Allan Havemose head of development IRC transcript - odpovedi na zvidavy otazky

[Bob Stifter <stifter@mira.cz>]

Havemose >>> Hi, I'm allan havemose, head of development at Amiga Inc.

Havemose >>> I'd be happy to take any technical question you may have

Jkay >>> can you fill us in on your PAST Amiga experience? I understand
you are one of the "Good Guys" fomr old Commodore

Havemose >>> Sure, I joined commodore in 1989. Initially I ran the
technical support network in europe

Havemose >>> As a matter of fact, I was hired to set up the european
developers network

Havemose >>> I help arrange a couple of european developers conferences:
paris & milan

Havemose >>> After moving the headquarters in the US I was in charge of
the Amiga OS release 2.1 and later were all releases of mine.

Havemose >>> I've also founded a CAD software company and been
president/CEO of another computer graphics company since
Amiga/Commodore.

elp >>> will the new systems be modular or standard PC-case type
systems? 

Havemose >>> we are planning a whole family of products, spanning
set-top boxes, "computer in a keyboard" like the a1200, game systems and
video workstations

Gott >>> What is the story about Exec? Are you going to dumb it in favor
of an other kernel? According to Dave Haynie it shouldn't be difficult
to build the missing features into Exec if it doesnt have to be binary
compatible. 

Havemose >>> according to Carl (and I've discussed this with him), with
the types of new ground breaking architecutres we're considering, fixing
exec would amount to replacing it. The new kernel is in spirit very
close to exec, but will not be a patched exec. 

Comunion >>> Can you confirm that Amiga Inc will be porting Amiga OS to
New Amiga . Is it True that Amiga Inc are planning to Release a Amiga
Version of the Os for a INtel Based Chip ?

Havemose >>> there has clearly been confusion on the nets regarding the
Intel processor issue.

Havemose >>> First of all, x86 (not intel) was only mentioned in
connection with a development system, not the new Amiga

Havemose >>> So let's not confuse the developers system (aka system 4)
with the new Amiga (aka release 5). 

Gandalf >>> Why did you guys decide against going along with Phase 5 for
using PowerPC amigas for the future models?

Havemose >>> As we have announced several times, we are working with
Phase5 to bring their solution forward as well.

emission >>> Previously, portability has been stated as a goal for the
future AmigaOS. Now you seem to developing a reference platform based on
a - although superior - proprietary chip. Is portability still a goal,
and how will you maintain your "being ahead of the rest" if this
technology becomes obsolete or if other companies are allowed to use the
same chip?

Havemose >>> portability comes at several levels. One is application
portability another is the OS. We will definitely have several hardware
specific modules in the OS (kernel for instance)

Havemose >>> My goal is to make the UI and application model much more
portable than the current Amiga mode.

Mano603e >>> 1) what does Amiga Inc think about Phase5 and Haage&Partner
after the WOA Show ? Are u talking to them now ?...2) how can Amiga Inc
guarantee that mystery chip won`t be used by wintel companies ? 3) can u
clarify this x86 compatibility ?...does this mystery chip emulate ppc or
68k ? 

Havemose >>> you must be a ppc fan :) I am in daily contact wiht both
H&P and Phase 5. As said, both companies are very important the the
Amiga community and therefore to Amiga Inc. It's really as simple as
that. We will work with any amiga developer who is interested in
bringing the Amiga forward to the next generation. 

Kosh >>> Since the Amiga community includes a lot of hobbyist developers
such as myself who lack significant financial resources, what would you
recommend we do to prepare for the future?  I know I can't afford a new
machine right now (ie, no bridge machine for me), but I'd still like to
know if there's anything I can do to prepare myself or my code for
porting to the future system. 

Havemose >>> I guess I should ask " what do you want" 

Havemose >>> Anyway :) The reasons you outlined are excatly the reasons
I selected an x86 development platform

Havemose >>> I could have picked macs, workstations, or anything else,
but it was important to me that amiga developers without a whole lot of
funding, could get a headstart on development without a significant
investment.

Havemose >>> I personally believe, that the best amiga program grew out
this type of "low budget" grass roots environment

NightSpd >>> 4 (sort of) questions::Will AT be relying on in-house staff
programmers or contract consultants for software development? or some
mix of the two? approximate percentages if there is any idea? Also, is
the rev 4 release an emulation of the "MissTerry" chip or actual silicon
on a card? 

Havemose >>> A mixture of both. I will staff both in-house and use
consultants.

Havemose >>> RE emulation: we have announced two solutions: software
through something similar to UAE and a version of the Siamese "amiga on
a PCI baord" 

Merko >>> Does the "development system" run under Windows(95/98/NT) or
some other OS? If other, what OS? 

Havemose >>> I am unfortunatly not able to announce my OS partner yet,
since not all the elements of the deal has been closed. 

Hawker >>> 3D hardware have really taken off in the PC market, but the
amiga is left behind. With an official 3D library, this might change. Do
you have any thoughts about this subject? What about OS 5? 

Havemose >>> yes: OpenGL

pantheon >>> How will the x86 developer systems be distributed? will
they be shipped as complete systems or just add-on packages for existing
PCs?

Havemose >>> in London we announced both: ie a complete system and the
necessary hardware to upgrade your own PC. If I remember, I believe that
we announced at $1200 price point for the complete system. I might not
be entirely right on the price 

elp >>> will the new systems have SCSI, USB, FireWire and/or other
standard technologies? Will TCP/IP be built in to the OS? 

Havemose >>> I'm planning on full TCP/IP stack. I would prefer just to
go with Firewire for network connectivity. I haven't made a decision on
USB for that reason. 

Havemose >>> let me correct myself. 1394 for device and low-cost
network. 

Darklite >>> 1 Will the new Amiga( 1999 ) be able to use PC cards (PCI,
AGP ) or will it feature a whole new bus system ? 2 Will you support the
PPC ports of AOS 4& 5 ? 3 Can you allready give some more info on the
"SuperChip" ? 

Havemose >>> the new system will support PCI. I gave my position on PPC
earlier.

Havemose >>> The new superchip (who came up wiht that name anyway?) is a
very high performance processing unit with multimedia functions. A
couple of numbers: 400 Mpixels/sec out of the 3D engine. This 24 bit
pixels with full tri-linear mip mapping. 3-4 MPEGII decode simultanious,
AC-3 audio.

Dracvl >>> Three questions:

Dracvl >>> 1. Can you tell us if the chip being used will be announced
on the AmiWest?

Dracvl >>> 2. Will Amiga do an image re-design, to get better branding
effect? (ie: new logo, new website etc.) It is desperately needed.

Dracvl >>> 3. I represent the Second Coming Foundation, and would
therefore like to know who I can contact regarding design-matters.

Dracvl >>> (and AGP :)

Dracvl >>> what about support for that?

Havemose >>> Dracvl: We'll announce as soon as we can. There are timing,
NDA and other issues that prevents us from announcing at present.

Havemose >>> All contacts should go to Amiga Inc. Check www.amiga.com
for who to contact. 

AMPurtle >>> Will you be using the HP core ? Oh and welcome back,
looking forward to working with you again :) 

Havemose >>> Hi allan. I cannot release any info on technology partners
yet. 

LowLevel >>> Will the new "superchip" work as a CPU or does it need an
external CPU? 

Havemose >>> good question. Again, I unfortunately cannot reveal chip
level architectural information at this point. I will as soon as I can.
Sorry 

siren >>> Petro Tyschtschenko said in an e-mail dated on 05/25/98 "sorry
for confusion. OS 3.5 will be available ( AMIGA Classics 68xxxx)" when
asked by a Finnish Amiga user about the OS upgrade. Is this information
correct, is the 3.5 coming after all? 

Havemose >>> I will have to talk to Petro about this. I've focused
entirely on the new generation, while Petro and sales people have been
selling and lincensing existing technology.

Cacique >>> Will the file system be similar to current OS? In other
words will there be a C dir with commands, S dir with startup-sequence,
libs etc directories and *.info icon files? Will the OS (5) be ROM and
software or just software? Also will AREXX be included? 

Havemose >>> The OS (or rather pieces of it) will be rommable. We will
provide dir, list etc. type comments. It's not entirely clear that we're
going to preserve the current directory layout. I would like to come up
wiht a better structure, that also handles/defines installation etc. so
that a user can determine what are OS files, which are appplication and
which are his own data files. 

Havemose >>> Let's take one more question. I have to give a talk in 25
minutes and need to get ready. 

Havemose >>> OK. Hang in there. I believe that the Amiga has a very
bright future ahead.

Havemose >>> We have some truly exciting technology in development. As
soon as we can we will inform the community.

Jkay >>> Thank you Dr Havemose for your kind considerations

--------------------------

havemose >>> I have about 15 minutes to answer more technical question
on 4.0 and 5.0 

eaglelil >>> Dr. H: Will use use USB in the new Amy for KB, mice, etc

havemose >>> I have USB on my "open question" list. I do want to use
1394 for devices and networking 

Merko >>> Havemose: How hard/easy do you think it will be to develop for
AmigaNG on current machines? Will it be similar enough to make a port
easy, or will it absolutely require special development hardware to get
started?

havemose >>> The API's will be relatively system independent. As an
example, certain system specifc graphics functions will require new
hardware (naturally).

Gott >>> Will Arexx be part of OS5, or will it be substituted with
something similar? Rebol maybe? 

havemose >>> The goal is to make 4.0 as close to 5.0 as possible, but on
a different base platform.  

rbn^gts >>> This new Mystery Monster Chip based Amiga sounds very
tempting, but how will we be able to see that it's actually an Amiga?
Will just the name be left? I know it'll represent the same kind of
innovation as the Amiga did back in 1985 - but that's probably not
enough to get all Amiga users to get one... we need something familiar!
Something planned? 

havemose >>> I do think that significant inovation is needed. What was
great in 85 just doens't always do the trick in 97

havemose >>> We will carry over many of the system capabilities, while
also enhancing them:

havemose >>> video (pal & ntsc) out of the box, but also adding more
capabilities, such as HDTV 

JoeMango >>> Havernose: have Amiga Inc decided whether the 4.0 machine
will be available to interested enthusiasts, or just the registered
development community?  secondly, have you looked at LEP displays for
cheap laptops? 

havemose >>> Amiga Inc has stated that 4.0 will be targeted at
developers, but if end-users want them, they can get them through the
usual distribution channels. 

Mordo >>> Will the object hierarchy of EXEC be maintained in the new OS
kernel? 

havemose >>> both yes and no. The kernel will be significantly more
capable than exec. For that reason the kernel will not be an exec
derivative, but rather a new implementation.

havemose >>> It is close to Exec in spirit, though 

Rog >>> Will there be any big big news like we had 14 days ago? 

havemose >>> todays presentations were pretty close to the one two weeks
ago. No new annoucements 

NorthWay >>> will anything of the current 3.1 be kept for 5.0? (I'm
thinking possible _source_ compatability.) And I like message by
reference instead of copy. any chance that can be kept for some stuff?
(massively parallel systems seems to be back to that :) 

havemose >>> We are planning to carry some of the graphics and UI
elements with us. And as previously posted, havemose the kernel is close
to Exec in many way. I do believe that we need to do a major upgrade for
us to get a competitive system.

havemose >>> "No amount of paint to a 1985 chevy will ever make it a
Ferarri" 

Mitchman >>> It sounds to me like 4.0 and 5.0 will have a completely new
API. What parts will be kept, and will it still look and feel like
AmigaOS, or will just the name be used? I am a developer, so the API
question is vital to a certain degree. Also, will there be an
alternative to the C++ foundation classes? Seeing AmigaOS turn into the
mistake beOS is would be horrible, IMHO. 

havemose >>> lots of new api's will be added. Also framework application
development in C++

havemose >>> I don't think that the current intuition/graphics framework
is flexible enough for what we need to do. 

CyberWolf >>> Hi Dr. H. 1) will AMIGA OS 5 be compatible with the
current software? 2) Will we see ImageFX, PageStream, World Construction
Set, Digital Universe on the new AMIGAs? (have these developers said
they want a new AMIGA?) 3) What kernel will be used in AMIGA OS 4/5?

havemose >>> we are planning to provide Classic compatibility though an
amiga classic hardware subsystem.

havemose >>> I do expect that the market demand for such a system will
diminish quickly after the release of the new system. 

AmigaRevi >>> What about concepts like datatypes, draggable screens,
Slime binaries - is such concept going to be used as new standard for
executables? Arexx question not answered, so once again, is Arexx going
to be used in OS 5.x, What about REBOL?

havemose >>> I hope to carry datatypes over. same for ArEXX

Weirdami >>> Can we expect the new OS (5) to mark the return of the
beloved 'Guru Meditation'? It sounds more homey (less corporate) than
its current replacement. GA
TA Dr Havemose, some of the critics are saying that only the name will
be left. What would you say to them? And thanks for clarifying some
things for us. 

havemose >>> I've had the guru meditation request from several people. I
guess we should put in back in :) 

havemose >>> My basic approach is to put the Amiga solidly back in the
lead again. This cannot be done only by updating existing technology. 

neure >>> Will the new os support multiple cpu and multiple users? 

havemose >>> Intially we are planning a single user system, since that's
where the Amiga has been strongest in the past. We will support multiple
processors. 

Dave >>> will there be such things as libraries, devices & resource as
we know them? will dos be a separate thing eg. it's non-exec handlers?
will complete docs be available in one place? (ie. o separate dos in
bantam books). 

havemose >>> Yes there will be libs, devs, resources etc. The actual
defintion and layout may be different than what we have on amiga today. 

Mitchman >>> Just a quick question: Any decision as to what filesystem
will be used? cnfs? ext2?  SFS?

havemose >>> I have to leave. I'll check back in tomorrow !









    Bob Stifter --===***===-- TEAM AMIGA 
    tel. +420 602 834287 -==- A1200T 603 
            Zavolej mi do klubu          
    http://www.mira.cz/~stifter/HemP.htm 

    H H eee mmmmm ppp    Magazine 
    H H e e m m m p p    By 
    HHH eee m m m ppp    Skaters  
    H H e   m m m p      For 
    H H eee m m m p      Skaters