*** TOPIK Note : The C source for this program, called "Dirk.c" can be
found in the Source Directory of this Disk.


    9/88


    DIRK v0.01 -- Tune workbench colors to system performance

                         -----------------

                   Copyright (C) 1988 by Daniel Elbaum

         This software is freely redistributable provided that:
         the three files which comprise it (dirk, dirk.c, dirk.doc)
         remain intact; all copyright notices contained in any of
         the aforementioned files remain intact; and no fee beyond
         reasonable remuneration for collation and distribution be
         charged for use and/or purveyance.


                         -----------------

Syntax:
    run dirk [-t|m] [-gN] [-bN] [-hN] [-lN] [-iN]] [+rN] [+gN] [+bN]

Parameters:

    Option   Default    Effect
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    -
        t               track tasks only
        m               track memory only
        g        4      granularity of task mapping (small for few tasks)
        b       14      background saturation
        h       12      maximum detail saturation
        l        8      minimum detail saturation
        i      180      interval in ticks (60 or 50 per second)

    +
        r        8      base value for red component of detail pen
        g        8      base value for green component of detail pen
        b        8      base value for blue component of detail pen


    If you like the program, you may eventually want to start it from
    your startup-sequence, so you might want to dirk around with
    the options before deciding on a command line to use. Here
    they are.

    The -t option enables task tracking only.  The background color
    is not affected.

    The -m option complements the -t option; only memory tracking is
    turned on.  The detail pen color is not affected.

    The following command line options require counts.  The valid
    range of the count varies from option to option.  All color
    counts should be between 0 and 15; other counts must be
    between 0 and 65535.

    Granularity, set with -gN, is the sensitivity with which detail
    pen color responds to the instantaneous number of ready tasks.
    Workable values lie between 1 and 8.

    The background saturation argument, -bN, determines the brightness
    of the screen, which remains constant as hue varies.  N is best
    set between 4 and 14.

    Maximum detail saturation (-hN) is a limit on the brightness of
    the detail pen.  A value of 8 to 14 (14 brighter) can keep
    detail from glaring.  The valid range is 0-15.

    Minimum detail saturation, -lN (ell not one) is a floor on the
    brightness of the pen, to maintain good contrast to the
    background.  For a light background, l should be at least 8.

    The interval (-iN) is the number of ticks to wait between
    data retrieval expeditions.  A tick is 1/60th of a second
    in the US, and 1/50 in Europe.  If N is given as 0, the
    research and reporting are done constantly, and system
    performance slows slightly but noticeably.  180 corresponds
    to ~3 seconds, and is probably a good functional maximum.

    The + arguments specify the detail pen's basic color.
    As the number of tasks increases, the pen becomes dimmer,
    and as the proportion of active tasks increases, the pen
    becomes yellower.  -rN sets the red component (0-15),
    -gN sets the green, and -bN sets the blue.  It's worth
    experimenting to find a combination which provides good
    contrast.

    It all sounds confusing but once you run the program
    and see what it does, the meaning of the command line
    options will hopefully fall into place.

                         -----------------
Description:

    The purpose of this program is to present key system
    information to the user without cluttering up the display.
    The workbench background color changes from blue through
    purple to red as the amount of free memory decreases.
    The workbench detail color (the color of text and Workbench
    window borders) changes from bright white to gray as the
    number of system tasks increases.  Further, the yellow
    content of this color is increased according to the number
    of active tasks.

    On a newly-booted vanilla system, borders are white and the
    background is close to the standard Workbench blue.  As
    you use the system, calling up programs and creating files
    on the RAMdisk, the screen takes on an increasingly reddish
    hue.  When memory is nearly full, the background is completely
    red.

    Similarly, as tasks are added, the borders dim slightly.
    In other words, after you set up dmouse, conman, snipit,
    or whatever to run in the background, the detail color
    fades, eventually to grey.  If many background tasks are
    active rather than just waiting around for an interrupt or
    message, the grey will be tinted yellow.

    With dirk running in the background, you always have a rough
    idea of how much memory is available and how busy the system
    is, without hunting around for the window of your favorite
    resource-tracking gizmo.

                         -----------------

Signature and self-promo:

    If you want to send me money for dirk, then by all means
    do so--many projects are in progress and I need financing.
    $5.00 is recommended.  Make checks payable to:

    Daniel Elbaum
    Amaranth Software
    4816 SE Bybee Blvd.
    Portland, Ore. 97206


    Send comments, suggestions, and flames to:

    Daniel Elbaum
    Portland bbs: Amigaboard!, NAG
    UUCP: ...!tektronix!reed!elbaum
    ARPA: elbaum@reed.EDU