Native 68k Netsurf

[utri007]

I really don't understand, why not...

1. Netsurf has proven to work with low-spec machines
2. It would be happy thing to both UEA and real machine users
3. Workin browser for amiga os 3.9 ? would it make you happy?

Chris ported Netsurf to OS4 and this is what he said about 68k possibility:

"Actually it's relatively easy. If you start with the OS4 frontend, you should be able to get it working on OS3.9 with Reaction fairly quickly. There are a few things that need backporting (I have used a lot of new OS4 calls, but most have OS3 equivalents). A couple of major changes:
fonts code - probably needs to be rewritten to use ttengine.library (I already have a ttengine.library version of this code somewhere, needs updating and fixing though)
plotters - need to be rewritten to work on 8-bit screenmodes (this needs doing for OS4 too).

I wrote a little more detailed list of changes required on the dev mailing list, if you want to seek that out.

Even starting from scratch, new (basic) frontends have been written in a matter of weeks."

[utri007]

All: Please notice that Netsurf requirements are 30MHz ARM 6 computer with 16MB of RAM.

That  just to point out that AWeb won't be better option. OWB and Firefox won't be either, they would require too much for real amigas.

If some body could pick up this project, I belive that he would get help he needs. At least Chris has some interest to help, so OS4 reaction frontend would be good choice to start, but Mui frontend would allso option, I belive that Itix has helped Arthur and/or coder could start from scraths.

[utri007]

I would contribute also, could somebody who has a more experience to start it? It would also need lots of advertising.

Working web browser would be essential, I really don't understand why people are not more interested about this. They rather arguing and whining pointless things and spread their positive attitude all over them. <- sarcasm

[utri007]

Problem is that SDL is quite useless with real amigas. Even with 8bit modes availlable, it would be useless for real amiga users and pointeless because UEA users doens't need 8bit modes

[utri007]

P96 and CGX shouldn't matter, as there are cgx emu buildin in P96?

[utri007]

If GUI is downgraded to work with ClassAct it will work with Reaction allso?

[utri007]

Thanks, I really wish that you guys success. Semi modern browser would essential for all of us

[utri007]

Here are plenty of skilled coders, hope one of those 68k gurus can help you.

Maybe itix could help you with this? His port was MUI but this problem is not Reaction or MUI related

[utri007]

Wawrzon: I really appreciate your input to this. I can promote this any forum you wish.

I bet that you get all hepl you need, if we play this right. And ofcourse, if you give detailed enough problem descriptions.

I've accout quite much every amiga forum

[utri007]

Would you let me be your project cordinator?

You have a problem, I ask this in all that I know.

I get an answer, I point you that direction, give a link for those who are willing to help?

[utri007]

Lets start: Piru are you only whing or what? Itix you promised this, about a year ago?

[utri007]

I don't know sigle SDL program, that would be joy to use with classic amigas.

With that logic Rick Dangerous is too difficult program to 68k amigas, because xrick (sdl rick dangerous) is just a pain in the ass

[utri007]

I would bet that 68k native netsurf would be at least 30%-50% faster, that would make it totally useable.

And it wouldn't lock computer for tens of seconds like sdl version do, wich would make it feel even more faster.

;edit: lock compter is actually not true, it locks itself during page loading and when it is full screen mode it is like it lock whole computer

[utri007]

Netsurf could be THE brower that people use daily and many of them are browsing sites like aminet.

8bit and 640x256 should be ok

Hope you guys succeed to make it native, with prober amiga style gui

[utri007]

Even when I say that SDL sucks for 68k CPU, SDL versin of Netsurf proves that Netsurf could be useable with 68k amigas. It doesn't need to be much faster to be useable.

1. Get rid of true type fonts
2. Native Gui
3. Support for 8 bit screens

That should enough to give about 50% speedup and SDL allso locks Netsurf when loading, wich makes it feels even slower than it actually is.

How many would be interested to support boynty of this?

And please, don't start to talk about firefox or OWB 68k, they are not possible for real amigas