| From: | Gary Peake |
| Date: | 20 Oct 2000 at 15:18:56 |
| Subject: | Re: AmigaDE run-time environment [was: Amigactive website down?] |
On Thu, 19 Oct 2000 20:06:54 +0100, "Alastair M. Robinson"
<blackfive@redhotant.com> wrote:
>Hi Gary,
>> By utilizing the AmigaDE as a run time, binary compatible system for
>> developers, they can literally code once and not worry about whether the
>> user will want to run his programs on a Linux box or a Windows box or as a
>> stand alone application on the new Amiga. Sorry, no details, but very
>> doable and we have proof of concept already in house.
>
>I think I get it... Amiga by stealth! I.e. the "general public" user just
>installs the application, and if it's not there already the
>run-time-environment is installed "behind the scenes" like it's just a
>collection of support libs. All the user notices is that the software
>actually works properly ;-) (Plus a Powered by Amiga logo?)
>Have I got the general idea?
Yes, and when you see people writing that Bill McEwen doesn't know the
difference between Real time and Run time, you can feel free to educate
them. AmigaDE is BOTH!
>My original concern, which up to a point remains, was that what I (perhaps
>unkindly) term "Fisher Price user-interfaces" seems to be what mainstream
>(non-technical) consumers want. They don't want to make the investment
>of knowledge to user flexible software efficiently, they want the machine
>to do everything for them, and then complain when they find themselves
>limited by the program's presets.
We have two angles of attack in motion. On the one hand, all of us are
Amigans and we WANT to be able to set our own the way WE want it. Guess
what? No two of us in house want it the same way.
My wife, on the other hand, wants to hit the "On" button, and click once
and the computer does all the work. She doesn't want to have to fool with
anything, set anything, use a shell, or God forbid actually do anything
except double click an icon.
We intend to accommodate people like ourselves and like my wife at the same
time. Does that answer it for you?
>I suppose this little rant is aimed at the software industry (or consumers)
>in general, rather than at Amiga's plans, but it's the reason why I still
>have some reservations about the undoubtedly necessary move from our
>current quiet little software backwater (which *does* have a unique
>approach to many things) into the mainstream.
Don't look for mainstream looks from us until we take over the world and
ARE the mainstream. :)
Amiga is about "choices" and "doing things just because you can".
Gary Peake
Amiga Inc.
http://www.amigadev.net
http://www.amiga.com
Catch the Dream
Quote carefully and read all ADMIN:README mails