Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!csustan!polyslo!csun!sdcrdcf!trwrb!scgvaxd!ashtate!dbase!drc
From: drc@dbase.UUCP (Dennis Cohen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Welcome to comp.sys.mac.programmer
Message-ID: <315@dbase.UUCP>
Date: 25 Feb 88 14:14:36 GMT
References: <42507@sun.uucp> <23091@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: Ashton Tate Development Center Glendale Cal.
Lines: 25
Summary: Suggested reading

In article <23091@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, lindy@janus.uucp (Lindy Foster) writes:
... 
> I have a mac, and I'd really like to start doing some real programming
> on it.  But I frankly haven't a clue where to start.  Can any of you
> recommend some reading material?  Thanks,
> 
> 			*lindy*

To start with, you need an understanding of Pascal to program the Mac because
the ROM is implemented and documented in conformance with the Pascal conventions
(although you don't need to program in Pascal).

The "bible" is Inside Macintosh and it is an invaluable reference.  Everyone
who programs the Mac should have it; however, it is not a tutorial.  For that
I would recommend "Macintosh Revealed" by Stephen Chernicoff (both volumes).
As you get a little further along, pick up a copy of "How to Write Macintosh
Software" by Scott Knaster -- the title is a bit misleading as it is more a
guide to debugging Macintosh software under development.  If you are using
Pascal, I would recommend Turbo Pascal and the Turbo Tutor from Borland.  Tutor
is an excellent introduction to programming with Pascal and programming the
Mac with Turbo.  By all means, get a subscription to MacTutor magazine.  It's
a no-fluff, programming-only magazine for the Mac.

Dennis Cohen
Ashton-Tate Macintosh Division
dBASE Mac Development Team