Think C

Think C was a programming language developed by THINK Technologies, Inc. in the late 1980s for Macintosh development. It offered an extended version of the ANSI C standard with additional features specific to Mac development and object orientation. By incorporating elements of Apple's Object Pascal-derived language, Object REXX, Think C provided developers with tools to build graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on classic MacOS systems. The language was designed to integrate seamlessly with the Think Class Library (TCL), supporting the unique requirements and paradigms of Macintosh software development during that era.

Think C faced competition from other programming languages and development environments such as Macintosh Programmer's Workshop (MPW) from Apple, Lightspeed C, and Metrowerks CodeWarrior. Each competitor offered different features catering to various aspects of Macintosh programming. MPW was a comprehensive environment directly from Apple; Lightspeed C focused on optimized performance; Metrowerks CodeWarrior provided an integrated development environment (IDE) for multi-platform development. Despite these alternatives, Think C set itself apart through its unique blend of ANSI C extensions and object-oriented programming capabilities via Object REXX, making it particularly suited for GUI creation on Mac systems.

The competitive advantages of Think C made it a preferred choice among Macintosh developers during its peak years. Its integration of object-oriented programming through Object REXX allowed developers to utilize modern paradigms effectively for GUI applications on classic MacOS systems. The compatibility with the Think Class Library (TCL) provided a robust set of tools and resources tailored explicitly for building graphical interfaces on Macs. Additionally, its enhanced version of ANSI C offered flexibility and power needed by developers aiming to create sophisticated applications for the Mac platform, establishing Think C as a compelling tool in the landscape of 1980s Macintosh software development.

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