Quite a few new things are happening these days in the GS programming world. There's something for everyone from the beginning programmer to the hardcore professional.
Programmer's Reference for System 6.0
As many of you probably know, there is a three volume Toolbox Reference set available for the IIgs. Unfortunately, Apple does not intend to release a fourth volume covering all the changes in System 6.0. Fortunately, Byte Works is. By the time you read this, the Programmer's Reference for System 6.0 should be available direct from Byte Works for about $35.00. This reference will be invaluable in order to take full advantage of all the features of System 6.0. All the new tool calls, as well as information about Finder 6.0 is covered.
Toolbox Programming in Pascal
For those of you who have been wanting to learn how to program the Apple IIgs's desktop, this book is for you. Actually, it's not really a book, but a course designed to teach you the toolbox. Here's the press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patty Westerfield
Toolbox Programming in Pascal
Byte Works, Inc.
4700 Irving Blvd. N.W. Suite
207 Albuquerque, N.M. 87114
(505) 898-8183
List Price: $75.00
460 pages, index, table of contents
4 disks, Notebook, inserts, disk holder
The Byte Works, Inc. announced today that they have released a new self-paced course for toolbox programming on the Apple IIgs entitled ╥Toolbox Programming in Pascal.╙ The course is designed to guide programmers through the ins and outs of the GS toolbox using the ORCA/Pascal development environment.
The course has been broken down into 18 lessons covering all aspects of designing and writing toolbox programs. Geared toward intermediate and advanced programmers, ╥Toolbox Programming in Pascal╙ uses a hands-on teaching approach. Along the way, the programmer will write dozens of working desktop programs, including a slide-show program that views, prints (in color), and loads and saves screen dump pictures; a small text editor; a scrapbook; a music instrument sampler; and much more.
╥Toolbox Programming in Pascal╙ comes with the largest library of Pascal toolbox source code ever assembled. Four disks filled with source code are included in the package. This includes the source code to all of the examples in the book, and working solutions to every problem. The disks also include a copy of Apple's Rez resource compiler and sample data files for programs developed in the course.
╥Toolbox Programming in Pascal╙ also includes an abridged toolbox reference manual. This manual is so comprehensive that no other reference materials are needed for this course.
The course fully supports Apple's latest operating system, 6.0. It uses new 6.0 features throughout the course to create up-to-date programs.
System Requirements:
Software:
ORCA/Pascal 1.4
Apple's System 6.0
Hardware:
(for programming in Pascal's text environment)
1.25 MB of memory
1 800K floppy disk drive
one other disk drive of any kind
(for programming in Pascal's desktop environment)
1.75 MB of memory
hard drive
The Byte Works sent me a review copy, and while I haven't had the opportunity to really study it, my first impression is that this course is great! Mike (Westerfield) has a writing style that makes it a joy to read ╤ there's never a case of information overload. It looks well organized and thoroughly detailed.
I highly recommend this if you program in ORCA/Pascal. Even if you program in ORCA/C it should benefit you, since Pascal reads much like English.
System 6.0 Golden Master CD
Many people have been wondering where to get programming information for System 6.0. Currently, there is only one source for all the technical information about System 6.0: The System 6.0 Golden Master CD. This CD is available from Resource Central (913) 469-6502 for $99.00. To quote the Resource Central Catalog:
╥A developer's dream come true. Includes System 6 and HyperCard IIgs v1.1 updates; the latest version of GSBug; Rez, DeRez, and SANE; MyWord word processor by Gary Little; sample code, including actual source to System 6 Media Control and SCSI drivers, Media Control NDA and Teach; engineering specifications and developer documentation for System 6, HyperCard IIgs, and Finder Extensions; a complete set of Apple II tech notes; and lots more.╙
If you already have a CD-ROM drive (or have access to one, maybe through a user group), this CD may be worth your while if you are into hard-core programming. If you are only programming casually, you are probably better off waiting for the Programmers Reference mentioned above.
New Micol Advanced BASIC for the IIgs
Micol has released version 4.0 of its BASIC development environment. MAB, as it's known, is the only IIgs BASIC that allows direct access to the IIgs toolbox. Commands such as menu, mouse and window enable you to write full IIgs desktop programs with a BASIC syntax. A completely revised, 269-page manual comes with v4.0. MAB is available from Resource Central for $99.00.
New Leadership for GEnie's A2Pro
The A2Pro (Apple II Programmers) RoundTable on GEnie recently underwent major reconstructive surgery. The major change was the appointment of a new staff. To quote the new A2Pro Head Sysop:
╥Since timing on GEnie isn't always certain, most of you will have read about this on the door of A2Pro, but some of you will read this message before the new door files get posted. To those of you who didn't find anything unusual on the door, you're about to be surprised. :)╙
╥After a long and productive reign guiding A2Pro through thick and thin, Tom Stechow and Mark Collins no longer have the time they feel A2Pro deserves, and so have reluctantly moved on to other challenges. Tom's making an important trip soon and Mark's very busy with the upcoming Foundation resource editor from Lunar Productions, so each of them has more than enough to keep them busy. Their work here has been exemplary and their presence on staff will be sorely missed.╙
╥When Tom resigned, I talked to Tom Weishaar and Dean Esmay and indicated I was interested in what happened with A2Pro. One thing led to another, and about a week ago I accepted the position of head sysop here in A2Pro, effective today.╙
╥For those of you who don't know me, I'm the lead developer technical support engineer for the Apple II family of computers at Apple Computer, Inc. -- I spend a lot of my days answering development questions from Apple Partners and working on one-to-many tools like Technical Notes, File Type Notes (which I created), Sample Code (like IR 2.0.1). I also review documentation and work with the Apple II continuing engineering group on their continuing work. I'm responsible for assigning ProDOS file types and auxiliary types, and I've written magazine articles for Call -A.P.P.L.E., GS+, d e v e l o p and APDAlog. I've also been active here in A2Pro for over four years.╙
-- Matt Deatherage
It is my opinion that Matt will do great things for A2Pro, and as some of you may know, I have a vested interest in the happenings of A2Pro ╤ I was once an A2Pro sysop myself!
