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From: andrew@jhereg.osa.com (Andrew C. Esh)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Alternatives to MacApp
Keywords: application builders
Message-ID: <1991Mar5.154712.3149@jhereg.osa.com>
Date: 5 Mar 91 15:47:12 GMT
References: <46488@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Organization: Open Systems Architects, Inc., Mpls, MN
Lines: 45

In article <46488@nigel.ee.udel.edu> smedley@udel.edu writes:
>Does anyone know of any application builders other than MacApp?  I would like
>to get one to use for teaching a course on programming for a Macintosh.  I
>expect the the MPW/MacApp combination may be too expensive.  Also, I expect
>that a programming environment like ThinkC may be more suitable for
>undergraduates than MPW is.
>
>Thanks, Trevor Smedley
>smedley@udel.edu

I am not posting to answer your question, but to raise a point about MPW vs
Think-C. Anyone following up on my point should EDIT THE SUBJECT LINE.

I have always valued learning any development or editing system that
include some sort of programmability. Systems like Unix, Brief (a PC editor
like Emacs that has a macro language buit in), and any development system
that includes scripting. What systems like these taught me is that if there
is something the devlopment system does not do, usually a script can be
written to solve the problem. I learned self reliance, and never learned
that I should expect the writers of the compiler to fix all the problems
for me. My fondest memories of when I was learning to program was when I
took the devlopment system and stretched it to solve new problems.

One of the things I regret being exposed to early on was Pascal. It has
restrictions built in which make it easy to learn, and keeps the student
from getting into too much trouble. It also keeps the student from doing
things that may need to be done. I like Pascal, but I would rather use C++,
since I find fewer impediments. (Pascal hacks: Please don't flame; I'm
using Pascal as an example of limitations, not comparing languages)

Think-C has its place also. I use it to blast out small routines that I
need in a hurry, and I know aren't going to stress the system. THen I
usually port them to MPW and intergrate them with the huge projects I have
going over there. It's a kind of Breadboard process.

My point is that I think it is important for your students to learn self
reliance, by first learning to work with a raw system that has few
limitations rather than come to depend on a limited system which they will
eventually outgrow.

-- 
Andrew C. Esh			andrew@osa.com
Open Systems Architects, Inc.	
Minneapolis, MN 55416-1528	So much System,
(612) 525-0000			so little CPU time...