Miscellaneous - Prospects: Pink Floyd - the new operating system for the Spectrum.

<b>Miscellaneous</b> - Prospects: Pink Floyd - the new operating system for the Spectrum.

Instead of preface.


  So, the new operating system. The first question that
usually asked in this regard:
"It's that another IS-DOS?" No
we reply, in a good way
the word is while keeping
due to the fact that if the transition of all
sinkleristov under the IS-DOS is more than doubtful for various 
reasons (non-standard format, 48 K nucleus, etc), then 
transition of all users under the "PINK FLOYD" more than real.

In principle, the issue of transition from OS
TR-DOS (which the OS and call
complex) has long been important. But the choice of another 
system for all a simple question. First

- Who said that this system
for all everyone will enjoy?
And secondly, and what are these
possibility gives another OS to
they exceeded the two main habit and ease? Actually
this issue was already before the
users of IBM PC, they have
also had a problem with the search
worthy of replacing the most stupid, but
most familiar MS-DOS under which besides written lots of 
programs (on a qualitative assessment which, however, we are 
not talking We will not make because such amizhnika compare 
AMIGaDos and TR-DOS). Partial solution

the problem was WINDOWS, similar solution for the ZX
may become "PINK FLOYD" (PF).
Indeed, GUI interface for
Users, who yesterday saw a computer more convenient to
because of its extraordinary clarity, and for weary years
user due to the fact that he knows
what team BASIC PLOT '&
DRAW and how they differ from ART
STUDIO, for example. In principle,
AMIGA, MAC can do all
his adult life working not touch the keyboard,
except the need to hot start. By the way,
on a normal PC, this
the need arises extremely rarely, unlike the IBM PC
where it is caused by a blunt architecture and ZX SPECTRUM 
where out of 99 program has a point and the exit

triggered by a RST 0. All this
something with which we deal today, and what common
efforts we now have the opportunity to avoid. The computer on 
which the basic operating system - Multitasking only a fool 
would call a toy. We revived you SPECCY,

it's up to you, this will be for you
OS core, will you under
it alter the existing
software products and become a
Do you write new ones. This is a matter for
sinkleristov all, because we do not
to cope alone with all
variety of modern applications of computers. And together we 
will change the very face of Spectrum.



   The concept of running "Pink Floyd".

   (Included in the system)


  Domain OS - is a multi-tasking
operating system with graphical interface standard SAA /
CUA, as well as full support
file systems MS-DOS FAT and
TR-DOS.


     Goal of creating a system.

 Originally conceived as a
environment for developing computer games (strategy / 
adventyury). The main task was to complete

removing the application programmer from the 'iron'. Programmer
must concentrate fully
algorithms on the game rather than engage in plotting the 
distribution of memory, looking for a place for the second 
break, think about ports, etc. etc. Such issues are relevant to 
the creators action games. This is how the disk subsystem 
(DSS), the system organization of residents and set

graphic procedures. However,
later wanted more. In
house began to appear about laptop
"Windows 3. 1", "Mac Guide ', and
and then "Windows 95". For Speccy
getting hurt: the PC can
but not on the Spectrum? And through
for some time appeared Application Program Interface via
which was implemented cooperative multitasking. There was an 
ideology of object-oriented programming, and from graphic 
procedures increased library of graphic objects

(OGL). As a result, there was a complete operating system, with
technologies that were not previously implemented on the 
processor Z80. 

 And finally, formulate goals:

 1 User convenience
 2 Facilities programmer
 3 Transferring advanced technologies

   at Spectrum


   Multitasking in the Domain OS.

 As I've said it a cooperative. This means that while a 
computer can be downloaded and run several programs, but these 
programs are presented some conditions, full implementation of 
which guarantees bezkonfliktnoe coexistence in a single memory

on one screen and one
interrupt handler, a few programs. This is not MagOS, which by 
definition can not to guarantee stability.


 At the present time, almost every
application contains
a bunch of different components:

character display driver, window system, Filer, mouse driver, 
etc. And all this developer spends time and effort. If listen 
to the markets of some programmers, we often heard General 
Discussion is about the above mentioned components, and not 
about the meaning of the program. In the PC world has long been 
understood that the important thing to do, and windows are good 
at "Winds" or not  - Microsoft's problem.



  Multitasking can not
burdening the application with numerous features that are not 
directly related to the primary goal. I wanted to print text 
with text editor - the application sends a message to the 
application "Printer" "printer" and print out and wanted to get 
a copy catalog disk on paper -

now the "Filer" sends a message "Printer". Thus
Each application is engaged in his own, and only their 
business, and the video allows the free exchange of information 
between applications. Speaking of the filers. As you may have 
noticed, when trying to download a file, you must manually 
enter the file name is pathetic. The thing suschestvueschem in 
the server drag '& drop. Conceived this way: the user opens the 
application "Filer"; finds the file, she clicks

it, instead of the arrow cursor changes to an icon of the file;
The user then switches to the application in which
he needs to download the file, and finally presses the middle 
mouse button (Enter). After that boot gone. Many words, but in 
reality it is a few mouse movements. Object

Class DLGF, which is responsible
for typing the file name is already working with the drag '& 
drop, but the application itself "Filer" esche did not finish, 
so when the object called, he can not find the clip

container with the name of the file, and it
have to take the line keyboard input.


       Disk subsystem

        (Disk Sub System).


   At the beginning of the OS domain has been focused only on 
the FAT. But the endless conversion with TR-DOS on MS-DOS 
tired. I entered the transparent support TR-DOS. That is the 
user or programmer any application can not see raznitsitsu

between discs of different formats.
All information about the files transmitted in the format of 
MS-DOS. 


        Programming.

 Interaction between application and OS
differs radically from the traditional model: "cool loop, 
calling the operating system, come out of the cycle when 
something - something will happen. In PF system itself is 
"spinning cycle, polling the peripheral devices, and for 
example, if pressed, cause the active application, as

their routine. Such an organization is quite possible, since 
before 90% of computer time is spent

waiting for user actions. In most cases the reaction of the 
applications spend far less time. Thus, the system can be, even 
between keystrokes, to spend

bars on their needs. "The main
motto is "programming by PF:
"We quickly made a deal and RET".
The system offers a revolutionary
programming technology the user interface. You only need to 
declare an object (display nA display his image and tell the 
system that coordinates the data is such - that object), and 
you can forget about it.  When a user tries to

something to do with the object
System will notify the application. A number of different 
communications interfaces can organize any imaginable 
complexity in a very short time. I guarantee

that all possible API Windows,
easily implemented in the PF. All that
I wrote the above really
True, but when the number of
display object passes
for the third dozen, there are
problems associated with an accumulation of codes whose 
understanding extremely difficult. Therefore,

there was an ideology of object -
oriented programming. It postulates not only
purely formal rules of the program structure and design
(Something similar to the Hungarian
 Agreement on the Sea), but also gives
real opportunity to simplify
interface design. Another detail: it is very easy to modify the 
code. 


  This little piece of information

  obsolete, but give it without

  changes.


        Plans for the future.

 At this time, three are working
team the following areas:

 A graphical editor like

        "PaintBrush"
 2 text editor
 3 The Global Game "Expansion"

 The system has already appeared in Saint-Petersburg. and
distributed through a network of shops firms 'LOGROS Software' 
and 'WELCOME Corp.', It is also possible

spread zaimutsya 'SSL
STUDIO 'and' STUDIO X-TRADE '.

 Distributed to date version - 2.1. On the way
version 2.3 which will look as it should have been
look at the outset. Press releases are changing frequently and 
the differences between them are not purely cosmetic. Members 
licensed versions get more from us than bought a pirated 
version because getting new releases - free and you spend a 
time in licensed, will be constantly

have a new release. Version number
will be constantly changing only at the global innovations.


   Bring to your attention

   information from our Press

            Release:

 1. Multitasking


    * Set application prog
      Ramm service system
      theme.


    * Package to create the electron
      tron publications (language

      Hypertext - Multi
      media documents HTML).

 ES> For those who do not know that

     such language is HTML, I will say that

     in this language are

     All documents in the network 'The

     INTERNET '. Speccy now

     compatible with the INTERNET, has

     browser to work with her

     WWW - pages. Left

     make a terminal prog
     Rummy for HAYES, which

     We do not have. : (: (: (


    * Guidance for users
      carriers, and programmers (B

      the form of HTML - file)

 2. Object - Oriented

    ideology.

 3. Graphical user interface standard
    Darth SAA / CUA.

 4. Transparent support for TR-DOS

    and MS-DOS (FDD, HDD, CD-ROM).

 5. Empowering

    TR-DOS.

 6. Server Drag '& Drop.

 Appearance of the screen operating
of Pink Floyd 2.3 (released):


 At the end we apologize for the awkwardness of its content, 
because not all the opportunity to tell and not at all 
questions answered. 


               Maxim Gannutin

             and Eugene Sobolev.

 P.S. Special thanks

      Vyacheslav Mednonogovu,

      Rzhavelschiku (RUSTER'u)

      Evgemiyu Buderu,

      Mikhail Akimov, and many

      others who have forgotten ...

      from DOMEN I.E. and S '& ampK' H.G.

      generally advertised.