Specifications

1-1

HAPTER

ERIES

3 P

ROGRAMMING

VERVIEW

Throughout the Series 3 Programming Guide, reference to the Series 3 machine should be taken to

include the Series 3a and the Workabout unless stated otherwise. See also the Workabout Programming

Guide for further information specific to that machine.

Programming possibilities

In general terms, there are six different levels at which programs can be written for the Series 3:

• using OPL, creating .opo or .opa program files

• using CLIB, with user interface restricted to console i/o of the

getchar

and

puts

variety

• using PLIB, again with user interface restricted to console i/o

• using WLIB, accessing the graphics and windowing capabilities of the Window Server

• using Hwif, with its support for menus and dialogs similar to those available in OPL/w

• using HWIM, FORM, OLIB and (for the Series 3a) XADD, the object-oriented DYLs built into

the ROM.

All but the first of these uses the C programming language.

For programming in OPL see the Series 3, Series 3a and Workabout Programming manuals, or the SIBO

OPL Software Development Kit.

For more detailed information about PLIB library routines and the window server see the PLIB Reference

and Window Server Reference manuals respectively.

Programming using Hwif is also covered in its own separate manual, Programming in Hwif. This manual

is particularly recommended on account of its relevance to the Series 3.

For details of object-oriented programming see the object oriented sections of the C SDK, starting with the

Object Oriented Programming Guide.

The present manual focuses on features of the Series 3 and Series 3a that are by-and-large unique to these

particular computers (as opposed to other computers in the SIBO range, that is, the HC and MC

computers). These features include:

• the difference between .app and .img forms of program file

• communications between applications and the System Screen

• the specialised form of the command line for applications

• some device drivers unique to the Series 3 and/or Series 3a

• development tools particularly suited to the Series 3 and Series 3a computers.

• writing applications that run on all machines.