Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!netcom!mcmahan
From: mcmahan@netcom.UUCP (Dave Mc Mahan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Complaints about Amiga OS 2.0
Summary: Programming the amiga takes time, but it's worth it
Message-ID: <12699@netcom.UUCP>
Date: 1 Jun 90 00:20:42 GMT
References: <3246.AA3246@pnt.CAM.ORG> <32421@auc.UUCP>
Organization: Dave McMahan @ NetCom Services
Lines: 40


 In a previous article, rar@auc.UUCP (Rodney Ricks) writes:
>
>   [  Previous commentary deleted.   ]
>
>Obviously another programmer with a bunch of time on his hands, here.  I'm
>a programmer without much time on my hands.  Many people don't have the time
>to LEARN how to write programs on the Amiga, and then to actually WRITE
>something useful.  Many thanks to those who support the Amiga in such a way,
>but I and many others just don't have the time to do it.

I used to think that coming up to speed on programming the amiga and using
Intuition is tough.  Sure, it does take time.  It isn't always like you think
it should be, but there are reasons you will discover later.  You will be
frustrated by errors in documentation (I have an early set of RKMs, so this
may have been corrected in later versions), the time it takes to figure how
things work so you can do neat graphics, and other problems.  I have found
that picking a desired non-trivial program you would like to implement and then
going for it is the best way.  Getting support and help is quite simple, if
you are reading this message.  Just post a message for help or a question
to comp.sys.amiga.tech, and you will get it answered.  Make sure you have really
tried to answer your own question as best you can first, but any and all topics
are allowed.

In summary, learning to drive the amiga from a programmer's point of view is
not like falling off a log, but it is quite handy when you want to turn out
a program.  I urge any and all out there who have been thinking about learning
to do some whippy graphics to 'just do it'.  Learning is a life long process,
and there are always excuses to be found to avoid learning.  I owned an amiga
and all the compilers, assemblers, and docs for about 3 years before really
starting to write code.  I wish I had started sooner.  The amiga is supported
in large part by the user community, not a few programmers working for large
corporations.  The benefits of this way of operation are available on fish
disks (and other PD/Shareware sources) rather than on store shelves. 


>Rodney Ricks,   Morehouse College 


  -dave