Apple Computers Inc. Pascal Poster (1979)
Apple Pascal Syntax Chart
Designed by Jeff Raskin & Tom Kamifuji. Published by Apple Computer inc. 1979. Offset Lithograph on high gloss paper. Apple Document Number 030-0111-00. Measures 86cm x 55cm. Condition: Excellent. Some small marks here and there. One 2cm tear (repaired).
Widely considered to be the ultimate geek poster, it features a colour-coded syntax chart of the Apple Pascal programming language. This poster, dating to 1979, was produced around the time Apple enjoyed great success with its Apple ][ computer, one of the most important successful personal computers of all time.
At this point, I must direct you to a superb and well researched blog of this poster by Lucas Wagner: https://vintagecomputer.ca/the-history-of-apples-pascal-syntax-poster-1979-80/
Wagner writes “(Raskin) color-coded it so that a higher lexical element’s color would correspond to the syntax diagram below that explained it. A poster format was chosen so that the programmer could glance up and have his desk free from clutter. Raskin’s original color-coding scheme made it such that the poster could be glanced at from a desk or from across the room”
Steve Jobs liked it but struggled to understand the colour-coding so he hired an artist, Tom Kamifuji. The problem was, Jobs and Kamifuji were primarily concerned with how it looked. Their inability to understand the colour-coded lead to some major inconsistencies and therefore part of the utility was lost. Fortunately the poster saw a number of revisions from other Apple programmers and was declared accurate (enough) to print. A run of 20,000 was produced and distributed both internally - to programmers - and externally - to dealers, colleges and schools.
Today, it is an iconic piece of Apple history and one of the earliest posters ever produced by Apple.
Apple Pascal Syntax Chart
Designed by Jeff Raskin & Tom Kamifuji. Published by Apple Computer inc. 1979. Offset Lithograph on high gloss paper. Apple Document Number 030-0111-00. Measures 86cm x 55cm. Condition: Excellent. Some small marks here and there. One 2cm tear (repaired).
Widely considered to be the ultimate geek poster, it features a colour-coded syntax chart of the Apple Pascal programming language. This poster, dating to 1979, was produced around the time Apple enjoyed great success with its Apple ][ computer, one of the most important successful personal computers of all time.
At this point, I must direct you to a superb and well researched blog of this poster by Lucas Wagner: https://vintagecomputer.ca/the-history-of-apples-pascal-syntax-poster-1979-80/
Wagner writes “(Raskin) color-coded it so that a higher lexical element’s color would correspond to the syntax diagram below that explained it. A poster format was chosen so that the programmer could glance up and have his desk free from clutter. Raskin’s original color-coding scheme made it such that the poster could be glanced at from a desk or from across the room”
Steve Jobs liked it but struggled to understand the colour-coding so he hired an artist, Tom Kamifuji. The problem was, Jobs and Kamifuji were primarily concerned with how it looked. Their inability to understand the colour-coded lead to some major inconsistencies and therefore part of the utility was lost. Fortunately the poster saw a number of revisions from other Apple programmers and was declared accurate (enough) to print. A run of 20,000 was produced and distributed both internally - to programmers - and externally - to dealers, colleges and schools.
Today, it is an iconic piece of Apple history and one of the earliest posters ever produced by Apple.
Apple Pascal Syntax Chart
Designed by Jeff Raskin & Tom Kamifuji. Published by Apple Computer inc. 1979. Offset Lithograph on high gloss paper. Apple Document Number 030-0111-00. Measures 86cm x 55cm. Condition: Excellent. Some small marks here and there. One 2cm tear (repaired).
Widely considered to be the ultimate geek poster, it features a colour-coded syntax chart of the Apple Pascal programming language. This poster, dating to 1979, was produced around the time Apple enjoyed great success with its Apple ][ computer, one of the most important successful personal computers of all time.
At this point, I must direct you to a superb and well researched blog of this poster by Lucas Wagner: https://vintagecomputer.ca/the-history-of-apples-pascal-syntax-poster-1979-80/
Wagner writes “(Raskin) color-coded it so that a higher lexical element’s color would correspond to the syntax diagram below that explained it. A poster format was chosen so that the programmer could glance up and have his desk free from clutter. Raskin’s original color-coding scheme made it such that the poster could be glanced at from a desk or from across the room”
Steve Jobs liked it but struggled to understand the colour-coding so he hired an artist, Tom Kamifuji. The problem was, Jobs and Kamifuji were primarily concerned with how it looked. Their inability to understand the colour-coded lead to some major inconsistencies and therefore part of the utility was lost. Fortunately the poster saw a number of revisions from other Apple programmers and was declared accurate (enough) to print. A run of 20,000 was produced and distributed both internally - to programmers - and externally - to dealers, colleges and schools.
Today, it is an iconic piece of Apple history and one of the earliest posters ever produced by Apple.
