IIGS for IIe hackers (was GS+...)

[John_L._Graham@adbbs.antioch.edu (John L. Graham)]

I found the couple of comments about the GS from IIe programmers interesting.
I still thoroughly enjoy programming classic 8-bit Apple IIs, in fact I just
wrote a program for a spare II+ at work to help us calibrate all of our AI-13
analog-to-digital converters. Don't overlokk the GS as a programming engine
for the 8-bit side of things. For large programs I use ZBasic v4.21 and I've
found the compiler runs a lot faster and smoother on my GS than my IIc+,
particularly when I run it off of a RAM disk. Recently I've discovered Morgan
Davis's excellent series of Applesoft BASIC programming utilities that
require a GS to run. Most notably MD BASIC (Applesoft the way you always
wished it could be) and RADE (Real-time Applesoft Debugging Environment).
Also, while hacking Applesoft on a GS you can access the special features of
the GS (Graphics & Sound) with Super BASIC,m a set of really cool &commands
for Applesoft. Switch from your IIe to a GS? I'd never suggest that. But I do
suggest looking at the GS as a way of getting even more out of your machine.
Getting back to my ADC calibrator on a II+, after hacking out a dozen lines
of Applesoft on the plus to test out a few basic concepts I pulled the code
up into MD BASIC and quickly expanded it into a really nice application. I
can't say enough good things about it and how MD BASIC has made programming
Applesoft a lot of fun... again :)

Have fun!

John