I have watched the progress of the “new Amiga” (OS and hardware) over the past couple of years. Given the past history of Amiga, I am happy to see that the company has been taken over by true fans of the Amiga OS, who have a workable vision. In general, I think you came up with a good overall strategy:
1. Develop an Amiga OS for PDA/Set Top use (for immediate cash and Amiga visibility)
2. Update the existing Amiga OS
3. Develop the future Amiga OS: The Amiga Digital Environment (a cross platform OS)
I have also been happy to see you have been successful as far as step 1. You have developed Amiga Anywhere, demonstrated it at developer shows, and have already found a partner who will use the OS. That is an excellent start, it will provide Amiga, Inc with both needed cash and needed visibility.
As far as steps 2 and 3, you have informed the public that you are simultaneously working on both updates to the original Amiga OS and on the next generation Amiga OS, which is referred to as Amiga DE (Digital Environment). This is the first issue that concerns me. Although I feel that you should be looking into the next generation Amiga OS, I feel your priority should be to keep the existing Amiga user base. In fact, I think a crash program is required. Amiga users have stayed with the Amiga OS for a long time, without seeing many updates. As you know, updates have been supplied by the users themselves for the past few years, but significant updates are required immediately. Timing is critical. In the past six months Windows XP and Mac OS 10.1 have been released. There is now a choice of two operating systems that feature multitasking, memory protection, dynamic memory, that also emphasize ease of use. Although the Amiga OS still has advantages, it is getting harder for Amiga users to justify staying with the Amiga.
A few years ago Apple computer was in the same place that Amiga, Inc is in now. They had gone through numerous management changes and the Mac OS was not updated as planned. In fact, it was way past due for an update. Apple had planned to have an updated stable multitasking OS before Microsoft came out with Windows 95, but it didn’t happen. Apple realized they couldn’t extend the existing Mac OS and that they would have to start over and come out with a whole new OS. Many began to predict Apple’s demise. Yet Apple turned it around.
Consider Apple computer’s approach: even though their main goal was to develop OS X, they continued to update and improve the existing OS. They first introduced OS 8 which brought many overdue improvements to the Mac OS, that enabled it to continue to compete with Windows 95/98. Thereafter, Apple continued to offer a number of updates to OS 8. Eventually they released OS 9, and have continued to provide updates to OS 9, even though OS X has already been released. In doing this, Apple kept their existing user base, and continues to keep their user base, as the move to OS X continues. Even though the “Mac Classic OS” doesn’t have true multitasking capability, or memory protection, or dynamic memory allocation, Apple has managed to keep the OS viable by updating it in other ways, and offering various programs, such as iTunes, that added value to the OS.
Amiga, Inc needs to take this approach with the existing Amiga OS. There hasn’t been an update to the Amiga OS since 3.9, and that was over a year ago. I recognize the move to Amiga OS 4 and PPC hardware is a big move, but continual software updates are needed in the meantime, to maintain visibility, and to maintain morale. Existing users need to feel the company will continue to work to keep their OS current, words only go so far. Apple would have at least issued 3.9.1 by now (and probably 3.9.2) and they would have released various add on programs, like iTunes, to add value to the OS. Such updates also provide cash flow to the company for future projects.
I feel that Amiga Inc., fails to see the potential value of the existing Amiga OS. The current Amiga OS seems to be viewed simply as a stepping stone to the next Amiga OS. Amiga, Inc needs to remember that the existing Amiga OS is what has kept the user base for this long, not the promise of a new future OS. Yes, it has limitations, and can’t be extended forever, but it still has many advantages. It is a compact, fast, mulitasking OS still offering features that neither Windows, Mac, or Linux have. The potential speed of the existing Amiga OS on newer hardware could be a selling point in itself. The small compact size lends it to applications where Windows or Macintosh OS would be impractical. And many of the programs written for the Amiga OS also provide added value to the Amiga OS. I am concerned that Amiga Inc. isn’t exploiting all the potential of the existing Amiga OS.
As far as hardware, I am glad to see that Amiga is working on new hardware, but again, I think there is much more potential than has been seen. What about an Amiga PDA? Or an Amiga laptop? Or any hardware that fills a need that hasn’t been addressed. Again, look at Apple: they introduced laptops that were so well liked people switched to the Mac OS to use the laptop. Look at the iMac, the first one and now the recent one. It has users switching to the Mac just for the look of the hardware. Certainly there is such a potential for Amiga hardware. The compact size of the Amiga OS, and limited hardware requirements, may allow for a low cost laptop, or other unique hardware that Windows or Macintosh hardware could never match.
Finally, I recognize a new OS will be needed. You can only extend the current OS for so long (however, it could be for longer than you might think). The current plan is to develop the Amiga DE, which will run on almost any platform. The idea sounds good, but looking at Windows XP, Mac OS X, Linux, and now Lindows, I wonder if Amiga DE could offer anything that makes it stand out?
At first the new Amiga OS was going to be based on the QNX OS, then on Linux. I think having a Linux based OS opens a whole new possibility for the Amiga. Given the popularity of Linux, and all the existing Linux software, I think there is considerable potential. Linux has many strengths, but Linux is still complicated for the average user. Installing Linux can be complex, and getting drivers can be a problem. What is needed is for a company to offer a Linux OS, pre-loaded on hardware, that is easy to use, and provides all the needed drivers. In others words, do the same thing for Linux that Apple did for Unix with OS X.
As a final suggestion, I would like to ask Amiga Inc, to consider the possibility of offering computers with either the Linux or Lindows OS. In doing so they would provide a third choice of OSs pre loaded on computers, and would provide backing that may make Linux or Lindows a more viable option for the public.
About the Author:
Roger is an engineer in the computer-video field. He is a Mac and Amiga fan, and would like to see Amiga become more of a factor in the computer industry. He feels the Amiga offers a nice alternative to the bloated OSes already in existance. You can email Roger here.
Four points:
1. The BB2 update for AmigaOS 3.9 was recently issued by Haage Partner
(who are responsible for 3.5 and 3.9). Although not named 3.9.2, this
is in effect what it is.
2. Amiga Inc are not developing hardware. The AmigaOne board is a
product from Eyetech, with the approval of Amiga Inc. It is possible
that other companies may release Amiga-approved hardware.
3. Amithlon is effectively AmigaOS sitting on top of a Linux kernel.
4. AmigaOS 4 is being developed by Hyperion, with the approval of
Amiga Inc, not in house. Amiga Inc are concentrating their resources
on the DE. Hyperion are working closely with Eyetech.
Bundle Linux or Lindows with the new Amiga? That wouldn’t be saying “Our OS isn’t good enough, have two!”
The author of this article has misunderstood quite a few things and missed some others. I’ve written a somewhat lengthy email with up-to-date and correct information, so no need to go flaming or anything, people
isn’t Lindows x86 only, (well, really nothing at this point, I know)
…fat chance, at least as far as many users are concerned. When QNX was dropped in favor of Linux (this was back when Gateway owned Amiga), there were howls of outrage, and not just from QNX. Linux is perceived by many Amiga owners as bloated and backward. QNX OTOH was much more popular as being more Amiga-like. Don’t even get these guys started on X-windows; the dudes in management protested they just wanted to use the Linux kernel, not X, but that didn’t put out too many flames, if any.
Thomas Würgler has been kind enough to point out a few things to me, both things I wasn’t aware of, and where I might have been misread. Also, keep in mind, the article is “a few suggestions”
First, I was not aware of BB2 being released for OS 3.9… but this concerns me even more! Did I miss seening it on Amiga.com? Shouldn’t it be listed prominately there? It is great to see the update, but it is a concern that it isn’t prominately noted [keep in mind my comments were to Amiga, Inc about the *perception* of lack of progress]
Second, I am aware that Amiga, Inc has outsourced most everything, including hardware (but I can see where that wasn’t clear). And I know they are just working on the desktop, still, I am surprised to hear nothing of a laptop, even in the distant future. In the past a laptop was an option, these days it is a requirement. And as I said, the compact size of the Amiga OS, and low requirments, could lend to a low cost laptop…. and believe me, there is a big market for that. Just before Steve Jobs took over Apple, they were working on a $500 monochrome laptop. I think it is a mistake that Steve Jobs cancelled the project.
As far as linux, has Thomas pointed out, the current plans don’t inovlve Linux at all. [btw I could have sworn the choice to drop QNX and go to Linux was after the Gateway days?]
To be clear, I am not suggesting Amiga drop all plans future OS plans for Linux. As I stated throughout the article the compact size of the Amiga OS is a big plus. However, I Linux is waiting for a manufacturer to become the lead, as Apple did for Unix. It might be a consideration for Amiga. I believe there is a major possibility, but none of the existing PC manufactures of any size will consider it, for fear on Microsoft (IMHO).
Most information from Amiga tends to come either via executive updates or press releases. The best way to keep up is to read a news site such as Amiga.org, Ann.lu or Amiga-news.de.
The BB2 update was released by Haage & Partner, and I imagine the recent problems between H&P and Amiga Inc. hasn’t been the best basis for information interchange between the companies. To read more about this check http://www.amithlon.net and read Bernie’s statement.
And nope, Linux was Gateway’s move.. It was just around the time when everyone in charge got fired/left.
Anyway.. I seriously wouldn’t want an OS based on Linux. Sure it has it’s good points, but if I really had to base it on *nix it would have to be FreeBSD. It’s just like Linux, but without the hassle
Anyway.. I myself am a believer in the current structure of AmigaOS – of course with certain improvements. It’s not without reason that it has withstood the test of time so remarkably well. The elegance and power is what makes AmigaOS special. Linux (*nix in general) has plenty of power, but lacks the elegance (not trying to offend anyone here) that a desktop OS needs.
Apple did one hell of a fine job moving BSD to the desktop, but it’s still not exactly a slim and efficient OS.
One thing is for sure.. if this iBook dual USB was able to run AmigaOS 4 it would right now.
So.. let’s put Linux aside and concentrate on the obvious advantages AmigaOS has: lean, mean and efficient multitasking, small footprint (OS 3.9 installs on a 20 meg HD and can be trimmed down to less than half of that), flexibility (consistent GUI and powerful shell).
Now, do we really want to sacrifice that just in order to be able to put a “We’re down with Linux”-sticker on the box?
I agree with the above said… Thomas makes very good points indeed!
I have no disagreement on emphasizing and updating the current Amiga OS. In fact, it is not happening fast enough for me. Although I think Apple did a good job with Mac OS X, I was disappointed with the size of OS X, when I found out it rivaled Windows 2000 in memory requirements. I am hopeful as the Amiga OS progressed that it will remain compact and fast.
It kills me that a 1.2 GHz Windows machine can still be slow in ways.
Looking back through the articles on Amiga.com, I haven’t found a mention of the 3.9 update, but I did find the original article on the Amiga DE. They might clearify that….
Over the past six months I have seen posts by Amiga users wondering what exactly the Amiga DE was, and when, and even if, the next update of the OS would be coming out. Amiga.com should be quick to answer such questions… I know it can be hard to offer release dates, but I think it may be better to offer a release date and be wrong (like Microsoft and Apple often do).
I am not used to release date’s with the Amiga. I am a user for almost 12 years and I have seen many new Amiga stuff that never
hit my desk. So untill now it is vapor to me. If I can hold the new
Amiga and its OS 4.0 in my own house than I will probably believe the story. Sorry , but that is my experience over the last 12 years.
NO! – I suspect that this will be many Amiga user’s reaction to the idea that Linux have anything to do with AmigaOS. It *might* be possible to use the guts of the Linux kernel, but it wouldn’t be easy. Linux is still largely a monolithic kernel, AmigaOS is a microkernel, so changes would be required. QNX is a closer match, but as that is a commercial OS there are the licencing details…
The problem with updating the AmigaOS is that its current architecture is based round shared memory, memory protection basically cannot be implemented without breaking old software. I understand that future versions of AmigaOS will run old software in emulation anyway, so this is much less of a problem but it does mean that message passing is no longer just chucking pointers about.
It might be interesting to find out what people think a new AmigaOS should be like, ie what features of OS3.x do they consider essential to the ‘Amiga Experience’…
Sorry but in fact the Amiga OS Upgrades since 3.1 are not much more than Patches. The most stuff which is beeing implemented was still there before with Freeware Patches… So we need a REAL OS Upgrade and not just some Patches…
Actually the current release date is “this summer”.
Regarding lack of information on Amiga.com, this is something they are aware of, but Amiga.com does not have first priority at the moment. They’re hard at work and do not have resources to create an entirely new site at the moment. It will come in due time though. It needs a lot of cleaning up and it will also eventually be completely redesigned. Amiga’s web designer is working on this behind the scenes and has been for a long time.
@Roger M
You do know that the AmigaOne will be shipping in ~3 weeks, and OS4.0 will be available very soon after? For once in many, many years a very major update is not vapor. I do wish Amiga Inc would put more energy into the ‘classic’ OS over DE, but certainly Linux has nothing to do with it. Linux was Gateway’s last ditch idea and personally I was one of the ones outraged.
I have ordered the ‘developer’ AmigaOne motherboard, and should have it by the end of the month.
Amiga Anywhere (AmigaDE) is out now and information can be found on it quite easily. It’ll run on most PDA’s, on top of Windows and Linux, and soon hopefully AmigaOS too (maybe 4.1 or 4.2).
I have ordered a new developer board from Eyetech, and will then be able to download and test OS4 beta from Hyperion, within weeks the full production of the board will go ahead, and OS4 will be released, that’s keeping the current users happy IMO.
The future, we should not be asking why haven’t Amiga got plans to produce a laptop etc. Why? Because the target is OS5 where the AA concept is incorporated into the whole AmigaOS i.e. You can take your installation of OS5 and put it on any hardware, be it a server, laptop or whatever. Amiga are in the Software game now, and have only suggested specifications for transitional hardware, which is what the AmigaOne has been designed around.
Quotes from Amiga Inc.
“Both these boards are scheduled to ship in 1Q01”
“The first release of AmigaOS4 is targeted for Summer” (2001)
“AmigaOS 4.2 on schedule for release Summer of ’01”
“AmigaOne PPC computer announced for release by Q4, 2001”
What do all these quote have in common?
1. They are official press releases or announcements of Amiga Inc, who have repeatedly told their customers to believe only official releases and announcements.
2. They are lies. Not half-truths, not exagerations, but pure and simple lies. OS 4.2 was never on schedule for release last summer, and the A1 couldn’t have been completed when Eyetech had suspended all work on it.
Now we know that Amiga Inc. are liars, but there’s no reason to believe that Eyetech are liars, they were just in too deep (trying to create a PPC motherboard from scratch) and now they’ve realised their limitations and intend to sell expensive but somewhat cool Linux boxes. Whatever.
Meanwhile a PPC accelerated AmigaOS 4 for those with A1200s and expansion boards will be forthcoming from Hyperion. At some later date (to be decided) this new AOS may also run on the Eyetech Linux boxes, and perhaps on PPC Macs. This will not mean that an Apple Mac is an “Amiga”.
If this all sounds a lot like the Amiga community kludging things together as usual, and not like a rebirth, or an explosion of interest then you’ve hit the nail on the head. Headline: Amiga community like bad actor in zombie movie refuses to die gracefully.
Thomas thanks for this article.
I had the good fortune to be at both the begining of Mac (512k) and near the begining of Amiga (500).
The comparison with Mac is apt, but I think you make too much of the back compatability, at least with its early years. Hardware came along at such a rate that newer Systems became incompatable – it was unavoidable.
What Amiga seems to be doing with DE and Amigados 5.0 is turn the problem inside out. I agree it is a big jump to ask the Amiga community to go to PPC, but what real alternative is there, certainly staying with 68k code is not viable.
If I am reading things right then AmigaDos 5.00 will emulate, or should, two CPUs 68k and PPC and be AmigaDE resting on VP code.
THe virtual (Taos) approach is beyond any of the restrictions of the old logic of OS’s. The old rules don’t apply and I think my criticism is that your article works from these old rules and draws its conclusions from them.
It may be slow as a slug but there is no reason why AmigaDos 5.0 should not be able to run on old 68k machines. In fact while it not be practical it is theoretically not a big problem – not a solution, but look at the potential power in such an approach – so long as Amiga keeps the resources demands modest, in the future we may never have old computers sitting uselessly in cupboards, regardless of the changes in Hardware.
Granted not so good for what is now old hardware, but using the present level of power redunancy does not become the problem it is now, old architectures can be kept churning and software compatible with whatever happens over next few decades in hardware development.
:: It kills me that a 1.2 GHz Windows machine can still be slow in ways.
If you run Amithlon on it, this may prove to be wrong!
pixie- writing from a paradise called Portugal
You’re really serious that Amiga should produce Linux desktop solutions? This is as far from Amiga’s strategy as possible; they don’t want to produce hardware, but remain a software-only company. If they were to get into Yet Another Linux Distribution, why should they succeed where Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE, &c. haven’t — namely, producing a useable Linux?
You might say, “Well Apple did it with OS X,” but Amiga simply doesn’t have Apple’s resources. For a while they were living hand-to-mouth and even their top brass (Messeurs Rosy and Scenario) admitted at one point that they were having funding difficulties. Apple on the other hand has loads of cash, and a history of producing hardware, and quite frankly OS X is little more than NeXT with an apple logo instead of a cube.
(BTW I happen to like Amiga’s top brass but that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve never heard anything less than optimistic visions.)
There are a couple more misinformation in your article.
Firstly Amiga Anywhere and AmigaDE are the same beast, the latter being the old non-catchy name.
Secondly AA/AmigaDE is *NOT* going to be the next generation AmigaOS. Amiga Inc. canned that idea (novel idea though) because Intent really isn’t fitted to run as an OS (eg. no memoryprotection etc.).
The next generation os will be an “ordinary” 64-bit OS which will be crossplatform (until Ben Hermanns gets to ruins those plans), will host AA and run AmigaOS 4 binaries in some sort of sandbox. Now what *kind* of OS it’ll be is unknown to the public.
Talking about Linux based AmigaOS, I must point out, that developers of next Amiga OS, Hyperion Software, have recently expressed very strong feelings towards Linux.
You know, they (used to) port games onto Linux aswell?
Well? They announced, that they got much more profit from Amiga versions!
And just think about comparing recent Amiga user base to Linux user base…
Instead of money, they got lots of hate mail from Linux users demaning they must release the Linux binaries to public, so, users can use them to play their (maybe pirated) PC-copies of same game.
This should explain, if they don’t have very warm feelings towards Linux
– AmigaOS5 is planned to be a full 64-bit OS, and (IIRC) require 64bit CPU (like AMD Hammer, G5, etc…).
– “AmigaAnywhere” is the synonym of “AmigaDE player”, AmigaDE is a bigger concept.
After AmigaOS is ported to PPC, it will become possible to try to get it running on Apple PPC laptops.
“NO! – I suspect that this will be many Amiga user’s reaction to the idea that Linux have anything to do with AmigaOS. It
*might* be possible to use the guts of the Linux kernel, but it wouldn’t be easy. Linux is still largely a monolithic kernel,
AmigaOS is a microkernel, so changes would be required. QNX is a closer match, but as that is a commercial OS there are the
licencing details… ”
It IS possible to use the guts of the Linux kernel. That is exactly
what Amithlon does.
The source code of this modified kernel is available, of course.
Basically, it runs the emulation and provides some drivers. So it acts
as an intermediate layer between the BIOS and AmigaOS.
Anonymous: Although you hit my concern, that Amiga, Inc isn’t getting needed information out to the public, I also have to say a little understanding is in order.
Amiga has been through A LOT – multiple owners and bankruptcies, various visions, from QNX to Linux, ect, ect. It is amazing there is enough of the company left to continue.
I recognize Amiga, Inc has a tough job before them, and all and all I think they’re doing pretty good. However, not keeping the community informed of things like 3.9 updates isn’t good. And the faster OS 4 comes out the better.
I agree with much as what you say; that a new OS is needed, with the current AmigaOS acting as a “stepping stone” – but isn’t this pretty much what they plan anyway? AmigaOS 5 is intended to be a new OS capable of memory protection and all sorts of things that would “break” the current OS, whilst some sort of emulation layer/box will take care of of current Amiga applications, much the same way as with MacOS X. Meanwhile, AmigaOS 4.x will act as a bridge to this new OS (and I believe it is intended to feature things such as some level of memory protection).
Basically, I believe AmigaOS 5 is to be the “future AmigaOS” that you refer to in your 3rd point, not AmigaDE – though that will form a part of it.
You want them to support Classic then you suggest they use Linux??? They are making a new kernal that will incorporate those things that Linux boasts (memory protection, virtual memory etc while being backward compatible with 3.9. Linux would not provide backward compatiblity with a pure emulation.
Amiga will not offer more then the OS’s already out there??? Using the DE any program will run on any other supported hardware or OS (and most are) with recomiling it. That is something to offer. Not to mention a clean slate and not the burden of 20 year old OS bagage.
he is right on a lot ,but one , and tha tis the rest cant multitask. Time sharing isnt multitasking and that is what the rest do. They are of lineal nature and as soon as the new AMiga os or DE gets on a lineal machince like these the AMiga os will cease to be multitasking and realtime, and loose many other important funtionalities.
If this does happen nobody will use the AMIGAONE name as this is my registered trademark. SO whoah to AMiga if they do ,becasue I will sue any and all compaines to non exsistentce
Then make a real new Amiga with that money with mac .
First, 3.9.1 and 3.9.2 *have* been released (as Boing Bags), and H&P unlike Apple don’t charge for them. If Apple was developing AmigaOS they would have well and truly fucked it up by now, so I’m glad they don’t 🙂
I agree that Amiga does not sufficiently value AmigaOS, and that there should be an Amiga laptop, either 3.9 (68K) AGA, or 4.0 (PPC) based.
I don’t believe AmigaOS can’t be extended, this is frankly crap. It’s already the best OS and there is no reason it can’t be extended much further. Lindows/Linux? Why would anyone want to run that crap. Even when preinstalled it is still very tortuous to use and doesn’t really offer anything worthwhile. Dodgy 1970s crap. The best bits of it are already in AmigaOS, the rest is crap.
And there’s no point posting anything on http://www.amiga.com, no one goes there anymore anyway since Amiga has been under boycott for the last few weeks. Due to their Microfilth-arse-kissing and their betrayal of Haage & Partner.
To “I cometh”
Conceptually, Windows NT does have 32bit multitask capabilities. It’s only implemented less efficiently relative to other modern 32bit multitasking OS. But Windows NT does give a rich feature set of functions.
Windows NT based kernel runs the game console X-Box btw.
The creator of Windows NT kernel is the same person who created DEC’s VMS.
Refer to link http://www.rephil.org/vmsnt.html
So one may label Windows NT kernel us another bastardized Unix kernel. Kind’a similar to MS’s earlier XENIX (Unix clone)product.
Please note that Elate is a Run Time Operating System (RTOS).
http://www.amiga.com/cgi-bin/htsearch.cgi?config=&restrict=&exclude…
QNX is also a RTOS.
http://qdn.qnx.com/support/hardware/platform/index.html
AmigaOS is not quite a RTOS as stated by this link
http://www.amiga.com/Infos/OS.html
And I quote
=========================================================
Is AmigaOS a “Realtime OS”?
Theoretically no, practically yes. For a so-called “realtime OS” you must be able to guarantee maximal reaction times after external signals. For AmigaOS such guarantees are not given, but on the other hand it’s so efficient and fast in reaction that it is already used in many realtime control applications in the industry.
===========================================================
Amiga softtware: I have to give Amiga, Inc credit for getting this far. You know that no matter what they do, there will always be Amiga people who won’t like it…
I agree, the Amiga OS can be extended much further, and I hope to see that. However, there will be limits.
Aeon, I use Win 2000 at work, and I will say it is stable. And the NT core isn’t a bad OS. I have two complaints though:
The NT OS has gotten way too big… I really think they could clean it up alot
It feels like a left over from the mainframe days. I wish is was more Unix/Mac OS X like, that is, I wish it would just install a anpplication by copying it to your computer. This Windows business of having to INSTALL and DEINSTALL files is a joke. Especially if you need to reformat your drive and reinstall all the programs. And, not to mention it places program files everywhere and never seems to get rid of them, even on deinstall.
Shawn,
Is that you “I commeth”? Wow. You still seriously believe you’re going to rule the world with your knew Zorro 5/non “bus-arch” technology? And that you’ve got lots of top-secret 3rd parties designing it all?
Because, the fact an OS uses a /time sharing/ multi-tasking approach, is set in /hardware/…. riiiiight…
Wow. I take my hat off too ‘yer mate 8^)
>3. Develop the future Amiga OS: The Amiga Digital
>Environment (a cross platform OS)
Sounds to me like you’re interested in the brandname becoming a factor, not the technology. Why does everyone who wants to advance the brandname want to kill of the existing OS?
QUOTE: “It IS possible to use the guts of the Linux kernel. That is exactly what Amithlon does.
The source code of this modified kernel is available, of course.
Basically, it runs the emulation and provides some drivers. So it acts as an intermediate layer between the BIOS and AmigaOS.”
Well, there you go, so it ISN’T what Amithlon does, Amithlon uses the Linux kernel and drivers as a sort of ‘super-BIOS’, it is not the kernel as such (though once we’re into OS emulation, this all gets rather messy I’ll admit…)
Isn’t the Linux kernel always a “super-BIOS”?
The BIOS is a small OS which is close to the hardware and contains a
limited collection of drivers. It’s directly descended from the BIOS
half of cp/m
Linux on standard PC hardware can’t boot itself but is started up by
the BIOS (and maybe there is a boot controller there too, for
selecting between various OSes). So like Windows it is not a
self-booting OS.
The idea of the BIOS is that the filesystem part of the OS should call
it whenever it needs hardware access. Nowadays, the calls in the BIOS
are neglected and routines in the next OS up are run instead.
In its native habitat, AmigaOS is self-booting and has all its own
hardware support, so it doesn’t need a BIOS. When running on foreign
hardware, it has to be given some hardware support from lower down.
That could even come from the BIOS, but a Linux kernel can provide
more.
Then in Amithlon, there are several drivers that run in the Amiga OS
itself, especially sound card drivers. So, compared to running AmigaOS
on an Amiga, it’s a mess.
But it works, and it’s damn fast.
I think that in order to be sucessfull in the future there’s
a great need to go away from hardware dependency. That’s the
way current AmigaOS/DE development is going and it’s good.
The main issue keeping that is to save short execution path
of applications while adding hardware abstraction layer.