Macintosh programming started out with Pascal, and indeed Windows API functions were made to use Pascal calling conventions. The transition from Pascal to C was a gradual one in the PC world. However, Windows used C strings and data structures. Likewise, the PC world transition to Unix-like operating systems.
- No ROM, no ROM bootloader, computer hardware only
- ROM routine library and ROM BASIC
- ROM routine library, ROM BASIC, ROM bootloader, custom operating system
- ROM routine library, ROM bootloader, custom operating system
- ROM/Flash routine library, ROM bootloader, custom operating system
- ROM/Flash routine library, ROM bootloader, Unix-like operating system
- ROM/Flash bootloader, Unix-like operating system
- ROM/Flash bootloader, Linux-based operating system
This is talking about the history of mainstream computing. So, even though Unix-like operating systems came about earlier when non-rewritable ROM chips were still being used, it was not in the purview of mainstream computing at the time.
There is a thing, there is a time where we cut out BASIC and all interactive ROM prompt interfaces and are left with a brick of a computer if you can’t boot an operating system. Because there is no longer a front-panel control switch either, that has been replaced by the ROM BASIC and ROM monitor program. Unless you can use an add-in card to provide one.
Again, I reiterate, because this is important! Here is a review of classic Macintosh development software, and a good listing at that.
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Lisa Programmer’s Workshop, unnecessarily esoteric for modern use because (1) it only works on the Apple Lisa and (2) it only supports Pascal, not C, as the high-level programming language
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Macintosh Programmer’s Workshop (MPW), requires a pretty hefty Macintosh
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Metrowerks CodeWarrior, for sure a good tool for development on bigger and later machines, not so sure about early and small machine development, faster compiles than MPW, wasn’t introduced until after THINK C
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Symantec THINK C, early versions work well on small machines, newer versions require bigger machines, faster compiles than MPW
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Lightspeed C, older version of THINK C
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Megamax C, “it has bugs, notably tail recursion”
Megaroid was the namesake demo software of Megamax C. Megaroid II by Mr. Anonymous was recompiled on Lightspeed C.
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CodeWarrior
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THINK_C
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megamax_C
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megamax_C&oldid=448702256
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Programmer%27s_Workshop
Please note in particular that many of the early C compilers are K&R only. No support for function prototypes is the main caveat, but it is livable with careful programming. In particular, make sure long constants are cast explicitly, and do not assume the arguments will be cast to the required types when making function calls, cast them explicitly if the variable type does not match or you are passing a constant. This is the main stumbling point for retro C programming.
THINK C 5 supports ANSI C, but it is too new for running native on older Macintoshes. Also, it requires too many floppy disks and the decompression is too slow on older Macintoshes. THINK C 3 uses just two floppy disks and works reasonably well on older Macintoshes. More primitive tools, that’s for sure, but it’s what you can work with.
ResEdit is the standard Macintosh resource editor tool, made by Apple. Though there are some other tools available, my understanding is that most Macintosh programmers did not venture out to use them.
20190917/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ResEdit
Finally, a memorandum, development on modern Macs running Mac OS X. The programming language compiler toolchains are all based off of either GCC or Clang, and the IDE is Xcode.
How did I learn about all these? MPW and Xcode, well, I heard about them essentially “from word of mouth,” though only in a metaphorical sense since this was in effect from passing mentions of online articles, forum posts, etc. Megamax C and Lightspeed C, well I learned of those from the installed game Megaroids 2.0 on my home Macintosh. Look in the about box. CodeWarrior, that kind of showed up in various searches I believe… lots of paid promotion for that one.
Really, it was all about following the breadcrumb trail… in the “board games” folder we’ve put together on our home Macintosh SE. The games that were more hobbyist-developed and therefore more open about what kinds of development tools were used to produce them. Or, most importantly, less exclusively focused on the game itself.
CodeWarrior is better for PowerPC, that is more of its aim and timeframe of beginning and end.