This article originally appeared on my Suite101.com Editorial. You can find the original version at: http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/amiga
AROS, the Amiga Research Operating System, has its origins in the aftermath of Commodore's demise. At the time, the situation looked bleak and no one was quite sure if the Amiga would be able to carry on or not. Some enterprising individuals took stock of the situation and evaluated what they could personally do to ensure the continuation of the Amiga line. This evaluation culminated in the decision to write an OS from scratch that would be both fully AmigaOS 3.1 compatible and portable to any hardware. Software compatibility comes in two flavours - binary compatibility for actual Amigas, and source level compatibility for other platforms. It has long been mentioned that UAE and other technologies could eventually be incorporated to provide binary compatibility between the whole range of AROS systems, but this is still a way off from being realised.
Progress has been slow, but impressive. For Linux and FreeBSD on the x86, AROS is mostly working and there are builds for Linux on 680X0 and native Amigas. The Amiga and 680X0 Linux flavours feature binary compatibility (a list of software which has been tested and known to work is published on the website), and all versions support fully-functional Intuition windows.
In addition, a standalone x86 version is in the works (thanks to the effort of Michael Schulz), which promises to be an ideal showcase of what AROS has achieved. The version currently boots into the Amiga's internal debugger, SAD, so doesn't support much in the way of software, but once the appropriate hardware drivers are implemented it will be a fully functioning AROS/Amiga platform running on standard PC compatible hardware. The same can be done for pretty much any other hardware out there - the only reason why other such ports haven't materialised is lack of support. If any developer out there fancies helping AROS port to such platforms as PowerPC (PowerUP and/or CHRP), there has never been a better time to get involved - AROS on G4 anyone?
Take a look at the screenshots on the AROS site to get the general idea (URL listed at the base of the article) or download the source and binaries for a real hands-on peek. (Unfortunately, the AROS FTP site is currently unavailable but should be up again shortly)
It's at this point that quite a few out there will state that it's about time AROS have begun to show some tangible work, after all they've been working on it for years. That's true to an extent, but remember writing a new OS isn't a trivial task, more so if you have to maintain compatibility with an existing OS. If you want to get it right first time, that means even more work and more time spent - it all adds up. But the most important reason for the delay is something a lot of people conveniently overlook: there aren't many people supporting AROS, and those that are can't dedicate themselves to it full-time - these people have their careers or education to think about.
AROS really does need your support. Even if you can't write a line of code to save your life, you can promote, test, document... every little bit adds up. If you can program, so much the better - even a single function contributed will take AROS one step closer to completion. Remember that this project is of benefit to the whole Amiga community because it helps broaden the scope of what is truly an Amiga, and it opens up fresh directions we can all make use of.
There has been much frustration, even anger from some, about the official direction Amiga is being taken, some of it based on confusion and poor communication, but most of it with some basis of truth. The immediate response from a few zealous users has been to launch themselves into a frenzy of activity building new projects to create their own next generation of Amiga. This work is admirable, and a true testament to the Amiga community but most are starting from scratch - with a blank slate and poor initial support. Worse, they seem completely in ignorance of AROS which has already been there, done it, and bought the t-shirt. Why reinvent the wheel and waste more time, effort and even money? *
Yet here is an almost complete AmigaOS clone built from scratch to be multi-platform just itching for support - every new AmigaOS replacement project takes away that potential support, and in the end you just fragment and dilute all the effort going on, probably to a point where nothing is ultimately achieved except a series of half-finished ideas. If AROS can get this far with little support, it makes you wonder how much further down the road it could be with the right backing - doesn't it?
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(* I exclude Phoenix from this because they do look like a worthwhile project, have considerable backing and their focus doesn't appear to exclude partnerships with AROS or any worthwhile aspects of the official Amiga) Many thanks to Stefan, Aaron and the rest of the AROS team for their support and enthusiasm while I prepared this article.[ Download original article in Palm DOC format ]
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