Re: The "user-developer gap" myth

[CUTblakeney@home.com (Jeff Blakeney)]

On Tue, 27 Jun 2000 17:03:42 -0500, Phoenyx <quazar@dcnet2000.com>
wrote:

>A bit misleading here.
>
>>Teodor Angeloff- Apple II Oasis v2.4
>
>Includes original Apple2 programs and helps users who want to
>backup software on the PC. See below about emulators.

Oops, I did forget about that aspect of Oasis.  My apologies.  Even
so, the major part of his development efforts are for the PC, not for
the Apple II.

>>Peter Koch- unix-based A2 emulator
>
>This may not be A2 based, but some people get back into the
>community after fooling around with emulators.

But it still doesn't make them an Apple II developer.  I currently
don't have any machines running unix at home so I can't use his
product.  More importantly, I can't use his program with my Apple IIs.

>>Andy McFadden- Nulib2
>
>Nulib can be compiled and run on a GS. In this respect, it can
>be considered as a supported archive program.

The same can be said of a great number of programs.  Just because
people have been porting unix software for use with GNO, does that
make the original unix developer an Apple II developer?

>>Steven W. Mentzer- XGS/32 IIgs emulator
>>Jonathan Schattke- AppleWin v1.11.B
>
>As mentioned, some people who fool around with emulators have
>decided to rejoin our community.

Someone who doesn't develop a single line of code can get people to
rejoin the Apple II community but that doesn't make them Apple II
developers.

>IMHO, it does not require a large software inventory or special
>qualifications to be an Apple II developer. Anyone who offers
>a program for others to use are developers. I see no reason to
>put on such airs by calling myself a developer. I like the
>way Woz did things. You create them because you love the machine
>any thing else is an extra benefit.

If you develop hardware or software specifically for use on an Apple
II, I would consider you an Apple II developer.  If you haven't done
this for quite some time or don't take part in discussions about your
products on the major message bases, then I wouldn't consider you an
active Apple II developer.

For instance, Mike Westerfield of the ByteWorks released GSoft BASIC
at KFest '98 but has released no new Apple II software since then nor
have I seen him around the message bases much lately.  He is
definitely an Apple II developer (and a great one at that) but,
unfortunately, he isn't very active anymore.

>I remember a time when II users were pretty close knit bunch. We
>had to be, since we were usually the only place another user
>could turn to for help and advice. There has always been a
>division between the large developers and us, but never was the
>true community at odds as it is now.

The Apple II users on Delphi are still a close knit bunch and are
always happy to welcome more people.  There is definitely some discord
here, though.

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