Amiga.org
The "Not Quite Amiga but still computer related category" => Alternative Operating Systems => Topic started by: balrogsoft on December 17, 2006, 07:03:29 PM
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Hi, maybe someone has tried some web based OS, like YouOS and EyeOS, they are complete desktops (EyeOS is in a very early stage, but You OS is very complete). You can work anywhere in a browser, and your files and work will be saved on the server.
After see these desktops i had an idea, why not make an web OS inspired on AmigaOS? Amiga Kernel is known as one of the fastest and efficient microkernels, so it could be possible to adapt this system or philosophy of Amiga kernel for a web desktop.
[EDITED]
I finally got an interesting reading on a newsgroup message, it explain very nice how work multitasking in Amiga, and how works the message system:
Amiga multitasking tutorial (http://groups.google.es/group/net.micro.amiga/browse_thread/thread/115fcdbfa8cd8183/246c5b50ab60870b?lnk=st&q=understand+amiga+exec&rnum=30&hl=es#246c5b50ab60870b)
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Now i had the basic exec developed in Javascript (Tasks and message ports), other things like memory management are not necessary since JS and the browser do it, now i am studying how implement the task scheduler in JS, it's a difficult point because JS isn't multithreading, it work basically with events (onmouseover, onmouseclick, ...), and you can't pause the execution of a function, but i think i found way to manage the frequency for each task function, and have something similar to multitasking, you can have something similar with setinterval in javascript, but with a kernel controlling the execution, it will be more efficient. The events of javascript, will be something similar to a interrupt, and 4 special functions:
open() - Initialise the application.
step() - All operations for the app, is similar to enterFrame event of ActionScript.
draw() - All drawing operations.
close() - Close the application.
I decided to make two functions (step and draw) instead one (eg. run) because then task scheduler can have more possibilities to merge the execution of tasks, remember that JS can't pause a function.
Another thing to be developed are devices, i don't know if it could be usefull on a web based desktop, but it can be an interface for every device, keyboard, sound, ...
What do you think about this crazy project? :crazy:
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This sounds like something dreamt up by the CIA!
Google et al are heading this way, offering 2GB of e-mail space that you need never delete.
When you think Windows '98 had a web style interface - then 10yrs later people are talking of opening their hard drives to the world...
MySpace is another example. Why is it in existence? Where did FTP go and individuality?
Down with sharing, down with the Intel Centrino, down with wireless in general, down with Microsoft too!
RarrggGGhh!
;-)
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@balrogsoft:
Thanks for the link to the multitasking tutorial...it really is good!
A bit off-topic, but thanks also for the trip down memory lane...after looking at your link, I went back to Google's archive of the comp.sys.amiga newsgroup. Talk about quality discussion, especially the early stuff, from the developers and alpha-Amigans of the day. I was on UUCP reading that group faithfully back then, loving every minute of it, and understanding maybe 10-20% of it. :lol:
-Ed-
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Hey, cool project, let us know once you have something to show :)
I had the same idea myself, but since I'm a command-line kind of guy, I never bothered to do anything about it.
Javscript is a pretty easy and flexible programming language, so anything's possible ;)
(Yes, the 6502 thingie in my sig is written in javascript :-))