This is likely of interest to very few, but… before Windows 95, before Debian GNU/Linux, before the Pentium chip… before Scripting News or DaveNet or the world’s first weblog… I was writing Mac programs and releasing them as Free Software under the GNU General Public License.
The most polished was Pentominoes (first released April 3, 1993), but my favorites were always Dialectic and Kant Generator Pro. Years later, I rewrote them to provide the basis for chapter 4 and chapter 5 of Dive Into Python.
My interest in Braille came from my friend Marcus, whom I met during the same time period, and whom I later incorporated into Dive Into Accessibility. (Marcus is the only character in the book who is based on a real person.)
And stories about the good old days of the classic Mac are always useful when teaching Apple training courses. (Speaking of which, I’ll be teaching in DC next week. Expect less.)
People wonder why I, as a Free Software advocate, feel so strongly about Apple. The Mac is a thread woven through the tapestry of my life. So is Free Software. If you understand nothing else, understand this.
