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Technical Notes
The I/O Kit is the device driver subsystem of Mac OS X, and is part of Darwin. The I/O Kit provides a set of C functions and C++ classes, including object-oriented abstractions common to various families of drivers. In addition, for many device types, the I/O Kit provides a device interface that enables an application to communicate with and control a device from user space.
Device Drivers Resources
A guided introduction and learning path for developers writing software that accesses devices in Mac OS X.   Essential information for developers working with device drivers.   Descriptions of driver interface elements, by library and framework.
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ATA Device Software Guide Additions and Corrections (HTML) (PDF) ()
TN1098: Notes Errors and additions to ATA Device Software Guide and ATA Manager 4.0.
 ATA 1997-07-01
ATA Interface Modules (HTML) (PDF)
TN1192: Describes how to write device drivers for ATA host bus controllers, ie. ATA Interface Module.
 ATA 1999-12-01
CD-ROM Driver Calls (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - DV22: Discusses public interface to Apple CD-ROM driver and supersedes information in AppleCD SC Developer's Guide.
 ATA, Mass Storage Devices, SCSI 2000-08-14
Debugging Open Firmware Using Telnet (HTML) (PDF)
TN2004: Addresses debugging device's firmware using Ethernet and telnet protocol to a target machine running Open Firmware.
 Open Firmware 2000-10-16
Digital CD Audio (HTML) (PDF) ()
TN1187: Describes digital audio on the Macintosh.
 Music & Audio 2000-04-01
FireWire: DCL Programs Under Mac OS X (HTML) ()
TN2072: Describes the structure and creation of DCL programs under Mac OS X.
 FireWire 2003-06-21
New Sound Input Driver Features (HTML) (PDF) ()
Deprecated - TN1124: Describes the visible features and changes, in Mac OS 8.1, for PCI sound input drivers.
 Music & Audio, PCI and PC Card 1998-04-01
Open Firmware Ethernet Debugging II: Telnet downloading (HTML) (PDF) ()
TN2023: Describes a method of debugging a device's firmware using Ethernet to connect a host machine and target machine.
 Open Firmware 2001-10-30
Open Transport STREAMS FAQ (HTML) (PDF)
Deprecated - TN1117: Decribes writing STREAMS modules and drivers for use with Open Transport.
 Networking 1997-12-01
Power Management for Macintosh; getting started (HTML) ()
TN2075: Outlines available documentation and its location for power management on Mac OS X and OS 9.
 PCI and PC Card 2003-05-30
Running files from a hard drive in Open Firmware (HTML) (PDF)
TN2001: Demonstrates editing, saving, and retrieving Open Firmware commands to a file on a Macintosh hard drive.
 Open Firmware 2000-09-22