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From: dorner@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Getting started in Mac programming.
Message-ID: <40600008@uxg.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 31 May 88 16:01:00 GMT
References: <1911@rayssdb.ray.com>
Lines: 22
Nf-ID: #R:rayssdb.ray.com:1911:uxg.cso.uiuc.edu:40600008:000:939
Nf-From: uxg.cso.uiuc.edu!dorner    May 31 11:01:00 1988


>Yes, yes, yes: high level languages are great, but in the end, IT ALL
>COMES DOWN TO ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE.  My statement was to remind people that
>knowing some assembly language is both helpful and essential in a good
>computer scientist's toolkit of skills.

I have developed major projects on machines whose assembly languages are
TOTALLY unknown to me.  This caused no problems because I had compilers,
source-level debuggers and operating systems I could trust.

Unfortunately, Mac compilers are suspect, source-level debuggers are
hard to find, and the operating system is quirky at best.  I have
come to the conclusion that a reading knowledge of 68000 assembler is
necessary for Mac programmers.

I contest the assertion that it is necessary for any good computer scientist.

>Dan Allen
----
Steve Dorner, U of Illinois Computing Services Office
Internet: dorner@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu  UUCP: ihnp4!uiucuxc!dorner
IfUMust:  (217) 333-3339