Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Which language?
From: David.Empson@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 13:05:59 GMT
Organization: Actrix Information Exchange

In article <1992Dec22.022200.11862@nuscc.nus.sg> ltchean@rambutan.iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean) writes:
>
> So my questions is:
> 
> 1) What language (besides assembly) allows me to write games easily without
>    menu and windows interface? Assembly is nice, but it is difficult to do
>    path, complicated animation, etc.

Either Pascal or C should be OK for writing games.  Ideally you would
want to write the complicated parts in a high-level language, and the
parts that need to go fast in assembly language.

This means you should consider which assemblers and compilers can be
used together, in mixed-language programming.  The ORCA products
(ORCA/M, ORCA/C and ORCA/Pascal) are good for this.

> 2) What language allows me to write desktop program easily? TML Pascal II
>    is nice for writing non-desktop program (like my Mandelbrot II GS), but
>    the resource editor is next to useless. The Complete Pascal II is a joke,
>    it never arrived even after a year.

Desktop programming isn't "easy" in any language, but is much easier
in C or Pascal than it is in assembly language.  I haven't tried Micol
Advanced Basic, but have written desktop programs in ORCA/C, APW C,
ORCA/M and Merlin Assembler.  My preference is for C.

> 3) Yes, of course these languages have to be System 6-compatible. Any
>    recommended book for me to learn? I have written a full desktop painting
>    program in System 4 toolbox using TML Pascal. When System 5 and TML Pascal
>    II arrives, the header file changes so much, and all those Apple IIGS
>    books found in Singapore only supports up to System 4.

If you're going to do any serious desktop programming, you must get
all three volumes of the IIgs Toolbox Reference.  If you want to use
System 6 features, you also need to get the System 6 Programmers
Reference (by Byte Works).  All are available by mail order from
Resource Central (and possibly other sources).

You may also like to consider the Byte Works "Toolbox Programming in
Pascal" or "Toolbox Programming in C" packages.  They are pretty much
identical, but targeted toward the appropriate language (you wouldn't
want to get both of them).

I haven't seen them, so can't comment on how good they are for learning
toolbox programming.  They are not a substitute for the Toolbox
Reference manuals.

Current versions of ORCA/M, ORCA/C and ORCA/Pascal include interface
files for System 6.0.

> Complete Pascal II, Micol Advanced Basic

Never used or seen either of them.

> 3) Orca/C 2.0
>    - is it very difficult to use? Did I need to learn all 3 books of
>      toolbox references before I can start writing a useful program?
>    - what exactly does it have?

If you don't know any C, you will have a bit of learning to do before
you will achieve much.  Since you know Pascal, you're about half way there.

You probably don't need the toolbox references to write very simple
desktop programs, but having them makes everything much easier.  You
don't need to LEARN them, just have them handy for reference when you
need to know how to use a call.

You may find it easier to learn toolbox programming using a Pascal
compiler, as you're already familiar with Pascal.  Either TML Pascal
or ORCA/Pascal should be OK.

ORCA/C 2.0 hasn't been released yet, and I haven't seen the release
note, so I don't know if they've included any more programs with it.

ORCA/C 1.3 included the ORCA text shell and PRIZM desktop shell
interface (with source level debugging), ORCA/C compiler, libraries and
interface (header/include) files.  There was no resource editor or
similar.

ORCA/C 2.0 might include the REZ resource compiler (which was supplied
with ORCA/M 2.0).  Byte Works also sell a resource creator called
Design Master.  I use REZ and Genesys for resource work.  [I hope to
be using Foundation shortly.]
-- 
David Empson

Internet: David.Empson@bbs.actrix.gen.nz    EMPSON_D@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2