Atari TOS history v1.04

OS:

TOS [The Operating System]

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1

Machines:

260/520ST

Comments:

Initial release. Fairly buggy; only used for compatibility with older programs. Desk accessories must be named DESKn.ACC. Loaded from disk, so also known as "RAM TOS" or "Disk TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1

Machines:

520/1040ST

Comments:

First ROM release. Updated GEMDOS and AES. AKA "Old TOS", "ROM TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.2 (later renumbered 1.02)

Machines:

520/1040ST/STF/SFM/STFM, Mega ST 2 and 4

Comments:

First ROM-only version. Bug fixes; support for DMA/Blitter and real-time clock chips. AKA "Blitter TOS", "Mega TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.09

Machines:

520/1040ST/STF/SFM/STFM, Mega ST 2 and 4

Comments:

Incorrectly-reported number for UK version of 1.(0)2.

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.4 (later 1.04)

Machines:

Stacey laptop (1st release); later on 520/1040STFM, Mega ST 1/2/4,

Comments:

Most common version of TOS; last version to run on pre-STe machines; most compatible with games. More bug fixes (e.g. archive attribute works); improved hard-disk handling and performance. Faster disk copy; file move function; copy preserves date/time stamps; folder renaming; auto-run of GEM apps at startup; larger screen support; file "fastload" flag for faster startup; improved file selector; DOS-compatible disk format; keyboard reset. AKA "Rainbow TOS" because of animated colour Atari "Fuji" logo in desktop "About" dialog box.

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.6

Machine:

1040STE

Comments:

As 1.(0)4 plus support for the enhanced STe. (Up to 4,096 colours; 8-bit stereo DMA sound; light-gun/paddle; external Genlock; hardware scrolling; 68030 processor; etc.) Mouse support in "show file to screen" function; 4-bit colour values; disk boot-up delay. Bug fixes. AKA "STE TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.62

Machine:

1040STE

Comments:

As 1.6 plus bug-fixes, including of 1.6's failure to save selection of medium resolution correctly in DESKTOP.INF.

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Versions:

2.02, 2.05, 2.06

Machine:

Mega STE

Comments:

Last version of Atari TOS for the 68000 line. Many bug fixes. Atari logo display at boot-up; automatic cold boot memory test. Supports higher resolutions, 1.4MB diskettes, 6ms step rate, better media-change detection. Adds GTP program support (GEM-Takes-

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

2.08

Machine:

STbook

Comments:

Special version for 1992 notebook ST. ROM also contains some notebook-specific utilities: STTRANS (null-modem/ parallel-cable data transfer), power management tools, hard disk drive tools and drivers (AHDI, XHDI, BOOKINST and BOOKFMT) and a RAMdisk installer.

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

3.01, 3.05, 3.06

Machine:

TT

Comments:

TOS 3.0x was released (for the 68030-based TT) before 2.0x; TOS 2 was essentially a version of TOS 3 for older hardware. Feature parity was achieved with versions 2.05/3.05. Supports fast "TT RAM", special TT screen resolutions etc. ST-hardware-compatible "Line-A" API dropped for extended TT functionality, forcing programmers to use GEM-compliant VDI calls etc. and thus encouraging GEM-compatible (as opposed to ST-compatible) development. ROM size grows from 256KB to 512KB. AKA "TT TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

4.00, 4.01, 4.02, 4.04

Machine(s):

Falcon

Comments:

New version for the Falcon. 68030 only. Adds support for DSP, 16MHz blitter and video overlay. New v3.40 AES (last single-tasking version, but MiNT/MultiTOS-multitasking-aware) supports: and pop-up menus; 3D window and dialog objects (later modified to to use more compatible ob_state flags instead of extended type); 256-colour "animated" icons; soft-loaded fonts; inter-app drag&drop; background window manipulation; extensible filesystems. New CPX module for international localisation configuration. V4.04 was the last official Atari version of TOS. AKA "3D TOS".

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

none (developed by Atari)

Version:

4.92, 4.98

Machine(s):

Never officially released; distribution illegal

Comments:

Bug-ridden internal developer version, but sometimes offered for download. Would have become TOS 5.0, "Falcon TOS".

OS component:

MiNT [MiNT is Not (later, "Now") TOS]

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.09 (last Atari version of MiNT)

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

BSD Unix-based pre-emptive multitasking/multiuser kernel originally developed by Eric R. Smith. Replaces GEMDOS - provides process/memory management, filesystem I/O etc.; requires AES, VDI and desktop.

OS:

MultiTOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

1.04 (1.08 in unreleased beta)

Machine(s):

Falcon (but runs on all STs and compatibles)

Comments:

Official Atari version. Extension to TOS 4: MiNT kernel + (very slow) multitasking v4.1 AES (AKA "MultiAES".) Runs on 68000, but requires 68030 for memory protection.

OS:

Kaos TOS

Vendor:

Andreas Kromke

Version:

1.4.1

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Early single-tasking TOS replacement, originally based on a large and complex patch set for Atari TOS 1.4. Supplied on ROM as "KAOS030" and as a disk-loaded version, complete with its own desktop, KaosDesk. Faster and less bug-ridden, but incompatible with TT and Falcon. Supplied with some 68030 accelerator boards. Development stopped after release of TOS 2.06. Some parts (such as MCMD CLI shell) reused in MagiC, developed by the same author.

OS:

ABC GEM

Vendor:

ABC Software Holland

Version:

2.2

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Port of PC GEM/2 for ST series. AES and VDI replacement (much faster VDI than TOS 1.04). Uses GEMDOS of built-in TOS. Integrated ABC-GDOS offers minor enhancements, but won't run on CPU >68000.

 =======

OS Component:

Teradesk

Version:

1.40a

Vendor:

Freeware; developed by W. Klaren

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop for TOS. Freeware. Included multitasking support. Compatible MagiC, possibly MiNT/MultiTOS too. Incorporated many features from TOS 2.x, including icons on the desktop, drag and drop to desktop icons, configurable command lines for apps requiring switches etc. Included its own file viewer for viewing text files in windows (vast improvement over TOS file viewer). Development stopped, so no support for long file names or newer system features.

 =======

OS Component:

GDOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

?

Comments:

Original GDOS from Digital Research, ported from PC GEM/1 GDOS. Supplied with some GEM applications and the Atari laser printer. Distribution stopped with release of FontGDOS.

 =======

OS Component:

AMC-GDOS

Vendor:

AMC

Version:

?

Comments:

Slightly better, faster GDOS; some bugfixes. Distributed with AMC software and later under license by Atari (at least in Germany) together with the original GDOS.

 =======

OS Component:

G+Plus GDOS

Vendor:

CodeHead

Version:

? (1988/1989)

Comments:

Commercial. Slightly better, some bugfixes.

 =======

OS Component:

FontGDOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

2

Comments:

Supports TT screen resolutions; bitmap caching; better RAM usage (fonts loaded on demand); GEM/3 Bezier curve VDI routines; more printer drivers, including HP Deskjet, HP Paintjet, Okidata Color, Epson-compatible 24-pin B/W and Colour; easy on-the-fly changing of printer drivers; easy selection or installing of other GDOS drivers.

 =======

OS Component:

FSM (Font Scaling Mechanism) -GDOS

Vendor:

Atari

Version:

3

Comments:

Parallel development with FontGDOS; never independently released, but available in bundles. Supports Imagen Outline Font format.

 =======

OS Component:

SpeedoGDOS

Vendor:

Initially Atari, later Compo Software

Version:

4.1 from Atari; last version 5.7.

Comments:

Commercial. From v5.0 onwards developed by no Software. Supports Speedo vector fonts, and since v5 TrueType and Postscript Type 1 too. (A special version, 4.2, was released for the Papyrus word processor.)

OS:

TOS

Vendor:

Milan Computer GmbH

Version:

4.07 (website reports 4.5) [as at Oct 1999]

Machine(s):

Milan

Comments:

Debugged version of Atari TOS supplied with Milan ST-compatibles. Adds MagiC-compatible extended objects (e.g. crossbuttons, checkbuttons, frames).

Website:

http://www.milan-computer.de/

 =======

OS:

MultiOS

Version:

1.2 [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Milan Computer

Machine(s):

Milan

Comments:

Bundle comprising FreeMiNT kernel (q.v.), N.AES and N.Thing desktop; uses TOS 4.5 VDI.

Website:

http://www.milan-computer.de/

 =======

OS:

MagiC [formerly Mag!X or MagX]

Version:

6.1 [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Application Systems Heidelberg

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles; runs as application/compatibility layer on MacOS and Windows (latter including 680x0 CPU emulation)

Comments:

Commercial TOS-compatible reverse-engineered OS for ST/TT/Falcon & compatibles. Replaces GEMDOS, VDI, and AES. Has own desktop (MagXdesk) but also works with other replacements. Supports both pre-emptive and co-operative multitasking, threads, long filenames, large disks. Supports editable window gadgets via resource file (WINFRAME.RSC), enabling creation of desktop themes. Adds some GEM/2 functions but does not support all functions of Atari 3.40 and 4.1 AESes. Integrated desktop (MagXdesk) has many additional features such as dynamic loading/unloading of accessories.

Website:

http://www.application-systems.de/magic/

 =======

OS component:

FreeMiNT

Version:

1.15.4 beta [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Free GPL software

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Open source version of MiNT, released by Atari after withdrawal from ST market

Website:

http://www.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/~fnaumann/mint/ (source code)

ftp://ftp.stochastik.rwth-aachen.de/pub/atari/sparemint/ (SpareMiNT home)

 =======

OS component:

N.AES (formerly Maxon MultiGEM)

Version:

2.0 [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Woller Systeme

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Co-operative multitasking GEM extension; replaces Atari v4.1AES. Runs on MiNT. Currently most useful AES for MiNT.

Website:

http://www.woller.com/

 =======

OS component:

Geneva

Version:

006 [as at Oct 1999; may be a German-only v007]

Vendor:

Gribnif

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Commercial multitasking replacement for Atari v4.1AES. Runs on MiNT or TOS. Works best with multitasking-aware desktop such as NeoDesk, but can be used without desktop via extended file selector. Adds keyboard control to GEM menus and dialogs; GEM.CNF startup script; dynamic loading/unloading of desk accessories;

Website:

http://www4.pair.com/gribnif/

 =======

OS component:

NVDI

Version:

5.0 [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Behne & Behne Systemsoftware GbR

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles, and under emulation on PC and Mac

Comments:

Commercial replacement for VDI and GDOS. Works with MiNT, MagiC, TOS. Much faster. Commonly used for professional ST work. On machines with special graphics accelerators hardware (e.g. Milan's S3 card), calls ROM VDI graphics driver. Integrated NVDI-GDOS supports Speedo, TrueType and PostScript Type 1 vector fonts.

Website:

http://www.nvdi.de/gb/NVDI5.html

 =======

OS component:

oAESis

Version:

0.90 [as at Oct 1999]

Vendor:

Free GPL software

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

As-yet unfinished project to create a free AES for FreeMiNT.

Website:

http://www.nocrew.org/osis/oaesis/

 =======

OS component:

fVDI

Version:

0.95beta [991016]

Vendor:

Free GPL software

Machine(s):

Drivers available for normal Atari 1/4 bitplanes, FalconTC and Eclipse/RageII

Comments:

Nearly-complete replacement for original VDI/GDOS with some of the later extensions, such as Bezier curves/areas.

Website:

http://rand.thn.htu.se/

 =======

OS component:

XaAES

Version:

beta7+ [March '99]

Vendor:

Free software (GPL?)

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles running MiNT

Comments:

Preemptively multitasking AES. 'Officially' dead, but worked on from time to time.

Website:

None known (original site disappeared)

Latest beta at ftp://rand.thn.htu.se

 =======

OS Component:

Jinnee

Version:

2

Vendor:

Application Systems Heidelberg

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop. Runs on TOS and MagiC. Borrows features from MacOS 8 (such as spring folders and pop-up windows) and Windows Explorer. Supports: placing icons on the desktop; symbolic links; long file names; hotkeys for applications, even from within other apps; association by file-type or wildcards; dynamic loading of desk accessories; desktop sticky-notes; file undelete from the trashcan; intelligent window placement; selection of files by typing the first few characters of the name; selectable desktop backgrounds and sound effects; removable media ejection.

Website:

http://www.application-systems.de/jinnee/

 =======

OS Component:

NeoDesk

Version:

4

Vendor:

Gribnif

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop for TOS. Supports multitasking if used with Geneva, but does not require it. Adds: program groups; background file copy/move, disk formatting; menu bars within windows; operation of the desktop within a window or as a desk accessory; command-line interface and macro language; recoverable trashcan; control panel; screen savers; icon editor with Windows .ICO import; desktop notes; file clipboard (holds files in RAM); directory sorting; desktop background patterns and wallpapers; split windows with multiple views; colours/fonts/icons selectable on a per-window basis; non-modal dialogs; AV server (q.v.).

Website:

http://www4.pair.com/gribnif/neodesk.htm

 =======

OS Component:

Thing

Version:

1.27e

Vendor:

Thomas Binder

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop. Adds: 3D look; file cut/copy/paste; case-sensitive sort; apply button for settings changes; contextual menus; removable media eject option; TrueColour support.; AV server (q.v.)

Website:

http://www.cix.co.uk/~inactive/inactive/software/thng120.htm

OS Component:

Gemini

Version:

1.A

Vendor:

Stefan Eissing

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop ["Venus", after Boticelli's "Venus on the half-shell"] tightly integrated with a console-window CLI [a version of UNIX ksh, originally named "Adonis" but now called "Mupfel": the name derives from a German children's TV character (Ping the Penguin)'s mispronunciation of "Muschel", the German for shell.] "Gemini" (the twins) is the combination of both.
Gemini's main contribution to Atari GEM development is the AV protocol (Adonis/Venus), a de facto standard for interapplication communication. The desktop acts an an "AV server", allowing one application to call another - for example, the CAB Web browser can call another application to view a file, rather than just trying to run it.
C.f. OLGA (Object Linking for Gem Applications) - the Gem equivalent of Microsoft OLE. The OLGA server runs in the background and allows OLGA-aware apps to communicate, including in-place editing. E.g., the Everest HTML editor uses OLGA to tell the CAB browser to refresh its view every time a file is saved, or embedding an Artworx graph in a Texel spreadsheet. OLGA require multitasking but uses standard GEM messages, not AV.

Website:

http://user.tninet.se/~gcc561r/desktops/gemini.html

http://www.muenster.de/~reschke/soft_e.html

 =======

OS Component:

Ease

Version:

***?***

Vendor:

***?***

Machine(s):

All STs and compatibles

Comments:

Replacement desktop. Bundled with early version of MagiC.

Website:

***?***

1

Original version

1.01

Information from Mark Baines' "The Atari A to Z" and other sources

1.02

(20 Oct 1999) Information on replacement desktops added

1.03

(24 Oct 1999) Information on GDOS added; re-ordered

1.04

(25 Oct 1999) SpeedoGDOS relegated to "historical"