Organization

This book provides a learning path for a Java developer new to the Mac OS X platform. It assumes a basic working familiarity with Java.

Chapter 1

Covers the history of Mac OS X and provides a preliminary introduction to the platform.

Chapter 2

Explores the technical underpinnings of the Mac OS X Java implementation, including the layout, classpath, and additions to the standard Java environment.

Chapter 3

Explores the pragmatics of Java development, including how to set up your development environment, and an overview of available tools.

Chapter 4

Builds a local desktop application in Swing and examines how to extend this application while still retaining cross-platform capability.

Chapter 5

Discusses and gives examples of Apple's various additions to the Java platform.

Chapter 6

Looks at the potential pitfalls of developing applications that are intended for multiple platforms and examines how to mitigate them.

Chapter 7

Describes how to package and deliver an application to end users that looks and behaves like a native Mac OS X application.

Chapter 8

Examines how to build client applications that are delivered via the Web, including applets and Web Start applications.

Chapter 9

Discusses how to make an application generate human speech and respond to your speech.

Chapter 10

Examines an application that provides support for rich multimedia.

Chapter 11

Adds real-time support and interactive spellchecking to an application.

Chapter 12

Provides basic information on installation, setup, and usage of the popular MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.

Chapter 13

Builds and debugs a web application using standard Java presentation technologies.

Chapter 14

Examines the development process for creating Enterprise JavaBeans on Mac OS X, and details installation of the JBoss application server.

Chapter 15

Builds XML-RPC and SOAP web services and communicates with these services by using Apple's AppleScript scripting package.