How to write iOS app purely in C

Question

I read here Learn C Before Objective-C?

Usually I then replace some Obj-C code with pure C code (after all you can mix them as much as you like, the content of an Obj-C method can be entirely, pure C code)

Is this true?

Is it possible to build an iPhone app purely in the C programming language?

Answer 1

Damn, it took me a while but I got it:

main.c:

#include <CoreFoundation/CoreFoundation.h>

#include <objc/runtime.h>
#include <objc/message.h>

// This is a hack. Because we are writing in C, we cannot out and include 
// <UIKit/UIKit.h>, as that uses Objective-C constructs.
// however, neither can we give the full function declaration, like this:
// int UIApplicationMain (int argc, char *argv[], NSString *principalClassName, NSString *delegateClassName);
// So, we rely on the fact that for both the i386 & ARM architectures, 
// the registers for parameters passed in remain the same whether or not 
// you are using VA_ARGS. This is actually the basis of the objective-c 
// runtime (objc_msgSend), so we are probably fine here,  this would be
// the last thing I would expect to break.
extern int UIApplicationMain(int, ...);

// Entry point of the application. If you don't know what this is by now, 
// then you probably shouldn't be reading the rest of this post.
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    // Create an @autoreleasepool, using the old-stye API. 
    // Note that while NSAutoreleasePool IS deprecated, it still exists 
    // in the APIs for a reason, and we leverage that here. In a perfect 
    // world we wouldn't have to worry about this, but, remember, this is C.
    id autoreleasePool = objc_msgSend(objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("NSAutoreleasePool"), sel_registerName("alloc")), sel_registerName("init"));

    // Notice the use of CFSTR here. We cannot use an objective-c string 
    // literal @"someStr", as that would be using objective-c, obviously.
    UIApplicationMain(argc, argv, nil, CFSTR("AppDelegate"));

    objc_msgSend(autoreleasePool, sel_registerName("drain"));
}

AppDelegate.c:

#import <objc/runtime.h>
#import <objc/message.h>

// This is equivalent to creating a @class with one public variable named 'window'.
struct AppDel
{
    Class isa;

    id window;
};

// This is a strong reference to the class of the AppDelegate 
// (same as [AppDelegate class])
Class AppDelClass;

// this is the entry point of the application, same as -application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:
// note the fact that we use `void *` for the 'application' and 'options' fields, as we need no reference to them for this to work. A generic id would suffice here as well.
BOOL AppDel_didFinishLaunching(struct AppDel *self, SEL _cmd, void *application, void *options)
{
    // we +alloc and -initWithFrame: our window here, so that we can have it show on screen (eventually).
    // this entire method is the objc-runtime based version of the standard View-Based application's launch code, so nothing here really should surprise you.
    // one thing important to note, though is that we use `sel_getUid()` instead of @selector().
    // this is because @selector is an objc language construct, and the application would not have been created in C if I used @selector.
    self->window = objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("UIWindow"), sel_getUid("alloc"));
    self->window = objc_msgSend(self->window, sel_getUid("initWithFrame:"), (struct CGRect) { 0, 0, 320, 480 });

    // here, we are creating our view controller, and our view. note the use of objc_getClass, because we cannot reference UIViewController directly in C.
    id viewController = objc_msgSend(objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("UIViewController"), sel_getUid("alloc")), sel_getUid("init"));

    // creating our custom view class, there really isn't too much 
    // to say here other than we are hard-coding the screen's bounds, 
    // because returning a struct from a `objc_msgSend()` (via 
    // [[UIScreen mainScreen] bounds]) requires a different function call
    // and is finicky at best.
    id view = objc_msgSend(objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("View"), sel_getUid("alloc")), sel_getUid("initWithFrame:"), (struct CGRect) { 0, 0, 320, 480 });

    // here we simply add the view to the view controller, and add the viewController to the window.
    objc_msgSend(objc_msgSend(viewController, sel_getUid("view")), sel_getUid("addSubview:"), view);
    objc_msgSend(self->window, sel_getUid("setRootViewController:"), viewController);

    // finally, we display the window on-screen.
    objc_msgSend(self->window, sel_getUid("makeKeyAndVisible"));

    return YES;
}

// note the use of the gcc attribute extension (constructor). 
// Basically, this lets us run arbitrary code before program startup,
// for more information read here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2053029
__attribute__((constructor))
static void initAppDel()
{
    // This is objc-runtime gibberish at best. We are creating a class with the 
    // name "AppDelegate" that is a subclass of "UIResponder". Note we do not need
    // to register for the UIApplicationDelegate protocol, that really is simply for 
    // Xcode's autocomplete, we just need to implement the method and we are golden.
    AppDelClass = objc_allocateClassPair(objc_getClass("UIResponder"), "AppDelegate", 0);

    // Here, we tell the objc runtime that we have a variable named "window" of type 'id'
    class_addIvar(AppDelClass, "window", sizeof(id), 0, "@");

    // We tell the objc-runtime that we have an implementation for the method
    // -application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:, and link that to our custom 
    // function defined above. Notice the final parameter. This tells the runtime
    // the types of arguments received by the function.
    class_addMethod(AppDelClass, sel_getUid("application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:"), (IMP) AppDel_didFinishLaunching, "i@:@@");

    // Finally we tell the runtime that we have finished describing the class and 
    // we can let the rest of the application use it.
    objc_registerClassPair(AppDelClass);
}

View.c

#include <objc/runtime.h>

// This is a strong reference to the class of our custom view,
// In case we need it in the future.
Class ViewClass;

// This is a simple -drawRect implementation for our class. We could have 
// used a UILabel  or something of that sort instead, but I felt that this 
// stuck with the C-based mentality of the application.
void View_drawRect(id self, SEL _cmd, struct CGRect rect)
{
    // We are simply getting the graphics context of the current view, 
    // so we can draw to it
    CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();

    // Then we set it's fill color to white so that we clear the background.
    // Note the cast to (CGFloat []). Otherwise, this would give a warning
    //  saying "invalid cast from type 'int' to 'CGFloat *', or 
    // 'extra elements in initializer'. Also note the assumption of RGBA.
    // If this wasn't a demo application, I would strongly recommend against this,
    // but for the most part you can be pretty sure that this is a safe move 
    // in an iOS application.
    CGContextSetFillColor(context, (CGFloat []){ 1, 1, 1, 1 });

    // here, we simply add and draw the rect to the screen
    CGContextAddRect(context, (struct CGRect) { 0, 0, 320, 480 });
    CGContextFillPath(context);

    // and we now set the drawing color to red, then add another rectangle
    // and draw to the screen
    CGContextSetFillColor(context, (CGFloat []) { 1, 0, 0, 1 });
    CGContextAddRect(context, (struct CGRect) { 10, 10, 20, 20 });
    CGContextFillPath(context);
}

// Once again we use the (constructor) attribute. generally speaking, 
// having many of these is a very bad idea, but in a small application 
// like this, it really shouldn't be that big of an issue.
__attribute__((constructor))
static void initView()
{
    // Once again, just like the app delegate, we tell the runtime to 
    // create a new class, this time a subclass of 'UIView' and named 'View'.
    ViewClass = objc_allocateClassPair(objc_getClass("UIView"), "View", 0);

    // and again, we tell the runtime to add a function called -drawRect: 
    // to our custom view. Note that there is an error in the type-specification
    // of this method, as I do not know the @encode sequence of 'CGRect' off 
    // of the top of my head. As a result, there is a chance that the rect 
    // parameter of the method may not get passed properly.
    class_addMethod(ViewClass, sel_getUid("drawRect:"), (IMP) View_drawRect, "v@:");

    // And again, we tell the runtime that this class is now valid to be used. 
    // At this point, the application should run and display the screenshot shown below.
    objc_registerClassPair(ViewClass);    
}

It's ugly, but it works.

If you would like to download this, you can get it from my dropbox here

You can get it from my GitHub repository here:

Answer 2

Objective-C is a superset of the C-language, so it is theoretically possible to write a program entirely in C, however, unless you are thoroughly versed in OpenGL ES, You'll need to do at least some objC (Even Rich's sample has a const NSString* in it), else you'll have to write the views yourself.

OK, the above is completely wrong. Let me say, I'm astounded Rich achieved this lofty goal, so I ported it over to the mac (source here). The files below have no headers, do not link to Cocoa, nor does the project have a nib:

AppDelegate.m

#include <objc/runtime.h>
#include <objc/message.h>

extern id NSApp;

struct AppDel
{
    Class isa;

    //Will be an NSWindow later, for now, it's id, because we cannot use pointers to ObjC classes
    id window;
};


// This is a strong reference to the class of the AppDelegate
// (same as [AppDelegate class])
Class AppDelClass;

BOOL AppDel_didFinishLaunching(struct AppDel *self, SEL _cmd, id notification) {
    //alloc NSWindow
    self->window = objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("NSWindow"),
                                sel_getUid("alloc"));
    //init NSWindow
    //Adjust frame.  Window would be about 50*50 px without this
    //specify window type.  We want a resizeable window that we can close.
    //use retained backing because this thing is small anyhow
    //return no because this is the main window, and should be shown immediately
    self->window = objc_msgSend(self->window,
                                sel_getUid("initWithContentRect:styleMask:backing:defer:"),(NSRect){0,0,1024,460}, (NSTitledWindowMask|NSClosableWindowMask|NSResizableWindowMask|NSMiniaturizableWindowMask),NSBackingStoreRetained,NO);

    //send alloc and init to our view class.  Love the nested objc_msgSends!
    id view = objc_msgSend(objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("View"), sel_getUid("alloc")), sel_getUid("initWithFrame:"), (struct CGRect) { 0, 0, 320, 480 });

    // here we simply add the view to the window.
    objc_msgSend(self->window, sel_getUid("setContentView:"), view);
    objc_msgSend(self->window, sel_getUid("becomeFirstResponder"));

    //makeKeyOrderFront: NSWindow to show in bottom left corner of the screen
    objc_msgSend(self->window,
                 sel_getUid("makeKeyAndOrderFront:"),
                 self);
    return YES;
}

static void initAppDel()
{
    //Our appDelegate should be NSObject, but if you want to go the hard route, make this a class pair of NSApplication and try initing those awful delegate methods!
    AppDelClass = objc_allocateClassPair((Class)
                                         objc_getClass("NSObject"), "AppDelegate", 0);
    //Change the implementation of applicationDidFinishLaunching: so we don't have to use ObjC when this is called by the system.
    class_addMethod(AppDelClass,
                    sel_getUid("applicationDidFinishLaunching:"),
                    (IMP) AppDel_didFinishLaunching, "i@:@");

    objc_registerClassPair(AppDelClass);
}

void init_app(void)
{
    objc_msgSend(
                 objc_getClass("NSApplication"),
                 sel_getUid("sharedApplication"));

    if (NSApp == NULL)
    {
        fprintf(stderr,"Failed to initialized NSApplication...  terminating...\n");
        return;
    }

    id appDelObj = objc_msgSend(
                                objc_getClass("AppDelegate"),
                                sel_getUid("alloc"));
    appDelObj = objc_msgSend(appDelObj, sel_getUid("init"));

    objc_msgSend(NSApp, sel_getUid("setDelegate:"), appDelObj);
    objc_msgSend(NSApp, sel_getUid("run"));
}

//there doesn't need to be a main.m because of this little beauty here.
int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
    //Initialize a valid app delegate object just like [NSApplication sharedApplication];
    initAppDel();
    //Initialize the run loop, just like [NSApp run];  this function NEVER returns until the app closes successfully.
    init_app();
    //We should close acceptably.
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

View.m

#include <objc/runtime.h>
#include <objc/message.h>
#include <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>

// This is a strong reference to the class of our custom view,
// In case we need it in the future.
Class ViewClass;


// This is a simple -drawRect implementation for our class. We could have
// used a UILabel  or something of that sort instead, but I felt that this
// stuck with the C-based mentality of the application.
void View_drawRect(id self, SEL _cmd, CGRect rect)
{
    //make a red NSColor object with its convenience method
    id red  = objc_msgSend(objc_getClass("NSColor"), sel_getUid("redColor"));

    // fill target rect with red, because this is it!
    NSRect rect1 = NSMakeRect ( 21,21,210,210 );
    objc_msgSend(red, sel_getUid("set"));
    NSRectFill ( rect1 );
}

// Once again we use the (constructor) attribute. generally speaking,
// having many of these is a very bad idea, but in a small application
// like this, it really shouldn't be that big of an issue.
__attribute__((constructor))
static void initView()
{

    // Once again, just like the app delegate, we tell the runtime to
    // create a new class, this time a subclass of 'UIView' and named 'View'.
    ViewClass = objc_allocateClassPair((Class) objc_getClass("NSView"), "View", 0);

    // and again, we tell the runtime to add a function called -drawRect:
    // to our custom view. Note that there is an error in the type-specification
    // of this method, as I do not know the @encode sequence of 'CGRect' off
    // of the top of my head. As a result, there is a chance that the rect
    // parameter of the method may not get passed properly.
    class_addMethod(ViewClass, sel_getUid("drawRect:"), (IMP) View_drawRect, "v@:");

    // And again, we tell the runtime that this class is now valid to be used.
    // At this point, the application should run and display the screenshot shown below.
    objc_registerClassPair(ViewClass);
}

prefix.pch

//
// Prefix header for all source files of the 'CBasedMacApp' target in the 'CBasedMacApp' project
//

#ifdef __OBJC__
#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>
#import <AppKit/AppKit.h>
#endif

Answer 3

I read here Learn C Before Objective-C?

Usually I then replace some Obj-C code with pure C code (after all you can mix them as much as you like, the content of an Obj-C method can be entirely, pure C code)

Is this true?

Could I build an iPhone app purely in the C programming language?

The quoted passage is true, but the answer to your question is no.

To illustrate what answerer Mecki on that other question was talking about:

- (void) drawRect:(CGRect)dirtyRect { //Objective-C

    CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();  //C
    CGContextSetRGBFillColor(context, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0); //C
    CGContextFillRect(context, dirtyRect);                 //C

} //Objective-C (balances above “- (void) drawRect:…” line)

There is nothing but pure C code within this method, but the method itself is Objective-C code, as is the class that contains this method.

So it is possible to do what Mecki said, but you can't (practically—as Richard J. Ross III showed, it's technically possible but quite a lot of typing) write a whole Cocoa Touch program in pure C.

Answer 4

Actually, some of the code posted here, while written in C, is still calling objective-C code :). I don't know if that actually fits the scenario from the original poster when he asked

Is it possible to build an iPhone app purely in the C programming language?

but I would agree with the people saying that, generally speaking and for an app with a GUI, you would need to write your GUI in OpenGL (which is C).

I think that is what most games do, right? Although I'm not sure if there's access to the iPhone's I/O (the touchscreen for example) in C.

Last but not least, the guys that wrote the code above rock! :)