siegman@sierra.STANFORD.EDU (siegman) (02/18/91)
The following is a list of books and other references for programming in BASIC on the Macintosh, collected by Professor A. E. Siegman, E. L. Ginzton Laboratory MC-4085, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305. Comments and additions will be welcomed, and can be emailed to siegman@sierra.stanford.edu (Internet) or RW.AAP@STANFORD (Bitnet). ********************************************************** There are four versions of BASIC currently available for the Macintosh (at least that I know of), namely Microsoft QuickBASIC, True BASIC, ZBasic, and HyperBASIC, although the last of these is not really a free-standing language but is used only for writing extended functions and commands for HyperCard in BASIC. One encouraging event has been the recent appearance of a monthly magazine devoted to all four of these versions of BASIC, namely: *** Ross W. Lambert, ed., ``Inside Basic'' (monthly publication from Ariel Publishing, Inc., P. O. Box 398, Pateros WA 98846, phone 509-923-2249; paper copy, $36.95/year; monthly floppy disk subscription, $69.95/year). This magazine, which began with Vol. 1, No. 1 in January 1991, has columns devoted to all four of the versions of BASIC mentioned above, as well as more general news notes, shop talk, and advice on software development, and a monthly floppy disk of programs which can be ordered separately. Since I'm a strong proponent of Microsoft QuickBASIC as a Macintosh programming environment for amateur, beginning, or even professional programmers, I'm glad to see this magazine despite its occasional quirks and the editor's sometimes breezy style. The first issue contained a novel and slightly complicated shell or template program for handling system events in multi-window QuickBASIC programs which was probably worth the entire subscription to me. Recommended. There is also a recent book on QuickBASIC for the Macintosh, the first book specifically on Macintosh QuickBASIC programming that I've seen, although there are several books devoted to QuickBASIC on IBM PCs: *** Michael Halvorson and David Rygmyr, Learn BASIC for the Apple Macintosh Now (Microsoft Press, 1990, paperbound, $39.95; includes a floppy disk with a copy of the QuickBASIC Interpreter only). This book appears to be reasonably good as an elementary introduction to BASIC programming on the Mac, with lots of examples. It is, however, limited to the elementary aspects of QUickBASIC programming on the Mac, with no discussion of more advanced topics such as using the PICTURE ON/OFF capabilities, accessing ToolBox routines from QuickBASIC, or the like. ********************************************************** All of the following texts are dated 1986 or earlier and are focused on the earlier versions of Microsoft BASIC, which later evolved into Microsoft QuickBASIC. They are thus somewhat dated at this point, although several of them may still be very useful for novice programmers. "Microsoft Macinations" by the Waite Group is probably the book on this list I would recommend most highly. *** Sharon Zardetto Aker, MacBits: Utilities and Routines for the BASIC Programmer (Compute! Publications, 1986, paperbound, $16.95). This slightly specialized but useful book describes some 100 programming tools and utilities written in BASIC which can be used to simplify writing other programs in MS BASIC 3.0. Includes 18 code-writing utilities to generate BASIC code for making windows, programming buttons, etc., plus approximately 80 other routines which can be copied and used in finished programs. The programs are also available on a Macintosh disk. *** Sharon Zardetto Aker, Microsoft BASIC Programming for the Macintosh (Scott, Foresman, 1985). Probably largely out of date? *** James S. Coan and Louisa Coan, Basic Microsfot BASIC for the Macintosh (Hayden Books, 1985). Also probably now fairly out of date. *** Philip Calippe, Advanced Macintosh BASIC Programming (Compute Publications, 1985, paperbound, $16.95). This is a reference guide useful for programmers already familiar with elementary BASIC programming. It discusses and gives examples of the more advanced Macintosh-specific features of Microsoft BASIC, including especially the Macintosh ROM routines that are available directly from BASIC. However, it does not cover the many additional Macintosh toolbox routines that become available by using the MS BASIC ToolLib. A program diskette is also available. *** Walter A. Ettlin and Gregory Solberg, The Microsoft BASIC Book (Osborne/McGraw-Hill, 1985, paperbound, $18.95). This seems to be primarily an elementary introduction to BASIC programming, with only a very little on the special features of BASIC on the Macintosh. *** Larry J. Goldstein, Garry Helzer, and David Schneider, Microsoft BASIC for the Macintosh (Brady Books/Prentice-Hall, 1986, paperbound). This is essentially a fat handbook giving an introductory tutorial on BASIC, and then a detailed description and summary of all the standard commands in MS BASIC, presented in alphabetical order. Contains little or nothing on the toolbox routines accessed through the MS BASIC ToolLib. *** David Kater, Macintosh Graphics and Sound: Programming in Microsoft BASIC (Osborne McGraw-Hill, 1986, paperbound, $17.95). One of the many paperbacks giving a simple introductory description of how to use the graphics and sound capabilities of the Mac from MS Basic 2.0 This one is OK, but nowhere near as detailed or extensive as Microsoft Macinations described below. *** Steve Lambert, Creative Programming in Microsoft BASIC (Microsoft Press, 1985). Also now likely to be out of date. *** Richard C. Vile, Jr., Macintosh Programming Using MS-BASIC 2.0 (TAB Books, 1985, paperbound, $16.95). This is intended to (and appears to) give a good introduction to the more sophisticated Macintosh capabilities available through MS BASIC, for programmers who already know elementary BASIC programming. It contains numerous helpful hints and demonstration programs, and a separate program disk is also available. It is primarily limited to the commands built into BASIC itself however, plus the ROM routines, and does not cover the additional toolbox capabilities provided by the MS BASIC ToolLib. It does have an interesting QuickDraw Trainer program for demonstrating the ROM QuickDraw routines accessible from BASIC. *** The Waite Group (M. Waite, R. Lafore, and I. Lansing ), Microsoft Macinations: An Introduction to Microsoft BASIC for the Apple Macintosh (Microsoft Press, 1985). Now partly out of date because of the emergence of QuickBASIC; but still a clear and fairly detailed coverage of how to use MS Basic and the Toolbox extensions on the Macintosh. Still recommendedclear explanations for the beginner, clever illustrations and examples for the advanced programmer. *** The Waite Group (M. Waite, D. Putterman, D. Urquhart, and C. Blanchard), Macintosh Midnight Madness: Utilities, Games and Other Grand Diversions in Microsoft BASIC for the Apple Macintosh (Microsoft Press, 1985). Haven't seen this one.