Programmer or user? Because the 1616 is not a standard computer, we assume that the type of person who buys it is either a programmer, or is trying to learn to program. Therefore the internal working of all commands are always available to you. In contrast, mostcomputersassumeyouare nota programmer,and hidetheir internalworkings from you. Most office computers, such as the IBM and its clones, are designed with the assumption that they will be programmed only by professional computer pro- grammers. Although they are not deliberately made hard to use or program, it is often difficult for a new programmer to find sufficient information to start doing their own programs.
As a result, it is unusual for users to become involved in writing programs; most buy brand name application programs from the wide (and often expensive) range available. Buying application programs works well, provided you can find programs that do exactly what you wish to do. However if your requirements are unusual, you will be forced to write your own programs. Many Applix 1616 owners bought their systems because they could not get their job done conveniently using ordinary office computers. When writing programs, the Intel central processor chip (CPU) used in most businessmachines hasmany restrictions that even professional programmers often find troublesome.
In contrast, the Motorola 68000 chip in the Applix 1616 is usually accepted by programmers as being flexible, and (relatively) easy to use. It has some style and elegance, lacking in many such chips. This makes Motorola based computers especially suitable for many educational needs. Although other computers, like the Apple Macintosh, use the 68000, they are still not always easy to program. In attempting to make them simple for the user, the Macintosh forces a certain method of working on the programmer. The Macintosh and similar graphic interfaces generally require extensive knowledge and experience before satisfactory programs can be written.
It is sometimes said (by programmers) that the Macintosh manuals ‘contain numerous chapters, all of which are perfectly clear, provided you already understand the rest of the book!’ In contrast, the Applix 1616 is designed to make things easy for the new pro- grammer. Like most micro computers, the Applix has a variety of inbuilt com- mands that can be typed, and which cause the computer to do certain common tasks. Unlike most other computers, these commands can usually be reached from within other programs, with great ease. Programs in the Applix are designed to worktogether. Theresultishighlysimilar(onasmallerscale)totheU NIX operating system in approach.
Each inbuilt command is made up of a number of smaller, less comprehensive or less flexible, operations. These operations are known as system calls , and many can be used almost as easily as commands. These syscalls are, like regular inbuilt commands, also available from within programming languages, and within other programs. Similar methods are used by all computers, however the system calls are often difficult to use, or are ‘hidden’ from the user. Introduction User Tutorial Manual Page 7