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From: dlyons@apple.com (David A Lyons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Programmers Reference to Sys 6
Message-ID: <1993Feb25.072316.24471@gallant.apple.com>
Date: 25 Feb 93 07:23:16 GMT
References: <1993Feb25.014836.25251@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
Sender: news@gallant.apple.com
Organization: Apple Computer, Inc.
Lines: 40

In article <1993Feb25.014836.25251@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> James Sanford,
jsanford@nyx.cs.du.edu writes:
> I am thinking about buying the Programmers Reference to System 6.0... 
I'd
> like to know how much info it has in it, because the only other GS book
I
> have is Exploring the Apple IIgs...  (no Toolbox ref., etc...)...  Does
it
> give a list of (almost) all toolbox commands and how to use them?  I'm
not
> sure, but I think it is a ByteWorks(?) book, I use Merlin, so does it
use
> a lot of Orca macros?...  If you think a different book would be a
better
> choice, tell me...  (I'd like to know how to use IPC and make drivers,
> etc, so I think this book would be good for that)...  Thanx for any
> suggestions...

The Programmer's Reference For System 6.0 tells you what is new from
5.0.2-ish to 6.0.  You need Toolbox Reference 1, 2, *and* 3 to get up to
the 5.0.x level, and the new book to get you to system 6.  Without all
four, you'll be guessing.

The sample code in the reference books uses almost no macros, except for
the ones that just do LDX #xxyy, JSL $E10000 (underscore + function name).

If you want to write GS/OS drivers (as opposed to printer drivers or
Media Control drivers) then you need the Apple IIgs GS/OS Driver Device
Reference (from Resource Central).  To use GS/OS at all (even if you're
not writing your own driver), you need the regular Addison-Wesley Apple
IIgs GS/OS Reference.

(I know, it seems like a lot of books.  Compared to some other platforms
I can think of, it's not a lot at all.)

David A. Lyons, Apple Computer, Inc.      |   DAL Systems
Apple II System Software Engineer         |   P.O. Box 875
Internet:dlyons@apple.com                 |   Cupertino, CA 95015-0875

My opinions are my own, not Apple's.