Customer Reviews

Mac Programming for Dummies

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book is very simple and basic, using a "hold your hand" approach to programming on the Macintosh. The problem is you never really learn to program. The author seems more interested in having the reader play around with menus and windows than actually teaching how to create solid programs and build a programming foundation.

This book has some glaring errors like failing to distinguish well enough between the Apple toolbox functions and actual library functions and keywords of the C programming language. If this is the reader's first ever book on programming, they will walk away with a strange hybrid of Macintosh specific code and actual C code. They may be in for a rude awakening if they try to apply any of this knowledge on another type of computer.

The other problem with this book is the author often never describes fully what a specific function does or what a variable is for. Instead he takes the "just trust me" approach. This forces the reader to always stick with him and never allows them to explore their own ideas, which is a great way to learn how to program. Further enforcing this is the fact that the compiler that is included with the book is just shy of useless. It does not allow you to create your own programs, but only edit the programs the author provided. This format denies the reader the ability to create any of their own code, and thus removes a very important aspect of learning to program.

This book is very light reading and easy to handle for complete novices. So it could be a fairly decent way to get a small taste of what programming is like. The problem is this taste is misleading, and if the reader were to pursue even further they may find themselves confused or having to unlearn a lot of stuff.

No doubt this is a good book for starter and in all just that. Some very basic like dialog box design or a little bit advanced like memory management are all missing from the book.

However, if you're first on Mac programming, take two days read this book to get rough ideas. Then read 'Programming Starter Kit for Macintosh'. It's an old title but contains some more info. CodeWarrior Professional CDROM includes the whole 2nd book.

But, where is a C++ book for CodeWarrior!!??

Before I bought this book, I knew only the Basic language. I had bought several other books that did not help at all. The first day that I bought this book, I was instantly creating programs for my mac. I gave this book a five because it goes through each and every line of code and tells you exactly what everything does. Not like those other so called beginner programming books that show you the code and expect you to know what it all is for. After the basics, I could easily understand all the other C programming books on my shelf. As most beginner programming books only teach you programming in a text window, this book will let you access the toolbox from the first example. Shows how to create a window, use event handlers, create menus, draw pictures and text to the screen, play sounds and animation. I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the field of Macintosh programming. Has everything you need to write a Macintosh program, Codewarrior Compiler, sample code ect.

This is a great book for the beginner programmer. Although it does not teach much, it gives you enough to absorb for a while before you want more. It shows you enough to get you started, and has plenty of great examples. My only complaint was how a 350+ page book could be so basic. I encourage beginners to start with this, but do not get it if you've ever programmed in C before (no matter what OS).

Everything I know about computers, I know because of IDG's series ....For Dummies. Mac Programming For Dummies was a grand disappointment.

I did not go to Mac Programing For Dummies hoping to program NASA's next interseller imaging program.

Mac Programing barely even bothered to discuss programming at all. The first entire section of the book was devoted to discussing elements of a program: windows, dialogue boxes, menues, check boxes, radio buttons, and lke. Hey, lets face it--if you don't know what a dialogu box is you don't need to even THINK about programming a Mac.

When the book does get around to discussing C code -- in chapter 17 (3/4 of the way through the book) -- it quickly becomes evident that are not learning code to form your own program, you are learning how to make minor changes in the code the author already created. (Like how to make a window larger.)

While some of IDG publishing's books are worth the purchase price for the software alone, this too was a disappointment. The complier included in the book, the much lauded CodeWarrior, is such a limited version to make it basically useless. You are unable to create your own program, but can only make alterations in the programs printed in the book.

I hope you pass on this one. I wish I did.

I got this book for my birthday. I really want to program on the Mac, so I was glad to get it. Sadly, the examples of code had typos and wouldn't compile. It would have been wonderful had the example code not been defective. ...

This book is aimed at the absolute beginner, if you know the mac operating system and want to be a programmer then this is not the book for you. It teaches you from the very basics e.g. creating a file and saving a file. Even when it does get on to teach you programming it teaches you only the very very basics of C. It focuses mainly on using ResEdit to design your interface and no real programming. In all, this book is a huge let down. I recommend one of the other C mac programming books.

The book is very good, and offers a very good source of information for those who never programmed before, or whose last experience with programming was with the BASIC language. The only thing I think is that today most ppl would prefer to learn C++ and RealBasic, so this book could change its focus. Also, there could be much more examples - it was just too basic. I mean, it's good to get acquainted with C, but offers no good stimulating goals, nor truly useful programs. It could come with a C reference book, so readers could try to discover other interesting C stuff by themselvs.

I am a 12-year-old, and I wanted to start programming. So, I bought this book. I found this to be a good book, but I wanted a little more information. And how the author organized it was a little complicated to me. So, I'm thinking about buying a little advanced book, but I can't find a book for programming for Macintosh. I'd love it if they published "More Mac Programming For Dummies", because I want some more information, and "Mac Programming For Dummies Quick Reference", because it was a little hard to memorize all of this and I cannot always carry a book this big.

It was great, I learned the basics of C Programming for Macs in at least 2 weeks. Great Book!