VmwAROS to support 68K applications

[paolone]

The next release of VmwAROS will include a new feature called AmiBridge, a powerful scripting tool which will allow running AmigaOS applications straight from AROS, using E-UAE.

On the VmwAROS website there is a video which explains how AmiBridge works.

Users will have to provide a legal Amiga ROM image and install their old AmigaOS files and applications in the right directories (they won't be included in VmwAROS). Users of Amiga Forever will be even happier, since AmiBridge supports Cloanto's environment and applications directly. Once files are properly installed, adding launch scripts to AROS and running applications is matter of a few mouse clicks.

[paolone]

Ok, I have understood the meaning of these questions, however the answer is yes only to "Can you access the host filesystem transparently from within the 68k applications?" and "Can the 68k applications communicate via ARexx?" (but within them), for the rest, you have to wait a smarter version of E-UAE.

AmiBridge is meant to allow people use 68K apps to do tasks that AROS doesn't allow to, for the moment, because there isn't yet a proper application. If you want to keep using your 1989 software the way you used it in 1989, just use your 1989 computer.

[paolone]

Well done sir. It is a great addition to AROS. It is at least a start towards real 68k native support.

Thanks. As I've said before, AmiBridge's goal is not to integrate 68K code support, but to build a bridge from AROS to AmigaOS. You know how bridges work: it allows people to reach the other side of the river, but not as easy as if the river wouldn't be there. Take this as a workaround until better/newer applications will be created/ported on AROS.

[paolone]

How that bridge is different from WinUAE running on XP? I mean, there you can start your favourite game by clicking a sortcut on your desktop. UAE launcher for AROS is not (yet) much...

There is only a practical difference. Scripts you're talking about generally launch UAE with a customized configuration file, in order to create the right emulation environment for that game. We can call this a sort of "ADF-oriented" script.

AmiBridge goes little further, modifying the S: files in the emulation environment. So I prefer to call it an "application-oriented" script. Maybe future revisions will allow to create different uaerc.config files for ADFs, but writing another GUI for e-uae was not my primary goal.

[paolone]

Yes I realise that. What I meant is it may spur on development to real 68k integration

That's something I hope too. Lack of support to 68K apps is probably the heaviest wall that prevents Amigans to look at AROS as a viable platform. I believe AmiBridge won't destroy that wall, but at least it will give it two huge slams.  ;-)