Beginning Xcode (Programmer to Programmer) [Paperback]

James Bucanek (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047175479X | ISBN-13: 978-0471754794 | Publication Date: April 3, 2006 | Edition: 1

Xcode is a powerful suite of free development tools from Apple Computer that will allow you to create Macintosh applications, plug-ins, web components, applets, and more using languages such as C, C++, Objective-C, Java, and AppleScript.

What you will learn from this book:

• Control window layout to match your development style.
• Master source file organization.
• How to access a source control management system, right in the Xcode interface.
• How to quickly navigate to files, symbols, bookmarks, declarations, and definitions within your project; find reference documents and instantly access API documentation.
• Harness Xcode’s smart editing features, such as auto-indent, code completion, and text macros.
• Discover how easy it is to browse class information and create dynamic class diagrams.
• Get started using Xcode’s Interface Builder and Data Modeling design tools.
• Learn to customize target build phases, add your own compilers, write your own build processes, and integrate Xcode with other build tools like Ant and gnumake.
• How to create and integrate unit tests into your projects.
• Harness the full power of the debugger with smart breakpoints and custom data formatters. Learn how to change variables, and even fix bugs, while your program is still running.
• Start using Xcode’s suite of performance analysis tools to find problems and accelerate your code.
• Customize scores of hidden, and often undocumented, Xcode features. Learn how to remap keyboard commands, create your own project and file templates, and even add your own commands to the Xcode menus.

Instead of "cookbook" projects specific to a particular language, developer James Bucanek details each Xcode feature with step-by-step instructions that can be applied directly to your projects. Example projects that demonstrate a single concept make it easy to explore each feature.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Bringing together the ease of use of Mac OS X, the power of Unix, and a mix of high-performance development technologies, Xcode is Apple's hottest new integrated development environment. This book shows you why Xcode is the fastest and easiest way for developers to create Mac OS X applications.

Covering the basic fundamentals of Xcode development, veteran programmer and developer James Bucanek explains how Xcode coordinates development in various languages supported by Mac and he offers an in-depth look at the Xcode Developer Tools package. Ultimately, you'll see how Xcode makes it easier for you to develop and maintain applications, and how it can help you achieve a seamless, comfortable, and productive working environment.

What you will learn from this book

• How to set up and control your working environment, create a project, and add source files to it
• Ways to edit source files and alter the structure of the project itself
• Techniques to starting and controlling the building the process
• Various options for running, debugging, and constructing automated test suites for your application
• A variety of editing, documentation, design, and analysis aides

Who this book is for

This book is for C, C++, Objective-C, AppleScript, or Java developers who want to learn to use Xcode so they can write, build, and test programs to run on Mac OS X.

Wrox Beginning guides are crafted to make learning programming languages and technologies easier than you think, providing a structured, tutorial format that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

About the Author

James Bucanek has spent over 25 years programming and developing microprocessor systems. He has experience with a broad range of computer hardware and software, from the smallest embedded consumer products to robotic control of silicon wafer deposition furnaces used in integrated circuit manufacturing. His development projects include the first local area network for the Apple, distributed air conditioning control systems, a piano teaching system, digital oscilloscopes, and collaborative writing and assessment tools for K-12 education. James holds a Java Developer Certification from Sun Microsystems and was awarded a patent for optimizing local area networks. He has been the technical editor and a contributing author for several recent books on Mac OS X. James is currently focused on Macintosh software development, where he can combine his deep knowledge of UNIX and object-oriented languages with his passion for elegant design. James holds an Associates degree in classical ballet from the Royal Academy of Dance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 590 pages
• Publisher: Wrox; 1 edition (April 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047175479X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471754794
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Bucanek has spent the past 30 years programming and developing microcomputer systems.

He has experience with a broad range of technologies, from embedded consumer products to industrial robotics. His projects include the first local area network for the Apple ][, distributed air conditioning control system, a piano teaching device, miniaturized radio transmitters with temperature probes to monitor the health of livestock (you can't make this stuff up), digital oscilloscopes, silicon wafer deposition furnaces, and collaborative writing tools for K-12 education.

James holds a Java Developers Certification from Sun Microsystems and was awarded a patent for optimizing local-area networks. James is currently focused on Macintosh and iPhone software development.

When not programming, James indulges in his love of art. He has served on the board of directors for local arts organizations and has performed with Ballet Arizona. He earned an Associates degree from the Royal Academy of Dance in classical ballet, and occasionally teaches at Adams Ballet Academy.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review for the Alaska and Military Members Apple User Group, May 7, 2006

By 

Jon Snelling (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beginning Xcode (Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

You this will be no surprise once you read the remainder of this review, but I'm going to just say it up front: this book is great. Being a seasoned Xcode user, I can tell you that having this book back when I was first switching over to Xcode would have hugely sped the transition.

The 'Programmer to Programmer' model that Wrox is known for is a an excellent style of reference. There are many benefits of targeting an existing programmer. When writing to an existing programmer there are terms and phrases that the writer can use that programmers will immediately understand, while a newcomer might not. These words and phrases allow the author to communicate to the reader in a rapid, concise and clear way.

The author introduces Xcode by devoting a series of chapters to different sections of the Xcode experience. Each chapter does an excellent job of introducing those little features that you might otherwise miss for a year, and then wonder how you got anything done without it. The chapters are filled with examples and pictures which I believe even a non programmer using the book as their first introduction could follow. I do believe though that a programming book would be a better first book and this book a second. The reason is that even though this book does a great job with simple explanations there are references made to terms which a new programmer wouldn't understand and also a new programmer wouldn't be able to relate to the features without a context. The new programmer says, "That's a great feature, but why and where do I use it?" The existing programmer coming to Xcode says, "Thats a great feature! Kind of like the ---- feature in my old ------ IDE but much more useful for ------."

The author even rounds off the survey of Xcode by addressing the powerful debugging and profiling tools that are included in the Xcode package. One section that I was extremely pleased to find was a section on remote debugging. Remote debugging is a method where one computer is used to run an application and another computer is used to monitor and debug. Remote debugging is a useful feature in general, but I find it indispensable when working on games or other full screen applications that take control of the entire screen. I was pleased to find this section included since I had a difficult time getting it to work the first time I tried to set it up. Again, having this excellent book at my side would have saved me enough time to justify purchasing the book.

I was also pleased with the author's coverage of Shark -?the performance profiling app included in Xcode. I have had wonderful results with using Shark to determine areas of my code that are malfunctioning or just plain poorly written with respect to time efficiency. The book does a wonderful job of explaining the function of usage of all the menu's windows in the application. Another feature that I thought was very useful that fits will with the "Programmer to Programmer" method is the "How it Works" sections that give a good description of why you are doing something, what Xcode is really doing as a result and how it does it.

I think that this book is incredible. I only have one recommendation to someone who's considering purchasing it. Buy it, but also purchase a book that covers the cutting edge Apple made technologies, like Carbon, Cocoa, Foundation, Core Foundation, Core Image, Core Data, Quartz, ect. The reason for this recommendation is that Xcode is built for and integrates well with these technologies and I believe that it would be beneficial to have a book to give an in depth introduction to these technologies, while this book gives an in-depth introduction to the IDE used to develop them. I have not had a chance to examine the book, but it's quite possible that Michael Trent and Drew McCormack's "Mac OS X Programming" also by Wrox is that perfect companion book.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good information..., March 18, 2007

By 

rjpryan "Ryan" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginning Xcode (Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

I have been using XCode (previously Project Builder) actively for about four years now and have to say that I'm impressed with the amount of information provided in this book. I learned a lot of things which have improved my efficiency and understanding of XCode. I now feel more comfortable using the debugger and performance analysis tools (Shark, etc.), sharing my source code (source trees are handy) and generally navigating around XCode. The book also demystified the myriad of project and target build settings and made me more comfortable altering the way my projects are built.

The only drawbacks of the book are the numerous typos and the author's generally poor writing style which tends to be overly wordy, but these flaws are worth overlooking for the vast amount of information contained within. I can see returning to this book from time to time as a reference in the future.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Book comparison, November 12, 2008

By 

John Love (Marquette, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginning Xcode (Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

I'm looking for a comparision between this book, "Beginning Xcode" (which I already have) and Fritz Anderson's "Xcode 3 Unleashed" (which I don't have).

Maybe it's just me, but I have found "Beginning Xcode" to be difficult to follow and I am searching for another Xcode book that's equal in depth, but significantly easier to follow.

=====
For example, my challenge today is I have an external framework which is incorporated under "Linked Frameworks" of my main app Project.

Currently, if I re-build this external framework, I then have to re-build my main app.

What I wish to do is every time I re-build my main app, I want the external framework to be re-built automatically .. in short, 1 step, rather than 2.

I have been told that my answer is in "Unleashed"; however, I just can't find it in "Beginning".
=====

My current challenge notwithstanding, I do see an advantage in that "Unleashed" is based on Xcode 3, versus "Beginning" dating back to Xcode 2 (2006). I also see raves for both books .. but I still welcome any additions *only* because I already have "Beginning" and "Unleashed" may not have sufficient added merit to warrant the $$$.

Thanks very, very much in advance.