TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Dec 94 Dialog
Volume Number:10
Issue Number:12
Column Tag:Dialog Box

Dialog Box

By Scott T Boyd, Editor

Sprocket Thoughts

I like the idea of a comparatively tiny object-oriented framework as a base for future articles. But as a beginner in programming (any computer, not just Macintosh) I am a little stuck here. I own neither a PowerMac nor Metrowerks CodeWarrior.

If Sprocket should not be limited to the more advanced users, I (and other hobbyists I guess) would need detailed descriptions how to get Sprocket compiling with THINK C++ 7.0 at least.

Naturally a version for both compilers would still be better, because I would not waste my spare time getting the framework running while the new issue of MacTech Magazine with the next feature article is already in the box.

- Michael W. Schwarz, Darmstadt (Germany)

mschwarz@merck.de

We’re planning to make Sprocket buildable in all of the major C++ environments. We’re also hoping to see other language versions as well. If anyone would like to volunteer, drop us a note at editorial@xplain.com -Ed stb

Prophet of the Apocalypse?

>My co-worker just discovered that you cannot run Excel 5.0

>without OLE installed...In order to display the Windows ‘95

>(a.k.a. Chicago) logo on your Windows product, you must

>implement OLE 2.0. No OLE, No logo!!!

>What message is MicroSoft sending everyone?

That now that the Justice Department has backed off, it can do whatever it pleases. :-) I recently got a humorous post over the net suggesting that Bill Gates is the Anti-Christ. The best part:

Revelation 13:16 and 13:18 says:

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

“Windows compatible?”

- Bruce F. Webster, CTO, Pages Software

bwebster@pages.com

Happy To Be Online

Just a note of thanks for having your sources available for Internet ftp. I know it may seem trivial to you, but it’s a great service to your readers. I read the mag on a weekend, and I can go get the relevant information then... what a win! Keep up the good work.

- Leo Hourvitz, leo@netcom.com

Thanks. We’re getting things together to get even more useful information online. We’ll keep you posted - Ed stb

A Trail of Good Intentions

It was with great interest that I read David Simmons’ letter in MacTech Magazine (August 1994) concerning OO languages, Smalltalk, C++, and the design of applications.

Certain sentences leapt from the page:

“I think it is really C++ with its non-dynamic architecture and complex semantics/grammar that is failing”.

Absolutely. When I first heard of C++ I looked eagerly for great flexibility in the language and found instead a syntactic nightmare. Jim Gimpel has a quote from Ray Duncan in his manual for C++ FlexeLint, describing C++ as “one of the most grotesque and cryptic languages ever created”. It’s a mess. It inches asymptotically toward its eventual design while leaving a trail of good intentions.

“Building components in C++ is just as hard as building applications (talk to the folks who are trying to do it). The real problem at hand is managing complexity and capturing design intent.”

I keep hawking the “complexity” word to clients when I am trying to get them to write decent code and manage their projects properly. Too many people spend too much time staring at the lines on the screen to see the big picture. Complexity is the one thing that is guaranteed to kill a project as it grows unless it is managed very carefully. Design intent is usually unclear as projects mature and budgets change. Another argument for reducing complexity.

- Steven Weller, Windsor Systems, Louisville, KY

steve@barefoot.com http://iglou.com/~stevenw/windsorhome.html

Reader Report Card

Well, I know you appreciate feedback, so here we go:

I’ve been a subscriber for almost two years by now. Through that period I’ve found that MacTech has improved in a lot of ways.

First of all you’ve done a real good job in covering the mainstream development tools from Symantec and MetroWerks. This is what most of the people I know around here uses, so this is a sound approach in my opinion. Topics like Forth and Fortran are only of academic interest to me (and I guess a lot of other folks).

I’m also very pleased to be able to read detailed information about PPC, Dylan, OpenDoc and other potentially revolutionary stuff lurking just below the horizon. We need to know a little about this and you do a good job of keeping us informed.

Putting the source code from the magazine on your ftp-site is a much appreciated service.

Making more informative folios is also a nice touch. But speaking of layout I would like to suggest that you do something about your usage of color. I think color is a good thing for illustrations and labeling. But couldn’t you refrain from using gradients in the boxes (sunbursts or whatever) at the beginning of each article? They make the colors look dirty and mars the otherwise sober layout of the magazine. Use vivid and pure colors only - it actually improves on the impact the colors have.

But aside from my gradient grudge, I must say that I like your magazine very much. Sprocket is a great idea in this age of hyperbloated fatware (I just got In Control 3.0 - it’s grown and become so slow your teeth fall out when you have to wait for the auto-enter function!).

That’s all for this instance.

- Piet Seiden, seiden@biobase.aau.dk

Frederiksberg, Denmark

P.S. Dilbert doesn’t suck! Keep him around.

Should MacTech Take Sides?

After reading the October Dialog Box letter from Stephen Johnson I felt compelled to respond. Last time I checked, MacTech Magazine was owned by Xplain Corporation, not Apple Computer. As such, there is no reason why MacTech should stick by Apple just because it’s Apple. Regardless of what technology is better, Windows does exist and will continue to exist. I’m a realist and because of this I want to know all sides of a technology debate. I would be much less inclined to read MacTech if it always tried to make Apple look good and shelter me from “the bad guys at Microsoft”. Apple is not a small child. They can do their own marketing. The day Apple needs to rely on a publication to be unfairly biased to convince Macintosh developers in a technology debate is the day Apple has truly lost the technology war. MacTech is not Stars and Stripes. It’s not a “feel good” magazine. MacTech provides information that is important to Macintosh developers, not its opinion of what is best for us. I’m grown up and I can make my own decisions. I don’t need a magazine to tell me what technology to use.

Macintosh enthusiasts seem to forget that throughout the brief life of the computer industry, rarely has the “best” technology become a standard. It’s the technology that’s “good enough” which emerges from the pack. Living a sheltered life doesn’t make bad technology go away - it leaves you unprepared for reality.

I have a very strong emotional attachment to the Macintosh. I’ve been programming the Macintosh for over 1/3 of my life and I cannot imagine programming any other computer. If Apple bites the dust, I’ll find another industry to work in rather than write Windows software. Still, if Apple cannot stand on its own, I’m not willing to live in a cave and pretend it does.

Wake up pal. It’s time to face reality.

- Steve Kiene, mindvision@mindvision.com

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Six fantastic ways to spend National Vid...
As if anyone needed an excuse to play games today, I am about to give you one: it is National Video Games Day. A day for us to play games, like we no doubt do every day. Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth. Instead, feast your eyes on this... | Read more »
Old School RuneScape players turn out in...
The sheer leap in technological advancements in our lifetime has been mind-blowing. We went from Commodore 64s to VR glasses in what feels like a heartbeat, but more importantly, the internet. It can be a dark mess, but it also brought hundreds of... | Read more »
Today's Best Mobile Game Discounts...
Every day, we pick out a curated list of the best mobile discounts on the App Store and post them here. This list won't be comprehensive, but it every game on it is recommended. Feel free to check out the coverage we did on them in the links below... | Read more »
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's...
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that Nintendo has been locked in an epic battle with Pocketpair, creator of the obvious Pokémon rip-off Palworld. Nintendo often resorts to legal retaliation at the drop of a hat, but it seems this... | Read more »
Apple exclusive mobile games don’t make...
If you are a gamer on phones, no doubt you have been as distressed as I am on one huge sticking point: exclusivity. For years, Xbox and PlayStation have done battle, and before this was the Sega Genesis and the Nintendo NES. On console, it makes... | Read more »
Regionally exclusive events make no sens...
Last week, over on our sister site AppSpy, I babbled excitedly about the Pokémon GO Safari Days event. You can get nine Eevees with an explorer hat per day. Or, can you? Specifically, you, reader. Do you have the time or funds to possibly fly for... | Read more »
As Jon Bellamy defends his choice to can...
Back in March, Jagex announced the appointment of a new CEO, Jon Bellamy. Mr Bellamy then decided to almost immediately paint a huge target on his back by cancelling the Runescapes Pride event. This led to widespread condemnation about his perceived... | Read more »
Marvel Contest of Champions adds two mor...
When I saw the latest two Marvel Contest of Champions characters, I scoffed. Mr Knight and Silver Samurai, thought I, they are running out of good choices. Then I realised no, I was being far too cynical. This is one of the things that games do best... | Read more »
Grass is green, and water is wet: Pokémo...
It must be a day that ends in Y, because Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has kicked off its Zoroark Drop Event. Here you can get a promo version of another card, and look forward to the next Wonder Pick Event and the next Mass Outbreak that will be... | Read more »
Enter the Gungeon review
It took me a minute to get around to reviewing this game for a couple of very good reasons. The first is that Enter the Gungeon's style of roguelike bullet-hell action is teetering on the edge of being straight-up malicious, which made getting... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

Take $150 off every Apple 11-inch M3 iPad Air
Amazon is offering a $150 discount on 11-inch M3 WiFi iPad Airs right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 128GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $449, $150 off – 11″ 256GB M3 WiFi iPad Air: $549, $150 off – 11″ 512GB M3... Read more
Apple iPad minis back on sale for $100 off MS...
Amazon is offering $100 discounts (up to 20% off) on Apple’s newest 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis among the Apple retailers we... Read more
Apple’s 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sa...
Amazon has 16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $410 off Apple’s MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather than a third-party... Read more
Red Pocket Mobile is offering a $150 rebate o...
Red Pocket Mobile has new Apple iPhone 17’s on sale for $150 off MSRP when you switch and open up a new line of service. Red Pocket Mobile is a nationwide MVNO using all the major wireless carrier... Read more
Switch to Verizon, and get any iPhone 16 for...
With yesterday’s introduction of the new iPhone 17 models, Verizon responded by running “on us” promos across much of the iPhone 16 lineup: iPhone 16 and 16 Plus show as $0/mo for 36 months with bill... Read more
Here is a summary of the new features in Appl...
Apple’s September 2025 event introduced major updates across its most popular product lines, focusing on health, performance, and design breakthroughs. The AirPods Pro 3 now feature best-in-class... Read more
Apple’s Smartphone Lineup Could Use A Touch o...
COMMENTARY – Whatever happened to the old adage, “less is more”? Apple’s smartphone lineup. — which is due for its annual refresh either this month or next (possibly at an Apple Event on September 9... Read more
Take $50 off every 11th-generation A16 WiFi i...
Amazon has Apple’s 11th-generation A16 WiFi iPads in stock on sale for $50 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free: – 11″ 11th-generation 128GB WiFi iPads: $299 $50 off MSRP – 11″ 11th-generation 256GB... Read more
Sunday Sale: 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros for up t...
Don’t pay full price! Amazon has Apple’s 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros (Silver and Black colors) on sale for up to $220 off MSRP right now. Shipping is free. Be sure to select Amazon as the seller, rather... Read more
Mac mini with M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $12...
B&H Photo has Apple’s Mac mini with the M4 Pro CPU back on sale for $1259, $140 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: – Mac mini M4 Pro CPU (24GB/512GB): $1259, $... Read more

Jobs Board

All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.