Interface Builder
- For information on general interface builders, please see User interface builder.
| File:Interface Builder.png | |
| Developer(s) | Apple Computer |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 2.5
/ 2005 |
| Operating system | Mac OS X |
| Type | software development |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | Apple.com |
Interface Builder is a software development application on Apple Computer's Mac OS X operating system. It is part of the Apple 'ADC' developers toolset. Interface Builder allows Cocoa and Carbon developers to create interfaces for applications using a graphical user interface. The resulting interface is stored as a .nib file (short for NeXT Interface Builder).
Interface Builder is descended from the NeXTSTEP development software of the same name. Its design is closely mirrored in Gorm, an interface builder for GNUstep. A version of Interface Builder is also used in the development of OpenStep software.
History
Interface Builder first made its appearance in 1990 as part of NeXTSTEP 2.0. It was one of the first commercial applications that allowed interface elements (such as widgets and menus) to be placed in an interface using a mouse.
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Design
Interface Builder provides "palettes", or collections, of user interface objects to an Objective-C developer. These user interface objects contain items like text fields, data tables, sliders, and pop-up menus. Interface Builder's palettes are completely extensible, meaning any developer can develop new objects and add palettes to Interface Builder.
To build an interface, a developer simply drags interface objects from the palette onto a window or menu. In this way, Interface Builder functions somewhat like a graphics program.
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Nib files
Interface Builder saves an application's interface as a directory hive that contains the interface objects and relationships used in the application. These objects are marshalled into either an XML file or a NeXT-style property list file with a .nib extension. Upon running an application, the proper NIB objects are unpacked, connected into the binary of their owning application, and awakened.
- See also: Apple's Nib file documentation
External links
- Apple's Interface Builder documentation for Cocoa and Carbon development
- Sun's Interface Builder documentation for OpenStep development