Developer Essentials: ISSUE 3

Introducing the new Developer Essentials disc. In addition to d e v e l o p and related code, on this issue of the disc you'll find tools and information we think every developer should have. These pages highlight what's on the disc, but once you start browsing, you'll also find a few surprises.

To use the disc, you need a CD-ROM drive and the appropriate cables and connectors. Refer to your CD-ROM drive's owner's manual for detailed information about connecting the drive to your particular machine.

For a Macintosh, you need at least 1 MB of memory, System 4.1 or later, and Finder 5.4 or later. In addition, you need to copy the Apple CD-ROM INIT that comes with the CD drive startup disks into your System Folder. For an Apple II, your SCSI card must have Rev C or later ROM. With ProDOS, no special setup is required. If you use GS/OS, you must use the Installer on System Disk 4.0 or later to install the CD-ROM driver onto your startup volume.

d e v e l o p You've read the articles, you've bought the arguments, and now it's time to write your own code. The idea is that you don't waste your time typing the example programs--just mount this handy CD-ROM, then copy and paste. We've includedd e v e l o p as well as the code from each of the articles to help you avoid typos. So, browse around, take what you need, and save the rest for a rainy day. Each new issue of Developer Essentials will archive all of the back issues of the journal and the code. So look forward to one-stop searching coming soon to a CD-ROM near you. If you don't yet have a CD-ROM drive, you should be able to find the contents of Developer Essentials on AppleLink, the Apple FTP site on the Internet, and other on-line services in the near future.

International System Software Developer Essentials includes all the latest international versions of Macintosh system software as well as the latest U.S. versions of GS/OS and ProDOS, all in DiskCopy image format. (You must have a Macintosh to run DiskCopy and create floppy disks from these images.)

International HyperCard Need the latest version of HyperCard? Look no further. Developer Essentials includes the latest international versions of this "software erector set" in DiskCopy image format.

DTS Technical Notes and Sample Code All Apple II and Macintosh Technical Notes and Sample Code programs are included for your reference. Be sure to check here for the latest and greatest development information and Developer Technical Support programming tips and techniques.

Macintosh Technical Notes Stack This HyperCard stack incorporates all of the latest Macintosh Technical Notes into a single on-line source, which is cross-referenced with SpInside Macintosh , Q & A Stack, and the Human Interface Notes Stack.

Macintosh Q & A Stack Got a tough development question? Try the Q & A Stack, which is a collection of the most frequently asked questions DTS receives from developers. Organized by subject, this stack answers the questions within and includes cross-references to SpInside Macintosh and the Macintosh Technical Notes Stack.

SpInside Macintosh Of course the most essential of all documentation for Macintosh developers is Inside Macintosh , so Developer Essentials offers you SpInside Macintosh , an on-line version of volumes I-V. SpInside Macintosh combines all five volumes into a single, searchable electronic form that is cross-referenced with the Macintosh Technical Notes Stack, Q & A Stack, and Human Interface Notes Stack.

Now you have some of the headliners in Developer Essentials , but you should take some time to browse the disc and see what else you might discover. We'll be adding more as Developer Essentials evolves, and we hope you agree that these are tools that no developer should be without.

The allegedly 27-year-old Jack Hodgson, product manager of Developer Essentials , produced and directed corporate videos in Boston, ran a small, computer book publishing company, did some free-lance programming, and founded the Boston Computer Society's Mac Users Group. His next big life goals are to buy his own plane and to learn to play his piano well enough to cut loose in Dave Szetela's Excellent Annual WWDC Moofamania Jam Sessions (caution: unofficial title).

SCOTT CONVERSE is the group's Electronic Media Mogul and leader. A true on-line addict, he makes a living cruising the electronic highways and getting information to as many people as possible by using computers. Scott also loves sci-fi (particularly cyberpunk), reads books on design, and plays music on any of six full-blown, wall-shaking stereo systems in his house. When not cruising the electronic highways, he's racing radio-controlled cars. Would you ride the fiber optic byways with this guy? *

COREY VIAN takes the Zen approach to most things. He has an interdisciplinary B.A. in art and math from Maharishi International University. (Really! It's in Iowa.) An eight-month Apple veteran (two years and eight months if you count his prior consulting), he's now doing information interface design. (See his sidebar in the first article in this issue.) An avid meditation practitioner, he also flies airplanes, builds cabinetry, windsurfs, snow skis, practices aikido, and composes R&R music--and he claims he isn't busy. *

CLEO HUGGINS studied graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design, taught design and semiotics at the Portland School of Art in Maine, and created the music typeface "Sonata" when she worked at Adobe. She received an M.S. in digital typography from Stanford University, and plays electric violin. Cleo always knew the computer would be a good place to combine her interests; she has joined Apple to help refine the use of typography and design (and maybe even music) in our CDs. *

MARY SKINNER collects the input, supervises testing, processes the feedback and is the group's systems administrator (thank goodness Mary is a HyperCard fanatic). She's a native Iowan born in New York City. Her B.A. in physics and B.A. in Russian from the University of Iowa landed her as an Air Force Lieutenant at Johnson Space Center. In her spare time, she plays with the computer, reads sci-fi (she's a Poul Anderson fan), and listens to the nonsoft side of rock and roll. Mozhete skazat "Def Leppard"? *