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.

Mac OSX Cocoa Layer Architecture

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