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WWDC: What is it?

MacWorld Online

May 17, 2000
Web posted at: 10:13 a.m. EDT (1413 GMT)

(IDG) -- If you're more comfortable using your Mac than you are writing programs for it, you may be wondering why the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) -- which kicked off Monday, May 15 -- is such a big deal, or why all the Mac Web sites cover it so extensively. Wonder no more: we're here to answer all your questions.

What is the WWDC?

It's an annual get-together for anyone who makes software or hardware for the Mac. The goal of the conference is to share information: Apple reveals their plans for its operating systems and hardware platforms, and developers share strategies for building applications that work on Macs.

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Why do the developers care what Apple's codemonkeys will be doing for the next year?

Say you're a software developer who makes an application that lets users load different, random photos on their desktop every time they hold down a certain combination of keys. For your application to work, you have to make sure it can work around a chunk of code in the Mac OS -- the one that typically determines the desktop pattern in the Appearance control panel.

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Then you go to WWDC and learn that Apple's planning on reconfiguring the chunks of code that determine the desktop appearances. (First, you breathe a sigh of relief that Apple has decided not to include all of your product's features into the Mac OS for free!) This reconfiguration means two things: first, the control panel code that you wrote your application around no longer exists; second, you're going to have to find a way to make your product work on systems with old versions of the OS and systems with the new, improved Appearance control panel code.

To prevent this from turning into a long story: developers need to find out what Apple plans on doing, because Apple's OS changes will affect their product's performance. Once a company knows what Apple's planning, it can begin making its own plans to adapt or overhaul its products to handle any changes in the Mac OS or other Apple-authored software such as QuickTime.

So developers go to WWDC as something of a predictive measure and as something of a preventive measure. It's fun to see what's coming out of Cupertino, the better to plan new and improved features for your own software. With the impending arrival of Mac OS X -- a major shift in the Mac landscape -- it's especially important. It's necessary to gather information to ensure that your product will still work after Apple issues its own new and improved stuff.

I see why developers should care about WWDC. Why should I care?

The same reasons Mac developers care -- prediction and prevention -- apply to you too.

Since Apple uses WWDC to hint at future directions for the company, it's a good chance to get a peek at new technologies coming down the line. While that's fun for Mac fans, it's also practical -- it lets you plan your future hardware and software purchases accordingly.

Where can I learn more about WWDC?

Macworld will have continuous coverage all week.




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RELATED SITES:
Apple's WWDC site
WWDC Mac OS track

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