WatchmakerSuite is a set of four educational computer programs written by Richard Dawkins and collaborators in the early 1990s. The programs teach principles of biological selection and embryology by simulating "creatures" with gene-controlled heredity.
Developer documentation (javadoc) may be found here.
[The Watchmaker Strategy] documents the approach we are taking.
The programs were from 1990-1993 using the Think Pascal 4.0 compiler for the classic Macintosh (m68k) platform.
The current project is intended to bring the original Pascal source code up to date in deliberate, gradual stages:
Year | Hardware | Latest Operating System Supported | Compiler | Interface |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Classic Mac 68k | Mac OS 8.1 | Think Pascal 4.0.2 | Classic Mac Toolbox + Think Pascal extensions |
2000 | PowerPC Mac | Mac OS 9.0.4 | Think Pascal 4.0.2 | Classic Mac Toolbox + Think Pascal extensions |
2001 | PowerPC Mac | Mac OS 9.0.4 | CodeWarrior 7.1 + Pascal | Revised PowerPC Mac Toolbox |
2001 | PowerPC Mac | Mac OS 9.0.4 | CodeWarrior 7.1 + Pascal | Carbon |
200? | PowerPC "PowerMac" | Mac OS X 10.4 | CodeWarrior 7.1 + Pascal | Carbon |
200? | PowerPC "PowerMac" | Mac OS X 10.4 | Free Pascal | Carbon |
200? | Intel Mac | Mac OS X Yosemite | Free Pascal | Carbon |
200? | Intel Mac | Mac OS X Yosemite | Free Pascal | Cocoa |
from the original classic Mac platform, using Think Pascal
to the later PowerPC platform running up to Mac OS 9
thence the PowerMac G4 platform, running early Mac OS X (10.3 or 10.4)
Intel Macintosh platform
*Other platforms.
Vernal Equinox 2015
Wiki: Download
Wiki: Monochrome biomorph
Wiki: The Watchmaker Strategy