Author: Brian Wiser
Rebecca Heineman, a brilliant and accomplished programmer and video game creator, passed away today after an unexpected battle with cancer. She shared her battle on Bluesky, where she highlighted some of her many achievements, “First video game champion (1980 Atari 2600 Space Invaders National Champion). Created Bard’s Tale III: The Thief Of Fate & Dragon Wars.” I’d like to share a few memories of the fun and joy she brought into my world, which is rather difficult on the day…
Note from Brian Wiser: This interview was first posted August 2, 2015, and is being reposted in honor of Rebecca Heineman who passed away November 17, 2025, and Jennell Jaquays who passed away January 10, 2024. I had the pleasure of meeting both Rebecca and Jennell a year before this interview and spending several hours with them. Their artistic, creative and technical talents always impressed me, along with their naturally caring and expressive way. Rebecca and Jennell will be deeply…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published new, expanded, color 2nd Edition of “The Apple’s Apprentice” by Roger Wagner. The 140 page book was first published July 18, 2018 and is a collection of the three computer magazines Roger published in 1984. In a world of computer magazines where the target audience leans toward the adult side of life, comes The Apple’s Apprentice – the first computer magazine produced for beginners and kids of…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) and Robert Clardy have published a new, color 2nd Edition of “Synergistic Software: The Early Games.” The book was first published June 19, 2017. Synergistic Software, founded by Robert C. Clardy, established itself as a computer game company in 1978 and produced more than 160 titles over the next 20 years, encompassing games, business, educational, and utility software. This new color edition focuses on Synergistic’s early games…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) and Robert Clardy have published a new, color 2nd Edition of his autobiography “Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software.” The book was first published June 19, 2017 and also features dozens of pictures of his creations and adventures. Cyber Jack chronicles Robert Clardy’s adventures throughout his self-made career as a computer programmer. In this new color edition, he shares business advice, humorous stories,…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published a new, expanded, color 2nd Edition of “Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From The Computing Revolution.” The book was first published June 26, 2016 with Mike Harvey’s enthusiasm. This new color edition adds 45 pieces of Mike’s art, over 80 magazine covers, plus an interview with Mike, a historic presentation, and stories of friendship and production details by producer Brian Wiser. It also includes over 60…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published a new, color 1st Edition of “Navigating the Business Maze.” It is a chronology of events, philosophy, and management models that guided the birth and growth of the Apple II magazine Nibble, created by Mike Harvey. Nearly 50 of his business advice editorials are featured. The book’s title came from Mike in 2016 after the release of his companion book Nibble Viewpoints, inspired by his…
Seattle, Washington – July 20, 2025 – Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published Nibble Disassembly Lines: Volume 2 – a compendium of all of the Apple II ProDOS “Disassembly Lines” articles that appeared in Mike Harvey’s Nibble magazine between 1984 and 1990. Written by Sandy Mossberg, a medical doctor, avid reader, science fiction fan, bird watcher, photographer and especially a self-taught programmer who had one of the longest-running columns in Nibble. If you are an Assembly Language programmer who…
Exploring Business BASIC contains all 23 articles on Apple III Business BASIC as written by Taylor Pohlman for Softalk magazine, including every program developed for use with those articles. They were written at the behest of Margot Comstock and exist because of her encouragement. Demonstrating a number of features and capabilities of the Apple III computer, this book will benefit programmers and users. The contents of the 300 page book are summarized in a Table of Contents PDF. Availability Exploring…
DOSource 3.3 by Randy Hyde is a disassembled listing of DOS 3.3 for the Apple II computer with comments created by studying the disassembled code. While the code was first released in 1981 on disk by Lazer Micro Systems, and later by A.P.P.L.E. in 2002 on CD, this is the first time Randy’s commented disassembled listing is available as a 140+ page printed book. The contents are summarized in a Table of Contents PDF. Availability DOSource 3.3 is available in…
Seattle, Washington – March 26, 2025 – Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published a new 2nd Edition of The WOZPAK II, intended for collectors who want to own this early work. It is a reprint with an additional introduction by A.P.P.L.E. founder Val J. Golding, and a new back cover. It contains over 130 pages of Apple documentation with many examples and explanations. A disk image with the Apple II programs is available. First published in 1979, The WOZPAK II was an…
Nibble Disassembly Lines: Volume 1 is a compendium of all of the Apple II DOS 3.3 “Disassembly Lines” articles that appeared in Mike Harvey’s Nibble magazine as well as Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine during the 1980s. Written by Sandy Mossberg, a medical doctor, avid reader, science fiction fan, bird watcher, photographer and especially a self-taught programmer who had one of the longest-running columns in Nibble. If you are an Assembly Language programmer who wants a greater understanding of some tricks of programming…
Seattle, Washington — November 27, 2024 — Thanks to the tireless workings of Paul H. Lee, Henry Pedro, Brian Wiser, and Bill Martens, the popular Bulletin Board System, GBBS Pro, has received a significant update to version 2.4 – both the software and the expanded physical manual that accompanies it with an additional 30 pages, totaling over 410 pages. GBBS Pro 2.4 is a user-friendly, highly-modifiable Bulletin Board System (BBS) for communications and entertainment. It has advanced features that can…
Seattle, Washington — July 28, 2024 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has made the first three years of GS+ Magazine, and all seven years of disks, available for digital purchase. GS+ was a bi-monthly magazine published from 1989-1995, and is a great resource for the Apple IIGS computer. Encompassing 37 issues and 800K disks, it has been licensed by A.P.P.L.E. from Steven W. Disbrow / EGO Systems, Inc. The 18 issues released as “Part 1” are completely remastered…
Seattle, Washington — July 28, 2024 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published “Understanding the Apple IIe: Enhanced Edition” by Jim Sather – an important and rare book that encompasses a unique technical examination the Apple IIe. Originally published in 1985 and a rarity to find, this new 450+ page “Enhanced Edition” is remastered and re-typeset, with updated text, layout, color, and over 120 technical illustrations. Text has been updated throughout, with additional coverage of the Enhanced IIe,…
Seattle, Washington – 28 July 2024 – Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) is proud to announce a new, ‘extra special’ 3rd Edition of The WOZPAK Special Edition: Steve Wozniak’s Apple-1 & Apple II Computers. The WOZPAK was the first official technical resource for the Apple II computer, with original material provided directly by Steve Wozniak and Apple Computer president Mike Scott to the A.P.P.L.E. User Group. 2024 Update: a mere 11 years after we released the “Special Edition,” we…
Seattle, Washington — July 23, 2022 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published an 80+ page manual for “Ringoban 2” – a new game written by Mike Beaumont. Ringoban 2 is an Applesoft BASIC version of the game Sokoban for the Apple II. This updated version by Mike Beaumont expands past the original 90 levels – for a total of 931 levels of brain-warping fun. Plus, version 2 now lets you save your game! Work through the levels…
Seattle, Washington — July 28, 2024 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published “All About Pilot” – a new book that is the ultimate collection of award-winning articles about the PILOT programming language. Written by the original creators of the language on many retro computing platforms, this resource provides tools and instruction to begin using the language effectively. Highlights Include Availability All About Pilot is available in Paperback, Hardback and Coil – printed in color – through the A.P.P.L.E….
Seattle, Washington — July 28, 2024 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published “E-Z Pilot” – an updated 90 page manual for the easy-to-use version of the Pilot programming language, created by Earl L. Keyser for the Apple II in 1983 and previously published by A.P.P.L.E. It is especially useful for school teachers and parents. You will enjoy interactive computer sessions. Features Include: Availability E-Z Pilot is available in Paperback – printed in color – through the A.P.P.L.E. bookstore…
Randy Brandt, programmer of Beagle Bros and JEM Software fame, has launched a Kickstarter for “Heroes of D-Day: 101st Airborne“ – playing cards featuring WW2 mini-biographies. The Kickstarter has 23 days to go with a goal of $1,944 to fully fund the project. As Randy shared, “We are three months from the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In honor of the brave paratroopers of the 101st Airborne, I’ve created a special deck of playing cards.” Randy is passionate about history and…
