[DevNine]

Quick Question,
Can I write in c (not ++) and use the cocoa api ? Any problems?

[Angus_D]

The Cocoa API is written in Objective-C, not C++ or C. Obj-C is a small set of extensions to C, nothing like C++. If you want to write in pure C, you'll have to use Carbon, but there's honestly no point.

[DevNine]

But an api is an api ,whatever language I address it from right ?

[smeger]

Yeah, no probs using C. If you were to use Cocoa from something other than C or C++ (or Java), you'd need a language bridge. For example, you couldn't write an ADA program and call Cocoa, at least, not easily. It's hard to write code from a mental institution.

[Angus_D]

What do you mean? You can call Obj-C from within C functions, of course, but you can't call Cocoa from C -- except for the few APIs which actually are pure C

An API is an API, yes, but an API is normally exposed in one particular language. Cocoa is a set of Obj-C objects, so to use them you're going to need to use Obj-C or some bridge.

[smeger]

Originally posted by Angus_D:
What do you mean? You can call Obj-C from within C functions, of course, but you can't call Cocoa from C -- except for the few APIs which actually are pure C

I assume you mean C++. You can call Cocoa from C++ using objective-C++. Rename your .m file to .mm and mix metaphors to your hearts content. And wait 45 minutes to compile "Hello World!", of course.

[Angus_D]

Originally posted by smeger:
I assume you mean C++. You can call Cocoa from C++ using objective-C++. Rename your .m file to .mm and mix metaphors to your hearts content. And wait 45 minutes to compile "Hello World!", of course.

No, I meant C, but your point stands too

Code:
void FunThing( id blah ) {
    [blah doSomething:@"Fwee"];
    MyOtherCFunction();
}

is what i meant. Of course, this should be obvious, since Obj-C is just a superset of C, but I was just trying to clarify any confusion DevNine had

[int69h]

I think you could use pure C syntax and use functions like objc_msgSend as long as you link against the correct libraries. If you decide to go that route, you're a braver man than I am. Have a look at /usr/include/objc/*.

[Chuckit]

Originally posted by int69h:
I think you could use pure C syntax and use functions like objc_msgSend as long as you link against the correct libraries. If you decide to go that route, you're a braver man than I am. Have a look at /usr/include/objc/*.

It seems like you'd still more or less have to use Obj-C features like selectors and classes, which aren't found in C.

[Angus_D]

You wouldn't want to use objc_msgSend directly. That'd just be silly.

[Chuckit]

Originally posted by Angus_D:
You wouldn't want to use objc_msgSend directly. That'd just be silly.

Not that much sillier than trying to use Cocoa with pure C....

[int69h]

Angus,

The example code you posted was objective-c. I realize no sane person would attempt this.

Chuckit,

Code:
struct objc_class {                     
        struct objc_class *isa; 
        struct objc_class *super_class; 
        const char *name;               
        long version;
        long info;
        long instance_size;
        struct objc_ivar_list *ivars;

        struct objc_method_list **methodLists;

        struct objc_cache *cache;
        struct objc_protocol_list *protocols;
};

Looks like C to me.

Writing a Cocoa app using only C syntax, and not relying on a wrapper library looks like an excercise in pain, but it seems possible.

[Angus_D]

Of course. Obj-C is pretty much converted to C before compilation anyway. However it's advised you don't use the objc runtime api specifically because they're not guaranteed to be stable