OS X, from a developers point of view.

TheRedeemer

Hello.
I'm currently using a PowerBook G4, running Mac OS 9.2.2, also Installed on my computer, I have 0S X 10.2.1. I don't know all the tech-specs for it, (I've never really understood that side of computers) but when I click get Info on the Mac HD it says it's got 37.25 GB capacity. If that's any help to you. All I use my mac for is Nova-related stuff, and a bit of Photoshop work for college. I only very rarely use the Internet on it. The Main Programs I use are:

Strata 3.0.2 ( I think thats the correct version, It's the one from ewan's lair)
Resedit with Novatools
Mission Computer
Photoshop 5.0 Le
Terragen
And EV Nova.

So the question I am asking, Is there any point in me switching to OS X? I've read about how it is better than OS 9, how it's essential to have it etc. Considering the Program I use most, Strata 3D is a classic application, and I don't want to have to keep going in to classic everytime I want to use it, and the same for Res-edit. Would there really be any advantage for me using OS X? (Apart from how pretty it is)

I didn't feel this topic would be appropriate for Just Tech, because I wanted to get feedback from plug-in developers. Hope that's OK with you mods.

- Any comment's will be appreciated.

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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain.

Lindley

The main advantage I can think of is that, unlike OS9, if any single program you're working on were to crash, you can Force Quit effectively. That feature never worked right in OS9 (End Task is one of the few things Windows did better from the start), but it works perfectly in OSX.

So, if one program fries, you don't lose everything.

Other than that, there's probably not much advantage in upgrading for you----yet.

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Kame

Everything is moving towards X so you'll have to upgrade at somepoint but really only if you're interested in using other newer programs on that comp. As Lindley said, a great advantage to X is that programs run independently and thus aren't effected when one crashes. Even better is that X is stable as hell and not only do most programs rarely crash, but for the entire system itself to crash is even more rare. I use Macs at work and at home all running 10.2 or 10.3 and I think I've encountered only 2 kernal panics for as long 10.2 has been out. I'm definetely a proponent of OS X but if you don't need it then don't make the switch. 9.2 was a pretty decent system and if it works for you then keep with it. Changing to the new system can mean upgrading a lot more than you originally expect. Starting Classic under X isn't a big deal either though. It might take a minute for 9 to boot up but once it's on you're good to go. The one problem I have with running programs under Classic is the difference in the refresh rate of apps. 9 would constantly redraw the screen but X only does it when something changes. What that means is that if I'm running an older program, there's a tendency to have blank areas on the GUI. In order to fix it you have to give the comp reason to redraw such as resizing a window or opening and closing a menu over the GUI.

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Terek E`Ban

There are hundreds of good reasons to switch to OS X... but I would say the main reason is that OS 9 is dead!

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Mantaray

Testing plugins is a lot easier in Mac OS X, because Nova loads much quicker.

I upgraded pretty much every application to OS X, the only problems are ResEdit and ElectricImage. However, It doesn't really bother me, because right now the only thing I'm doing for my plugin is text stuff.

It really depends on what you're doing: for TCs, you should use OS X and OS 9, for little plugins you should just use OS X. Besides, nobody's making anything new for OS 9.

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"This is mutiny, Mr. Queeg."

Mazer Rackham

Bah. OS 9 forever! Down with OS X!

Well, maybe not down with it, but at least give use old folks with OS 9 a chance, people.

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To quote a pillar of American society: D'OH!

mrxak

You can always start up classic for some things, but I've found that in terms of development, I have been very productive in OS X alone.

pipeline

We've been using Mac OS X since Nova 1.0.0 beta. I actually find ResEdit to be slightly more stable under Classic mode than under 9.

9 isn't dead, but by all that's holy it should be.

Dave @ ATMOS

EVula

If your current setup is fine, I'd say leave it as it is. OSX does have some wonderful features, but if you don't need them, there isn't a good reason to go through it.

Now, that said, OSX is quite nice. I'm finally reaching the point where OSX would be nice to have on my machine at home, but I need a new CD drive before that'll happen. And opening things in Classic isn't a big deal; you launch Classic once per session and it stays open (unless you specify otherwise). Classic programs, after that, open just like any other program.

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geek#1

I recently upgraded to 10.2, but for some reason Nova will only load in Classic mode. I downloaded a fresh copy of 1.0.7, but it wouldn't load until I made it use Classic. Every time I tried to start it up, my monitor lost the video signal and didn't regain it until I restarted.

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pipeline

Quote

Originally posted by geek#1:
I recently upgraded to 10.2, but for some reason Nova will only load in Classic mode. I downloaded a fresh copy of 1.0.7, but it wouldn't load until I made it use Classic. Every time I tried to start it up, my monitor lost the video signal and didn't regain it until I restarted.

Odd. I've never come across a Mac OS X machine that wouldn't run Nova natively.

Make sure you're running the very most recent version of 10.2 (10.2.8 plus some Security Updates, I think).

Dave @ ATMOS

EVula

Quote

Originally posted by geek#1:
I recently upgraded to 10.2, but for some reason Nova will only load in Classic mode. I downloaded a fresh copy of 1.0.7, but it wouldn't load until I made it use Classic. Every time I tried to start it up, my monitor lost the video signal and didn't regain it until I restarted.

Dunno why it starts in Classic by default, but get info on the program and make sure the "Open In Classic" checkbox is turned off.

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what_is_the_matrix

Well, I don't think you'll be quite as stupid as me, but when you install, if you do a clean install of OS X, don't forget to click the check box or whatever that installs OS 9 drivers if you want to run classic programs. I did a clean install with 10.3, but forgot about the OS 9 drivers, so OS 9 is effectively dead on my machine until I reformat, which I have no intention of doing in the near future.

Matrix

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TheRedeemer

Thanks for your replies people, they've been useful.

I think for the moment I will be sticking with OS 9. Im allready quite used to it, and at the moment I don't want to go through the hassle of switching over.

However, sometime, probably whenever/if ever I get my TC finished, I will be making the switch. Hopefully by then I'll also have some money to get my comp upgraded, and get some nice shiny new software.

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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain.

EVula

Quote

Originally posted by what_is_the_matrix:
I did a clean install with 10.3, but forgot about the OS 9 drivers, so OS 9 is effectively dead on my machine until I reformat, which I have no intention of doing in the near future.

Under 10.2, I was able to install OS9 support seperately and without reformatting the hard drive (which woudln't have mattered, since I had just wiped everything anyway). Check the installer CD that came with your machine for a seperate OS9/Classic installer.

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sparky

well, it sounds like you don't really need to upgrade (I know you already came to that conclusion), but I found that OSX was a lot faster, and the force quit that works has saved me many a time. The dock is really nice in my opinion. You can always have your comp start classic when it starts up the computer - which means start up is slower, but you never really have to think about whether something is classic or x.

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OS X, from a developers point of view.