Changes
FutureOS
,/* File system */
== Introduction ==
'''FutureOS''' is an revolutionary operating system for the Amstrad [[CPC6128|CPC6128]], [[Plus|6128Plus6128plus]], [[C-ONE|C-One]] and [[CPC TREX|CPC TREX]]. The version for the CPCPlus 6128plus supports some of its special features. The CPC464, CPC664 and [[KC Compact]] can run FutureOS with a [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/open-source-diy-512kb-ram-expansion/msg163566/#msg163566 revaldinho's] 512 KB RAM expansion only.FutureOS is being developed by [[TFM|TFM]] of [[FutureSoft|FutureSoft]] in [[Z80|Z80]] assembler. The development of FutureOS and its applications continues from 1989 up to now (20092023). Therefore FutureOS allows was already sold during the user to control commercial era of the computer with HIDs. The surface provides an icon section CPC6128 and a file section; it can deal with files up to 4 MB in one piece6128plus computers. It has a dynamic memory management systemLatest OS release took place at October 19th, which divides RAM usually into 16 KB blocks - or in smaller pieces2023. Further it supports a variety of hardware expansions. FutureOS is delivered together with a variety of utilities in the same four ROMs. Additional expansion ROMs can be addedPlanned next release: 2025.
The OS itself has roughly 70.000 lines of code, the source code is about 808 KB in size. === How to start FutureOS ===The RSX command '''|OS''' will start FutureOS. You get directly into the Turbo Desk, there you can tag a drive and start an application f.e. (see Desktop). If you want to use FutureOS temporary then use the RSX command '''|FDESK''', this will save your first 48 KB RAM and you can leave FutureOS later and return to previous work. == Requirements ==It runs on 'off the shelf' hardware when using the Cartridge for the 6128 Plus.The core of the OS needs 64 KB ROM. On the CPC6128 it needs a ROM expansion or similar. Compatible products are EPROM-cards, the [[X-MEM]], [[MegaFlash]], [[Inicron ROM-RAM-Box|ROM-RAM-BOX]], [[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]], [[Ramcard 128|RAMcard]], Jareks [[CPC.Flash|Flash-ROM]], [[MegaROM]] or similar products. If you don't own such a card, you can take a look at '''FutureOS''' by using a compatible CPC Emulator ([[JavaCPC|JavaCPC]], [[WinCPC|WinCPC]], [[CaPriCe|Caprice]], [[WinApe|WinApe]], [[!CPCemu|CPCEmu]], [[Arnold]], [[Sugarbox]]) or others. The core of the OS itself is executed directly in (Flash-)ROM or [[Dobbertin EPROM 224|EPROM]] (in four 16 KB blocks). The support of the M4 SD card needs a fifth ROM of 16 KB though. The OS allows jumps between the ROMs with the help of a little common area. Therefore the numbers of the four (five) 16 KB ROMs are hardcoded and the jumps are very quick. But never mind, adapting ROM number is done by the installation software anyway. Applications like ROManager do also set all that ROM numbers automatically right. Further parts of the OS can be loaded from media on demand if needed. Examples are the multitasking manager [[Caruh]] and the UI/menu framework CBM. '''FutureOS''' uses 2 KB (&B800...&BFFF) of the first 64 KB; the rest of the remaining RAM is available to applications. Additional RAM can be reserved for DIRectory buffering. Furthermore the OS uses memory management(up to 4 MB), file-handling and specialized Low/Mid/High-level routines and functions to access and manage the hardware.
'''FutureOS''' can be launched from AmsDOS with the RSX commands |OS or |FDESK. If you use |FDESK you can leave '''FutureOS''' and get back to BASIC where you have stopped before - the first 48 KB (not the screen) have been preserved.
'''FutureOS''' only runs well on a [[CPC6128|CPC6128]] or 6128plus 6128 Plus (not CPC464 or 664, except you have a RAM expansion with full RAM mode &C3 support like the one from Revaldhino), because of their support for RAM configuration C3 (essential for the mouse pointer). FutureOS is not compatible with native [[AMSDOS|AMSDOSFirmware]] or [[CP/M|CP/M]] programs, but supports their data structure. It needs a [[Class]] 2 CPC, it runs best with a [[Class]] 4 CPC or higher.
A graphical mouse pointer is used to select devices, functions or files; this pointer can be controlled with nearly all of the pointer based HID devices (joystick, mouse, trackball, light-pen, Grafpad II, analogue joystick etc.) available for the CPC. In addition functions provided by the GUI can be activated using hotkeys. Type "d" for example to read and display the directory of a drive. Applications can call the GUI of the OS; and the user returns to the application using the OK icon. The icons are fixed, therefore the layout remains stable throughout its use and on every CPC using FutureOS. In SPARtan mode the GUI only displays icons which can be used directly. Unused icons will be hidden. In this mode the GUI is more easy to use and you see a bigger part of the wallpaper (if loaded). === Desktop functions === Watch pictures or movies. View text-files on-screen (scroll up and down) or print them on your printer. When viewing a picture you can adjust MODE and screen format using the cursor keys. When typing a text file it is possible to set the number of columns and lines of the window the text is displayed in. File headers can also be examined. FutureOS uses expanded but compatible file-headers, that allow a file to be up to 16 MB in length. The file-header can additionally specify the target RAM of a file. Further it can contain a file icon or a short file description. One or more files can be LOADed, SAVEd, RENamed, ERAsed, COPYd or PRINTed on printer. Previously used files can be retagged for a second usage, or all files can be untagged. The I(nformation) icon provides any kind of help (if a help system is installed). Further there is the [[FutureOS Monitor]], which provides access to RAM, ROM, Z80 registes, I/O ports and allows the testing of routines. === Hot keys ===Hot keys can be used every time while working in the Desktop. To activate or deactivate a device (drive, hard disc partition f.e.) press Space first, then the corresponding letter from A to M. A (retag All previously used files), B (jump over next file name without tagging), C (Copy discs), D (display Directory), E (Erase files or format discs), F (Filecopy), G (Go to function below mouse arrow or tag a file name), H (show IDE Hard-disc), I (get Information), J (Jump to first file name), L (Load file), M (enter Machine Monitor), N (reName file or disc), P (Print DIR or file), Q (Quit OS session or start new), S (Save file), U (Untag all files), V (View pictures of text), W (set Alarm time - Wecker), X (eXecute application), Y (edit date), Z (edit time). === SPARtan mode ===[[Image:SPARtan 1.png|thumb|right]] The '''SPARtan''' mode reduces the number of displayed icons to a icon set which can be immediately used. Using the Desktop will be easier and you see more of your wallpaper.When the Spartan mode is off, all icons will be shown all the time.The Spartan mode can be activated by setting a bit in the configuration bytes, either by hand of by using the ''''Konfig OS'''' / ''''Config OS'''' utility (see system application disc). === Auto-DIR mode ===If the Auto-DIR option is switched on you just click on an drive / partition icon to read, sort and show its DIRectory. Furthermore in this mode some 'AI' is activated f.e. when you click at the Copy icon and no files are tagged the Desktop will directly jump into Disc-copy mode instead the File-copy mode.If the Auto-DIR is off, then you need to do more things 'by hand', but you also have a bit more control over the system.The Auto-DIR mode can be activated by setting a bit in the configuration bytes. This is done by using the ''''Konfig OS'''' / ''''Config OS'''' utility (see system applications). === Wallpaper ===Like for most OS the background of the Desktop can be adapted. This is actually quite easy for FutureOS. Just use the application "command bar menu-LoadHGB.64K" (English) / "-LadeHGB.64K" (German). HGB stands for "HinterGrundBild" and is German for Wallpaper. There are discs and ROMs full of wallpapers. If you want to create your own wallpapers then you'll need a MODE 2 screen with 512 x 256 pixel. You can even use an application inside [[JavaCPC]] for this. You also can load a wallpaper by hand: Place such a 16 KB (headerless) screen in one of the E-RAMs and set the right system variable of the OS (see file #OS-VAR.ENG). Here are some Wallpapers: http://futureos.cpc-live.com/files/Wallpaper_HGBs_Deu-Eng.zip Or take a direct look at some [[Wallpaper|Wallpapers]] == FutureOS hardware monitor ==The [[FutureOS Monitor]] is a small built in machine monitor of the [[FutureOS]] operating system. It contains basic functions to access (expansion) memory and the Porting system to comfortably access all the CPCs I/O ports. When using FutureOS for the CPC Plus you can also access all memory mapped I/O (hardware sprites, DMA-sound, soft scrolling etc.). === Features ===* Dump RAM, ROM, expansion RAM or memory mapped I/O (CPC Plus)* Edit RAM, expansion RAM or memory mapped I/O (CPC Plus)* Access all I/O ports of the CPC and external hardware* Edit Z80 registers (previously to calling an machine program). This includes the first and second register set, both index registers, the stack pointer, R and I* Configure RAM, ROM, I/O for other functions* Move block of memory, ROM, RAM, expansion RAM* Initialize block of memory with an 8 or 16 bit value, RAM, expansion RAM* Call a machine program or OS function* Exit, brings you back to the Desktop === Images === <gallery>caption="Some preview images of the game">Image:OS-Mon_1.pngImage:OS-Mon_2.pngImage:OS-Mon_3.png</gallery> == CBM - the UI for Applications ==[[Image:CBM.png|thumb|right]] The "'''C'''ommand '''B'''ar '''M'''enu" ([[CBM|CBM]]) is an non a partially resident part of FutureOS, which can be easily linked into applications. * It's object oriented ('''OO''') user interface consists of several flexible windows, pull down menus and file selectors. * In addition hot keys can be used. * Using [[CBM|CBM]] as the standard (G/T)UI for FutureOS programs helps making them looking similar and useable usable in an intuitive way. * A part of the CBM is located in the FutureOS ROMs, another the flexible part can be individually adapted to its target applications and will be integrated in the application itself. [[Image:Caruh.png|thumb|192px|Example of Task Manager Caruh]]== Caruh - the Task Manager for Applications ==[[Caruh]] is the task manager for the cooperative preemptive multitasking under FutureOS. It's available as RAM application (and planned for lower ROM - which offers limited memory protection). Features of Tasks:* Up to 255 different tasks* Every task has its own RAM and stack* Tasks have a priority* Tasks can use a part of the main screen (background task) or an own complete screen (foreground task)* Tasks use multiple screens, which can be swapped. No chaotic window structure.* Tasks can be dynamically added and/or deleted* Tasks can be saved and continued later or on other computers* Tasks can use additional OS functions* The regular Turbo Desktop of FutureOS can be used too* Aside of screen MODEs 0-3 different screen formats are usable (80x25, 68x30, 64x32)
== File system ==
[[Image:HERO-HED.JPG|thumb|192px|Example of FutureOS file header]]
The file system of FutureOS can handle multiple simultaneous floppy disc drives and hard disc partitions. Also SD cards are supported up to 32 GB. After the selection of the devices FutureOS reads and buffers the directory entries of the devices. This speeds up the the data transfer significantly. Integrated utilities like the multi file copy can copy files from physical sources to different physical destinations in one run.
The file system is compatible with the CPCs native data-, file- and format structures (f. e. File header, Disc formats), but expanded in many ways. FutureOS supports the Data, IBM, System, Vendor and Vortex (704 KB) disc formats.
Filenames can use all 256 different characters and user areas from 0 to 254 (except for &E5, which is reserved for deleted files). Unlike Amsdos, a file that is erased under FutureOS is not shifted to user &E5, but is physically removed from the directory. During this process the directory get sorted. File headers are can be displayed as AmsDOS small text files or the icon-like file-header of as graphic icons (f. e. a FutureOS programapplication). An AmsDOS file header has 128 bytes of which most are unused. FutureOS makes use of those unused bytes so that files have a length definition of 24 bit (16 MB file length) and can have a physical RAM select. Therefore a file can be defined to be loaded everywhere in the external RAM. Also a [[FutureOS Header|FutureOS file-header ]] can contain a graphical icon, a textual icon or a short description of the file.
FutureOS includes one of the fastest FDC-based disc- and file-reading and writing routines ever written for the CPC. This is possible by ignoring the interleave factor, reading one physical sector directly after each other to the correct position in memory but also by just starting with the first appearing sector of every new track. With an increased In addition the DIRectory is buffered in RAM, the head of the floppy must not step back to look for the next block. The track step rate itis increased and can be adjusted for every drive. It's even faster than optimized copy programs like Crowns' [[Crime|Crime]].
== Implementation of Hardware ==
The OS supports many of the hardware available for the CPC. One of the ambitions of FutureOS is to support all hardware available. Hardware expansions usually need drivers that can be flexibly added to an OS. Contrary to this approach, a goal of FutureOS is to provide a monolithic architecture where all drivers are implemented in a hardcoded way.
*''Disc drives and hard discs:'' FutureOS supports up to eight floppy disc drives and up to four hard disc partitions(Dobbertin HD20 hard disc). It buffers the directories read from any mass storage device in the expansion RAMto speed up drive access.
*''Plug and Play:'' If a hardware expansion is connected to the CPC FutureOS will automatically detect that expansion, initialise it and make it available to the userand applications. The architecture of the OS allows you to add and remove hardware on purpose(hot plug and play). The user You can switch external hardware on or off in the configuration bytes (use ConfigOS utility).
== OS supported Hardware Memory Management ===== RAM ===* Unlike other CPC-OS the FutureOS uses only small amounts of the memory of the CPC since it is located and executed in ROM.* When using the Desktop the OS uses the RAM between &A000 and &BFFF (8 KB).* In case an application is running: The RAM that is used by the OS can be reduced to the region between &B800 and &BFFF, in this case only 2 KB are occupied by system variables of the OS.* Depending on the amount of active drives and HD partitions additional expansion RAM blocks will be occupied for directory buffering, but there is no reduction in free main memory (first 64 KB). After loading data this buffers can be freed again of course.* FutureOS provides an expansion RAM manager containing all needed OS functions to check for, order, allocate, free and manage expansion RAM up to 4 MB.* Also files of that length (4 MB) can be loaded and saved at once. This depends on the amount of connected E-RAM of course.
==== Drives ====
*3" A, B, C and D drives (C, D need hardware patch)
*3.5" and 5.25" drive
*Atari ST 80 Track DS double-sided B-drive *[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin]] D-DOS Double drive. Up to four drives 80 track, doublesideddouble-sided. *[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin X]] [[XD-driveDOS]] X-drive 80 tracks, DS *[[F1|Vortex disc drives FI-D, F1-S, F1-X, M1-D, M1-S]]. Own FDC, up to four drives 80 track, double-sided.*[[F1|Vortex disc drives F1-X, M1-X]]. Up to four drives 80 track, doublesideddouble-sided.and ...*[[HxC Floppy Emulator]] (On message "Disc is write protected" put a HFE in HxC or adjust its configuration)
==== Mass storage / Hard-discs ====*[[SYMBiFACE IIDobbertin Harddisc|SYMBiFACE IIDobbertin HD20]](72 KB/s data transfer rate, four partitions of 5160 KB)*[[M4 Board]] (135 KB/s data transfer rate, SD card supported)
==== Joysticks ====*[[Dobbertin HarddiscAnalog Joysticks|Dobbertin HD20Analog Joystick]] (72 KB/s data transfer rate6128 Plus) * [[CPC-IDEDigital Joysticks]] 1 and [[SYMBiFACE II]] IDE support, but only low-level, FutureOS IDE-ROM needed2
==== Memory expansions ====* 4 MB expansion from Zaxon*[[c't 512 KB internal RAM expansion]] (DIY) (c't magazine)*[[Campursoft ROM Board]] (DIY)*[[CPC4MB|Jareks 4 MB RAM expansion]] provides 4 MB RAM*[[D-ROM]]*[[Dk'Joysticks<br>'tronics memory expansion|Dk'tronics]] 64-512 KB and compatibles *[[Dobbertin Memory Expansion|Dobbertin]]*[[FlashGordon]]*[[Inicron RAM-Box|Inicron]]*[[Inicron ROM-RAM-Box]]*[[M4 Board]]*[[MegaFlash]]*[[RAM7 2MB memory expansion|RAM7' s RAM expansion]] (up to 2 MB) *[[RAM BOX]]*[[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]]*[[X-MEM]]*[[Y-MEM]]*[[Z-MEM]]
==== Real-Time-Clocks ====*[[Dobbertin Smart Watch]] and the version from dxs*[[LambdaSpeak III]] and [[LambdaSpeak FS]]*[[M4 Board]]*[https://pulkomandy.github.io/shinra.github.io/nova.html Nova]*[[SYMBiFACE II:Realtime clock|SYMBiFACE II]]*[[SYMBiFACE III]]*[[Dk'''Memory expansions<br>''' tronics Real Time Clock]]
==== Sound and Music ====*[[Dk'tronics memory expansion|Dk'tronicsAmstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer]] 64-512 KB and compatibles (*[[Dobbertin Memory ExpansionCTC-AY SDK main fr|DobbertinCTC-AY]], aka [[Inicron RAM-Box|InicronPlayCity]], *[[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE IIDigiblaster]]) *[[RAM7 2Mb memory expansion|RAM7Dk's RAM expansiontronics Speech Synthesizer]] (up to 2 MB) *[[CPC4MB|Jareks 4 MB RAM expansionFuturePlayer]] for MP3 samples up to 128 kbps (max. 4 MBin size)*[[LambdaSpeak]] (the MP3 module is fully supported)*[[Soundplayer]]
==== Networking ====*[[Amstrad Serial Interface]]*[[CPC Booster]]+ and TotO'''Real-Time-Clocks''' s MiniBooster*[[Schneider RS232 Interface]]*[[USIfAC]]*[[Virtual Net 96]]There is limited support at the moment
== ROM-included Utilities ==
The FutureOS roms ROMs already include several utilities as an addition to the operating system. Tools like copy (files or discs), formatdiscs (data-, system-, ibm- and Vortex-format), erase files, rename files, type and print files, set alarm time, set time of RTC, verify discs or directory refreshing , display file-header etc. are available without the need to load them from an external medium. Multiple files can be copied between different physical media in one go.
Only some examples are mentioned.*''Z80 AssemblerThe String Editor:'' You can use an assembler for AmsDOS or for CP/M. Switching between AmsDOS and FutureOS is fast and using |FDESK It allows to come back enter strings up to AmsDOS with the first 48 64 KB or RAM remaining untouched, different character sets can be used, a range of legal letters can be defined, four keyboard levels (normal, shift, control and shift+control) can be used.
== Developing for FutureOS == You can develop very freely: the RSTs are free for use, you can choose the interrupt mode and access all the hardware. Also the second register set of the Z80 can be completely used by applications - in contrast to all other OS for the CPC. *''Z80 Assembler:'' You can use an assembler for AmsDOS or for CP/M. Switching between AmsDOS and FutureOS is fast and using |FDESK allows to come back to AmsDOS with the first 48 KB or RAM remaining untouched. There is a Z80 library for FutureOS the programmer can use for own applications. *''The Command Bar Menu:'' In addition [[CBM]] can make application development easy and quick. All needed sources are provided and explained. A variety of sample programs exist to show how to use CBM. *''Programming in C for FutureOS:'' With [[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] - the IO-Lib for FutureOS it 's also possible to use C as a programming language. Beside the usual I/O the FIOLIB provides a lot of valuable functions for management of text, keyboard, files, relative files, screen, colors, graphic and more.
== Applications / Demos / Games ==
The following programs can be downloaded at the FutureOS homepage, see Weblinks below.
=== Games ===
*[[Burnin Wheels]] (Soft scrolling car racing game)
*[[Cyber Huhn|Cyber Chicken]] (3D space game)
*[[Gerelakos|Gerelakos]] ([[RPG]] under construction)
*[[H.E.R.O.]] by [[Flynn]]
*[[Return of the Sisters|Return of the Sisters]] (a Giana Sisters Clone) WIP name "A tribute to the Sisters..."
=== Demos ===
*[[Captain Future]] (4 MB movie that uses Jareks 4 MB expansion)
*[[CBMDarth Vader]] (stand alone demo)*[[FutureView|CBMFutureView]] (pull down menu librarydisc mag) *Darth Vader [[Gravitation Zero]]*[[Meg Ryan sample]] demo*[[NGC4650A]]*[[Odiesofts Snow]]*[[Rotating Fractal]] (stand alone demo)*[[Star Trek sample demo]] === Applications ===*[[Caruh]] (partial ROM resident OS expansion: Multi-Tasking Manager) *[[CBM|CBM]] (partial ROM resident OS expansion: Common Application (G)UI) *[[-CntrlPanel]] (control panel)
*[[FilmeMacher|FilmeMacher]] (movie player)
*[[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] (C library)
*[[Flash ROManager|Flash ROManager]] (management of Jareks Flash ROM expansion)
*[[FuturePlayer|FuturePlayer]] (MP3 and WAV player) - Ask TFM for MP3 files on discs
*[[FutureViewFutureTex|FutureViewFutureTex]] (disc mag) *[[Gerelakos|Gerelakos]] ([[RPG]] under construction) *[[GSED]] (Graphic Playground Editor for 2D / 3D gamestext editor)
*[[GMSK|GMSK]] (sprite converter)
== Conclusion ==
FutureOS is the longest running projects for the CPC6128 / 6128plus. It's development startet around 1989 and in 2023 we saw a new release.It's designed as an OS with fast routinessystem calls and support for nearly all CPC expansions. It has specialised file handling and memory management capabilities that support programs up to 4 MB und and files up to 16 MB. SD cards are supported up to 32 GB. In addition FutureOS already contains lots of useful tools and utilities.The idea is that development of professional software, games, graphic tools, word processors, sound, management of big amounts of data, and programming languages are possible in this environment. At this point, the user can do all this, like listen to MP3 files, work with graphic, use and create C programs, watch movies, demos and play games(see weblinks).
== Web links ==
=== General ===*[http://www.FutureOS.de FutureOS homepage] *[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FutureOS/ FutureOS Downloads & Mailing list] *[http://cpc-live.com/javacpc.php?system=FutureOS&title=FutureOS&full=true&boot=|os&disc=FutureOS_Darth.dsk&discb=FutureOS_Fraktal.dsk&discc=FutureOS_FV-I.dsk&discd=FutureOS_FV-II.dsk&disce=FutureOS_FV-III.dsk&discf=FutureOS_FV-IVeng.dsk&discg=FutureOS_NGC4650A.dsk Try and use FutureOS online at JavaCPCde]
*[http://koaks.amstrad.free.fr/amstrad/documents/article_futureos.html FutureOS, le supersonique du CPC]
=== Discussion Forum ===*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/futureos-corner/ Discussions in English]*[http://cpc-live.com/forum/index.php/board,5.0.html Diskussionen auf Deutsch] === Youtube Videos ===There is a special youtube channel for FutureOS, it provides different playlists for different topics related to this comprehensive OS. Please have a look here:*[https://www.youtube.com/user/realTFM/playlists FutureOS Playlists] [[Category:4 MB RAM Software Support]] [[Category:Cartridges]] [[Category:CPC GUI]] [[Category:CPC_Plus]] [[Category:Digiblaster]][[Category:Expansion ROM]] [[Category:Extended RAM Software]] [[Category:FutureOS]] [[Category:Operating_System]]