What is cocoa? What is Xcode? What is the framework?

What is cocoa?  What is Xcode? What is the framework?

What is cocoa?

Many libraries (libraries) and tools built into the NeXTSTEP (operating system with UNIX as the kernel) allow programmers to interact with the window manager in an elegant way, these libraries called the Framework, In 1993 years these frameworks and tools were re-modified and renamed to OpenStep, and later renamed to Cocoa( you should know why COCOA classes have NS prefixes)

So what are these libraries?

is typically a collection of classes that can be used together and compiled into a reusable code base (libraries)

What is Xcode?

All cocoa development tools are provided to users as part of the Mac OS X Developer tool, and you can get them free of charge from the Mac OS X installation disk. Although the Mac OS X Developer tool will add many useful programs to your system. but we will mainly use these two programs: Xcode and Interface Builder. inside these Ides, GCC compiles the code as a compiler, and gdb debugs it.

Xcode takes control of all the resources, code, pictures, sounds, and so on in the application. You just write the code in Xcode, and your program is compiled and run by Xcode. Xcode can also invoke and control the debugger.

Interface Builder is a GUI building tool through which you can create a window layout and add individual components to a window, Interface Builder makes it easy for programmers to create objects and edit their properties. Most of these objects are user interface components, such as buttons and text input boxes, but can also be objects that you customize

What is the framework?

The framework is a collection of classes, usually a collection of classes that may be used together. In other words, these classes are compiled together into a reusable codebase (library of code). All related resources and code libraries are put together in a directory with the extension ". Framework" (MAC OSX bundle concept can refer to some Apple documents). The system comes with a framework that can be found in/system/library/frameworks.

Cocoa is comprised of 3 frameworks

1. Foundation: All object-oriented languages have standard structures: value, collection, String, dates, lists, thread, and so on. All of this is in the Foundation framework (you can compare STL for C + +)

2. AppKit: All classes related to the user interface are here. Windows,buttons,text field, event, drawing. It also has a name: Applicationkit

3. Core Data:core Data makes it easy for you to save your objects as files or to load your objects from files.

Of course the Mac OSX Development package also offers many other frameworks. such as QuickTime, CD burning and so on. In this book we only focus on the 3 basic frameworks mentioned above. Once you have mastered these basic frameworks, you will be more likely to understand the other frameworks. (Cocoa is just a development environment for MACOSX, which provides the basic SDK for developing the Max OSX application. Of course, if you want to develop a particular application, you may need to use the other SDK provided by Apple. For example, to develop a program that plays DVDs. You may use the dvdplayback.framework. It is even a C + + interface)

Of course, you can also create your own framework. A typical example is when the same class is used by several applications. You might throw them a framework.

Summary:

The framework is a class library;

Cocoa is a collection of three frameworks;

Xcode is an integrated development environment.

Supplemental Tip:

IDE Integrated development Environment

In the earlier stages of program design, different software should be used to deal with, such as using word processing software to edit the source program, then use the link program to function, module connection, and then compile the program, the developer must switch between several software. The programming software now integrates the functions of editing, compiling, debugging and so on in a desktop environment, which greatly facilitates the users.

　　The integrated development environment (IDE Integrated DEVELOP Environment) is an application for the provider development environment, typically including code editors, compilers, debuggers, and graphical user interface tools. is the integration of code writing functions, analysis functions, compile functions, debugging functions and other integrated development software service sets . All software or software sets (groups) with this feature can be called integrated in-environment. such as Microsoft's Visual Studio series, Borland C + + Builder, Delphi series and so on. The program can be run independently or in combination with other programs. For example, the basic language is available in Microsoft Office software, and you can write WordBasic programs in Microsoft Word documents.　The IDE provides users with the convenience of using modern programming languages such as Visual Basic, Java, and PowerBuilder. Different technical systems have different Ides. such as Visual Studio. NET can be referred to as C + +, VB, C # and other languages of the integrated development environment, so Visual Studio. NET can be called the IDE. Similarly, Borland's JBuilder is also an IDE, which is the Java IDE. Zend Studio, EditPlus, UltraEdit these, each with basic coding, debugging functions, so each can be called the IDE.

　　The IDE has three basic features that must be integrated: editor, compile/linker, debugger. There are also some more powerful features, such as Code hints, project management, interface design, modeling capabilities

What is cocoa? What is Xcode? What is the framework?