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# Apple II DeskTop
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[](https://travis-ci.org/inexorabletash/a2d)
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Work-in-Progress disassembly of Apple II Desktop (a.k.a. MouseDesk)
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## Background
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Apple II Desktop started its life as "MouseDesk" by Version Soft. It
is a mouse-driven Mac-like "Finder" GUI application for 8-bit Apples
with 128k of memory (Enhanced Apple //e, Apple //c) using double-hires
monochrome graphics (560x192) and the ProDOS operating system.
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Apple Computer acquired the software and released it - rebranded as
Apple II Desktop - as the initial system software for the Apple IIgs
before 16-bit GS/OS replaced it. The rebranded version still functions
on 8-bit Apples.
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Overview: http://toastytech.com/guis/a2desk.html
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Manual: [Apple IIgs System Disk User’ ](https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ftp.apple.asimov.net/documentation/misc/Apple%20IIgs%20System%20Disk%20Users%20Guide%20%281986%29.pdf ) - Chapter 2 “The DeskTop”
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A pieced-together history, details of versions, bug reports and feature requests: https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/ground.icaen.uiowa.edu/MiscInfo/Misc/mousedesk.info
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Disks can be found at:
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ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/images/masters/other_os/gui/
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Other GUI environments exist for the 8-bit Apples, including GEOS (which includes
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productivity applications) and Quark Catalyst. While A2.Desktop is more limited -
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serving only as a file manager and application launcher - it is (subjectively)
more visually appealing and better integrated with ProDOS.
## Goal
The goal of this project is to disassemble/reverse-engineer the suite
with an eye towards understanding how it functions, and eventually fixing
bugs and adding functionality.
## Tools
The [cc65 ](http://cc65.github.io/cc65/ ) tool chain will be used; source files will
target the ca65 macro assembler. Cross-development on modern systems will be assumed.
(Sorry, Merlin purists! We still love you.)
## Code of Conduct
Discussions should be polite, respectful and inclusive, and focus on the code.
Harassment will not be tolerated. Keep comments constructive.
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Please read the full [Code of Conduct ](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md ).
