Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!pyramid!voder!apple!lsr
From: lsr@Apple.COM (Larry Rosenstein)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Beginning Mac Programming
Message-ID: <7526@apple.Apple.Com>
Date: 1 Mar 88 23:40:30 GMT
References: <8W8QYby00Xc5AFE04R@andrew.cmu.edu> <2565@auscso.UUCP>
Reply-To: lsr@apple.UUCP (Larry Rosenstein)
Organization: Advanced Technology Group, Apple Computer
Lines: 45

In article <2565@auscso.UUCP> mentat@auscso.UUCP (Robert Dorsett) writes:
>
>	Volume III: A summary of all the information in Volumes I and II.  It's
>		pretty worthless, all told, but contains the INDEX for I 
>		and II.

At MacWorld Expo there was an Inside Macintosh XREF, which contained an
index to all 5 volumes.  I don't think this has been officially published
yet, but it might satisfy the need to get volume 3.

>gets serious.  Programs written to the guidelines of Volumes I through III
>will run (supposedly) on all Macintosh's.  

The only possible exception to this rule is the hierarchical file system,
which is described in volume 4.  There are some things you have to watch out
for, if your program is going to run on an HFS system.  (For example, the
Poor Man's Search Path.)

>4.  The main source of ongoing information about the Macintosh are the 
>Macintosh Technical Notes, which used to be distributed by Apple.  They are
>now published by the Apple Programmer's and Developer's Exchange (see
>below). 

Tech Notes  are freely available, although subscribing to them from APDA
ensures that you get the new batches as they appear.  I believe these are
available from Info-Mac and from BBS's.

>3.  Buy at least Inside Mac I-III IF you intend on doing any systems program-
>ming.  If you own a Plus, buy v. IV.  If you own a II or an SE, buy I-V.  

I would buy volume 4 before 3.  And you can wait on buying 5, unless you
have a Mac II and want to program with color.


I would add to the suggestions that you should locate a user group with a
programming sub-group.  Most user groups do have a developer groupd with
separate meetings.  There is no substitute for asking questions of someone
who has been down the same path before.



-- 
		 Larry Rosenstein,  Object Specialist
 Apple Computer, Inc.  20525 Mariani Ave, MS 32E  Cupertino, CA 95014
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