I hope you saw a prototype of GUI for Sprinter by MVG already.
This is a brief translation of message by MVG from Russian forum. News about starting of project of graphics tool for Sprinter computer.


1. We (I and POV) draw a desktop now. We will sent it after finishing. Folders will be supported. Estex applications will works correctly. These applications will take all memory (like DOS programms in Win3.11). With return to the tool after finishing, certainly.
2. Icones will be present.
3. Applications of tool (plugins) will be programms which use several rules:
a) not touch Sprinter ports;
b) use only internal API of tool;
с) use only tool's disk functions;
d) do not use Estex functions directly.

4. Tool's applications (plugins) will be pseudomultitasks.

5. Plans about plugins.
At first.

1. Explorer (for HTML probably)
2. Simple text editor.
3. Calendar.
4. Calculator.
5. Print manager.
6. Graphics viewer

And other in future.

6. Buffer (for Cut, Past, Copy commands) will be supported. For plugins only, certainly.

A questions.
Which video mode you need for desktop? 320x256 or 640x256?
Your variant of a name of the new tool?

A suggestion to programmers.
Take part in this project! Any ideas will be interesting.

MVG


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PETERS PLUS LTD

what about to implement SMSQ/E? This graphic user interface was buildt on Sinclair QL and now seem to be an open source project.
For web surfing :-) is it possible to use mozilla that have C sources.

I think that 640*256 is much better than 320*256. Now i'm using amiga in 640*256 resolution it's quite enough (except some sites in the internet)...

IMHO not in any case. In 640x256 video mode only 16 colors are available. But Sprinter can use several windows with different video modes in the same time. For example, desktop can use 320x256x256 video mode for much color of icones. BTW, some users have suggestions for free size of icones.
And plugin of graphic viewer need 320x256x256 video mode, isn't it?
But plugin of text viewer can use 640x256x16 video mode.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

are you looking for an operating system?
here is an utility link:
http://www.gaby.de/z80/z80os.htm
(all operating systems for z80) also (in czeck)
http://www.pcsvet.cz/r-art.asp?id=468&tmp=1
have you ever listened about minix?
ftp://ftp.cs.vu.nl/pub/minix/
is a unix like multitasking os for z80
If you are looking for a Software Development Tool:
http://www.gaby.de/z80/z80sdt.htm

Thanks. I will sent these links to authors of a new graphics tool.
But they have graphics drive already, as I know. Now this drive need new graphics of API and support of DSS functions.
Your (and of other forum members) new ideas and suggestions of future tool's features are more useful then any sources.
I hope, we will see several intermediate results before beta version. MVG says about three month work for this tool.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

I have also sent an e-mail to UZIX creator: I hope that is possible to port his operating system on Sprinter.

This is another topic. About UZIX for Sprinter we should talk with Shaos. He support this idea too.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

I support this idea tooooo! Uniz rulz^)

The first sketch of graphics tool was attached. It has a 640x256 size. Note, Sprinter and PC (for example) different show this image. Sprinter has vertical slim pixels (not proportional) in 640x256 video mode.
So, authors wait your criticism and suggestions.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

cool!!! like windoze ;-)
but... cd rom is accessible?!? I took that only cd audio are playable...

Windows? Hm... Maybe.
What do you think about skins for this tool? Authors know about this suggestion already. I hope it will be done.
CD-ROM is available for audio player and CD browser (CD commander).

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PETERS PLUS LTD

That looks nice. I think too 640*256 is the best resolution for such a thing, because you can have more text and icons on screen and the number of colors is not so important...

The style is too close to Windows' in my opinion. I think it would be better to have an interface more original that you can recognize easily as the one from the Sprinter.
I think Magic Workbench on the Amiga is a good example. With little colors (8) and a 640*256 resolution, they managed to make something clean and elegant...

what about having a competition to design the interface ? :)

Mister MVG offer this picture

Unfortunetly he hates Amiga and Linux. Mister MVG love Windows very much, so I think that he will make "windoze clone" on Sprinter :)
I think that good choice should be AWT from Java teqnique or NeXT Step, for example...

Alexander Shabarshin (shaos@mail.ru)
http://www.shaos.ru

Hello !

Discussion is begin, its great. I make this graph. shell for Estex like MustDie becouse i thing what Win is best os(linux- is Student-maked, command pront based os, amiga die) . Who is not agry with my position - it his problem. Let make his os Linux/Mac-os/Cmp/compatible, i make this shell like Win (my program is not Os, Sprinter allredy have OS, it is graphic shell wis gui).

bye...
MVG mvg_soft@mail.ru

ps. Sorry, my englush is not wery good....

I agree with you!!
great work!

It's perfect stuff if it will work. So we will wait :)

Alexander Shabarshin (shaos@mail.ru)
http://www.shaos.ru

> linux- is Student-maked, command pront based os

You are wrong...
Linux is made by professionals, not students.
Linus Torvalds is not student now!
But Bill Gates take young people after colleges as programmers, so Windows is student-made os :)



Alexander Shabarshin (shaos@mail.ru)
http://www.shaos.ru

what about having a competition to design the interface ? :)

Any programmers can try to create a variant of GUI for Sprinter. IMHO, the best way is a module of API, which can used for GUI of new programms for Sprinter. Users will make a choice.



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PETERS PLUS LTD