Inside Macintosh
Encyclopedia
Inside Macintosh is the name of the developer documentation manuals published by Apple Computer
, documenting the APIs and machine architecture of the Macintosh computer.
The first documentation for the original 1984 Macintosh was available only in the form of photocopied sheets that could be obtained from Apple. A "telephone-book" version of Inside Macintosh was also available, which consisted of one 1000 page volume. It was sent as a promotional copy to developers. The 1000 page manual was sent out because the "real" version would take some time to print. In 1985, they were published by Addison-Wesley
in the form of a hardcover book that was available to the general public. The first version had three volumes, which covered the original Mac 128K
, Macintosh XL
, and the Mac 512K
("Fat Mac") models. When the Macintosh Plus
was released, a fourth volume was added, detailing the changes to the system software introduced with that model. A further "delta" manual, volume 5, was introduced with the Mac II line in 1987. This manual discusses color QuickDraw
, as well as the Mac II
and Mac SE
hardware and other new software components.
By the time of System 7
, released in 1991, the Inside Macintosh "delta" model was becoming seriously stretched. Nevertheless the details of System 7 were documented in the immense Volume VI.
Shortly after this, Apple revamped the entire Inside Macintosh series, breaking it into volumes according to the functional area discussed, rather than specific machine models or capabilities. In this form, the series was far more coherent and a much better reference for programmers. As new functionality was added to the Mac OS
, a new volume could be written without invalidating those published earlier, in contrast to the first series, which became increasingly out of date over time.
In the late 1990s, Apple ceased to publish Inside Macintosh as a printed book, instead making it available as a CD-ROM
, and online. Since then, the CD variant has been phased out, though Apple developers can still receive online documentation as part of the developer CDs. In its online form, the information is much easier to maintain, but some developers still prefer a printed format.
Inside Macintosh only covers the 'Classic' Mac OS
; a new set of documentation was introduced for Mac OS X
. Initially this documentation included only the 'Carbon Specification' that said which APIs were supported in Carbon and which were not, and the Cocoa documentation inherited from OPENSTEP
. Later, the Carbon Specification was refactor
ed into the Carbon Reference, which actually described the APIs it documented (taking much content from Inside Macintosh). Today, the Carbon Reference and Cocoa reference are bundled together in the ADC
Reference Library.
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
, documenting the APIs and machine architecture of the Macintosh computer.
The first documentation for the original 1984 Macintosh was available only in the form of photocopied sheets that could be obtained from Apple. A "telephone-book" version of Inside Macintosh was also available, which consisted of one 1000 page volume. It was sent as a promotional copy to developers. The 1000 page manual was sent out because the "real" version would take some time to print. In 1985, they were published by Addison-Wesley
Addison-Wesley
Addison-Wesley was a book publisher in Boston, Massachusetts, best known for its textbooks and computer literature. As well as publishing books, Addison-Wesley also distributed its technical titles through the Safari Books Online e-reference service...
in the form of a hardcover book that was available to the general public. The first version had three volumes, which covered the original Mac 128K
Macintosh 128K
The Macintosh 128K machine, released as the "Apple Macintosh", was the original Apple Macintosh personal computer. Its beige case contained a monitor and came with a keyboard and mouse. An indentation in the top of the case made it easier for the computer to be lifted and carried. It had a selling...
, Macintosh XL
Macintosh XL
Macintosh XL was a modified version of the Apple Lisa personal computer made by Apple Computer, Inc. In the Macintosh XL configuration, the computer shipped with MacWorks XL, a Lisa program that allowed 64 K Macintosh ROM emulation...
, and the Mac 512K
Macintosh 512K
The Macintosh 512K Personal Computer, also known as the "Fat Mac", is the second of a long line of Apple Macintosh computers, was the first update to the original Macintosh 128K. It was virtually identical to the previous Mac, differing primarily in the amount of built-in memory , which quadrupled...
("Fat Mac") models. When the Macintosh Plus
Macintosh Plus
The Macintosh Plus computer was the third model in the Macintosh line, introduced on January 16, 1986, two years after the original Macintosh and a little more than a year after the Macintosh 512K, with a price tag of US$2599...
was released, a fourth volume was added, detailing the changes to the system software introduced with that model. A further "delta" manual, volume 5, was introduced with the Mac II line in 1987. This manual discusses color QuickDraw
QuickDraw
QuickDraw is the 2D graphics library and associated Application Programming Interface which is a core part of the classic Apple Macintosh operating system. It was initially written by Bill Atkinson and Andy Hertzfeld. QuickDraw still exists as part of the libraries of Mac OS X, but has been...
, as well as the Mac II
Macintosh II
The Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...
and Mac SE
Macintosh SE
The Macintosh SE was a personal computer manufactured by Apple between March 1987 and October 1990. This computer marked a significant improvement on the Macintosh Plus design and was introduced by Apple at the same time as the Macintosh II....
hardware and other new software components.
By the time of System 7
System 7 (Macintosh)
System 7 is a single-user graphical user interface-based operating system for Macintosh computers. It was introduced on May 13, 1991 by Apple Computer. It succeeded System 6, and was the main Macintosh operating system until it was succeeded by Mac OS 8 in 1997...
, released in 1991, the Inside Macintosh "delta" model was becoming seriously stretched. Nevertheless the details of System 7 were documented in the immense Volume VI.
Shortly after this, Apple revamped the entire Inside Macintosh series, breaking it into volumes according to the functional area discussed, rather than specific machine models or capabilities. In this form, the series was far more coherent and a much better reference for programmers. As new functionality was added to the Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
, a new volume could be written without invalidating those published earlier, in contrast to the first series, which became increasingly out of date over time.
In the late 1990s, Apple ceased to publish Inside Macintosh as a printed book, instead making it available as a CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
, and online. Since then, the CD variant has been phased out, though Apple developers can still receive online documentation as part of the developer CDs. In its online form, the information is much easier to maintain, but some developers still prefer a printed format.
Inside Macintosh only covers the 'Classic' Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
; a new set of documentation was introduced for Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. Initially this documentation included only the 'Carbon Specification' that said which APIs were supported in Carbon and which were not, and the Cocoa documentation inherited from OPENSTEP
OpenStep
OpenStep was an object-oriented application programming interface specification for an object-oriented operating system that used a non-NeXTSTEP operating system as its core, principally developed by NeXT with Sun Microsystems. OPENSTEP was a specific implementation of the OpenStep API developed...
. Later, the Carbon Specification was refactor
Refactoring
Code refactoring is "disciplined technique for restructuring an existing body of code, altering its internal structure without changing its external behavior", undertaken in order to improve some of the nonfunctional attributes of the software....
ed into the Carbon Reference, which actually described the APIs it documented (taking much content from Inside Macintosh). Today, the Carbon Reference and Cocoa reference are bundled together in the ADC
Apple Developer Connection
Apple Developer, formerly Apple Developer Connection or ADC, is Apple Inc.'s developer network. It is designed to make available resources to help software developers write software for the Mac OS X and iOS platforms...
Reference Library.