Mac OSX – Cocoa Layer Architecture
Created By: Debasis Das
In this article we will briefly talk about the Cocoa Layer or a Mac OSX and the different frameworks it comprises of and the high level functionality that each framework helps achieve.
AppKit
- Used to implement graphical, event driven user interface such as windows panels. buttons , menus, cursors, text fields, table views etc
- Handles communication with the hardware devices and screen buffers
- Handles event handling and drawing
FinderSync
- Makes it easy to enhance the Finder’s user interface by adding badges, short cut menu items and toolbar buttons
GameKit
- Provides features to create great social games
- Comprises of
- Game Center (Centralized game service)
- Peer to Peer Connectivity (create adhoc bluetooth or wireless network between multiple devices)
- In-Game Voice (Helps provide voice communication – iOS Only)
MapKit
- Provides an interface for embedding maps directly into your won windows and views.
- Provides annotation features
- Adding Overlays
- helps perform reverse-geocoding lookups
Notification Center
- Helps create and manage extensions—typically called widgets.
- The framework provides API we can use to specify whether a widget has content to display and to customize aspects of its appearance and behavior on both platforms.
Preference Panes
- The Preferences Panes framework defines the interface for subclasses to provide preference panes to System Preferences or other applications.
Screen Saver
- Defines the interface for subclasses to interact with the screen effects user interface feature
- Provides a number of functions commonly required by screen saver applications like producing random values and centering rectangles
Security Interface
- Provides user interface elements for programs that implement security features such as authorization, access to digital certificates and access to items in the key chain
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