Cocoa

Cocoa is a native application framework for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS development, primarily using Objective-C or Swift. It provides a rich set of APIs for building graphical user interfaces, handling events, and managing data, tightly integrated with Apple's operating systems. The framework includes key components like Foundation for basic data types and AppKit/UIKit for UI elements.

Also known as: Cocoa Touch, Cocoa Framework, Apple Cocoa, Cocoa API, Cocoa/Objective-C

Why learn Cocoa?

Developers should learn Cocoa when building native applications for Apple platforms, as it offers deep integration with system features, performance optimizations, and access to the latest Apple technologies. It is essential for creating apps that follow Apple's design guidelines (e.g., Human Interface Guidelines) and leverage platform-specific capabilities like Touch ID or ARKit. Use cases include developing productivity tools, games, or media applications for the App Store.

Learning Resources

• docs: Apple Developer Documentation: Cocoa
• book: Cocoa Programming for Mac OS X by Aaron Hillegass
• course: Stanford CS193p: Developing Applications for iOS
• tutorial: Ray Wenderlich Cocoa Tutorials
• tutorial: Apple's Start Developing iOS Apps (Swift)