aid@k.cc.purdue.edu (Jeff North) (05/21/88)
Afer buying LightSpeed C, it didn't take me long to realize that if I want to do anything interesting, I need to know more about the ToolBox and OS and how it is used from C. Can anyone recommend a book that would help me to use the ToolBox and OS routines from C? Is "Inside Macintosh" an indispensible book or can a book from one of the other publishers suffice? What is covered in "Inside Macintosh"? Lastly, on a totally irrelevant point, what does "MPW" stand for? I have seen it used hundreds of times and no one I have talked with knows what what it means. Jeff North aid@k.cc.purdue.edu
chuq@plaid.Sun.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) (05/22/88)
>Afer buying LightSpeed C, it didn't take me long to realize that if >I want to do anything interesting, I need to know more about the >ToolBox and OS and how it is used from C. There isn't a book specifically for LightSpeed C (a fact I find amazing, personally. I actually looked at writing one, but I don't have time). The best you can do is pick up a Mac book for another C compiler -- in general, the translation problems are minimal. Two I recommend are Using the Mac Toolbox with C (Sybex, Takastsuka/Huxahm/Burnard) and C Programming techniques for the Macintosh (Sams, Mednieks/Schilke). >Can anyone recommend a book that would help me to use the ToolBox and OS >routines from C? Is "Inside Macintosh" an indispensible book or can a >book from one of the other publishers suffice? What is covered in >"Inside Macintosh"? For general introductions of the Mac toolbox, the best reference is Chernickoffs Macintosh Revealed series (Hayden). It can replace Inside Mac for many programmers, at least until you get into the more complex areas of the Mac. >Lastly, on a totally irrelevant point, what does "MPW" stand for? I have >seen it used hundreds of times and no one I have talked with knows what >what it means. Macintosh Programmers Workshop. Chuq Von Rospach chuq@sun.COM Delphi: CHUQ Robert A. Heinlein: 1907-1988. He will never truly die as long as we read his words and speak his name. Rest in Peace.
dorourke@polyslo.UUCP (David O'Rourke) (05/22/88)
In article <2509@k.cc.purdue.edu> aid@k.cc.purdue.edu (Jeff North) writes: >Can anyone recommend a book that would help me to use the ToolBox and OS >routines from C? Is "Inside Macintosh" an indispensible book or can a >book from one of the other publishers suffice? What is covered in >"Inside Macintosh"? Inside Macintosh is indespensible for any serious programing on the Macintosh. It covers "all" of the calls provided by the roms, and the system file, and has several interesting things to say about the do's and don't of programming the Macintosh. Vol 1-3 Covers the basics of All Macintosh computers 64K Rom's Vol 4 Covers the extension's to the Macintosh Plus 128K Rom's Vol 5 Covers the extension's made to the Macintosh II & SE. As far a a good book on programming the Macintosh in C, I've seen some, but haven't had the chance to review any of them. But buy Inside Macintosh if you want to program the Macintosh. >Lastly, on a totally irrelevant point, what does "MPW" stand for? I have Macintosh Programmer's WorkShop {MPW}. -- David M. O'Rourke Disclaimer: I don't represent the school. All opinions are mine!
tedj@hpcilzb.HP.COM (Ted Johnson) (05/22/88)
>Can anyone recommend a book that would help me to use the ToolBox and OS >routines from C? I would highly recommend "Using the Macintosh Toolbox with C", by Jim Takatsuka, Fred Huxham, and David Burnard, (SYBEX, c. 1986). It is the best book I have seen, by far. Unfortunately it seems to be out of print. Also, the C the book was written using Consulair Mac C, which differs slightly from Lightspeed C. I have translated most of the example programs though, so if you have trouble I could help you out. >Is "Inside Macintosh" an indispensible book or can a I think so. >What is covered in "Inside Macintosh"? This is the official documentation of the 700+ subroutines in ROM that your programs call. >Lastly, on a totally irrelevant point, what does "MPW" stand for? I have Macintosh Programmer's Workshop. It is Apple's official Mac software development system. -Ted
dan@Apple.COM (Dan Allen) (05/23/88)
Inside Macintosh is essential. Read the original material, not the watered down retellings like "Macintosh Revealed". Inside Macintosh is not a tutorial, but a reference. As long as that is understood, it is highly useful. For a tutorial, try the new volumes by Addison-Wesley: "The Programmer's Introduction to the Macintosh" and "A Technical Introduction to the Macintosh" or something like that. They are not outstanding, but are OK. MPW stands for Macintosh Programmer's Workshop. It is described in detail in the May issue of IEEE Software, and will also be described in a special Macintosh Doctor Dobb's Journal article coming out around June 15th or so. The whole issue is about the Mac, and is not the standard monthly Dr. Dobb's issue. Dan Allen Software Explorer Apple Computer