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Apple’s Developer CD Series 1989 to 2009

Published January 31, 2024

Last updated on April 4, 2024

Starting in 1989, following the release of Apple’s first CD-ROM drive in 1988 (the AppleCD SC), Apple began distributing software updates and technical information about it’s products on CD. In addition to downloading these for my own use, I am including links to online sources to make it easier for others to find these CDs and I’ve included links to the relevant Apple Direct/Directions articles that describe the contents of each CD. I have found these CDs incredibly useful for learning about and setting up these old systems.

NOTE: see my Macintosh Reference Documentation post for other information sources.

About

When raw data is put into an easily accessible place (such as a CD-ROM) and edited to fit the needs and desires of a specific audience (developers, for instance), it becomes information-its new anatomy is more sensible, palatable, and useful to individuals. Crafting those pieces of information into meaningful and new insights and understanding begets knowledge .

Apple has taken the first step in this process-information collection-by putting significant amounts of Apple’s technical documentation (Inside Macintosh, Tech Notes) and other important tools (system software, HyperCard stacks, Q&As from DTS, and source code) on CD-ROM, via the Developer CD Series and the Develop Technical Journal CD.

The Organic Nature of Information by Scott Converse, page 30 Apple Direct June 1990 Looking into the Future

The majority of these CDs are available for download on either Macintosh Garden (MG), the Macintosh Repository (MR), and/or the Internet Archive (IA). When available, I have provided the link to the Apple Direct/Directions article that describes the contents of each CD.

These CDs are an excellent source of localized versions of Macintosh’s System Software if you want to use your 80s/90s Macintosh with a language other than English. The could be ordered from Apple’s Developer Catalog Online as part of the Apple Developer Mailing (1997-07-15)

Advertisement from the 1996 August Apple Developer Catalog

1989: Vol 1 and 2, Systems 0.1 to 6.05 and EPS illustrations

The earliest set in this series of CDs were the Phil and Dave’s Excellent CDs provided to attendees at the May 1989 Worldwide Developer’s Conference. Based on these CDs it appears the series was originally going to be called “Developer Helper”, but was renamed to the “Developer CD series” starting with the next CD, A Disk Called Wanda.

  1. 1989-04 Phil and Dave’s Excellent CD, Volume 1 (MG, MR): MacUser December 1989 page 226, This first CD-ROM, “Phil & Dave,” is designed for the technical community, and it contains over 200 megabytes of documentation and tools which you have told us you need during the development process, as well as about 30 minutes of audio tracks for your listening pleasure. “Phil & Dave” contains both an HFS partition for use on a Macintosh and a ProDOS partition for use on an Apple II under either GS/OS or ProDOS. RAMDump v1.0 and v1.1b1, , ReAnimator v1.0.1, System Software Arabic 2.0, Australian 5.0, British 6.0.3, Danish 6.0.3, Dutch 6.0.3, Finnish 6.0.3, Flemish 5.0, French Canadian 6.0.2, French Swiss 6.0.2, German 6.0.3, Greek 6.0.2, Hanzi 1.2, Hebrew 2.0, Icelandic 5.0, International 6.0.3, Italian 6.0.3.1, Korean 1.0, Norwegian 6.0.3, Portuguese 6.0.3, Spanish 6.0.3, Taiwanese 1.2, Turkish 1.0, Tech Note #31 (DogCow)
  2. Custom Developer Sampler May 1989: Cannot find a download of this, but found a reference to it on the Computer History Museum’s site and Philipe Poppe’s site.
  3. 1989-04 Phil and Dave’s Excellent CD, Volume 2 (MG, MR): System Software Arabic 6.0.3, Australian 5.0, British 6.0.3, Danish 6.0.3, Dutch 6.0.3, Faeroese 6.0.3, Finnish 6.0.3, Flemish 5.0, French Canadian 6.0.2, German 6.0.3, Greek 6.0.3, Hanzi 1.2, Hebrew 6.0.3, Icelandic 6.0.3, International 6.0.3, Italian 6.0.3.1, Kanji 6.0.2, Korean 1.0, Norwegian 6.0.3, Portuguese 6.0.3, Spanish 6.0.3, Taiwanese 1.2, Turkish 6.0.3

1990: Vol 3 to 7, System 6.0.7

  1. 1990-03 Volume 3 A Disc Called Wanda (MG, MR): AppleDirect July 1990 page 17 Electronic Media, AppleLink Offline! a HyperCard snapshot of Apple’s online system, System Software: US, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.0.1, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.0.2, 6.0.3, 6.0.4, 6.0.5; Arabic 6.0.3, British 6.0.4, Chinese 6.0.4, Danish 6.0.4, Dutch 6.0.4, Faeroese 6.0.3, Finnish 6.0.4, French 6.0.4, French Canadian 6.0.4, Swiss 6.0.5, German 6.0.4, Swiss 6.0.4, Greek 6.0.4, Hebrew 6.0.3, Icelandic 6.0.3, International 6.0.4, Italian 6.0.4, Kanji 6.0.2.4, Norwegian 6.0.4, Portuguese 6.0.3, Spanish 6.0.4, Taiwanese 6.0.3, Turkish 6.0.3, Yugoslavian 4.1; 1900 illustrations in EPS format.
  2. 1990-05 Volume 3.5 Worldwide Developers Conference (IA): WWDC presentations
  3. 1990-06, Volume 4 Discy Business The Real One (MR): AppleDirect July 1990 page 6, ResEdit 2.0b2, Talk to Me, Virtual User 1.0b2, Inside Macintosh Volume VI, System Software: Arabic 6.0.5, British 6.0.5, Chinese Simplified 6.0.3, Chinese Traditional 6.0.4, Danish 6.0.5, Dutch 6.0.4, Finnish 6.0.5, French 6.0.5, French Canadian 6.0.5, French Swiss 6.0.5, German 6.0.5, German Swiss 6.0.5, Greek 6.0.4, Hebrew 6.0.4, Icelandic 6.0.3, Italian 6.0.5, Kanji 6.0.4, Norwegian 6.0.5, Spanish 6.0.5, Swedish 6.0.5, Turkish 6.0.4
  4. 1990-10, Volume 5 Night of the Living Disc (MR), System Software
  5. 1990-12 Volume 6, Gorillas in the Disc (MR), System Software 0.1 to 6.0.7
  6. 1991, Volume 7 Lord of the Files (MR): System Software international versions

1991: Vol 8 to 11, International versions of System 7.0

  1. 1991 Volume 8 Desperately Seeking Seven (MR): System Software international versions up to 7.0
  2. 1991 Volume 9 Code Warrior (MR): Net Install System 7.0, MultiFinder 6.1b9
  3. October 1991 Volume 10 On a clear day you can CD forever (MR): AppleDirect page 60 CD Highlights, International Versions of System 7.0, System 7 Hacks, VUAssist, Robix VI
  4. November 1991 Volume 11 The Silence of the Roms (MR): AppleDirect page 21 CD Highlights, expansion-card-design information on the Macintosh Classic II, Macintosh PowerBook 100, Macintosh PowerBook 140/170, and Macintosh Quadras 700/900.

1992: System 7 Tune-up an System 7.1

  1. January 1992 The Winter of Our Disc Content (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 24 CD Highlights, Network Installer 1.1, AECoercionINIT, Czech 6.0.7, Hungarian 6.0.7, Turkish 7.0.1, AppleGlot, MacsBug 6.2.2, ResEdit 2.1.1.
  2. February 1992 20,000 Leagues under the CD (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 30 CD Highlights, System 7 Tune-Up, Color PICTs on 1-Bit Devices, simultaneously record and play sounds, Tracks, Macintosh Common Lisp
  3. March 1992 The Hound of Bitmapsville (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 31 CD Highlights, ten new System 7 Tune-Ups, including versions in Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, and more. Arabic and Hebrew versions of System 7.0.1, PowerBook Modem Guide, draft of the specifications for running AppleTalk over the Point-to-Point Protocol, MODE32 and German MODE32, ADB Analyzer, Report Error 1.2, ReadSector MSDOS
  4. April 1992 Hex, Drives, and Videotape (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 46 CD Highlights, Greek, Icelandic, Polish, Thai, and Turkish system software, white paper for TrueType Fonts, Disinfectant 2.6, Technotes for LC II, Antipiracy Toolkit.
  5. May 1992 The Byte Stuff (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 23 CD Highlights, PostScript Enhancements for the LaserWriter Font Utility, Drawing in GWorlds for Speed and Versatility, latest version of the Object Support Library 1.0, Network Software Installer 1.2
  6. June 1992 ROMin Holiday (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 34 CD Highlights, ADB Parser 5.0.5, C++ Tools, ResEdit 2.1.1, VRAM & bit depth explained.
  7. July 1992 Butch ASCII and the Runtime Code (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 36 CD Highlights, QuickTime editing tools, Network Software Installer 1.2.1
  8. August 1992 Hack to the Future AppleDirect page 19 CD Highlights, Apple CD-ROM Handbook, Localization for Japan, MacTCP Token Ring Extension, ZapTCP debugging tool, System Software Croatian 7.0.1, Czech 7.0.1, Greek 7.0.1.1, Hungarian 7.0.1, International 7.0.1.1, Polish 7.0.1, Portuguese 7.0.1, and Russian 7.0.1. new System 7 tune-ups, including British, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, and Turkish
  9. September 1992 A ROM with a View (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 37 CD Highlights, New Inside Macintosh books: Files, Memory, and Processes; NuBus Tools, AETracker 3.0, DisposeResource, DoubleTrouble
  10. October 1992 The Hexorcist (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 49 CD Highlights, System 7.1 golden master, Road Map to A/UX; Tech Notes including: 21″ RGB Specs, AppleEvents Send to Self, Color, Windows, and 7.0, Icon Drawing in 7, Little PowerBook Sleep, PictComments Real Deal, and PowerBook Miscellanea.
  11. November\December 1992 Wayne’s GWorld (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 32 CD Highlights, Developer Notes Macintosh IIvx, PowerBook 160/180, Quick Tim 1.5, Updated ColorSync, PSWriter Beta, Wake 100, updated ADB Parser, Animation f, Apple DocViewer 1.0; System Software: Swedish 7.1, Russian 7.1, Polish 7.1, Portuguese 7.1, U.S. System 7.0.1(P) and 7.1(P),

1993: Localized System 7.1

Starting in April 1993 (see announcement on AppleDirect March 1993 page 59) the content of each Developer CD began to focus on one of three areas: system software, tools and applications, and technical documentation. Each disc included an expanded range of content in its focus area, while still containing a What’s New folder with new and updated items in all three areas. This increased the amount of material Apple provided, yet continued to ensure that users never had to wait more than four weeks for the latest new items in any area. The disc’s contents rotated among the three areas. One month, the disc will contain mostly system-software–related materials; the next month, mostly tools and applications; the third, mostly technical documentation. Note: In June 1993 Apple Direct was renamed Apple Directions.

  1. January 1993: The Post Man Always Clicks Twice (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 39 CD Highlights (note the wrong name was given in the article), ShimmerMate, updated System Picker, Disk First Aid and MountImage, AppleLink Offline; Inside Macintosh: Macintosh Toolbox Essentials
  2. February 1993: New Hack City (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 43 CD Highlights, HyperCard Player, A/ROSE 1.1.9, Notes from the AppleTalk Remote Access team, CD-ROM Setup 4.2, ColorSync 1.0 gold master, Network Software Installer 1.3, SimpleApp for editing TEXT, PICT and moves; System Software: U.S. system software versions 6.0.8, 7.0.1, 7.1 and 7.0.1/7.1P, latest Disk Copy and MountImage.
  3. March 1993: Other People’s Memory (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 59 CD Highlights, report on Multimedia Standards, Latest Apple Style Guide, Developer notes for Macintosh Color Classic, Macintosh LC III, the PowerBook 165c, Macintosh Centris, and Macintosh Quadra 800, ColorSync 1.0.1, MegaMovies 1.6.2, Virtual Spher 1.0
  4. April 1993: System Software Edition Penguin On DISC (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 38 CD Highlights, the first System Software edition of the Developer CD. The disc contains almost 500 MB of localized system software for 32 countries: Arabic 7.1, British 7.1, Catalan 7.1., Croation 7.1, Czech 7.1, Danish 7.1, Dutch 7.1, Finnish 7.1, French 7.1, French, Canadian 7.1, Chinese Simplified 7.1, German 7.1, Greek 7.1, Hebrew 7.0.1, Hungarian 7.0.1, Icelandic 7.0.1, International 7.1, Italian 7.1, Korean (Hangul), 7.12f, Norwegian 7.1, Persian 7.1, Polish 7.1, Portuguese 7.1, Romanian 7.1, Russian 7.1, Spanish 7.1, Swedish 7.1, Swiss French 7.1, Swiss German 7.1, Thai 7.1, Turkish 7.1, U.S. 6.0.5 – 7.1
  5. May 1993: Tool Chest Bright Bytes Big CD (MG, IA): AppleDirect page 32 CD Highlights, an expanded collection of tools and applications in the areas of devices and hardware, graphics and imaging, INITs, localization tools, utilities, networking and communications, OS/Toolbox, and testing and debugging, MacsBug for 68LC040, Qwertytunes, Inside Macintosh QuickTime and Text.
  6. June 1993: Reference Library Edition, Rom the World in 80 nanoseconds (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 9 CD Highlights, 450MB of technical documentation, including a number of submissions that have never before been available on the Developer CD. Q&A Tech Notes have been revised and corrected, HIR issues #3, develop, Issue #14, Clipboard Magician 0.75, Navigable Movie Toolkit 1.0.1, Instance Variables for HyperCard, LockVol 1.4.
  7. July 1993: System Software Edition Pyramid and Palm Tree (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 37 CD Highlights, Developer Notes for the Macintosh PowerBook 145B and 180c and the LaserWriter Select 310, Macintosh Easy Open, AppleGlot 2.0, LaserWriter 8.0 Driver, QuickTime 1.6
  8. August 1993: Tool Chest Edition CD Slickers (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, AppleScript 1.0, Apple Shared Library Manager 1.1b8, QuickDraw GX 1.0b1, SCSI Manager 4.3, Text to Speech, Installer 3.4.3, MacSNMP, Macintosh Game Developers’ Handbook.
  9. September 1993: Reference Library Edition, Spinal Tap (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 14 CD Highlights, ASLM 1.1GM, ColorSync 1.0.3, Developer Notes for AudioVision 14, Display, Macintosh PowerBook 165, Macintosh Centris 660AV and Macintosh Quadra 840AV, Hardware System Update 2.0, Network Software Install Version 1.3.3, ODBC for Macintosh, Telephone Manager 1.1.1, Sound Manager 3.0
  10. October 1993: System Software Edition Windmill on CD (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 7 CD Highlights, System 7 Pro Beta 11, System Enablers 131, 088, 408, Disk First Aid 7.2, New Memory Manager, QuickTime 1.6.1.
  11. November 1993: Tool Chest Edition, Northern Hexposure (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Code Editor for ResEdit, SpriteWorld 1.0b3, Tomas 1.1, Gambit 2.0, ZAM 1.0a13
  12. December 1993: Reference Library Edition, Of Mouse and Men (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, DocViewer 1.1, Tech Notes for the LaserWriter Select 360 printer, and the Macintosh LC 475, Macintosh Quadra 605, 610, and 650, and PowerBook Duo 250 and 270c computers. MemHell, SCSI Manager 4.3a2, System Picker 1.0.1, System Update 2.0.1, U.S. System Software Performa 7.1P5

1994: Localized System 7 Pro and 7.1.2

  1. January 1994: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, FMAT Editor, System 7 Pro, ASDSP that does not encrypt network communications, VUMeters
  2. February 1994: Tool Chest Edition, In the Seek of the Night (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 37 CD Highlights, Chinese Language Kit, Tech note for the Personal LaserWriter 320 printer, Universal Interfaces, SorceObj
  3. March 1994: Reference Library Edition, Little Bit Man (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, Collector Beta, Tech note Macintosh LC 575, HyperCard Player 2.2, International LaserWriter 8.1.1, LockVol 1.5, Lurkers, Network Launch Fix Extensions (68040 crash issue), ShowDialogBoxes 2.0
  4. April 1994: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 18 CD Highlights, ColorSync 1.0.4, Developer Notes on Apple’s new family of Power Macintosh computers, and QuickTake 100 Digital Camera, DiskFiller, MacsBug 6.5d6, Network Software Installer 1.4.2
  5. May 1994 Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, A/ROSE 1.2.1, Apple Style Guide 2/94, AppleGlot 2.1, BBEdit Lite 2.3.2, Conver Projects 1.0b2, Macintosh DAV Interface for NuBus Expansion Cards, More System Software, SWAt 2.0b5, Verifier 1.0, ZoneRanger 1.0.0
  6. June 1994: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 and 21 CD Highlights, Color Sync 1.0.5, Convert Project 1.0b3 (Think C/Pascal to Code Warrior), PowerBook 520, 540, Duo 280, 280c, CD-ROM Setup 5.0.1, Drag and Drop 1.1, U.S. System Software Performa 7.1P6
  7. July 1994: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 and 18 CD Highlights, localized System 7 Pro and 7.1.2 versions, Chinese Language Kit Version 1.1, Japanese Language Kit Version 1.1, Network Software Installer 1.4.4,, System 7.1.1, System 7.1.2, System Update 3.0, Thread Manager Extension 2.0.1
  8. August 1994: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, AEGizmos 1.3.4, AOCE Sample Code, Covnert Projects 1.0b5, Imaging with QuickDraw, QuickTime 2.0, Dylan Interim Reference, OpenDoc alpha
  9. September 1994: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 31 CD Highlights, MacCalendar, Lurkers MPW Tool, Macintosh Easy Open 1.1, PCI Information
  10. October 1994: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 66 CD Highlights, U.S. version of System 7.5, including QuickDraw GX, PowerTalk 1.1, QuickTime 2.0, PlainTalk 1.3, fixed version of the Macintosh LC/Macintosh Quadra 630 developer note, LaserWriter 8, MoreFiles 1.2.1, StandardFileIcons.
  11. November 1994: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, AE Suit Finder, Apple Bug Reporter 1.5, Apple Guide Authoring Kit, AppleSearch Client SDK Overview.
  12. December 1994: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 10 CD Highlights, Power Macintosh 8100/110 and the DOS Compatibility Card, Display Manager 1.0.

1995: System 7.5

Descriptions taken from Apple’s devworld.apple.com site (June 1997)

  1. January 1995: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, Myths About Europe, Installer 4.0.3 SDK, MacODBC SDK.
  2. February 1995: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, ASLM SDK version 1.1.2, Chinese Language Kit Version 1.1.1 Updater, Developer Press Survey 1.0, Dylan Related, Pallette & GWorld; (Fat), QuickTime Sample Code, Sprocket.
  3. March 1995: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, ASLM SDK v2.0b5, Dylan Update 03.95, OpenDoc Documentation.
  4. April 1995: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, AlwaysPreview, Debugging Modern Memory Manager, Dylan Update, Inside Mac Update–Thread Manager, Mac Tech Notes Update, MIDI Converter, ShrinkWrap 1.3, Thread Manager Extension 2.1.
  5. May 1995: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Adobe Acrobat Reader 2.0.1, AEGizmos 1.4, APDA HyperCard Toolkits, Debugging Modern Memory Manager, Gestalt Selectors List 2.8, GXifier, Int’l Developer Contacts, Mac Tech Notes Update, Network SW Installer 1.5ZM, PCCTS 1.31, Power Mac DebugServices 2.0b14, Rinaldi Collection, ShrinkWrap 1.3.1, System 7.5 Update 1.0.
  6. June 1995: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 14 CD Highlights, ABS Technical Notes, APDA Tools Catalog, Developer Univ. Course Info, Disk I/O Performance Tools, DTS QT Utilities, Laserwriter 8 v8.3, LockVol 1.6, MacBug 6.5d12, MoreFiles 1.3, Open Transport 1.0b1c3, Pippin Q&A;, QuickDraw 3Db, QuickView Developer Edition, SoundApp, Universal Interfaces.
  7. July 1995: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 14 CD Highlights, Copland WWDC Materials, Designing PCI Cards & Drivers, Disk I/O Performance Tools Update, DTS QT Utilities, International NSI 1.5.1, Japanese Language Kit Version 1.2, PowerPC Hardware Reference Platform, Toolbox Assistant Update #1, Tracer.
  8. August 1995: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Adobe Acrobat Exchange LE 2.0.1, ASLM SDK 2.0GM, Business Opps–Germany, ColorSync 2.0 SDK,HideMenubar Etc, Intro to Copland, LabelMenu, Mac ODBC SDK 2.0b1, MoreFiles 1.3.1, PlainTalk Speech Technologies, QuickDraw 3D 1.0, Quickdraw GX 1.1.2, ROM Build/Download 3.2.4, Server Remote Control 1.1, ShowInitIcon, Solutions & MM Developers, Standard File Samples, Toolbox Assistant Update #2, UnmountIt 1.2.
  9. September 1995: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA):AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, AEGizmos, Asia Market Guide, Dev Notes for the Power Macintosh 7200, 7500, and 8500 computers, DisposeResource 2.0, DropPS 1.1.3, MacODBC 2.1, RAMDisk 1.2, ShrinkWrap 1.4.2
  10. October 1995: System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, GXifier 1.1, PowerTalk Access Modules, PT/PS Products Guide, QuickTime 2.1, Snippets Update.
  11. November 1995: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, ADB Key Spy, Drive Setup 1.0.2, Guide to Mac Development Tools, Mac PowerBook Qualified Program, PowerPC Documentation, ProjectDrag 1.1b8, Spain Distribution Guide, VersionEdit 1.1
  12. December 1995: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, Apple Guide 2.0 GM Update, AppleGlot, Gestalt Selectors List 3.1, GetHelpStrings, How to Detect a CD, iso9660, Macintosh Technical Notes, PCI Driver Development Kit 2.0, Peoplesoft/Apple White Paper, Performance Tools, QuickDraw 3D Reference (HTML), SDK Documentation, WASTE.

1996: CFM-68k, Mac OS 8 overview

Beginning January 1996 the product formerly known as the Mac OS Software Developer’s Kit CD-ROM become the Mac OS SDK Edition of the Developer CD Series. Each quarter, along with the System Software editions in January, April, July, and October, Apple published a collection of over 30 individual Software Developer’s Kits (SDKs) on two CD-ROM discs.

  • System Software – Contains Macintosh system software localized in 37 languages, providing you with the ability to develop and test localized versions of your software and to ensure compatibility with a wide range of Macintosh models and OS versions. You’ll also receive pre-release versions of new system software.
  • Mac OS SDK – Provides convenient access to the most current Macintosh operating system software development kits published by Apple. These Software Developer’s Kits represent a comprehensive, up-to-date collection of powerful technologies that will assist you in developing the world-class applications of the future. Apple provides over 30 individual SDKs. A typical SDK for a Macintosh system software extension provides the following basic components you will need to learn in order to add support for a system extension in your software:
    • System software extensions
    • Programming interfaces and libraries
    • Sample code
    • Electronic technical documentation (supplemental to Inside Macintosh)
  • Tool Chest – The tool chest edition offers an assortment of development tools, utilities, platform and language information, sample code and snippets. These resources provide time-saving programming techniques and ideas.
  • Reference Library – Contains a complete set of technical documentation including the Inside Macintosh series, Macintosh Technical Notes, develop journal, The Macintosh Programmer’s Toolbox Assistant, and Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines–all in electronic format.

Descriptions taken from Apple’s devworld.apple.com site (June 1997)

  1. January 1996: System Software Edition and SDK (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 12 CD Highlights, BBEdit Lite 3.5, Debugging Modern Memory Manager, Developer Notes Update 01/96, PopupFuncs 2.6.1, Sample Code Update 01/96.
  2. February 1996: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, AppleGlot 2.4b2, ColorSync 2.0.1 GM, Gestalt Selectors List 3.2, GXOverride Tool, SetDefaultDTP, Speech Recognition 1.5a1, WorldScript Updater 7.5.1.
  3. March 1996: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, Apple HTML Local Search, Apple Developer University, ADB Key Spy 2, AppleGlot 2.4b6, At Ease WG 3.0.1 Updater, develop issue 25, FindPrinter, HTTP server, jGNE Helper, MoreFiles 1.4.1, STD File Saver 2.0.
  4. April 1996: System Software Edition and SDK (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, Intro to Cary Henrie, Apple Greyscale Appearance, Open Transport 1.1b16, OpenDoc 1.0.1, OpenDoc Development Framework, OT Code Resource, PlainTalk 1.4.1, ScriptX 1.5, Worldwide System Software.
  5. Series May 1996: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 14 CD Highlights, Apple Guide 2.0.2 Update, C.S.M.P. Digests, Display Manager SDK, Drive Utilities v1.1, PartMaker 4.3, Speech Recognition Manager, System 7.5 Update v2.0, and more.
  6. June 1996: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 16 CD Highlights, MoreFiles 1.4.2, Network Server Developer’s Guide, QDGX Spooler Patch 1.0.2, QuickTime VR Tools 1.0b2, Speech Recognition Manager and WASTE 1.2a6.
  7. July 1996: System Software Edition (2 CD’s) and SDK (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 16 CD Highlights, Apple Game Sprockets DRS, JPEG Sample, Live Scroll 1.0, Mac OS 8 Overview, Mac OS 8 Tour, Network Watch (DMZ) v1.S, Open Transport 1.1GM, OpenDoc, OpenDoc Development Framework, PC Card Manager, QuickDraw 3D 1.0.6, Snippets Update, SoundApp, Speech Recognition Manager, Speech Synthesis Manager, STD File Saver.
  8. August 1996: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 14 CD Highlights, Apple Game Sprockets 1.0GM, C.S.M.P. Digests, Macintosh PAP Client Interface, NetworkStream, Pippin Technical Notes, QuickDraw GX Sample Code Update, Snippets Update, Word Services Suite 1.0.7, WorldScript Updater.
  9. September 1996 Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, Apple Grayscale Appearance, Developer Notes, Inside Macintosh, MacODBC 2.1.2 GM, MacsBug 6.5.3, MenuScripter 4.0, MoreFinderEvents, OTPingSample, OTTraceRouteSample, Scrap Color 1.0, ZapTCP 1.2.1.
  10. October 1996 System Software Edition and SDK (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 15 CD Highlights, Apple Game Sprockets, CFM-68K, ColorSync 2.1GM, ControlStrip Test, IW-Half-Dither, Macintosh PAP Client Interface, MoofWars, OpenDoc Development Framework, PCI Driver Development Kit 2.0, Snippets Update, SOMobjects for Mac OS, WorldScript Updater.
  11. November 1996 Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 10 CD Highlights, AE Suite * Mail 1.0, Apple Color OneScanner SDK, Apple International Glossaries, Chinese Dictation Kit 1.5f2, Chinese Handwriting Kit 1.0f1, Developer Notes Update, HotSauce, SimpleText Sample.
  12. December 1996 Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 10 CD Highlights, Apple Guide 2.1 Update, ColorSync 2.1.1.GM, develop Issue 28, Developer Notes Update, Snippets Update, Toolbox Assistant.
  13. December 1996 (Special Edition) System Software Edition (MG, IA)

In 1996 Apple started releasing “seed” CDs that provided developers with pre-release software to allow for early compatibility testing, bug reporting, and technology adoption. From Apple’s devworld.apple.com site (June 1997): “To help you bring new and innovative products to market sooner, Apple sends seed packages for many key Mac OS technologies early in the development cycle. Macintosh program members also receive pre-release documentation for new hardware products. (Some Apple projects may require limited seeding in the early stages.)”

1997: Mac OS 7.6 and 8.0

Descriptions taken from Apple’s devworld.apple.com site (January 1998), or written by me based on the AppleDirections article.

  1. January 1997 Mac SDK (MG): AppleDirections page 10 CD Highlights, Apple Shared Library Manager, Advanced Color Imaging on the MAC OS, Interfaces & Libraries, OpenDoc 1.1, OpenDoc Development Framework, OpenDoc International, Open Transport 1.1.1, PC Card Manager SDK, Speech Recognition Manager, Speech Synthesis Manager.
  2. February 1997 Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, MoreFiles 1.4.4, Multiprocessing SDK, MPHelloWorld (Pascal), OpenDoc Development Framework, OT Server Sample, PeopleSoft/Apple White Paper, Snapshot Sample 1.0b3, Standard File Samples, QuickView Databases
  3. February 1997 System Software (MG, IA): Mac OS 7.6
  4. March 1997 Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, Apple Game Sprockets, ATA Demoź, develop Issue 29, Developer Notes Update, Installer SDK Cornucopia 1.0.1, MoreFiles 1.4.5, OT Server Sample 1.0.1, OT/PPP Control Strip Sample, PC Card Manager v3.0 SDK.
  5. April 1997 (MG, IA) System Software and SDK (2 CD’s): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, Apple Location Manager, ColorSync 2.1.2, Developer Notes, Disk Copy 6.1 GM, Installer SDK Cornucopia Version 1.0.2, Sample Code Update 2/97, Word Services SDK 1.0.
  6. May 1997 Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 10 CD Highlights, ADB Key Spy 1.0.1b3, AsyncDriverSample 1.0b4, CFM-68K SDK, DumpARPCache, Folder Watching, PEG Sample, Mac OS Runtime for Java 1.0.1b1c2, MacCalendar 1.1b1, MP Threaded Sort, ProcDoggie 2.1b1, RAMDisk 1.4d5, Rhapsody/OPENSTEP Documentation, Set Folder Windows, TradDriverLoaderLib 1.0b4.
  7. June 1997 System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Disk Copy 6.1.2, Drive Utilities, Gestalt Selectors List 3.7, Macintosh CD-ROM Setup 5.3.2, ARPSample1.0b1, FinderDragPro, MoofWars 1.01, NeoTextBox97, TPIFile1.0b1.
  8. July 1997 Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, Apple Guide 2.1.1., Apple Location Manager 1.0.1, AsyncDriverSample1.0b4, QuickTime IC SDK 1.01, QuickTime VR 2.0
  9. August 1997 System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Mac OS 8 System Software
  10. August 1997 Tool Chest Edition Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 13 CD Highlights, Macintosh PowerBook 2400c, JSaver, Universal Interfaces 3.0 and Libraries, Display Manager Development Kit, Sample Code, ColorSync SDK, Color Picker SDK, Async Driver Tester, MRJ1.5b1, PC Card SDKs, PCI Sound Input Driver, Zoomed Video Driver v1.0 SDK
  11. September 1997 Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, Enhanced Macintosh PB1400 Developer Note, GXGraphics 1.1.6, Instrumentation SDK 1.0.5, Interfaces & Libraries, Load PCI Driver, TradDriverLoaderLib 1.0b5
  12. October 1997 Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 9 CD Highlights, Universal Interfaces and Libraries 3.0.1, ColorSync Photoshop Plug-ins 2.1, Mac OS Run-Time Architectures, StreamNOP 1.0b1, Rhapsody Documentation.
  13. November 1997 Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 7 CD Highlights, Apple Information Access Tookit 1.0.1, File Synchronization 1.1, Virtual Reality Programming with QuickTime VR 2.0, OpenTransport Sample Cade,
  14. November 1997 System Software Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 7 CD Highlights, Mac OS 8.0 for Chinese (both traditional and simplified), Dutch, English (British), French (four versions: “plain,” Belgian, Canadian, and Universal), German, Hangul/Korean, Italian, Kanji, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish, and Swedish.
  15. December 1997 Reference Library Edition (MG, IA): AppleDirections page 11 CD Highlights, Baloony, Macintosh PowerBook 2400c, Power Macintosh 8600 and 9600, G3, ATA Software Guide, DIMM Config and Interleave v1.1, File Synchronization 1.1, SnapshotSample 1.0b4, Vitrual User 2.5.1, TED 1.2.1 Release.

1998

In April 1998 Apple launched migrated it’s http://devworld.apple.com/ to http://www.apple.com/developer, and renamed the site from DeveloperWorld to Apple Developer Connection website and the CDs were renamed the Apple Developer Connection Mailing

December 1997 was the last issue of AppleDirections, and it was replaced with Apple Developer News. Unfortunately that replacement does not contain summaries of the contents of the Developer CDs. I did find descriptions for the January 2000 CDs and onwards on the Apple Developer Connection Mailing page, unfortunately that is the first cached version I’ve found for the page so I do not have Apple’s summary descriptions of the 1998 and 1999 CDs.

  1. January 1998: Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  2. January 1998: System Software Edition (MG, IA)
  3. February 1998: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  4. February 1998: System Software Edition (MG, IA)
  5. March 1998: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA)
  6. April 1998: Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  7. April 1998: System Software Edition (MG, IA)
  8. May 1998: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  9. June 1998: Reference Library Edition (MG, IA)
  10. July 1998: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  11. July 1998: System Software Edition (MG, IA)
  12. August 1998: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  13. September 1998: Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  14. October 1998 System Software (MG, IA)
  15. October 1998: Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  16. November 1998: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  17. December 1998: Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  18. December 1998: System Software Edition (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)

1999

  1. January 1999: System Software (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  2. January 1999: Mac OS SDK (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  3. February 1999: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  4. March 1999 Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  5. April 1999 Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  6. April 1999: System Software Edition (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  7. May 1999: System Software (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  8. May 1999: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  9. June 1999 Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  10. June 1999 System Software Edition (MG, IA)
  11. July 1999: Mac OS SDK (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  12. July 1999: System Software (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  13. August 1999: System Software (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  14. August 1999: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  15. September 1999 Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  16. October 1999: Mac OS SDK Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  17. November 1999: System Software (3 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  18. November 1999: Tool Chest Edition (MG, IA)
  19. December 1999 Reference Library Edition (2 CD’s) (MG, IA)
  20. December 1999 System Software (4 CD’s) (MG, IA)

1999 and 2000: The Mac OS Anthologies

The Mac OS Anthology, intended for third-party developers to test their software against different localized versions of the Macintosh operating system from System 7 to 9.1 (MG, MR):

  • The initial 4-disc DVD-ROM set containing Mac OS releases 7.0, 7.0.1, 7.1, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 7.5, 7.5.3, 7.5.5 Update, 7.6.1, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, and 8.5.1 Update.
  • Disks 5 and 6, featuring Mac OS 8.6 and Mac OS 8.6 Update in Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English (British and US), Finnish, French, German, Hangul Korean, Italian, Kanji, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, and Apple’s International version.
  • Mac OS System Software releases for the remainder of 1999.
  • Adobe Software, CD Extras, Disk Tools, Install Mac OS, Installing Mac OS, Mac OS Install, Mac OS Read Me Files, Software Installer, Utilities.
  • Apple Spec database for easy identification of hardware product configurations, and more.

Apple Developer Connection on Apple’s Website

Information about the Apple Developer Mailing on Apple’s site that include the above CDs, Inside Macintosh series, develop magazine, and the Direct/Directions newsletters.

  • 1998-01-31: http://www.devworld.apple.com/programs/macdevprogram.html
  • 2000-02-29: http://developer.apple.com/products/mailing.html
  • 2004-02-14: http://developer.apple.com/membership/mailing.html
  • 2008-12-17: http://developer.apple.com/products/membership.html, The ADC Monthly Mailing contains software, SDKs, DDKs, technical documentation, tools, reference material, and more. Get development resources delivered electronically or by DVD each month.
  • 2010-09-08: http://developer.apple.com/programs/adcbenefits/, it appears the ADC Monthly mailing is no more and instead everything is now downloaded from Apple’s website.
  • 2010-09-23: Announcement that the new Mac Developer Program (2010-09-24) will be replacing the ADC Membership program.

Published in Apple Documents, Macintosh 68k, Old Computers and Games and Setting up your 68k Macintosh

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