Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac:26916 comp.sys.mac.programmer:4566
Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!decvax!spray!anson
From: anson@spray.CalComp.COM (Ed Anson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Apple developers & programming on the Mac
Message-ID: <2593@spray.CalComp.COM>
Date: 17 Feb 89 14:58:12 GMT
References: <1309@ndmath.UUCP>
Reply-To: anson@spray.UUCP (Ed Anson)
Organization: CalComp, A Lockheed Company, Hudson, NH, USA
Lines: 42

In article <1309@ndmath.UUCP> milo@ndmath.UUCP (Greg Corson) writes:
>
>3. Apples new $$$$ programs for certified developers...personally
>I think Apple may be killing themselves.  It's hard enought to
>get started as a Mac developer now.  With this kind of price-of-entry
>all the basement hackers will be all but cut off.

Nobody's cutting off the basement hackers. Anybody who can't afford the
$20 to sign up with APDA certainly can't afford to hack. And APDA provides
everything the basement hacker might need from Apple. The Certified Developer
program (not Apple Partners) is for the professional developer. It provides
those extra services required to produce a commercial product. Make no
mistake: Apple is explicit about it -- They will commit their resources to
support development of software that will help sell equipment.

(However, I am disappointed by the recent price increases on documentation.)

I only hope that the new cost of the program will eventually result in
better support. Lately, the Tech Support has been a bit slow. I hear they
have a (temporary) shortage of personnel there.

>4. SMART stuff...one move DEC has made which Apple would be VERY
>wise to follow.  DEC has put ALL their documentation (several 6'
>bookcases full) onto a CD and will be providing a program that
>lets you Hypertext around the manuals, view diagrams...etc.  If Apple
>did this to INSIDE MACINTOSH, it would make things a lot easier on
>developers.  It would be cheaper too...

I second the motion. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...
When Inside Macintosh comes out on CD ROM (with promises of regular updates),
I'll then consider it worth the price to buy the drive.

I currently spend as much time rummaging through documents (IM I-V, Tech
notes, UseNet gossip, etc) as I do programming. Maybe more. I'm always
looking for some obscure piece of information, and trying to make sure it
is accurate and/or hasn't changed. That takes lots of time. Hopefully, a
CD ROM version could be kept sufficiently current and complete to save me
lots of time. Therefore, it would be worth the investment.
-- 
=====================================================================
   Ed Anson,    Calcomp Display Products Division,    Hudson NH 03051
   (603) 885-8712,      anson@elrond.CalComp.COM