[comp.sys.amiga.tech] Xwindow or NeWS on the amiga

melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) (06/13/88)

Has anyone thaught of Implementing Xwindow or NeWS on an amiga?
Would it be possible to do? ( I know almost *nothing* about either,
so if it's a stupid question, just laugh at me & forget it)

(either meaning Xwindow and NeWS, not amiga...)


Thanks,

Ofer Melnik

(I'm working on a .signature)

root@sbcs.sunysb.edu (root) (06/13/88)

In article <Jun.12.21.32.43.1988.1083@topaz.rutgers.edu>, melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) writes:
> 
> Has anyone thaught of Implementing Xwindow or NeWS on an amiga?
> Would it be possible to do? ( I know almost *nothing* about either,

	To answer both questions: Yes.  It is not easy in either 
	case because both packages are written for Unix.

	I know of an X11 port that is nearing completion, but I'm
	not sure if I can talk about it.

	I did a port of NeWS 1.0 to the Amiga for Ameristar.  NeWS
	will pretty much require you have a machine with at least
	2 mBytes ram and something more than floppies for font
	storage (ie, NFS or hard disk).  Ameristar will show NeWS
	at this years Siggraph in Atlanta.  

	Both packages can use Ameristar's network IP/TCP/NFS package;
	additionally the X port can use msgports (?) for local 
	client <-> server communications.

> (either meaning Xwindow and NeWS, not amiga...)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Ofer Melnik

						Rick Spanbauer
						SUNY/Stony Brook
						(& Ameristar)

papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) (06/13/88)

In article <Jun.12.21.32.43.1988.1083@topaz.rutgers.edu> melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) writes:
|Has anyone thaught of Implementing Xwindow or NeWS on an amiga?
|Would it be possible to do? ( I know almost *nothing* about either,
|so if it's a stupid question, just laugh at me & forget it)

News was implemented about a year ago by one of the NeWS source licensees.
Since re-licensing NeWS currently REQUIRES a $ 25,000 up-front licensing fee
it will probably never be marketed.

A version of MIT's X Window System, version 11, release 2, running under 
AmigaDOS has been under development by Dale Luck, "famed Amiga wizard", and
counting on the type of messages he is posting on comp.windows.x is pretty
far ahead, though currently supports only monochrome and Ameristar's 
Ethernet card.  I think Dale can be reached at ...!boing!dale.

-- Marco Papa 'Doc'
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
uucp:...!pollux!papa       BIX:papa       ARPAnet:pollux!papa@oberon.usc.edu
 "There's Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Diga!" -- Leo Schwab [quoting Rick Unland]
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

dale@boing.UUCP (Dale Luck) (06/13/88)

In article <Jun.12.21.32.43.1988.1083@topaz.rutgers.edu> melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) writes:
>
>Has anyone thaught of Implementing Xwindow or NeWS on an amiga?

Yes, I am nearing alpha release of a monochrome only version
of X. Runs on standard amigas, and supports the new a2024
1008x800 b/w monitor.

>Would it be possible to do?

Yes, it is possible, but there is lot's of work to get it right.
X Was designed to run on a unix systems, and the release source
from mit assumes sockets and a lot of other unix like things.
Fortunately amigados is part of the way there. Multitasking is
the major thing that actually makes is worthwhile since you can
run local clients while serving remote clients.

 ( I know almost *nothing* about either,

>so if it's a stupid question, just laugh at me & forget it)

It is not a stupid question. Glad you asked.

>Ofer Melnik
>


-- 
Dale Luck     Boing, Inc.
Although I do contract work for Amiga-LosGatos, my opinions probably
don't represent those of Commodore or its management or it's engineers,
but I think the world would be a better place if they did.

root@sbcs.sunysb.edu (root) (06/13/88)

In article <9767@oberon.USC.EDU>, papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes:
> In article <Jun.12.21.32.43.1988.1083@topaz.rutgers.edu> melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) writes:
> News was implemented about a year ago by one of the NeWS source licensees.

	Yes, I did the port.

> Since re-licensing NeWS currently REQUIRES a $ 25,000 up-front licensing fee
> it will probably never be marketed.

	Not true.  Ameristar will start marketing the product sometime
	this fall.  The $25K figure is correct..  

> 
> A version of MIT's X Window System, version 11, release 2, running under 
> AmigaDOS has been under development by Dale Luck, "famed Amiga wizard", and
> counting on the type of messages he is posting on comp.windows.x is pretty
> far ahead, though currently supports only monochrome and Ameristar's 
> Ethernet card.  I think Dale can be reached at ...!boing!dale.

	Dale Xwindows port can use MsgPorts for server <-> client 
	communications and may be used without the Ameristar Internet
	package.

> 
> -- Marco Papa 'Doc'
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
> uucp:...!pollux!papa       BIX:papa       ARPAnet:pollux!papa@oberon.usc.edu
>  "There's Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Diga!" -- Leo Schwab [quoting Rick Unland]
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


						Rick Spanbauer
						SUNY/Stony Brook
						(& Ameristar)

paolucci@snll-arpagw.UUCP (Sam Paolucci) (06/14/88)

In article <9767@oberon.USC.EDU> papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes:
>In article <Jun.12.21.32.43.1988.1083@topaz.rutgers.edu> melnik@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ofer Melnik) writes:
>|Has anyone thaught of Implementing Xwindow or NeWS on an amiga?
>|Would it be possible to do? ( I know almost *nothing* about either,
>|so if it's a stupid question, just laugh at me & forget it)
>
>News was implemented about a year ago by one of the NeWS source licensees.
>Since re-licensing NeWS currently REQUIRES a $ 25,000 up-front licensing fee
>it will probably never be marketed.

Marco, are you sure about News?  The last I heard (about two weeks ago from
the horses mouth, i.e. Ameristar) they are planning to show it at the
upcoming SIGGRAPH and plan to market it not very long after that.
Perhaps Rick will have something more to add.

:
>-- Marco Papa 'Doc'
>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>uucp:...!pollux!papa       BIX:papa       ARPAnet:pollux!papa@oberon.usc.edu
> "There's Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Diga!" -- Leo Schwab [quoting Rick Unland]
>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

					-+= SAM =+-

"the best things in life are free"

				ARPA: paolucci@snll-arpagw.llnl.gov