Dear reader with patience,
I am not a computer programmer. Here is a little background:
I have a mac and use OS X. The extent of my computer understanding is
that I know how to navigate through the finder/desktop/windows etc. I
can use gnubackgammon on X11, but that is the only thing I can do with
X11 - it is an otherwise incomprehensible system for me at this time.
I wrote simple Pascal programs in an introductory course in college.
My goal is simply to be able to write uncomplicated Pascal programs for
myself on my mac, and to execute them on my mac.
I have downloaded and begun to read "A hobbyist's guide to programming
the mac OS in Pascal" by Koryn Grant and KJ Bricknell, and it looks very
complicated to me. Page 1 is already beyond my understanding. I am more
at the level of "Essential Pascal" by Marco Cantu.
I would like simply to download the tools necessary to write programs in
pascal and execute them on my computer. Hopefully this gives you a sense
of my very simple understanding of computers and of my desires.
Any suggestions on how to do this such as where I can find reading
material (I am a fan of the "for idiots" guides) to get started, or
simple instructions from you, dear reader, on what to download and how
to start using it, would be very appreciated. I am a physician, and
understand that you may look at this request the way I would view a
request from you such as "I am a computer programmer, and I'd like to
get started on doing surgery in my kitchen without going to medical
school". If I am being unrealistic, you are welcome to say so. My
feelings will not be hurt.
Thanks in advance,
Bob Zimmerman
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