TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Getting Started
Volume Number:8
Issue Number:1
Column Tag:Getting started

My First Macintosh . . .

How does one get started programming on the Macintosh?

By Dave Mark, MacTutor Regular Contributing Author

I bought my first Macintosh in March of ‘84, during the “first hundred days”. Though it might seem silly to some, MacWrite and MacPaint changed me completely. I drew pictures of my dog. I wrote letters to everyone in my Rolodex. I was hooked.

Being a long-time programmer, my immediate goal was to create my own sizzling Mac application. I read through the doc that came with my Mac. Absolutely no help there. I asked my friends. I even asked my Mom. Finally, I asked my cousin Eldin. Bingo! He laid the whole thing out for me.

“For starters,” he told me, “you’ll need to pick-up something called Inside Macintosh. It’s the only technical documentation available. You pay $150 to Apple and they’ll send you two 3” binders stuffed with all manner of technical material. Concentrate on the QuickDraw chapter. That’s where it all starts.”

With that sage advice, I started my career as a Macintosh developer. In those days, there weren’t a whole lot of technical resources available to help me along. Now, the choices are endless. If you’re just getting started with Mac development, or if you’d just like someone else’s viewpoint, stick around. In the next few pages, we’ll explore the vast array of Macintosh development options from an economic perspective.

Spending Your Hard-Earned Money

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything you needed to program your Macintosh came with it for free. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Programming the Mac can be incredibly expensive. In this section, we’re going to talk about priorities. What should you spend your money on? What should you buy and what order should you buy it in?

For starters, you’re going to need a Macintosh with at least 4 Mb of RAM and at least a 40 Mb hard drive. You can program with less, but this is one area I wouldn’t skimp on.

If you’re going to program with MPW, C++, and MacApp, you’d better plan on at least 8Mb of RAM and at least 80Mb of hard drive space. You’d also better plan on running System 7 in 32-bit mode with virtual memory turned on. MacApp is cool, but it really sucks up memory and disk space.

Buy A Development Environment

Once you’ve installed your memory and connected your hard drive, get yourself a compiler. Although there are other alternatives, for my money, Symantec and Apple are the only real players. Symantec offers both THINK C and THINK Pascal. Apple offers the Macintosh Programmer’s Workshop (MPW), with compatible compilers for C++, C, Pascal, and other languages. In general, the THINK compilers are much easier to use and to learn, and offer faster compile times. MPW is a UNIX-like environment, offering far more power and flexibility.

Which should you choose? If you’re just getting started, there’s no contest. Choose THINK C or THINK Pascal. Aside from being much easier to learn, there are far more books, tutorials, and programming examples available for the THINK environments than for MPW. Basically, support for THINK C and Pascal is excellent and pervasive. If you run into a problem (don’t worry, you will), pick up the phone and call Symantec’s technical support line. Once you get through, you’ll encounter insanely great support - and it’s free!!!

Although Apple does offer technical support, it is limited to Apple Partners, or to those willing to shell out the bucks for dedicated phone support.

C or Pascal?

If you haven’t picked a language yet, consider learning C, by far the most popular Macintosh programming language. As of December, 1991, there were about 3 times as many C programmers as Pascal programmers. Why is C so popular? One explanation is that C is the standard programming language for the UNIX operating system, and UNIX is extremely popular. Some people prefer C because it is more flexible than Pascal, allowing you to “get away” with a looser programming style.

Pascal is a strongly typed language, requiring you to specify everything just so. One of the benefits of Pascal is its rigidity. Pascal makes it tougher to make inadvertent programming mistakes.

Why do I recommend C? Simple. Go to a book store and count the Pascal and C books. Chances are good that the C books far outnumber the Pascal books. This is a symptom worth paying attention to. If you go with C, you’ll have far more support than if you go with Pascal.

The Object Programming Option

Once you’ve chosen a language, start exploring the world of object programming. Object programming is the wave of

the future. In the next few years, every major computer company will make the switch over to object-oriented develop-ment environments. Apple and IBM, through their joint venture known as Taligent, will produce a new operating system and a series of new hardware platforms. All development for the Taligent platforms will be based on an object programming model.

If you don’t know what objects are, now is the time to learn. If you are a C programmer, move up to C++. If you plan on sticking with Pascal, move up to Object Pascal. Any investment you make in learning object programming is a wise investment in your future.

Go to the Book Store

Though I may be biased, I believe that dollar-for-dollar, your best programming investment is in books. If you are just getting started with programming, get a copy of Oh! Pascal by Cooper and Clancy (for you Pascal programmers). There is a special edition of Oh! Pascal written especially for THINK Pascal. Oh! Pascal is a classic.

On the C side, pick up a copy of Learn C on the Macintosh by Dave Mark (OK, it’s me, I admit it!!!) and The C Programming Language by Kernighan and Ritchie. Learn C comes with a special version of THINK C, tucked in the back, and also includes a coupon offering a significant savings (save more than the cost of the book) on an upgrade to the full THINK C. While Learn C offers a tutorial approach to C programming, The C Programming Language is a C language reference. It includes a complete description of the C language as defined in the latest ANSI standard.

Once you’ve mastered C or Pascal, you’re ready to tackle the Macintosh Toolbox. The Macintosh Programming Primer series by Mark (me again) and Reed offers a complete tutorial in the art of Macintosh programming. Volume I of the Mac Primer is available in both C and Pascal flavors. If you can wait till June, Cartwright and I are hard at work on the 2nd edition of the Mac C Primer, Volume I. The 2nd edition will feature lots of System 7 goodies, including Apple events and a whole lot more.

Now comes the expensive part. If you can afford it, pick up Volumes I through VI of Inside Macintosh, the definitive reference material for the Macintosh. Inside Macintosh contains descriptions of every single Macintosh Toolbox function. If you can, pick up a copy of THINK Reference from Symantec. THINK Reference is sort of like an electronic, cross-referenced version of Volumes I through V of Inside Macintosh. Unfortunately, at this time, Volume VI hasn’t been added to THINK Reference yet.

Till Next Month...

Well, I’m just about out of space for this month. Next month, we’ll get down to code, exploring some of the mysteries of the Mac Toolbox. Till then, Adios...

About the author

Dave Mark is an accomplished Macintosh author and an Apple Partner. He is the author of The Macintosh Programming Primer Series which includes: Macintosh C Programming Primer, Volumes 1 and 2; Macintosh Pascal Programming Primer, Volume 1, and his latest book, Learn C on the Macintosh. Dave is also the “professor” on the Learn Programming Forum on CompuServe. To get there, type GO MACDEV, then check out section 11.

Kuh-ching!

Here’s a Macintosh shopper’s tip:

Get hold of the latest issue

of MacWEEK.

Towards the back,

you’ll find a series of

ads featuring some of the best prices around

on memory and

hard drives.

As of this writing,

1 Megabyte SIMMs

were around

$36 each.

A Quantum

50 Megabyte internal drive was only $215!

[Remember, although this is an excellent suggestion, it is definitely buyer beware territory. Try to go with the vendors with better reputations when you buy. - Ed.]

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Posterino 4.4 - Create posters, collages...
Posterino offers enhanced customization and flexibility including a variety of new, stylish templates featuring grids of identical or odd-sized image boxes. You can customize the size and shape of... Read more
Chromium 119.0.6044.0 - Fast and stable...
Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to build a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web. List of changes available here. Version for Apple... Read more
Spotify 1.2.21.1104 - Stream music, crea...
Spotify is a streaming music service that gives you on-demand access to millions of songs. Whether you like driving rock, silky R&B, or grandiose classical music, Spotify's massive catalogue puts... Read more
Tor Browser 12.5.5 - Anonymize Web brows...
Using Tor Browser you can protect yourself against tracking, surveillance, and censorship. Tor was originally designed, implemented, and deployed as a third-generation onion-routing project of the U.... Read more
Malwarebytes 4.21.9.5141 - Adware remova...
Malwarebytes (was AdwareMedic) helps you get your Mac experience back. Malwarebytes scans for and removes code that degrades system performance or attacks your system. Making your Mac once again your... Read more
TinkerTool 9.5 - Expanded preference set...
TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into Mac OS X. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the... Read more
Paragon NTFS 15.11.839 - Provides full r...
Paragon NTFS breaks down the barriers between Windows and macOS. Paragon NTFS effectively solves the communication problems between the Mac system and NTFS. Write, edit, copy, move, delete files on... Read more
Apple Safari 17 - Apple's Web brows...
Apple Safari is Apple's web browser that comes bundled with the most recent macOS. Safari is faster and more energy efficient than other browsers, so sites are more responsive and your notebook... Read more
Firefox 118.0 - Fast, safe Web browser.
Firefox offers a fast, safe Web browsing experience. Browse quickly, securely, and effortlessly. With its industry-leading features, Firefox is the choice of Web development professionals and casual... Read more
ClamXAV 3.6.1 - Virus checker based on C...
ClamXAV is a popular virus checker for OS X. Time to take control ClamXAV keeps threats at bay and puts you firmly in charge of your Mac’s security. Scan a specific file or your entire hard drive.... Read more

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

‘Monster Hunter Now’ October Events Incl...
Niantic and Capcom have just announced this month’s plans for the real world hunting action RPG Monster Hunter Now (Free) for iOS and Android. If you’ve not played it yet, read my launch week review of it here. | Read more »
Listener Emails and the iPhone 15! – The...
In this week’s episode of The TouchArcade Show we finally get to a backlog of emails that have been hanging out in our inbox for, oh, about a month or so. We love getting emails as they always lead to interesting discussion about a variety of topics... | Read more »
TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Cypher 00...
This doesn’t happen too often, but occasionally there will be an Apple Arcade game that I adore so much I just have to pick it as the Game of the Week. Well, here we are, and Cypher 007 is one of those games. The big key point here is that Cypher... | Read more »
SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘EA Sports FC 24’...
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for September 29th, 2023. In today’s article, we’ve got a ton of news to go over. Just a lot going on today, I suppose. After that, there are quite a few new releases to look at... | Read more »
‘Storyteller’ Mobile Review – Perfect fo...
I first played Daniel Benmergui’s Storyteller (Free) through its Nintendo Switch and Steam releases. Read my original review of it here. Since then, a lot of friends who played the game enjoyed it, but thought it was overpriced given the short... | Read more »
An Interview with the Legendary Yu Suzuk...
One of the cool things about my job is that every once in a while, I get to talk to the people behind the games. It’s always a pleasure. Well, today we have a really special one for you, dear friends. Mr. Yu Suzuki of Ys Net, the force behind such... | Read more »
New ‘Marvel Snap’ Update Has Balance Adj...
As we wait for the information on the new season to drop, we shall have to content ourselves with looking at the latest update to Marvel Snap (Free). It’s just a balance update, but it makes some very big changes that combined with the arrival of... | Read more »
‘Honkai Star Rail’ Version 1.4 Update Re...
At Sony’s recently-aired presentation, HoYoverse announced the Honkai Star Rail (Free) PS5 release date. Most people speculated that the next major update would arrive alongside the PS5 release. | Read more »
‘Omniheroes’ Major Update “Tide’s Cadenc...
What secrets do the depths of the sea hold? Omniheroes is revealing the mysteries of the deep with its latest “Tide’s Cadence" update, where you can look forward to scoring a free Valkyrie and limited skin among other login rewards like the 2nd... | Read more »
Recruit yourself some run-and-gun royalt...
It is always nice to see the return of a series that has lost a bit of its global staying power, and thanks to Lilith Games' latest collaboration, Warpath will be playing host the the run-and-gun legend that is Metal Slug 3. [Read more] | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Clearance M1 Max Mac Studio available today a...
Apple has clearance M1 Max Mac Studios available in their Certified Refurbished store for $270 off original MSRP. Each Mac Studio comes with Apple’s one-year warranty, and shipping is free: – Mac... Read more
Apple continues to offer 24-inch iMacs for up...
Apple has a full range of 24-inch M1 iMacs available today in their Certified Refurbished store. Models are available starting at only $1099 and range up to $260 off original MSRP. Each iMac is in... Read more
Final weekend for Apple’s 2023 Back to School...
This is the final weekend for Apple’s Back to School Promotion 2023. It remains active until Monday, October 2nd. Education customers receive a free $150 Apple Gift Card with the purchase of a new... Read more
Apple drops prices on refurbished 13-inch M2...
Apple has dropped prices on standard-configuration 13″ M2 MacBook Pros, Certified Refurbished, to as low as $1099 and ranging up to $230 off MSRP. These are the cheapest 13″ M2 MacBook Pros for sale... Read more
14-inch M2 Max MacBook Pro on sale for $300 o...
B&H Photo has the Space Gray 14″ 30-Core GPU M2 Max MacBook Pro in stock and on sale today for $2799 including free 1-2 day shipping. Their price is $300 off Apple’s MSRP, and it’s the lowest... Read more
Apple is now selling Certified Refurbished M2...
Apple has added a full line of standard-configuration M2 Max and M2 Ultra Mac Studios available in their Certified Refurbished section starting at only $1699 and ranging up to $600 off MSRP. Each Mac... Read more
New sale: 13-inch M2 MacBook Airs starting at...
B&H Photo has 13″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs in stock today and on sale for $200 off Apple’s MSRP with prices available starting at only $899. Free 1-2 day delivery is available to most US... Read more
Apple has all 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs in stoc...
Apple has Certified Refurbished 15″ M2 MacBook Airs in stock today starting at only $1099 and ranging up to $230 off MSRP. These are the cheapest M2-powered 15″ MacBook Airs for sale today at Apple.... Read more
In stock: Clearance M1 Ultra Mac Studios for...
Apple has clearance M1 Ultra Mac Studios available in their Certified Refurbished store for $540 off original MSRP. Each Mac Studio comes with Apple’s one-year warranty, and shipping is free: – Mac... Read more
Back on sale: Apple’s M2 Mac minis for $100 o...
B&H Photo has Apple’s M2-powered Mac minis back in stock and on sale today for $100 off MSRP. Free 1-2 day shipping is available for most US addresses: – Mac mini M2/256GB SSD: $499, save $100 –... Read more

Jobs Board

Licensed Dental Hygienist - *Apple* River -...
Park Dental Apple River in Somerset, WI is seeking a compassionate, professional Dental Hygienist to join our team-oriented practice. COMPETITIVE PAY AND SIGN-ON Read more
Sublease Associate Optometrist- *Apple* Val...
Sublease Associate Optometrist- Apple Valley, CA- Target Optical Date: Sep 30, 2023 Brand: Target Optical Location: Apple Valley, CA, US, 92307 **Requisition Read more
*Apple* / Mac Administrator - JAMF - Amentum...
Amentum is seeking an ** Apple / Mac Administrator - JAMF** to provide support with the Apple Ecosystem to include hardware and software to join our team and Read more
Child Care Teacher - Glenda Drive/ *Apple* V...
Child Care Teacher - Glenda Drive/ Apple ValleyTeacher Share by Email Share on LinkedIn Share on Twitter Read more
Cashier - *Apple* Blossom Mall - JCPenney (...
Cashier - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Blossom Mall Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.