AmigaOS

AmigaOS is the name given to the family of window managers and ROMs that included Commodore Amiga personal computers as the operating system by default. It was originally developed by Commodore International, and initially introduced in 1985 along with the Amiga 1000. It started running on a 32-bit Motorola series microprocessor of the 68k family (68000, 68010, 68020, 68030, 68040 and 68060). except for AmigaOS 4 which runs only on PowerPC microprocessors.

The first versions (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) of the built-in command interpreter were called AmigaDOS. Later the name was changed to AmigaOS, remaining until today.

Notable are the multitasking core called Exec, an API called Intuition and a GUI (Graphical User Interface) called Workbench.

Features

Among other features it has:

• Unix style appropriation multitasking using a priority system
• Architecture micronúcleo
• Real-time programmable disruptions with very low latency
• 32-bit design
• BOOPSI (Standard object-oriented system for most components)
• Integrated ARexx (scripting language that allows automating tasks)
• Programmable file system devices (permits to access transparently and without recompiling kernels or patches to FAT, NTFS, FAT32, ext2, HFS... and using Amiga native file systems improved like SmartFileSystem or ProfessionalFileSystem)
• Datatypes, a modular system of audio codecs, animation, images, text, etc. that allows access to all types of formats from all applications without changing a single line.

It is important to note that it does not have memory protection and that its ultra-fast message passing uses pointers. However, there are developer tools designed to detect unauthorized memory access.

It is also worth noting that AmigaOS, unlike other m68k operating systems such as MacOS, does not require that parts of the OS be in fixed areas of memory. This allows, for example, to free up the lower part of the memory through emulators/virtual machines such as Shapeshifter, Fusion/iFusion or Basilisk II

It is divided into several parts:

• Kickstart: It is the part that resides on ROM: it contains the boot manager, the kernel, the most important libraries and the fundamental part of the graphic environment.
• Workbench: It is the desk of the system, it is launched using the LoadWB command and can be replaced or even be avoided to release it. The command itself comes on disk but the bookstores are on the ROM. It often gets confused thinking that the desk is the operating system.
• AmigaOS itself said, which includes parts that do not fit in the ROM, contains additional libraries (e.g. to create user interfaces), the ARexx scripting language, file systems to access MS-DOS or other improved disks, fonts, patches and some utilities that complement the Kickstart

The AmigaOS and the Workbench are not required for the Amiga to work, which is why many games start directly from the Kickstart without the need to load the Workbench. Most of the old games eliminated the OS to take control of the entire computer, however those developed for AGA gradually began to respect it more and allowed them to be run in multitasking by starting them from the Workbench

It has had different versions of the Workbench, from 1.0 to 3.9 (Classic). The Kickstart reached version 40. There are numerous desktops to replace the WB, the most famous being Scalos and Directory Opus 5.

Workbench

Introduction

• The first operating system for the ” was called Workbench 1.0 and continued under this name until version 3.1, when it changed AmigaOS.
• Subsequently the Amiga teams used the name of Workbench only to refer to the file manager with the original graphical interface and the Amiga operating system app launcher.

1. Workbench was not necessary to boot Amiga or handle other applications, but it was an autonomous application that managed them.

• Visually the Workbench looked like other operating system of the time. The underlying AmigaOS was more advanced, allowing the Workbench to launch multiple applications that could be executed at the same time and communicate with each other. Also Amiga used the mouse.
• ".Info" was the only extension recognized by the Workbench.
• The Workbench was very small and occupied very little space in the diskette. The Workbench library of the first versions even did not occupy any disk space, because it was part of the system ROM.
• Intuition (Workbench's underlying window system) controlled the cutting, rendering and preservation of overlapping screens, windows and graphic elements.
• Graphics facilitated rendering both software and hardware.
• Exec managed the lower level functions (the input of data by keyboard or mouse, message transmission to programs, memory assignment and task changes).
• Amiga Workbench has only one thing in common with other operating systems, and these are useful programs (small programs that serve to increase the use of the computer, such as the calculator).
• The Amiga interface was very customizable. Users could customize the colors, resolutions, the appearance of program icons, could set the size and place where certain windows are opened, assign a site for each icon...

Workbench 1.x

The Workbench 1.x series is distinguished by its combination of blue and orange colors, designed to give high contrast even on the worst screens (the user could change the colors).

Version 1.1 consists mainly of error arrangements and was distributed only for Amiga 1000 (like 1.0).

Screen colors: 4 colors of a 4096 palette.

Maximum resolution with interlacing 640 x 512 in PAL or 640 x 400 in NTSC (640x256 and 640x200 without interlacing).

A space indicator free of removable devices.

Two states of icon, inactive and activated, represented by different images, to give animation effect when clicking.

A two-button mouse with double functions.

An occupation indicator.

Workbench 2.x

Until AmigaOS 2.0, there was no unified design look.

The Workbench 2.0 introduced gadtools that supplied basic widgets games. He had a guide (Amiga User Interface Style Guide) which established how applications should be organized to maintain a coherent visual aspect.

Intuition improved with the inclusion of BOOPSI (Intuition object-oriented basic programming system) that provided the system with an object-oriented interface with the class system, where each class formed a widget or described an interface event. It could be used to program object-oriented interfaces in Amiga at any level.

Workbench 2.0 also added support for public screens. The Workbench screen was not the only compartible screen, but apps could create their own screens with names to share with other applications.

Workbench 2.0 introduced AmigaGuide, a simple system of hypertext markers and browser to facilitate online assistance in applications.

It also introduced the Installer, a standard installation program.

Workbench 2.0 provided Commodities (Comodidades), an interface to modify or scan input events, including a standard method to specify global key sequences, and the Commodities Exchange registry so that the user could see active amenities.

Workbench 3.0 and 3.1

He was equipped on Amiga 1200 and Amiga 4000 computers.

This version provided the data type support so that the Workbench could upload any background image in any format if it had installed the required data type.

This trait used it too. Multiview.

Their capabilities were directly related to data types installed in Devs:Datatypes.

Workbench 3.5 and 3.9

Workbench completely changed the look of its interface. New blue desktop, similar to the 1.0, was available for users with countless improvements compared to the first release of the AmigaOS desktop.

NewIcons' support and several GUI improvements by third parties that sought to improve Amiga's old interfaces were obsolete by integrating these patches into the system.

Version 3.9 was released in 2000. Among its main features were: the introduction of AmiDOCK, a program starter bar, new preference tools and improved desktop clock.

Workbench 4.0 and 4.1

Workbench 4.0 has been merged to be fully compatible with the PowerPC. It was part of AmigaOS 4.0 and was launched in 2006.

From the 4th Pre-launching Update, a new drag screen technique is included in all directions.

It also makes it possible to drag and drop the Workbench icons between several screens.

In addition, Workbench 4.0 incorporated a PowerPC Amidock version, TrueType/OpenType fonts and a video player named Action with DivX and MPEG-4 support.

AmigaOS 4.1 replaced the WBStartup drawer with new starter preferences. The additional improvements were: a new set of icons for the highest resolutions, new windows themes including the shadow effect.

AmiDock with True Transparency (transparent windows), removable icons and automatic updates service.

The icons used to represent the files in a volume or drawer are saved in the special files .info, whose names correspond to the names of files represented.

The file .info contains the graphical representation of the icon and its position in a volume or drawer window, and also specifies the file type according to its use by the Workbench.

5 different types of icon:

1) Tool (Tool): An executable program.

2) Project (Project): A data file for an executable program.

3) Drawer (Cajón): As a directory.

4) Volume (Volumen): Physical disk or RAM disk.

5) Garbage (Papelera).

3 additional file types available and intended for future expansion:

1) Device(Device): Designed to display information on coupled devices.

2) Kick (Golpe): an icon of the bootable disk.

3) Icon App: an icon that will be used as (part of) GUI of an application (only this is used today from these last 3).

Workbench 5.0 (Commodore OS)

In April 2010, Commodore USA, LLC was founded.

The aim of the company is to sell the desktop computers under the former commercial names of Commodore and Amiga.

The company got the brand licenses “Commodore” and “Amiga” in 2010.

That year Commodore USA communicates the relaunch of desktop computers under “Amiga” brand with the operating system AROS.

Due to a series of legal threats by Hyperion (developing company the latest Workbench 4.0 and 4.1), Commodore USA renounces its plans with AROS and communicates that it will create a new SO called AMIGA Workbench 5.0 (although finally called Commodore OS), based on Linux Mint and Debian operating systems.

A current friend

A new tablet with the brand of “AMIGA” is currently being presented, something that has attracted attention to many; however, the tablet “AMIGA” will not be integrated with WorkBench operating system, but will be presented with a Google Android 2.2, something that has become a standard in many of the tablets of different companies.

AmigaOS 4

It is currently used on the PowerPC platform, with versions 4.0 and 4.1. Developed by Hyperion Entertainment.

In 2004 the first public beta (called Developer PreRelease) of AmigaOS 4 for PowerPC was presented, more specifically for AmigaOne, from which 4 updates came out. In December 2006 the 4.0 stable (The Final Update) was announced. In 2007 4.0 was updated and a version was released for Commodore Amiga 1200, Amiga 3000 and Amiga 4000 with PowerPC Phase5 card (this latest version being updated in February 2008). In July 2008, the sale of version 4.1 began, which was updated in June 2009 (4.1 QuickFix: support for Pegasos II and Sam440ep motherboards was included in this update). After 4.1 Update 1 January 2010 [1] followed by 4.1 Update 2 April 2010 [2] In May 2011 version 4.1 update 2 became available for classic Amigas with PPC card. In August 2011 both versions (the AmigaOne/Pegasos2/Sam440 and the classic Amiga with PPC accelerator) were updated to version 4.1 update 3. Later update 4 (December 2011) was published and in 2012 4.1 update 5 (August) and update 6 (November). The latest version is the Final Edition (update 8) of December 2014 [3].