This should probably be in Talk-About, but it's specific to Amiga software development, so here it is. :-)
Where's the Amiga open source movement? You hear a lot of talk about how open source means death for software developers. Huh? The best example against that argument is Linux. It's open source, and it's the only operating system in the history of the IBM-compatible personal computer that actually has a shot at toppling Microsoft's monopoly. OK.
And now some examples specific to the Amiga community. :-) I'm writing some software (yes, it'll be open source) that will run on classic Amigas, Amithlon, UAE, and possibly MorphOS. It's a special purpose utility that needs to use OpenPCI to detect certain PCI hardware. Now the rants.
1) I need to test on Amithlon, but I don't own a copy. I tried to join the official Amithlon forum to look for testers, but apparently, membership is either closed or by invitation only. So much for Amithlon support.
2) OpenPCI isn't exactly open. I've repeatedly requested a copy of the SDK, but I haven't received a response. Shouldn't an open solution be freely available? And you know what makes it worse? I've been hearing rumors that anti-American sentiment might be the culprit. So much for "liberte, egalite, fraternite," and so much for OpenPCI.
It's now my opinion that the lack of open source solutions on the Amiga will mean death for software developers.
OK. End of rant. Anyone know how I can find Amithlon testers or get a copy of the OpenPCI sdk?
Trev
