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The "Inside Macintosh" series from 1985 was a masterpiece of documentation. It was a bliss to read. Check the updated docs for "The Standard File Package" whic
by silvestrov 3y ago
The "Inside Macintosh" series from 1985 was a masterpiece of documentation. It was a bliss to read.
Check the updated docs for "The Standard File Package" which is the UI for selecting files. Page 3-4 (all page numbers has section number). It has full description of the UI, keyboard shortcuts, data structures and example code. It even includes how to customize the dialog.
There is 69 pages of documentation of just how to select a file!
https://vintageapple.org/inside_r/pdf/Files_1992.pdf https://vintageapple.org/inside_r/pdf/Files_1992.pdf
Apple no longer understands that good docs is a competitive advantage. The web has such good docs at developer.mozilla.org that it is a world apart.
- mschuster91 3y ago> Apple no longer understands that good docs is a competitive advantage. Apple's competitive advantage is the rock-solid, durable hardware (compared to what's considered "acceptable" in the Windows world) and the lock-in effect of things like the App Store and its customer base, iMessage and Find My. Apple doesn't need to attract developers any more, and so the documentation gets little love.
- musicale 3y ago> Apple doesn't need to attract developers any more Maybe not, but I have found that better documentation helps me write better, more reliable software with less time wasted on trial and error and fruitless internet searches.
- mschuster91 3y agoMe as well, but Apple doesn't need to take care about that.
- etse 3y agoWell put. Unfortunately true!
- musicale 3y agoSurely they can afford to hire a few good technical writers, right? Presumably SwiftUI should also be easier to write code for than the classic Mac toolbox?