Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!mips!pacbell.com!tandem!zorch!amiga0!mykes From: mykes@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG (Mike Schwartz) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.programmer Subject: Re: Information on Amiga Technical Reference Seri Message-ID: Date: 11 Jun 91 04:26:43 GMT References: <21956@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1603@glyph.kingston.ny.us> <1991Jun3.140107.945@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> <1057.284e0dbf@vger.nsu.edu> <91158.110654GHGAQA4@cc1.kuleuven.ac.be> <1062.2853935b@vger.nsu.edu> Organization: Amiga makes it possible Lines: 45 In article <1062.2853935b@vger.nsu.edu> manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University) writes: >In article <91158.110654GHGAQA4@cc1.kuleuven.ac.be>, GHGAQA4@cc1.kuleuven.ac.be (Tyberghein Jorrit) writes: >>>I am glad that you put a smiley on the end. The last thing we need is >>>apublic domain version of the kernal. In fact, I am against Commodore >>>releasing the SOURCE CODE to the operating system. That would be a >>>complete disaster. >> >> Please explain what is so bad about releasing the source code ? I >> don't see your point. > >Releasing source code would create a nightmare for Commodore and their >dealers. Consider the possibility of a friendly persoon putting out >a hacked version of the operating system and it becoming semi-popular. >What should Commodore do? Adopt it? How would Commodore support it? >Would it still be owned by Commodore? What is a dealer to do when >he orders software for the Amiga? Does he make sure it just runs on >Commodore's operating system or the more popular 'hacked' AmigaDOS? >How can Commodore create new machines? Will Commodore need to get >permission from the authors of the hacked operating system to support >it? If they don't support it, will Commodore have to put up with >tons and tons of messages from usenet saying that they were idiots >for not including the 'obvious enhacements' that the hack provided? > The intent of publishing source code isn't so people can make better versions, although it might be a neat school project :) Ever have a question like, "Does RectFill() use QBlit()?" Well, the answer can be found in the code (or you can bug folks on the net with the question... :) If you buy MacNosy (for the Mac), you can get a wide variety of annotated "sources" for the Mac ROMs (and they've been around for years), yet nobody is selling or hacking on the OS (except AMax :) or selling a variation... The real threat might be that some Macoid might want to put a REAL OS on their computer (or the ST...) and would have a great starting place to port from. It's a moot point, since CBM already has said they won't release the source. (Maybe it's really bad to look at anyway :) -- **************************************************** * I want games that look like Shadow of the Beast * * but play like Leisure Suit Larry. * ****************************************************