“Castle Technology and RISC OS Open Ltd are pleased to announce plans for the opening-up of RISC OS source code. This step is a further major landmark in the development of the highly respected software platform. A primary objective is to bring RISC OS software to a wider community and to encourage growth in both the RISC OS user base and the developer community. This will be augmented by more rapid development of the software base and removal of critical barriers to use, normally associated with proprietary platforms.”
Well – I have used the risc range Acorn computers from the early beginning (anyone renember Arthur?) they hit the shelves. Before that i’ve used the Super-Elf, Acorn Atom, And BBC-B computers – so the Archimedes was a logical next step.
I would like to play with RiscOS again (yes – i know there are emulators for both Windows and Linux). I hope there will be a port to the x86 (and other) architecture(s), but even if somone is willing to do that it will take a long time I guess. (No – I’m not capable to do it myself I’m afraid)..
So – Lets wait and see..
If this comes off, it could be one of the biggest developments in the history of the platform.
The question on my mind is whether they will release enough of the OS to make a complete OS port to other platforms possible. PDA RiscOS could rock.
I’d like to see a port to the GP2X. After all, it has dual ARM processors and, with the break-out-board, you can attach a keyboard/mouse/big hard drive/etc.
I haven’t used RISC OS since I was at school. This should be fun.
I’m in total agreement with you here. It is potentially great news, for the platform, for those that use it at the moment, and for the potential of people being able to use it in the future.
Ideally there will be enough released to build the complete OS — this would be great — but even if it’s not the case, I think the are still substantial benefits that could result for current users in terms of improved functionality.
i hope it’s free enough and enough source released that the community (i hope there is a programmer community interested in this) can modernize it a bit and port to other archs.
I’ve asked around the leading RISC OS application programmers to see if they’re tempted by the source code release. Most are willing to develop the OS, but are waiting to see the finalised formal license first. More from:
http://www.drobe.co.uk/riscos/artifact1706.html
Ah thanks, I was looking for that link. Some vital info there:
a phased release of RISC OS is promised to take place over the next few months – starting with applications including Paint, Edit, Draw, Configure, Unicode, the web browser Browse, and the printer manager. The Shared C Library and RISC OS build scripts will also be released, according to CTL and ROS Open.
There’s also more info in the FAQ about what will be opened.
Edited 2006-10-01 01:43