Re: Why more people don't develop for the GS, wasRe: Developers!Developers! Developers!

[Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com>]

D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
> rich12345 wrote:
>> On Oct 17, 2:56�pm, dog_...@macgui.com (D Finnigan) wrote:
>>> You need a bookshelf just to
>>> use the toolbox and everything else properly. Most of the compilers and
>>> other tools are still commercial.
>> 
>> The sellers of the documentation and tools should give incentive to
>> buy the products.  IE, release some cool freeware, get docs and
>> tools for free or discount.
>> 
> 
> I happen to have a very old (inherited) copy of ORCA/M, still in its
> original maroon slipcase with 3-ring binder, and I've been considering
> purchasing the ORCA/C compiler plus some documentation to get started on the
> IIgs.
> 
> Might point is that the cost of tools + docs introduces a barrier to entry
> that (largely) doesn't exist on the 8-bit Apples.

It's not so much the cost in $$ as it is the considerable cost in time
required to master the complexity of the IIgs and its GSOS environment. 

That complexity is reflected directly in the sheer number of pages/pounds
of documentation to provide a (still incomplete) description of the system.

I've said before (and probably will again ;-) that the (8-bit) Apple II was
the last personal computer for which all the documentation needed to
completely understand the hardware and the software weighed less than the
computer--and you could easily pick that up. 

-michael - NadaNet 3.1 and AppleCrate II: http://home.comcast.net/~mjmahon