#ARREX
11 messages in this thread
Hi CHeath,
I just wanted to thank you for sending me that update. I see that the
copy command is still not finished. I wish that there was a good program to
test disk caching for floppy disks, so that I can compare DiskBlitz with
Perry's FACCII.
I wanted to ask if you knknow anything more about the AREXX project.
Since I have never seen REXX, I'm not totally sure what to expect. I assume
that it is a powerful macro based command set. Sort of like a grown up version
of what the AmigaDOS script commands were meant to be! Will it be implemented
as a more powerful version of something like CSH (with aliasing, pipes, etc.)?
In what way will it be able to interact with TxEdPlus?
I hope these aren't too many questions, but I really am very curious!!!
-RSL-
The ARP stuff I sent is still the V1.03 stuff – we're not sending
beta versions out generally because we want to limit the number of
different versions of ARP stuff in circulation. Still don't have
CP finished even in BETA yet…
.
Diskperfa can be used to benchmark caches, but doesn't really give
a meaningful result since the real test of caching is in how well
it retains the correct data blocks, and how reliably it works in
the system. I think the Diskperfa results will show Faccii and
BlitzDisk within 1% of each other for raw speed.
.
A simple description of AREXX would be that it is an implementatioin
of an IBM mainframe command language; however, the real beauty
of AREXX on the Amiga is that it provides a simple command interface
between programs. In two years, Apple and Microsoft will have built
this type of interface, and everybody will be designing interfaces
that use a common macro language. I hope the Amiga community
can get behind AREXX and exploit this as another Amiga first. The
potential is as great as comparing punched cards with a video
terminal.
.
TxEd Plus will be out in January; it will work with or without
AREXX but the new command language is designed to work with AREXX
and to provide a lot of the common functionality other applications
will want when using AREXX. Most applications need some sort of
editing, or text processing, or a configurable help system, so
I've tried to work support for a lot of different things into
TxEd Plus to make it useful beyond simple editing needs. I've
still kept it small and fast as an editor, in fact current TxEd
owners might not notice a difference on first glance. Then
when they open up the hood, there's this turbocharged engine
stuffed in there C-:
…cheath
Thanks for the explanation. The coming year is sounding more and more exciting
for the Amiga, not to mention computers in general!
-RSL-
Can't wait 'till after Christmas when I can catch my break a day or two and
decide which of 16 ways I'm going to go once I get the TxEd Plus release out!
I'm sure the next project will be a great program, judging on all your previous
programs.
-RSL-
Hope so … I'm looking forward to going back to a graphics/video
oriented thing after a year playing with system level stuff
…cheath
What aspect of graphics/video? Picture enhancement, animation, or possibly
three dimensional modeling?
-RSL-
Not sure yet. The details are still pretty fuzzy.
Someone out there is spreading an erroneous rumor that you plan to work
on a color version of HyperCard for the Amiga. Do you know anyone actively
working on a "hypertext-like" project?
-RSL-
I was the source, it is a ways off and still be a figament of
somebodie's imagination. I'd like to do it; it is a natural
extension of the stuff I've done before with AREXX and TxEd Plus,
and some other games work I've done in the past. Biggest problem
is I don't think Microsmiths could sell it – for a Hypercard
llike product to work, you need everybody to own it, so all the
related software gets developed for it. So I'd have to find
a publisher than can reach 50% of Amiga owners to make it
a workable idea.
.
I think there are some other people working on things that get
associated with the concept "Hypercard". It's a good buzz word,
catches lots of attention … I have a pretty good feeling about
what can be done working on extensions of the things Bill and
I have been doing, and we hope that by this time next year,
Apple and Microsoft will be borrowing terms from us C-:
( But until we can work out the publishing details, it's just
another idea )
…cheath
Have you talked to the Big Boys from C-A about your idea? HyperCard for the
Macintosh has perhaps greater P.R. value than software value. A smart marketing
type would think it would make the Amiga a more "legitimate" business-type
computer! I know that the profits in bundling software are not as great as
separate packages, and I doubt that C-A will see the potential, but have you
breached the subject with anyone at C-A?
-RSL-