Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!super!udel!gatech!rutgers!mit-eddie!ll-xn!adelie!infinet!ulowell!page
From: page@swan.ulowell.edu (Bob Page)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: WorkBench 1.3
Message-ID: <9705@swan.ulowell.edu>
Date: 18 Oct 88 22:28:33 GMT
References: <362@laic.UUCP>
Reply-To: page@swan.ulowell.edu (Bob Page)
Organization: University of Lowell, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 52

darin@laic.UUCP (Darin Johnson) wrote:
>When the 1.3 manual states that FFS will cause RAD: not to be bootable,
>what do they mean?  Does this only mean don't make RAD: be an FFS system,
>or will RAD: not be bootable if I have an FFS hard disk?

You can't autoboot RAD if it's formatted with FFS.

At autoboot time the FastFileSystem handler is not in memory, only
the old file system (that's in WCS/ROM).  So *no* device can autoboot
if *that device* uses FFS.

>Comments on 1.3:

Agreed on the useless script bit, and the need to build in shell
control code (failat, if, etc).  WShell (from Bill Hawes) does just
this - cut my startup-sequence by like 70% or so.

At this point many of the 'hip' Amiga users are using stuff like VD0:
ConMan (new version coming to a comp.binaries.amiga near you!), REZ
and some shell, so they have no need for the clones CBM wrote.
However, there are hundreds of thousands of people who don't know
about VD0:, ConMan, REZ, WShell, CShell, etc, and the stuff on WB 1.3
will be fantastic for them.

>  Since there are a couple of "non-Commodore" products included (such
>  as FF, NEWCON:)

newcon is a CBM product.

Sure, FFS and the printer drivers are highlights of 1.3, but from
a reliability standpoint, SetPatch gets my vote for best program.

>Preferences

No more secret messages in preferences	:-(

>The docs didn't say anything about programming changes.

Preferences, printers, and some file system (dos) stuff.  Some of
those changes aren't even documented to developers (like the FFS
TRUNCATE packet).  The Native Developer's update will probably detail
all the changes.

>(will 1.4 be able to boot both SFS and FFS floppies?)

Yes.  In as much as 1.4 exists, anyway.  FFS will be in rom (replacing
OFS but keeping compatibility, much to Steve Beats' chagrin).

..Bob
-- 
Bob Page, U of Lowell CS Dept.  page@swan.ulowell.edu  ulowell!page
"I can't tell the difference between ABC News and Hill Street Blues" -Bono