Re: Becoming a "Super User" (was Re: Teach files to AppleWorks Gs)

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

One thought on the "take a course" response...

The problem with going to your institution's CS department and taking an
introductory programming class is that it will most likely be in Pascal or
C++, and it will most likely be taught on a Wintel machine.  This is fine
if you want to learn the fundamentals of programming in any language (I
learned BASIC on a TRS-80 and moved almost immediately to the Apple ][);
and there are versions of Pascal and C available for the IIgs and Pascal
for the ][e.  The problem is that if you are programming the IIgs, no
matter what language you are using, you are actually programming in
Toolbox...and if you are programming on the 8-bit ]['s, C is probably not
an option, and unless someone has released a decent Pascal, Apple's Pascal
really stinks.  And of course, if you are learning to program on a Wintel
box, you don't get to learn anything about those all-important Toolbox calls.

I will agree that the best way to learn is to sit down in front of the
computer and bang out some code, preferrably with help from a real, live
programmer/instructor.  And taking a course is a good way to learn
programming fundamentals (how programs are organized, what kinds of
commands to use, etc.).  But ultimately, if you are programming on an
Apple ][, what you need is a good language reference for whatever language
you are using, and help from someone who knows how to program in that
language *on an Apple*.  

The former is easy.  Apparently, the Byteworks has all of that stuff.  The
second is harder to come by these days, but fortunately, comp.sys.apple2
is right here.

--Dave Althoff, ][.
  Applesoft Ace, Pascal hater, 6502 user, 65816/Toolbox greenhorn 
-- 
    /-\      Celebrating the International Year of the Roller Coaster
   /XXX\      /X\     /X\_      _     /XX\_      _     _        _____  
  /XXXXX\    /XXX\  _/XXXX\_   /X\   /XXXXX\    /X\   /X\      /XXXXX
_/XXXXXXX\__/XXXXX\/XXXXXXXX\_/XXX\_/XXXXXXX\__/XXX\_/XXX\_/\_/XXXXXX