Failsafe pickup: "Smile if you want to sleep with me." And watch
them try to hold back their laugh.
FLOPPYSHOP ACQUIRE RIGHTS TO OMEN BY ESQUIMALT DIGITAL LOGIC INC.
a press release from Floppyshop
Open Multitasking Environment (OMEn)
by
Esquimalt Digital Logic Inc.
Program Type: Cross Platform Multitasking Operating System
System: Any ST, STE, TT or Falcon. TT and Falcon enhanced.
Memory Required: 512k
Display Type: Colour or mono, RGB or VGA
Price: £20.00
Postage: UK free, Europe (including Eire) £2.00, rest of world
£4.00
Floppyshop have been appointed UK distributors for the OMEn
multi-tasking operating system. OMEn is unique in that it is a
cross platform operating system which runs on most types of
compter systems. The version Floppyshop are distributing is the
Atari version of OMEn, but software written to run under this
system may be used on any machine running OMEn without further
modification. The Mac, PC and Gemulator versions of OMEn are
currently in the final stages of beta testing and an Amiga
version is also under development. A Power PC version is expected
some time during 1996.
The distribution deal with Esquimalt allows Floppyshop to sell
the full commercial version of OMEn and accept developer
registrations on their behalf. The main purpose of Floppyshop
acting as an agent for Esquimalt is to enable UK customers to
obtain their software quicker and more cheaply by eliminating
currency and airmail charges. We usually carry a number of units
in stock but, should we run out, new stock will take no more than
7 to 10 days to arrive.
Please note that Atari programs cannot be run directly from
OMEn, but the changes required to the source code are very
minimal indeed. Programs may be developed using Atari based
assemblers and compilers for ease of use. Full details are
contained in the developer registration pack. As we have said,
once converted, your program will run on the ST, Amiga, PC and
Mac under the OMEn system. It is Esquimalt Digital's aim to
create a truly hardware independent operating system so that your
favourite applications can run on any computer system. This in
itself will take time to achieve, but OMEn is already a stable
robust system, the result of five years' work, and is undergoing
constant development, something which can only continue with your
support. Remember, it's the chicken and egg scenario, the more
widely circulated OMEn becomes and the greater the support from
users, the more applications will be developed for it. A number
of developers have already purchased registration packs so it is
only a matter of time before third party software starts becoming
available.
You will notice that the cost of purchasing OMEn is
substantially lower than that of almost all other multi-tasking
operating systems. This has been done in order to get OMEn widely
circulated and used. The developer registrations are even lower
in order to encourage third party development. Here's a list of
OMEn's main features:
FEATURES
* The Open Multitasking Environment, OMEn operating system is
a true pre-emptive multi-tasking, modular, open
architecture, component software environment with a
graphical interface. It has many innovative features which
make it very flexible and which make software development
easier. This helps developers to quickly supply superior
products for custom use or mass-markets.
* The SYSTEM CORE ties together all the component software of
the system. It is "ported" - adjusted - to run on each type
of computer.
* An I_O PORT or I_O CHANNEL MANAGER is created for each
hardware port available to the computer.
* SOFTWARE PROTOCOL MANAGERS are created for each peripheral
device or software protocol to be used with the system.
* An I_O CHANNEL links a protocol to a port (eg: HP-Laserjet
Printer protocol to Atari-Centronics port) or an I_O channel
manager handles the entire interface (eg: Atari-Big-Screen).
* "COMPONENTWARE" APPLICATION PROGRAMS are created for any
type of task the computer is to be used for.
* The SYSTEM CORE, I_O PORTS and I_O CHANNEL MANAGERS provide
a uniform interface for all other software regardless of the
type of computer so that the same I_O PROTOCOLS and
APPLICATION SOFTWARE will run on all machines without
porting or other adaptation.
* OMEn is a graphical system and most communication between
various programs is done by clicking with the mouse, and
dragging files between windows. Whereas other systems permit
dragging between windows of one application program, OMEn
makes extensive use ofdragging between different programs'
windows, simplifying the interface.
* Atari-Big-Screen has a scrolling display which is taller
than the video screen. This allows more windows with less
clutter. Moving the mouse "below" the bottom or "above" the
top of the screen will automatically scroll the display up
or down. (TT-Hirez doesn't scroll).
* The system does not use double clicking. Single clicks,
right button clicks and dragging of files are the usual
forms of action. Using the left mouse button with the Shift
key pressed is the same as using the right mouse button.
* Two types of mouse action messages can be generated:
Clicking without moving the mouse issues a "Click" message,
but moving the mouse with the button held down sends "Drag"
commands instead.
* Mouse Wrap lets the mouse go off the left or top of the
display and come back on the right or bottom, allowing
faster mouse access to different parts of the display.
* Overscan. On the ST and TT, overscan may be selected if a
manual overscan switch has been installed on the computer.
On the Falcon, overscan is effective on RGB monitors only.
* All of memory acts as a virtual RAM-Disk, as required.
* New files are usually created and edited in-memory, where
they can be shared between co-operative applications.
* Menus are opened from individual windows, instead of at the
top of the display. There is no overall menu bar for the
system, because all the programs are running at once.
* This release of OMEn is pre-set for typical Atari system
use. It has many configuration options for individual I/O
Protocols and Ports. Protocols (printers and others) are
supplied to licenced users as they become available.
WHY BUY THE COMMERCIAL VERSION?
* For productive work, starting a licenced copy of OMEn
automatically installs your selected printer, sets the
display mode, background picture, system sounds and other
options, and launches your most-used applications.
* Proceeds from licence registrations provide funding for
continued OMEn availability, market expansion (resulting in
more and better software) and upgrades with new features.
* The demo version has a limited life and ceases to function
from a specified date.
WHAT EXTRAS DOES THE COMMERCIAL VERSION INCLUDE?
* Disks with the latest OMEn system & docs for your computer.
* The latest releases of accompanying OMEn software, with
upgrade to scalable fonts in "Micro-Word" word processor.
* The latest Printer Protocol Managers.
* Windows/OS2/TGA/Degas to OMEn bitmap picture converter.
* Falcon True-colour & Audio support.
* The ability to save your customised settings and preferences.
* OMEn Herald newsletter updates you on the latest software
and developments.
OMEN DEVELOPER REGISTRATION PACK
Program Type: Developers' kit for programmers wishing to write
software for the OMEn cross platform multi-tasking operating
system
System: Any ST, STE, TT or Falcon. TT and Falcon enhanced.
Memory Required: 512k
Display Type: Colour or mono, RGB or VGA
Price: £12.00
Postage: UK free, Europe (including Eire) £2.00, rest of world
£4.00
PRODUCT INFORMATION
The OMEn SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT allows you to write your own
OMEn software or adapt your existing code to make it compatible
with OMEn. OMEn programs written and compiled on the ST will run
under OMEn on the Amiga, Mac and PC without modification. The
disks include an assembler, a C-library (you can use any ST based
C compiler as long as it outputs in DRI/GEM format), an icon
creator, a sample convertor and plenty of assembler source code.
More important than any of this is the programmer's reference
guide which runs to 12 chapters and tells you all you need to
know about developing OMEn compatible software. Please note that
both the executables and docs are in OMEn format so you will
require the OMEn operating system in order to make use of this
pack.
PROGRAMMING WITH OMEN
Every effort has been made to make OMEn the easiest operating
system ever to write software for, both in concept and in
practice. However, most operating systems have access to numerous
development tools for various programming languages, which have
been created over time. OMEn, being newly available at this
writing (Feb 1995), has few such tools, although they will be
easier to write or port than with other systems, and we can look
forward to their early appearance.
ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE
Since OMEn was written in Assembly Language, it has a very
versatile and useful collection of Assembly level software
development tools, including an elegant Eazy`Asm Structured
Assembler, a Debugging Monitor, and the Code-View disassembler.
Debugging tools can work together with the system's Crash Window
to greatly facilitate debugging of new software.
C LANGUAGE
At the time of this writing, there is a basic "C" start-up and
interface library. An Atari GEM based C-compiler is required: you
need one machine running the compiler and another running OMEn
for testing it to develop OMEn software in C. We will create an
OMEn based C compiler this year, or find a company who will.
Anyone interested in porting a compiler to OMEN please contact
us!
FORTH LANGUAGE
A FORTH language exists, and can be made available if there is
sufficient interest. Please contact Esquimalt Digital Logic for
details.
WHAT DO YOU GET IN THE DEVELOPMENT KIT?
* Software Developers' Registration Card entitling you to a
year's free updates to the kit and free technical support
from Esquimalt.
* The latest version of Easy-ASM, a structured 68000 assembler.
* The full 24 page Easy-ASM Manual on disk.
* The full 325 page Programmers' Reference Manual on disk.
* OMEn System Equates file.
* C Language Interface Library - lets you write OMEn
applications using any GEM based Atari C compiler.
* Code-View Disassembler which works in conjunction with the
built-in Crash Window to help you trace and debug errors
quickly and easily.
* A second disk full of example source code and extra
development tools. This includes the full source code to
Paint-Booth, Sound-Player, Micro-Word and Printer Protocols
amongst other things.
For further information, please contact Floppyshop:
Floppyshop
P.O. Box 273
Aberdeen AB9 8SJ
Tel. 01224 586208
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes,
bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and
tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact
and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any
kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are
not actually contained in an Atari executable here, references to scroll
texts, featured demo screens and hidden articles may also be irrelevant.