info-mac@utcsrgv.UUCP (info-mac) (07/04/84)
Date: Tue 3 Jul 84 22:43:30-MDT From: John W. Peterson <uw-beaver!JW-Peterson@UTAH-20.ARPA> Subject: Unix I/O and user interfaces. To: info-mac@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA > ".....a library of routines for I/O which simulate unix I/O. > The aim is to be able to take any c program, add an initialization > routine at the top, and get it to run on the mac." Even with such a library, it's worth keeping in mind: * Adding a few simple calls to the menu manager is almost as easy as writing code depending on cryptic, single letter commands. * Proportionally spaced text looks (and reads) better than a vt100. * Overlapping, multiple windows dramatically offset the macs "small screen". * The Mac has no arrow keys, but it does have a mouse. * The Mac was designed from the ground up to support very high quality user interfaces. Unix was not. If things like these don't seem important, then remember all the nasty reviews MicroSoft got for doing very little to improve the "dumb terminal" style of user interface in their Mac version of MS basic. [Yeah I know, there's "all that software" out there...programs like "ed"...] -------