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https://github.com/TooTallNate/NodObjC

The Node.js ⇆ Objective-C bridge
https://github.com/TooTallNate/NodObjC

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The Node.js ⇆ Objective-C bridge

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NodObjC

=======

### The [Node.js][] ⇆ [Objective-C][ObjCWikipedia] bridge

[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/TooTallNate/NodObjC.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/TooTallNate/NodObjC)



`NodObjC` exposes the Objective-C runtime to [Node.js][] in a high-level, easy

to use fashion. It uses the `BridgeSupport` files to dynamically generate an

API from an Objective-C "Framework", and uses the node `ffi` module to dynamically interact

with the Objective-C runtime.



Essentially, `NodObjC` is similar in nature to the other popular Objective-C

scripting bridges:



 * [JSCocoa][]

 * [PyObjC][]

 * [MacRuby][]

 * [And the others…][others]



So you can write entire Cocoa or iOS GUI applications entirely in Node.js

JavaScript! Applications are interpreted at runtime through the V8 engine,

rather than (pre)compiled to a (binary) machine exectuable. This has the advantage of being

able to tweak code without having to recompile; excellent for rapid prototyping

and development (or for those GUI applications where absolute speed is not a

requirement, i.e. _most_). So what are you waiting for? Get to coding!



Installation

------------



Install using `npm`, of course!



``` bash

$ npm install nodobjc

```



Or add it to the `"dependencies"` section of your _package.json_ file.



Hello World

-----------



``` javascript

var $ = require('nodobjc')



// First you import the "Foundation" framework

$.framework('Foundation')



// Setup the recommended NSAutoreleasePool instance

var pool = $.NSAutoreleasePool('alloc')('init')



// NSStrings and JavaScript Strings are distinct objects, you must create an

// NSString from a JS String when an Objective-C class method requires one.

var string = $.NSString('stringWithUTF8String', 'Hello Objective-C World!')



// Print out the contents (toString() ends up calling [string description])

console.log(string)

//   → Prints "Hello Objective-C World!"



pool('drain')

```



Be sure to check out the [full API docs][docs].



Introduction

------------



This module offers a bi-directional bridge between Node.js and the Objective-C

runtime. What does that mean exactly? Well due to the design of the Objective-C

runtime, it is possible to _port_ the entire API to other languages. There are

quite a few bridges for Obj-C so one for node was a necessity.



So with this module, you get access to _all_ of the Objective-C APIs, but you

invoke them through JavaScript. Obj-C has a concept of "message passing" to

invoke methods on objects. The way that you pass messages around is probably a

little bit different than the kind of JavaScript you're used to:



``` javascript

// In JavaScript, you invoke a function on an object like:

obj.func(arg)

```



Compared to:



``` javascript

// In NodObjC, you send a message to an object like:

obj('func', arg)

```



In Objective-C, the names of methods are part of the arguments that you pass

along:



``` objective-c

[array insertObject: obj

       atIndex: 5]

```



The equivalent of the above message invocation in NodObjC syntax would be:



``` javascript

array('insertObject', obj,

      'atIndex', 5)

```



So the even numbered arguments are the parts of the method name that will be

invoked, and the odd numbered arguments are the Obj-C arguments themselves. In

the above example, the `insertObject:atIndex:` function will be invoked.



In `NodObjC`, not only is the Objective-C runtime exposed, but so are the

corresponding C functions that usually go along with these APIs (thanks to

BridgeSupport). So for example, we can make an `NSRect` by calling the

`NSMakeRect()` C function:



``` javascript

$.NSMakeRect(5, 10, 8, 30)

// -> NSRect struct

```



There's a plethora of other Objective-C resources and tutorials out there.



You should definitely have Apple's official [Mac][MacDev] or [iOS][iOSDev] API

docs handy at all times.



Support / Getting Involved

---------------------------



If you're looking for support for developing with/for `NodObjC` you might want

to join the [mailing list][group], and check out the [#nodobjc][IRC] channel

in the Freenode IRC server.



Additional topics of discussion can be found on the [Wiki][] page.



[docs]: http://tootallnate.github.io/NodObjC

[group]: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/nodobjc

[Node.js]: http://nodejs.org

[JSCocoa]: http://inexdo.com/JSCocoa

[PyObjC]: http://pyobjc.sourceforge.net

[MacRuby]: http://macruby.org

[IRC]: http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=nodobjc

[Wiki]: https://github.com/TooTallNate/NodObjC/wiki

[MacDev]: http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/navigation/

[iOSDev]: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/navigation/

[ObjCWikipedia]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective-C

[others]: http://cocoadev.com/CocoaBridges