why.
Jack Nutting's approach, combining pragmatic problem-solving with a deep
respect for the underlying design philosophies contained within Cocoa,
stems from years of experience using these frameworks. Peter Clark will
show you which parts of your app require you to jump in and code a
solution, and which parts are best served by letting Cocoa take you
where it wants you to go. The path over what looks like a mountain of
components and APIs has never been more thoroughly prepared for your
travels. In each chapter, you'll build an app that explores one or more
areas of the Cocoa landscape. With Jack's and Peter's guidance, the
steep learning curve becomes a pleasurable adventure. There is still
much work for the uninitiated, but by the time you're done, you will be
well on your way to becoming a Cocoa master.
