Mac Programming for Absolute Beginners

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

   PDF

2. Understanding Programming

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 1-16

3. Understanding Apple’s Programming Tools

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 17-28

4. The Basic Steps to Creating a Mac Program

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 29-46

5. Getting Help

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 47-62

6. Learning Objective-C

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 63-81

7. Making Decisions with Branches

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 83-98

8. Repeating Code with Loops

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 99-110

9. Understanding the Cocoa Framework

   • Wallace Wang

   Pages 111-122

10. Manipulating Strings

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 123-138

11. Arrays

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 139-155

12. Dictionaries and Sets

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 157-172

13. Creating Classes and Objects

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 173-201

14. Inheritance, Method Overriding, and Events

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 203-214

15. Creating a User Interface

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 215-229

16. Choosing Commands with Buttons

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 231-248

17. Making Choices with Radio Buttons and Check Boxes

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 249-262

18. Making Choices with Pop-Up Buttons

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 263-277

19. Inputting and Outputting Data with Labels, Text Fields, and Combo Boxes

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 279-297

20. Inputting Data with Sliders, Date Pickers, and Steppers

    • Wallace Wang

    Pages 299-314

Want to learn how to program on your Mac? Not sure where to begin? Best-selling author Wallace Wang will explain how to get started with Cocoa, Objective-C, and Xcode. Whether you are an experienced Windows coder moving to the Mac, or you are completely new to programming, you’ll see how the basic design of a Mac OS X program works, how Objective-C differs from other languages you may have used, and how to use the Xcode development environment. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to use elements of the Cocoa framework to create windows, store data, and respond to users in your own Mac programs. If you want to learn how to develop apps with Cocoa, Objective-C, and Xcode, this book is a great first step.

Here are just a few of the things you’ll master along the way:

• Fundamental programming concepts aided by short, easy-to-understand examples
• How to use Xcode and related programming tools to save time and work more efficiently
• A firm understanding of the basics of Objective-C and how it compares to other languages you might know
• How to create simple apps using the Cocoa framework
• How to easily design, write, test, and market your finished program

With this book and your trusty Mac, you’re well on your way to transforming your Mac app ideas into real applications.

Wallace Wang is a former Windows enthusiast who took one look at Vista and realized that the future of computing belonged to the Macintosh. He s written more than 40 computer books, including Microsoft Office for Dummies, Beginning Programming for Dummies, Steal This Computer Book, My New Mac, and My New iPad. In addition to programming the Macintosh and iPhone/iPad, he also performs stand-up comedy, having appeared on A&E s "Evening at the Improv," and having performed in Las Vegas at the Riviera Comedy Club at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. When he s not writing computer books or performing stand-up comedy, he also enjoys blogging about screenwriting at his site, The 15 Minute Movie Method (www.15minutemoviemethod.com), where he shares screenwriting tips with other aspiring screenwriters who all share the goal of breaking into Hollywood.

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