Coding Software For Mac

Atom 1.41.0

Xcode is the primary tool for macOS and iOS development and it is only available on the Mac. It is a free download from the Mac App Store and the current version is 11.5 the time of writing. A Quick Start to Code gives teachers and families 10 fun coding activities for kids ages 10 and up. It's a great way for beginners to try a variety of coding challenges in the Swift Playgrounds app for iPad and Mac.

A hackable text editor for the 21st Century.
Everything you would expect
* Cross-platform editing
* Atom works across operating systems. Use it on OS X, Windows, or Linux.
* Built-in package manager
* Search for and install new packages or create your own right from Atom.
* Smart autocompletion
* Atom helps you write code faster with a smart and flexible autocomplete.

Free Coding Software Programs

* File system browser
* Easily browse and open a single file, a whole project, or multiple projects in one window.
* Multiple panes
* Split your Atom interface into multiple panes to compare and edit code across files.
* Find and replace
* Find, preview, and replace text as you type in a file or across all your projects.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: GitHub, Inc.
• Modification Date: October 21, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit (built with Electron)

Download File Size: 174.2 MB

BBEdit 13.0.2
BBEdit is the leading professional HTML and text editor for theMacintosh. Specifically crafted in response to the needs of Web authorsand software developers, this award-winning product provides anabundance of high-performance features for editing, searching, andmanipulation of text. An intelligent interface provides easy access toBBEdit's best-of-class features, including grep pattern matching, searchand replace across multiple files, project definition tools, functionnavigation and syntax coloring for numerous source code languages, codefolding, FTP and SFTP open and save, AppleScript, Mac OS X Unixscripting support, text and code completion, and of course a completeset of robust HTML markup tools.

• License: Demo, $50
• Developer/Publisher: Bare Bones Software
• Modification Date: October 25, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.14.2 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 14.5 MB

BlueJ 4.2.1
BlueJ is an integrated Java environment specifically designed forintroductory teaching.
The BlueJ environment was developed as part of a university researchproject about teaching object-orientation to beginners. The system isbeing developed and maintained by a joint research group at DeakinUniversity, Melbourne, Australia, and the University of Kent inCanterbury, UK. The project is supported by Sun Microsystems.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Monash University
• Modification Date: April 29, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit, Java (contained within the application)

Download File Size: 247.1 MB

Chipmunk Basic 1.368.2118
Chipmunk Basic for MacOS is an old-fashioned Basic interpreter whichruns on almost all Macs. Chipmunk Basic uses a vintage traditional-stylecommand-line console, but note that line numbers are not required to runBasic program written using an external text editor. Supported featureson MacOS include color graphics, sprites, sound (including QuicktimeMIDI sounds and morse code), speech synthesis, matrix ops, AppleScript,network sockets, pipes, serial I/O, and even some rudamentary OOP(object oriented programming) capabilities.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Ron Nicholson
• Modification Date: September 1, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 1.6 MB

Eclipse 2019-06
Eclipse provides IDEs and platforms for nearly every language andarchitecture. We are famous for our Java IDE, C/C++, JavaScript and PHPIDEs built on extensible platforms for creating desktop, Web and cloudIDEs. These platforms deliver the most extensive collection of add-ontools available for software developers.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Eclipse.org
• Modification Date: June 12, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit, Java

Download File Size: 51.3

FutureBASIC 6.0.5
This site hosts both the FBtoC Project and the FutureBasic Freewaredownloads.
FutureBasic consists of a syntax-aware editor/IDE and a translator (FBtoC ) that converts FB code into C/Objective-C code. The translationis then compiled with the clang system compiler.

Downloads and their executables are freeware, but source code and rightsof distribution are reserved to the respective authors (the FBtoC team,Staz Software and others where noted ).

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: STAZ Software and the FBtoC team
• Modification Date: August 30, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 9.7 MB

Gitkraken 6.3.0

Free Coding Software For Mac

The legendary Git GUI client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
GitKraken is a Git client built on Electron, allowing it to run nativelyon Mac, Windows and Linux desktop systems. Enjoy the same luxuriousexperience across all three!
Visual Interactions - Branching, merging and commit history
Resizable Commit Graph - Fully responsive and easy to understand
Drag and Drop - Merge, rebase, reset, push and more
Seamless Integrations - The best Git client should integrate with yourGit hosting service. That's why GitKraken connects to popular serviceslike GitHub, Bitbucket and GitLab to make working with your remoterepositories easier. GitHub.com, GitLab.com, Bitbucket.org

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Axosoft
• Modification Date: October 14, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit (built with Electron)

Download File Size: 106.7 MB

Hex Fiend 2.11.0
A fast and clever open source hex editor for Mac OS X.
* Insert, delete, rearrange. Hex Fiend is not limited to in-place changes like some hex editors.
* Work with huge files. Hex Fiend can handle as big a file as you're able to create. It's been tested on files as large as 118 GB.
* Small footprint. Hex Fiend does not need to keep your files in memory. You won't dread launching or working with Hex Fiend even on low-RAM machines.
* Fast. Open a huge file, scroll around, copy and paste, all instantly. Find what you're looking for with fast searching.
* Smart saving. Hex Fiend knows not to waste time overwriting the parts of your files that haven't changed.
* Data inspector. Interpret data as integer or floating point, signed or unsigned, big or little endian...
* Smooth scrolling. No separate 'pages' - scroll like any text document.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Ridiculous Fish
• Modification Date: February 3, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 2.1 MB

Hopper Disassembler 4.5.17
Hopper Disassembler, the reverse engineering tool that lets you disassemble, decompile and debug your applications.

• License: Demo, $99
• Developer/Publisher: Cryptic Apps
• Modification Date: October 25, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 33.7 MB

Komodo 11.1.1
Komodo IDE includes all of the integrations you need to stay in-the-zoneand get more done. Get your favorite frameworks, languages, and tools inone cross-platform, polyglot IDE.
Komodo supports over 100 languages including Python, PHP, Go, Perl, Tcl,Ruby, NodeJS, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and more.

• License: Demo, $295
• Developer/Publisher: ActiveState Corporation
• Modification Date: December 12, 2018
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 104.5

PHP 7.3.10
PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.
Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: The PHP Group
• Modification Date: September 24, 2019
• Requirements: macOS

Download File Size: 19.6 MB

Platypus 5.3
Platypus is a Mac OS X developer tool that creates native Mac OS Xapplications from interpreted scripts such as shell scripts or Perl,Ruby and Python programs. This is done by wrapping the script in anapplication bundle along with a native executable binary that runs thescript.
Platypus makes it easy for you to share your scripts with peopleunfamiliar with the command line interface, without any knowledge of theMac OS X APIs — a few clicks and you will have your own Mac OS Xgraphical program. Creating installers, maintenance applications, loginitems, launchers, automations and droplets is very easy using Platypus.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Sveinbjorn Thordarson
• Modification Date: November 25, 2018
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 3.3 MB

Python 3.8.0
Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programminglanguage. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, it is free,and it runs on Unix, PC, Macintosh, and many other systems.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Python Software Foundation
• Modification Date: October 14, 2019
• Requirements: macOS

Download File Size: 29 MB

Ruby 2.6.5
A dynamic, open source programming language with a focus on simplicityand productivity. It has an elegant syntax that is natural to read andeasy to write.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Yukihiro Matsumoto, et al.
• Modification Date: October 1, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

Download File Size: 16.2 MB

Homebrew installation: $ brew install ruby

Ruby on Rails 6.0.0
Learning to build a modern web application is daunting. Ruby on Railsmakes it much easier and more fun. It includes everything you need tobuild fantastic applications, and you can learn it with the support ofour large, friendly community.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: rubyonrails.org
• Modification Date: August 16, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

Script Debugger 7.0.8
We too appreciate AppleScript's ability to let you automate repetitiveand time consuming tasks. But much like entering a maze at night, usingAppleScript requires guesswork — and plenty of feeling around in thedark. Script Debugger flips on the light switch so you can see what's infront of you. It gives you more than just a flashlight, it gives youdaylight.
Script Debugger is an integrated development environment focusedentirely on AppleScript. This focus allows Script Debugger to deliver asuite of tools that make AppleScript development amazingly productive.Features like the dictionary explorer allow you to look directly intoany application's live scripting interface and step wise debugging withthe ability to see the state of all your variables make AppleScriptusable in a way you've never experienced before. Of course, this is justa taste of the things Script Debugger does.

• License: Demo, $100
• Developer/Publisher: Late Night Software
• Modification Date: May 4, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 41.2 MB

SmartGit 19.1.3
Get your commit done. SmartGit is a Git client with support for GitHubPull Requests+Comments and SVN.

• License: Demo, Pro $99
• Developer/Publisher: Syntevo GmbH
• Modification Date: September 11, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit, Java (contained within the application)

Download File Size: 80.3 MB

SmartSVN 11.0.3
SmartSVN is an innovative multi-platform client for Subversion, thedesignated successor of CVS. SmartSVN has powerful features likebuilt-in File Compare/Merge, Change Report or Tag and Branch handling,which make your daily work with Subversion as easy as possible.
SmartSVN is the consequent successor of SmartCVS, which helps thousandsof users to sail around the CVS cliffs. Don't settle with simple GUIwrappers around the command line executable. Try out the easy-to-use andintelligent features of SmartSVN, which works together with yourSubversion server out-of-the-box.

• License: Demo, Pro $99
• Developer/Publisher: Syntevo GmbH
• Modification Date: June 28, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit, Java (contained within the application)

Download File Size: 33.8 MB

Squeak 5.2
Squeak is a powerful, highly-portable open-source implementation ofSmalltalk. Squeak is an Object-Oriented programming language andinteractive environment with many great Features.
Squeak is used for a wide variety of computing tasks, ranging from childeducation through to research in computer science.

Downloads and their executables are freeware, but source code and rightsof distribution are reserved to the respective authors (the FBtoC team,Staz Software and others where noted ).

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: STAZ Software and the FBtoC team
• Modification Date: August 30, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.13 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 9.7 MB

Gitkraken 6.3.0

Free Coding Software For Mac

The legendary Git GUI client for Mac, Windows and Linux.
GitKraken is a Git client built on Electron, allowing it to run nativelyon Mac, Windows and Linux desktop systems. Enjoy the same luxuriousexperience across all three!
Visual Interactions - Branching, merging and commit history
Resizable Commit Graph - Fully responsive and easy to understand
Drag and Drop - Merge, rebase, reset, push and more
Seamless Integrations - The best Git client should integrate with yourGit hosting service. That's why GitKraken connects to popular serviceslike GitHub, Bitbucket and GitLab to make working with your remoterepositories easier. GitHub.com, GitLab.com, Bitbucket.org

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Axosoft
• Modification Date: October 14, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit (built with Electron)

Download File Size: 106.7 MB

Hex Fiend 2.11.0
A fast and clever open source hex editor for Mac OS X.
* Insert, delete, rearrange. Hex Fiend is not limited to in-place changes like some hex editors.
* Work with huge files. Hex Fiend can handle as big a file as you're able to create. It's been tested on files as large as 118 GB.
* Small footprint. Hex Fiend does not need to keep your files in memory. You won't dread launching or working with Hex Fiend even on low-RAM machines.
* Fast. Open a huge file, scroll around, copy and paste, all instantly. Find what you're looking for with fast searching.
* Smart saving. Hex Fiend knows not to waste time overwriting the parts of your files that haven't changed.
* Data inspector. Interpret data as integer or floating point, signed or unsigned, big or little endian...
* Smooth scrolling. No separate 'pages' - scroll like any text document.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Ridiculous Fish
• Modification Date: February 3, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.8 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 2.1 MB

Hopper Disassembler 4.5.17
Hopper Disassembler, the reverse engineering tool that lets you disassemble, decompile and debug your applications.

• License: Demo, $99
• Developer/Publisher: Cryptic Apps
• Modification Date: October 25, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 33.7 MB

Komodo 11.1.1
Komodo IDE includes all of the integrations you need to stay in-the-zoneand get more done. Get your favorite frameworks, languages, and tools inone cross-platform, polyglot IDE.
Komodo supports over 100 languages including Python, PHP, Go, Perl, Tcl,Ruby, NodeJS, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and more.

• License: Demo, $295
• Developer/Publisher: ActiveState Corporation
• Modification Date: December 12, 2018
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 104.5

PHP 7.3.10
PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.
Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: The PHP Group
• Modification Date: September 24, 2019
• Requirements: macOS

Download File Size: 19.6 MB

Platypus 5.3
Platypus is a Mac OS X developer tool that creates native Mac OS Xapplications from interpreted scripts such as shell scripts or Perl,Ruby and Python programs. This is done by wrapping the script in anapplication bundle along with a native executable binary that runs thescript.
Platypus makes it easy for you to share your scripts with peopleunfamiliar with the command line interface, without any knowledge of theMac OS X APIs — a few clicks and you will have your own Mac OS Xgraphical program. Creating installers, maintenance applications, loginitems, launchers, automations and droplets is very easy using Platypus.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Sveinbjorn Thordarson
• Modification Date: November 25, 2018
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 3.3 MB

Python 3.8.0
Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programminglanguage. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, it is free,and it runs on Unix, PC, Macintosh, and many other systems.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Python Software Foundation
• Modification Date: October 14, 2019
• Requirements: macOS

Download File Size: 29 MB

Ruby 2.6.5
A dynamic, open source programming language with a focus on simplicityand productivity. It has an elegant syntax that is natural to read andeasy to write.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Yukihiro Matsumoto, et al.
• Modification Date: October 1, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

Download File Size: 16.2 MB

Homebrew installation: $ brew install ruby

Ruby on Rails 6.0.0
Learning to build a modern web application is daunting. Ruby on Railsmakes it much easier and more fun. It includes everything you need tobuild fantastic applications, and you can learn it with the support ofour large, friendly community.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: rubyonrails.org
• Modification Date: August 16, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.4 or higher

Script Debugger 7.0.8
We too appreciate AppleScript's ability to let you automate repetitiveand time consuming tasks. But much like entering a maze at night, usingAppleScript requires guesswork — and plenty of feeling around in thedark. Script Debugger flips on the light switch so you can see what's infront of you. It gives you more than just a flashlight, it gives youdaylight.
Script Debugger is an integrated development environment focusedentirely on AppleScript. This focus allows Script Debugger to deliver asuite of tools that make AppleScript development amazingly productive.Features like the dictionary explorer allow you to look directly intoany application's live scripting interface and step wise debugging withthe ability to see the state of all your variables make AppleScriptusable in a way you've never experienced before. Of course, this is justa taste of the things Script Debugger does.

• License: Demo, $100
• Developer/Publisher: Late Night Software
• Modification Date: May 4, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 41.2 MB

SmartGit 19.1.3
Get your commit done. SmartGit is a Git client with support for GitHubPull Requests+Comments and SVN.

• License: Demo, Pro $99
• Developer/Publisher: Syntevo GmbH
• Modification Date: September 11, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit, Java (contained within the application)

Download File Size: 80.3 MB

SmartSVN 11.0.3
SmartSVN is an innovative multi-platform client for Subversion, thedesignated successor of CVS. SmartSVN has powerful features likebuilt-in File Compare/Merge, Change Report or Tag and Branch handling,which make your daily work with Subversion as easy as possible.
SmartSVN is the consequent successor of SmartCVS, which helps thousandsof users to sail around the CVS cliffs. Don't settle with simple GUIwrappers around the command line executable. Try out the easy-to-use andintelligent features of SmartSVN, which works together with yourSubversion server out-of-the-box.

• License: Demo, Pro $99
• Developer/Publisher: Syntevo GmbH
• Modification Date: June 28, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit, Java (contained within the application)

Download File Size: 33.8 MB

Squeak 5.2
Squeak is a powerful, highly-portable open-source implementation ofSmalltalk. Squeak is an Object-Oriented programming language andinteractive environment with many great Features.
Squeak is used for a wide variety of computing tasks, ranging from childeducation through to research in computer science.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: squeak.org
• Modification Date: December 14, 2018
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 29.7 MB

Sublime Text 3.2.1
Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, markup and prose.You'll love the slick user interface, extraordinary features and amazing performance.

• License: Demo, $70
• Developer/Publisher: Sublime HQ
• Modification Date: April 5, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 16 MB

Subversion 1.12.2
Subversion is an open source version control system. Founded in 2000 byCollabNet, Inc., the Subversion project and software have seenincredible success over the past decade. Subversion has enjoyed andcontinues to enjoy widespread adoption in both the open source arena andthe corporate world.

• License: Freeware
• Developer/Publisher: Apache Software Foundation
• Modification Date: July 19, 2019
• Requirements: macOS

Download File Size: 11.5 MB

TextMate 2.0
Powerful and customizable text editor with support for a huge list of programming languages and developed as open source.

• License: Shareware, $57
• Developer/Publisher: MacroMates
• Modification Date: September 15, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.12 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 14.1 MB

Unity 2019.2.10
Unity makes cutting-edge game technologies outrageously simple to use. Unity is a one-stop solution for professional game development.
1. You can make amazing stuff.
Unity provides the simplicity of professional authoring combined with the power of a modern 3D game engine. You can create amazing stuff in amazingly short time.
2. Unity just works.
Drop your models and animations right in. Add sizzling graphics, immersive physics, and animated characters with a few clicks. We know that you want to spend your time making great things.

• License: Personal Free, Plus $35/month, Pro $125 month
• Developer/Publisher: OTEE
• Modification Date: October 21, 2019
• Requirements: macOS 10.12.6 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 76.1 MB - Installer

Xcode 11.4
Xcode includes everything developers need to create great applicationsfor Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Xcode providesdevelopers a unified workflow for user interface design, coding,testing, and debugging. The Xcode IDE combined with the Swiftprogramming language make developing apps easier and more fun than everbefore.
Xcode includes the Xcode IDE, Swift and Objective-C compilers,Instruments analysis tool, simulators, the latest SDKs, and hundreds ofpowerful features.

• License: Free
• Developer/Publisher: Apple
• Modification Date: March 24, 2020
• Requirements: macOS 10.15.2 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 8.1 GB

Xojo 2019r1.1
Develop faster with Xojo.
Cross-platform - Code once then deploy on macOS, Windows, Linux, the web, iOS and Raspberry Pi.
Rich Framework - With modern support for graphics, database servers and internet protocols, build anything you can imagine.
Drag & drop UI - Create your native user interface quickly and intuitively with drag and drop.
Abstraction - Xojo abstracts you from the platform details allowing you to focus your time and energy on what makes your app unique

• License: Demo, $299 - Pro $699 - Enterprise $1,999
• Developer/Publisher: Xojo Inc.
• Modification Date: May 17, 2019
• Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit

Download File Size: 965.5 MB

About the platform[edit]

macOS is the primary operating system for the Macintosh computer. It was originally a system designed privately by Apple Inc, however with Mac OS X, it has been based on Unix. Specifically, a modified FreeBSD operating system called 'Darwin'.

There are many different kinds of software that can be developed for Mac OS X. People generally think of applications, but we'll briefly cover some of the other kinds.

Types of Software for Mac OS X[edit]

Applications[edit]

Applications are what people generally think of when they think about software for Mac OS X. Cocoa applications include: Finder, Mail, Address Book, Safari, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel. Anybody can develop applications using Apple's free development tools which includes XCode. Mac OS X applications are developed using Objective-C though there are other possible programming languages that could be used.

The most popular languages for use on the macOS platform is Objective-C which could be thought of as Mac OS X's 'native language' since the Mac OS X libraries, or 'frameworks', all have an Objective-C interface. Objective-C includes everything that plain C can do, and adds object-oriented programming. See: Objective-C.

C++ can be used in developing for the Mac, but generally, it is used in addition to Objective-C rather than being in place of Objective-C. Using both Objective-C and C++ is called 'Objective-C++' and is considered to be optional when developing software for Mac OS X: C++

See Programming:Objective-C for a lesson on the basics of Objective-C [1] may also be of assistance.

Some preliminary thoughts:

Objective-C is the language most commonly used in Mac OS Programming. Objective-C entered Mac OS X and has ancestry in NeXT. Cocoa. Before you learn Mac programming you must know the basics of C since it is the basis for Objective-C.

There used to be three separate APIs for developing a Mac application with a GUI:

1. Classic (Mac OS 9 and lower). Developing for the Classic API is no longer done. When Mac OS X first came out, users and developers had a huge investment in software written for Mac Classic OS and Mac OS X used to have an emulation mode so that users could run their old software. Apple has long since stopped support of the Classic API and Classic emulation in Mac OS X.

2. Carbon (Mac OS 8.5 up to and including Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard). Carbon was an API for developers to update their applications that used the Classic API to be run without the Classic emulator. Carbon was a great way that Apple provided developers to upgrade their software to run on Mac OS X without having to totally rewrite their software, but Carbon, like Classic, is no longer supported by Apple.

3. Cocoa (All versions of Mac OS X). Cocoa is the most native API that can be used to develop applications for Mac OS X that are truly 'Mac-like'. Generally, Objective-C will be used along with Cocoa, though there are other options such as Cocoa-AppleScript and Cocoa-Python, but Cocoa-Objective-C is really the 'mainstream' way to develop Cocoa applications.

Resource Forks Files in Mac OS X have a feature that is unique to Mac OS and that is that each file on disk can have two 'forks'. This feature used to be used for Classic and Carbon applications to separate code from resources (such as menus, windows, etc.), and the Mac OS X file system still supports two forks, but you should only use the 'data fork'. The resource fork is non-standard and can be lost when transferring Mac files to other file systems.

AppleScripts[edit]

Another 'native language' for developing Mac OS X applications is AppleScript. AppleScript is a language that Apple invented to automate repetitive tasks. The AppleScript application is located on your Mac at /Applications/Utilities/AppleScript Editor. AppleScript can be used to record AppleEvents, the events that applications send to themselves or to other applications. Why don't you try it out. Open AppleScript Editor, press the record button, do some things with your other applications and watch the script write itself. AppleScript can be used alone or it can be used along with XCode to develop Cocoa Applications using mostly AppleScript instead of Objective-C. This option is mostly for experienced AppleScript programmers who don't know Objective-C.

Automator Workflows[edit]

Apple also provides an application called 'Automator' that can be used to easily automate repetitive tasks. It is located at /Applications/Automator.app

Shell Scripts[edit]

Mac OS X has an application called Terminal that provides a command-line interface to Mac OS X. It is possible to develop scripts for the command line. Terminal.app is located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app To create a shell script, you need a text editor. There is a text editor that comes with Mac OS X called 'TextEdit.app'. It is located in /Applications/TextEdit.app. But actually, what is better than TextEdit is a program such as TextWrangler.app which is available for free from the following link: http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/

The shell that Terminal.app uses by default is called 'bash'. Here is a simple tutorial on developing bash scriptshttp://www.maclife.com/article/columns/terminal_101_automate_terminal_bash_scripts

We won't go any more deeply into shell scripts here in this wikibook, but it's just good to know what they are. You can always google for more information now that you know what to google for.

Command Line Tools[edit]

When you open Terminal and you learn how to type in commands. The commands are usually command-line tools or scripts. Above, we just talked about developing your own scripts with a text editor. It's also possible to develop your own command-line tools, using XCode. This is an advanced thing to do. Usually, power-users will write a shell-script (or some other kind of thing such as an AppleScript or an Automator Workflow) but it's good to know what a command-line tool is. Command-line tools have a textual user-interface rather than a graphical user interface (GUI).

Java[edit]

Java used to be treated by Apple as a 'first class language' to develop for Mac OS, however in recent years, Apple has less support for Java. Now with Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' and 10.8 'Mountain Lion', Java doesn't even come pre-installed in Mac OS X. Java is still available, but users have to download Java from Oracle's website and install it themselves. Apple's Mac App Store doesn't even allow Java apps to be sold at their store calling Java 'deprecated'.

However, there still are Mac developers who use Java because it has the advantage of being cross-platform compatible. For example, the same source-code can be used to generate software that runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Coding App For Mac Os X

Apple has said that Java reduces the Mac to the 'least common denominator'. That's why they support it less.

Python[edit]

Python is somewhat supported by Apple. In fact, Python is shipped with Mac OS X and is part of the System Folder. There are third-party libraries that allow developers to develop applications using Python and Cocoa together, but these are not very well maintained, and Python on the Mac is most suitable for developing command-line utilities, or cross-platform scripts that aren't really very Mac-like.

Ruby[edit]

Similar to Python.

Programming Text Editor Mac

Websites[edit]

Most Mac users use Safari for their web browser. Safari uses the standards set by w3c.org You can develop websites that work with Safari by following the standards of the w3c.org. Remember to validate your HMTL, CSS, and JavaScript.

HTML Validator:http://validator.w3.org/

CSS Validator:http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

JavaScript Lint:http://www.javascriptlint.com/online_lint.php

If you're developing websites using your Mac and using Safari, remember to test your webpages on other platforms and with other web browsers.

Mac OS X Specific Languages[edit]

Bmw Coding Software For Mac

Objective-C is really the 'native' language for Mac OS X development

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You could call AppleScript a 'native' language too, but it isn't really used to make commercial applications. It was designed to be used by real power-users to automate their tasks. Although it is possible to use AppleScript to build Cocoa applications in XCode, this would be more for users who already know AppleScript and don't want to learn Objective-C.

Mac OS X Frameworks[edit]