MacRuby is a Ruby implementation that can be used to write Cocoa applications for Mac OS X. It allows Ruby code to interact with the Cocoa frameworks and Objective-C classes. The presentation introduces MacRuby and demonstrates how to use the MacRuby REPL for learning Core Data, build a MacRuby project, hook up a user interface with Ruby methods, use Ruby gems, and package applications for distribution.

1. MacRuby
For fun...
and profit!
Presented by: Joshua Ballanco

2. A quick introduction...
• Been using Ruby since 2004
• MacRuby Core Team member
• Worked for Apple 2006 to 2010
• Currently at Patch (AOL)
• https://github.com/jballanc
• @manhattanmetric

3. Overview
• Using MacRuby as a Cocoa REPL
• Cocoa Development with MacRuby
• Getting Started
• Building and Running
• Hooking Up a UI
• Using Gems
• Packaging and Shipping

4. What is MacRuby?
• http://www.macruby.org
• http://www.macruby.org/files/
• http://www.macruby.org/files/nightlies/
• Available from RVM (but not recommended)
• Source at GitHub:
https://github.com/MacRuby/MacRuby

5. What is MacRuby?
• Compiling MacRuby:
• Need LLVM *2.9* (see the README)
• rake ; sudo rake install
• Bugs – https://www.macruby.org/trac/report
• MacRuby-devel mailing list
• @macruby, #macruby

6. Ruby Syntax

7. Ruby Syntax
Parser
MRI’s parse.y
Compiler
RoxorCompiler <C++>
VM (sans GVL)
LLVM (with JIT)
RoxorVM & RoxorCore <C++>
Objective-C Runtime

8. MacRuby for Fun!
• REPL – Read Eval Print Loop

9. MacRuby for Fun!
• REPL – Read Eval Print Loop
• Useful tool for learning, development, and
debugging

10. MacRuby for Fun!
• REPL – Read Eval Print Loop
• Useful tool for learning, development, and
debugging
• LISP, Python, Ruby all benefit from a REPL
• C, C++, Java do not

11. MacRuby for Fun!
• REPL – Read Eval Print Loop
• Useful tool for learning, development, and
debugging
• LISP, Python, Ruby all benefit from a REPL
• C, C++, Java do not
• Obj-C ...has MacRuby!

12. MacRuby for Fun!

13. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!

14. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!
• There sure is a lot of documentation on
http://developer.apple.com about CoreData

15. Core Data Utility Tutorial
Data Management
2010-09-19

16. Contents
Introduction Introduction to Core Data Utility Tutorial 7
Who Should Read This Document 7
Organization of This Document 7
See Also 8
Chapter 1 Overview of the Tutorial 9
Task Goal 9
Chapter 2 Creating the Project 11
Create a New Project 11
Create the project 11
Link the Core Data framework 11
Adopt Garbage Collection 12
What Happened? 12
Chapter 3 Creating the Managed Object Model 13
Specifying the Entity 13
Create the Managed Object Model 13
Create the Model Instance 13
Create the Entity 14
Add the Attributes 14
Add a Localization Dictionary 15
Instantiate a Managed Object Model 16
Build and Test 16
Complete Listing 16
Chapter 4 The Application Log Directory 19
The applicationLogDirectory Function 19
Update the main Function 20
Build and Test 20
Chapter 5 Creating the Core Data Stack 21
Overview 21
The managedObjectContext Function 21
Create the Context Instance 21
Set up the Persistent Store Coordinator and Store 22
3
2010-09-19 | © 2005, 2010 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

17. CHAPTER 8
Complete Source Listings
if ([key isEqualToString:@"processID"]) {
self.processID = 0;
}
else {
[super setNilValueForKey:key];
}
}
@end
38 The Run Class
2010-09-19 | © 2005, 2010 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

18. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!
• There sure is a lot of documentation on
http://developer.apple.com about CoreData

19. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!
• There sure is a lot of documentation on
http://developer.apple.com about CoreData
• Documentation is boring :-(

20. setup.rb

21. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!
• There sure is a lot of documentation on
http://developer.apple.com about CoreData
• Documentation is boring... :-(

22. MacRuby for Fun!
• Let’s learn CoreData!
• There sure is a lot of documentation on
http://developer.apple.com about CoreData
• Documentation is boring... :-(
• REPLs are fun! :-)

23. MacRuby for Profit!
• Things you will need:
• MacRuby nightly build (or 0.11 when it
comes out)
• Xcode 4.2 (v4.1 is definitely broken, v3-
series may still work)
• Gumption (and the mailing list address)

24. MacRuby for Profit!
• Install Xcode FIRST! then MacRuby
• Start Xcode, choose the MacRuby template
• Build and go!

25. Building and Running
• MacRuby template already contains targets
needed to compile, build, and run
• macruby_deploy does all the hard work...

26. Hooking Up a UI
• MacRuby classes are Objective-C classes
• Define outlets with attr_* methods
• Any MacRuby method with a single
argument named “sender” can be used as
an action

27. Using Gems
• Install with sudo macgem install <gemname>
• Require Gems in rb
• Use Gems for Development
• Vendor Gems with macruby_deploy --gem
for Distribution

28. Packaging and Shipping
• App bundles generated by macruby_deploy
are relocatable to machines without
MacRuby (or even with incompatible
versions of MacRuby)
• Bundles can be signed for App store
distribution with the codesign CLI tool
• Excellent blog post at: http://astonj.com/
tech/how-to-submit-your-macruby-app-to-
the-mac-app-store/

29. Bonus!

30. MacRuby...
...and you didn’t even know it!!!
• CocoaPods!
• https://github.com/CocoaPods/CocoaPods
• Like Gems for iOS (and OS X... and
MacRuby)
• Uses MacRuby under the covers
• Complemented by Laurent Sansonetti!

31. Thank you!
*Flame transition quota fulfilled

32. Questions?
*Flame transition quota fulfilled