Re: KFest 2010 Report

[Kirk Mitchell <kirkmitchell@gmail.com>]

On Jul 23, 1:09 pm, ]3ob <bob [ @ ] onemanband.com> wrote:
> On 2010-07-22 23:13:26 -0400, Kirk Mitchell <kirkmitch...@gmail.com> said:
>
>
>
> > Thursday is the first day with a full morning/afternoon schedule of
> > sessions, so it was very busy!
>
> > After breakfast, Peter Neubauer presented an overview of the Macrosoft
> > program language that rests on Nibble Magazine's MindCraft Assembler.
> > It allows the programmer to write using an Applesoft-like syntax, when
> > then assembles to machine language code for extra speed.  Back in the
> > late '80s, the package sold for $100, but Peter will be offering it at
> > the vendor fair for $23.95 for both the macro package and assembler,
> > useable from DOS 3.3 and ProDos.
>
> > He wrote a short program that demonstrated it's features, and I'd say
> > the program was 5x faster then its Applesoft equivalent. I'll be
> > leaving KFest with a copy.  Excellent session!
>
> > Eric Shepherd, aka "Sheppy" was unable to make it to KFest this year,
> > but was still with us in spirit and streaming when he used iChat to
> > present a session on iPad programming.  He demonstrated how easy it
> > was to take the project he'd shown last year for the iPhone, and port
> > it to the iPad.  I'm not very acquainted with the Xcode development
> > system, but it was interesting, and I listened intently for the last
> > 15 minutes... B-P
>
> > Sheppy's session was followed by a panel discussion over the subject
> > "Apple's Growing Divide Between Users and Programmers" which featured
> > Ken Gagne as moderator, and Panelists Ivan Drucker, Martin Haye, and
> > Mike Maginnis.  The brain power there caused the room to tilt a bit!
> > Excellent points about how Apple's market shifted from the hobbyist/
> > programmer of the Apple II days, to the far less open, but probably
> > unavoidable closed systems of the iPad and iPhones in today's market.
>
> > After Lunch, Martin Haye introduced his latest project, NakedOS, a new
> > Disk II operating system usable on all Apple II's.  It's a very
> > tightly coded option for those who need to squeeze 4-5 KB more memory
> > to use for their 8-bit programs, and additional diskette space as
> > well.  A very detailed session that covered the many details one would
> > have to consider in using this totally free operating system.  Still,
> > it looks like a winner for those who would want to take advantage it!
>
> > Dagen Brock's session was on "Off-platform Apple II development", and
> > stressed using the strengths of the many Linux/Mac OS/Windows
> > development tools available, to enhance Apple II programs.  He could
> > have used much more time to cover all that's available.
>
> > Mike Maginnis presented an overview of the Apple /// , the //e's
> > failure of a brother, complete with a brief look at it's history, and
> > how it almost caused the death of Apple.  He was well researched on
> > its trivia and the resources still available to those who still love
> > this stinker.  B-)  Tony Diaz then brought out a prototype ///+ for
> > all to examine.
>
> > After dinner, Ken Gagne showed an hour clip of Jason Scott's two DVD
> > documentary, "Get Lamp".  It took me back to my college days when I'd
> > be in the university computer lab, consuming vast quantities of fan
> > fold paper playing "Adventure" on the teletypes.  Interviews with the
> > luminaries from Infocom, Scott Adams, and various gamers of text
> > adventures and interactive fiction certainly struck a cord with me!
>
> > And to top it off, Jason Scott blew our minds when Ken told us that he
> > was offering all KFest participants a free copy! A $40 value!  All the
> > DVD's come with numbered collectable dual tone coins expressing the
> > high points of text adventuring.  The DVD's aren't shipping yet, but
> > we DID get the coins... I got #1003.  B-)
>
> > As I type, Tony and Ken are on the run to Krispy Kreme that Ryan
> > Suenaga and I used to do.  Ryan couldn't make it this year, but he's
> > still sponsoring our dose of donuts and milk.  Thanks, Ryan!
>
> > Now it's time for me to wander the halls and push myself into the room
> > with the most laughing Geeks.  Wish you were here!
>
> I would LOVE to see the session notes/info on NakedOS!
>
> ]3ob

Don't know about the session notes, but the help menu's on the disk
explain a lot.  Just check them out!
http://bytebucket.org/martin.haye/super-mon/overview

Kirk