Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!cai!nicks From: nicks@cai.uucp (Nick Smith) Newsgroups: comp.unix.amiga Subject: Re: GNU Development Possible? Message-ID: <1991Jan10.235458.1317@cai.uucp> Date: 10 Jan 91 23:54:58 GMT References: <17298@cbmvax.commodore.com> Reply-To: nicks@cai.UUCP (Nick Smith) Distribution: comp Organization: Century Analysis Incorporated Lines: 106 In article <17298@cbmvax.commodore.com> kevin@cbmvax.commodore.com (Kevin Klop) writes: >>Is Amiga UNIX going to be sufficiently solid to enable me to get >>GNU EMACS, GNU CC, and other GNU software up and running, and to >>continue development of GNU Fortran (gf77) on it? If it was and I >>decided to do that, the gf77 would be available for the Amiga >>sooner than most other machines (especially those not 680x0-based). > >GNU Emacs, and GNU CC has already been ported to the Amiga Unix system, >as has ELM. Probably others too, but those are the three that I know >for sure since I'm using them... > > >>I'm interested only in 68030-based machines, as powerful as >>possible -- though my 16MHz 68030 Mac is plenty fast for work under >>the Mac OS, I realize that an equivalent Amiga might be a bit >>sluggish running UNIX, so I'd like to get a 25MHz or above, >>perhaps with cache or a zero-wait-state (whatever that means) >>memory subsystem. What are the available high-end models? Although >>I've been told that the "fastest" Amiga is a model that is not the >>high-end but enhanced with an accelerator, I don't know how well >>this would work with Unix and such. > >At the moment, I'm running Unix on an Amiga 2500/030, which is the accelerated >model that you're talking about, so the answer is, it works fine. > Does the Amiga Unix run on an Amiga 2500/020? If so, how can I purchase it? I'm very interested in getting Unix for my 2500. >>I also know nothing about the availability of monitors on Amiga; >>is the architecture open enough to allow a variety of choices? >>Although color and gray-scale monitors can be lots of fun, I'd >>lean towards a solid monochrome display over anything fancy even >>if I were offered a choice without having to pay. If I saw a >>color monitor that did B&W as well as a given monochrome, however, >>I might be persuaded. What's the status of this kind of stuff >>on the Amiga? > >At the moment, you have your choice of many models, including virtually all >Multi-Synch monitors, several high end color monitors (I'm partial to the >Zenith Flat Tension Monitors), and a 19" monochrome monitor from Moniterm >that is the equivalent of the monochrome SUN monitors. > >Note that for some of these monitors you will need to buy a display card. >The Zenith requires a Flicker Fixer or Commodore display enhancer, and the >moniterm has its own display card. > >> >>If I end up getting an Amiga, I might start writing some good, >>useful personal software on it for use under UNIX & X or perhaps >>even the Amiga OS, and releasing it as free software. That's >>why I'd like to find a "personable" machine (i.e. like a Mac in >>terms of accessibility and affordability) not sold by Apple -- >>so any efforts I expend making free software for it can >>benefit more users than if I get a Next, Sun, or whatever, since >>they're workstations with little need for personal software. >>I might end up doing primarily development software for a while, >>like Fortran and C compilers, however, so I'm not sure what is next, >>which is why I want it to run UNIX (aside from getting me through >>the remainder of gf77 development, if I get it in time for that). >> >>Anyone with good, definitive information on these topics, please >>email me or, if it's general enough, post a response. I don't >>know if it's wise for me to say I'll post a summary later -- my >>needs are probably rather unique, since I'm essentially self- >>employed, doing the gf77 work as a volunteer, and hence plan >>to work on my Amiga full-time (except for when I'm doing >>contracts, when I'd like to be able to bring my Amiga along as >>a front-end development machine with my home-grown environment on >>it -- as I've been successful doing with my SE/30 in the past). >>I.e. I'm not looking for an evening/weekend-hack machine only. >> >>(Although I enjoy playing games on computers, I no longer spend > >Obviously, working for Commodore, I use an Amiga every day for >most of my work. However, before I came to work for Commodore, >the Amiga was my preferred working environment, even for writing >code for other machines. Note, however, that the Amiga OS (not >the Unix OS, mind you) can take a while to come up to speed to >program - it's not as easy to learn Amiga OS programming as it is >to learn the basics of, say, MS-DOS programming. > >>the availability of game software. MIDI software, however, is >>critical -- I do have synths and use Pro 4 on my SE/30, and have >>some ideas for unique MIDI-related software to write for >>end-users that I'd like to pursue. I believe the Amiga is an >>excellent MIDI machine with lots of good software. If this >>belief is wrong, please correct me!) >>-- >> > >The Amiga makes an excellent MIDI workstation. I've already >scored a movie using it, and it's my main composing station for >a multiple Synthesizer set up. Essentially, I support your conclusion. > > -- Kevin -- > > >Kevin Klop {uunet|rutgers|amiga}!cbmvax!kevin >Commodore-Amiga, Inc. > > ``Be excellent to each other.'' > - Bill and Ted's most excellent adventure > >Disclaimer: _I_ don't know what I said, much less my employer. > >>James Craig Burley, Software Craftsperson burley@ai.mit.edu