info-mac@utcsrgv.UUCP (info-mac) (05/05/84)
Date: 3 May 84 16:41:36 EDT From: Ron <uw-beaver!FISCHER@RUTGERS.ARPA> Subject: MacAssembler requires * 2 * Macs!? To: info-mac@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA Here at Rutgers we're interested in using Macs to teach intro computing courses. The current versions of these courses use Pascal and Macro-11 assembler. Now the problem... We talked to an Apple person and they informed us that MacAssembler requries 2 Macintoshes, one having the development environment, the other, a small debugging monitor in its kernel. The Macs are connected by their printer ports. A note in the conversation that seemed even more ominous was the representative saying that Apple does not plan to produce standalone development environments for the Macintosh. But what about the "C" that has been announced for end of summer? Perhaps it isn't for real? BTW, AppleNet has been cancelled whilst IBM finalizes its own networking plans. Recall that Apple wishes to be compatible with this standard. (ron) -------
info-mac@utcsrgv.UUCP (info-mac) (05/05/84)
From: Christopher A Kent <uw-beaver!cak@Purdue.ARPA>
Date: 4 May 1984 1152-EST (Friday)
To: Ron <FISCHER@RUTGERS.ARPA>
Cc: info-mac@SUMEX-AIM.ARPA
Subject: Re: MacAssembler requires * 2 * Macs!?
In-Reply-To: Your message of 3 May 84 16:41:36 EDT.
<8405041648.AA01534>
I thought the C environment was going to come from Microsoft, not
Apple, so of course "they" aren't going to produce a standalong
development environment for the Mac. Is Microsoft listening? Would
someone from there care to comment?
chris
----------info-mac@utcsrgv.UUCP (info-mac) (05/05/84)
Date: 4 May 1984 18:17:57 EDT (Friday) From: Dick Kalagher <uw-beaver!kalagher@mitre> Subject: Re: MacAssembler requires * 2 * Macs!? In-Reply-To: Your message of 3 May 84 16:41:36 EDT To: Ron <FISCHER@RUTGERS.ARPA> Cc: info-mac@sumex-aim, erik@sri-ai, kalagher@mitre I remember reading someplace that one of the major reasons Texas Instruments failed with the 99/4 was that they "correctly concluded that the hobbiests and hackers were a small part of their customer base, but incorrectly concluded that therefore they were unimportant" Perhaps Apple can survive with software from the big houses. But don't forget, Apple, that the hackers (I use this term in the positive sense) are the ones giving advice to others on what computer to buy. They also run users groups, write books and magazines articles, and develop much public domain software for free. Don't forget that it was software availability that made the Apple II so popular-- and it wasn't 1-2-3 and Wordstar. So what am I leading up to? Well, I love my Mac and I can't wait to program it. First I find out that not only is MS-BASIC a dog, but I can only use 10-15 percent of the memory. Than I hear that PASCAL is really only meant for learning and is definately not for software development. FORTH might be OK once the bugs are out, but you need a licence to distribute software. So I rest my hopes on the assembler. But now I hear it will take TWO MACS!! Come on Apple. You designed a great machine. Don't blow it by playing games with your best free advertizing media. I'm sure if you try you can develop an assembler (or PASCAL compiler) that can run on one MAC. Dick Kalagher