During the weekend, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber pointed to an incredible assortment of early Macintosh programming texts, curated by VintageApple.org. This assortment boasts over 150 books from as early as 1983, addressing a diverse array of subjects from AppleSoft BASIC to game programming on the Mac.
The Vintage Macintosh Programming Book Library came to fruition due to the kindness of Nick R., who generously provided his complete vintage Mac programming library for scanning and dissemination. The assortment features prominent works such as Apple’s ‘Inside Macintosh X Ref’, Steve Chernicoff’s ‘How to Write Macintosh Software’, and the 1992 version of Apple’s ‘Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines’. One particularly captivating title is Dan Shafer’s 1986 publication ‘Artificial Intelligence Programming on the Macintosh’, which offers insightful perspectives on the initial stages of AI advancement.
This endeavor functions not only as a resource for individuals who lived through the Macintosh era but also provides a window into the collaborative journey of personal computing during its early years. For those who did not witness this period, it offers a chance to comprehend the progression of software development and user experience design.
The assortment is a goldmine for both nostalgic users and new fans alike, encouraging exploration and contemplation of the early days of Macintosh programming.
