Any plans to increased the AmigaNG software?

[Rob]

Wasn't the developer of OctaMED going blind or something, I seem to remember Helgis talking about it years ago.

[Rob]

What improvements are there on AmigaOS or MorphOS that justify specific software? What API improvements are there?

The compositing engine in OS4.1 brings hardware acceleration to a lot of 2D drawing functions such as alpha blending, scaling, texturing and more.

Target 68k and you can forget about using those features.  Use those features and you can have some pretty cool software that gives a more compelling reason for people to add OS4.x hardware to their collection.

Ringhio is handy for notifying the user of events.  It would be fairly easy to have OS4 version that supports this and 68k version that doesn't.

Those are just 2 things I can think of.

Personally I'd rather see compositing used wherever and whenever possible especially if software using it attracts more users.

MorphOS has layers3d.library which I think has a lot of the same functionality of the compositing in OS4.1.  

MorphOS has Reggae which can probably best be described as datatypes on steroids.

I'm sure MorphOS users would prefer software fully exploits these powerful features too.

If you just target 3.x and everyone gets the same thing no matter what system they are using then there's really no little point in having MorphOS, OS4 and to a lesser extent AROS.

[Rob]

Excuse me but why would developer give a damn if his software helps to generate more HW sales?

I'd have thought that most users and developers of NG systems would like to see an increased user base.

Lack of nice API calls like alpha blending and such is good argument to not have 68k build (you have to provide your own method to do that) but idea that developers are here to promote others work (OS developers or HW developers) is daft.

Unless you are OS/HW developer of course.

You have to reinvent the wheel for each application that way unless developers share/open source well documented routines for other to use and will the hardware be there or will it be slow software rendered stuff.

Again most people wanted an increased user base for there NG system of choice, dont' you?

Are developers getting paid if they use one of new features?

Generally they use the new features because it makes development easier or perhaps allows for features that might not be possible/as fast otherwise.

Amiboing make heavy use of compositing in their games and there's also LiveForIt-mplayer, neither are getting handed bundles of cash for using the new (a number of years old actually) OS features.  They do it because it allows them to do something better, the whole reason the OS devs put the features in in the first place.

In fact it is built-in to layers.library.

Thanks for the technical correction.

Actually it does not matter as long as it does its job. Reggae is more flexible and advanced but user dont give a damn. If they did, you would not use OS4 anymore

The user may not care what code is responsible behind the scenes but it doesn't stop them appreciating the result.  Was Reggae developed in the hope that nobody would bother to use it?

Wrong. Even if you are just using 68k applications in MorphOS you benefit from greater speed, better user interface, hardware support and selection of software that comes as a standard.

Faster than 68k software on Amithlon, for instance.  So you want a better UI and better hardware support but you don't want the software to take advantage of it, strange?


Ultimately devs will develope for 68k, multi platform or a specific NG system based on their design goals and whether they need/want to use better feature offered in the NG systems.

[Rob]

You talk about progress, but are happy to be stuck with AmigaOS derivative operating systems. If you want progress, use a peecee with a modern operating system.

If you like Amiga land, then you've got to accept that you're always going to lag FAR behind what's available now, and it's most likely NOT going to change. Doesn't matter to me. I use an A1200 and a peecee (yeah, with Winblows). Best of both worlds.

Also, why should 68k developers who enjoy 68k cater to NG users?


Those old machines are what it's all about to many people, including myself (no nostalgia).

I assume that, as a purist, you don't sully your Workbench with filthy tricks like Magic Menu, New Icons and MUI.

[Rob]

What is that supposed to mean?

Well there's no point in bolting on extra functionality since it will never catch up with Windows.