Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!well!oster
From: oster@well.sf.ca.us (David Phillip Oster)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Think C / Documentation
Message-ID: <21603@well.sf.ca.us>
Date: 10 Nov 90 10:27:38 GMT
References: <1990Nov8.161941.8062@watcsc.waterloo.edu>
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 49

In article <1990Nov8.161941.8062@watcsc.waterloo.edu> negandh@watcsc.waterloo.edu (Neil Negandhi) writes:
_>I am thinking of purchasing Think C V4.0 but before I do, a few questions:
_>I plan to run it on a 1 meg Mac+.  Is this sufficient for the programming
_>environment?
_>How complete is the documentation that comes with it?  I looked in my local
_>bookstore and purchasing IM Vol 1-5 would set me back another ~$175.
_>Is there an alternative to purchasing the whole set?  I just want to develop
_>some single-user applications and I am familiar with ANSI C. 
_>Are there any programming tools that I should buy with Think C?

You can run THINK C in 1 Meg., but you'll want to keep your source files
shorter than 32k each. You won't be able to use the source level debugger,
very well, because it requires multifinder and your program, THINK C, finder,
the C debugger, the assembly language debugger (macsbug) that comes with
the package, all in memory at once is a tight squeeze for 1Meg, but quite
comfortable at 2.5 meg. The documentation for the compiler is complete, and
for the huge subroutine library that is included is quite good (the source
for a fairly complete MacPaint style paint program is included.)

You will also need:
Inside Mac 1 & 2.
You'll need IM4 if you do anything sophisticated with the file system,
since all the calls that manipulate directories are defined here. Also
List Manager.
You'll need IM5 if you do anything with multi-font text edit. Although,
single font text edit is documented in IM 1. PopUp menus and hierarchical
menus are documented here, although normal menus are in IM1. CDEVs, INITs,
and Chooser devices are documented here. Most of the rest of the book is
about color quickdraw or the sound manager that does not run very well on 
a MacPlus.

You'll need Scott Knaster's book: "How to Write Macintosh Software", which
is full of great debugging tips, and a terrific intro to the memory manager.
A 68000 assembly language manual is also a good debugging tool.

I wrote commercial software for years on a 1Meg MacPlus with just
IM1&2, and Knaster, but that was all there was in those long-ago days.
You can certainly get started with that. 

Next, buy some memory. At $40.00 a Meg, $80 will give you a 2.5 meg
machine. Multifinder, and the THINK C source level debugger makes
writing code a whole new ball game.

Next, get IM4&5. Then the tech notes, available from APDA or from many on-line
services. Then the Developer's group CD-ROMs, and subscriptions to "develop"
and "MacTutor".
-- 
-- David Phillip Oster - Note new signature. Old one has gone Bye Bye.
-- oster@well.sf.ca.us = {backbone}!well!oster