Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!hodge!pnet06!thecloud
From: thecloud@pnet06.cts.com (Ken Mcleod)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: MacTutor gripe!!!
Message-ID: <622@hodge.UUCP>
Date: 20 Jul 88 08:47:17 GMT
Sender: rusty@hodge.UUCP
Organization: People-Net [pnet06], Orange, CA
Lines: 32

[people complaining about lack of C articles in MacTutor]...

Well, there was a heated round of flaming on the Mousehole following
the publication of the last major C article (TearOff Palettes, Apr. 88).
Seems that the palette WDEF was inadvertently left out of the article,
and the source that *was* printed had several errors. Of the posts this
generated, one made it into "Mousehole Report" (see July issue).

If you're the eager hacker type, you probably try to take the source
code as published and attempt to actually make it do something. And
much of the time, you suddenly realize that part of the code is missing,
or has some subtle typo that sends your Mac to the flaming pits of hell.
I've been personally burned (more than once...it was becoming a habit)
and have learned my lesson about reading the articles, not the source
code. 

Working versions of the example programs are available on disk for $8,
if you need them. But I suspect there are a lot of MacTutor readers
who would rather refer to hardcopy (and besides, they've paid for the
magazine anyway--), and if they're trying to understand some nuance of
toolbox code with a typo in it, a lot of frustration is generated.

Yes, MacTutor needs more article submissions of quality in Pascal, C,
and [insert your favorite obscure language here], but that only addresses
half the problem. I want to see MacTutor grow and prosper, not lose its
reputation as a reliable source of programming info. Sorry...didn't intend
for this to be a flame, but once I get started..... :-<

Ken McLeod =========================     .......     ======================
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