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Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
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Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code


  • Subject: Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
  • From: Saagar Jha via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>
  • Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2019 06:47:27 -0700

I’m sure much of the Cocoa code is quite old, but it’s mostly all Objective-C.
If you’re curious how it might work, but don’t want to use a disassembler, the
GNUstep project has a somewhat decent (though incomplete) reimplementation
<https://github.com/gnustep/libs-gui> that you can look at.

Saagar Jha

> On Oct 11, 2019, at 06:18, Turtle Creek Software via Cocoa-dev
> <email@hidden> wrote:
>
>>> If you combine otool, classdump and Hopper Disassembler, you can find
> how some Cocoa methods are working in any Obj-C executable pretty easily.
>
> Here's the thing.  We started out as construction folks who learned Excel.
> Then HyperTalk.  Then C++. As a business, our main strength is knowing the
> construction business, and how to talk to folks in it. Our time is best
> spent solving business-related problems.  Along the way we have learned
> many programming and human-interface skills, but the less time we need to
> spend on that, the better.
>
> If a programming environment requires zombies, disassemblers and other BS
> just to make it work, that is a big problem. It's too much extra overhead.
> Our company can't afford it.
>
> I'd agree that the documentation for Cocoa is deficient.
>
> CodeWarrior included a huge Inside PowerPlant book, modeled on our
> well-worn copies of Inside Macintosh. But we rarely used it.  Having
> clearly-written source code and good comments is probably the best form of
> documentation. Being able to step through it easily and see it in action is
> a huge plus.
>
> I suspect that Cocoa source code is ancient C that is badly in need of a
> refactoring. Making it open, understandable and self-documenting would be a
> great way to improve it.  Based on our refactoring experiences, it would
> end up being faster, safer and less buggy.
>
> There probably are some parts of Cocoa that are extremely proprietary- but
> even then, plain old patents are better than hiding the code, as a way to
> protect the jewels. Competitors can always disassemble, as you suggest.
>
> Speaking of early-Aughties history. We hired some subs to write the Windows
> version of our app. They took a short-cut and used QuickTime DLLs, though a
> lot still needed native MFC.  Metrowerks offered to buy it from us so they
> could make PowerPlant cross-platform.  Sadly, before we finished
> negotiations, Motorola did a re-org and our contact disappeared.  MW soon
> sold off their Intel compiler, just in time for Mac to switch chips. The
> rest is history.
>
> Casey McDermott
> TurtleSoft.com
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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code
      • From: Turtle Creek Software via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Thoughts on Cocoa source code (From: Turtle Creek Software via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code (From: Stephane Sudre via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>)
 >Re: Thoughts on Cocoa source code (From: Turtle Creek Software via Cocoa-dev <email@hidden>)

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