This folder represents an updated collection of tools, components and documentation needed to develop OpenDoc components. The CD is intended to be used in conjunction with the OpenDoc Home Page where many of the smaller and more rapidly changing elements that are traditionally on the CD will now reside. The OpenDoc site is located at http://www.opendoc.apple.com/
What's new?
• Source code
For those of you that have been following the progress of OpenDoc for some time now, you'll be pleased to note that OpenDoc source code is now available on this CD. This code has been provided for your debugging convenience and has a complete set of .sym files to assist with coding and testing your components.
• OpenDoc Development Framework (ODF) Release 1
Here's the Framework you've been waiting for -- the best, cross-platform framework for creating OpenDoc-compliant and Internet/CyberDog-savvy components, parts and containers. This GM Release, guarantees you RRBC (Release-to-Release-Binary-Compatibility) thus protecting and leveraging your component development efforts! Included are the sources and binaries for the Framework, the Shared Library, tools and utilities as well as sample parts.
• OpenDoc 1.0.4
This CD also contains OpenDoc 1.0.4. OpenDoc 1.0.4 is a minor bug fix update from the original OpenDoc release. OpenDoc 1.0.4 contains improvements to the OpenDoc installer script, modifications to the editor setup control panel and bug fixes important for the internationalization of OpenDoc. Also, this is the first release of OpenDoc without an OpenDoc splash screen.
• OpenDoc “Kickstart” Components
This is a first look at components that will become a base part of the Mac OS. These components are in early development but are a good indicator of what to expect from Apple's base level components. The five KickStart components include button, image, 3D, and QuickTime components as well as a draw container.
Sources of Information
There are numerous OpenDoc resources available to you. The OpenDoc page on the Internet features the latest information and software updates as well as links to industry press releases and news. Three url’s you might want to check out are:
"http://www.opendoc.apple.com/."
"http://www.software.ibm.com/objects"
"http://www.cilabs.org/."
If you're interested in engaging in discussions of OpenDoc with your peers, point your newsreader to: comp.soft-sys.middlware.opendoc where you can post and read the latest technical discussions of OpenDoc on a variety of platforms.
Another resource is the CI Labs OpenDoc-Interest mailing list. To join this list frequented by your fellow OpenDoc developers, either use the subscription form on the OpenDoc web page or send an e-mail to: listproc@cil.org. Include the phrase "subscribe OpenDoc-Interest <your name> " on the first line (not the subject) of your message.
Apple Partner and Associate developers will be able to send OpenDoc coding questions directly to the Developer Support Center (AppleLink: DEVSUPPORT).
There are a number of new books on OpenDoc. An excellent code level book (and also the most current) is the "Byte Guide to OpenDoc" by Andrew MacBride and Joshua Susser. (McGraw Hill, ISBN 0-07-882118-5) If you are looking for a managerial level book, you should buy "Essential OpenDoc" by Jesse Feiler and Anthony Meadow. (Addison Wesley, ISBN 0-201-47958-3) Finally, for responding to the OLE (aka ActiveX) advocates in the organization, the best book to get is "The Essential Distributed Objects Survival Guide" by Robert Orfali, Dan Harkey, and Jeri Edwards (John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-1293-3). This book does an excellent job of explaining the paradigm shift implied by distributed objects and by component software in particular. If you want a sense of where the software industry is headed in the next ten years and how you can play a role in that revolution, read this book.
Developer Opportunities
There are many co-marketing opportunities available for developers planning to release OpenDoc-based products in 1996. If you would like to avail yourself of these opportunities please contact OpenDoc evangelism at <opendoc@apple.com>.
All of us here in OpenDoc Evangelism look forward to your components and your feedback.
