Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/07/09/qnx_developer_pleas_for_amiga/

QNX developer pleas for Amiga community support

Our OS is better than Linux, so stick with us, company demands

By Tony Smith

Posted in On-Prem, 9th July 1999 10:57 GMT

Even as Amiga was posting its announcement this morning that it will be using Linux as its core operating system, its erstwhile OS partner QNX Software Systems announced the first beta release of its QNX OS -- and a new GUI to go with it. In an open letter entitled 'Delivering on our promise to the Amiga community', QNX's CTO, Dan Dodge, said the QNX beta would ship in the autumn, initially on the x86 platform, "the hardware solution most widely available at low cost in the time frame that we wish to release the beta". Dodge promised that most QNX applications and device drivers are source-identical across CPUs, allowing work done using the beta to be later migrated easily to whatever platform Amiga eventually selects for its next-generation hardware. Dodge also announced Photon, a GUI designed to complement QNX. Photon is X Window compatible, and will ship with its own visual application builder, Web browser, multimedia player and 3D graphics system. Finally, Dodge unveiled the QNX Developers Network for Amigans, a programme allowing Amiga developers free access to the QNX beta development package. The company is targeting individuals and companies who want to port existing apps to QNX or create new ones. The arrangement centres on an agreement to cross-promote both the apps and QNX itself. Which makes us wonder if Dodge's comments aren't part of a standalone announcement but arose from hints that Amiga would announce its move away from QNX to Linux. Certainly, the tone of Dodge's letter when he's describing the benefits of QNX over Linux suggest that, and in many ways his comments read as a plea to the Amiga community to stand up to the management's plan and back QNX. We did what we said we'd do, Dodge appears to be saying, but Amiga has still turned away from us -- everyone in the Amiga community should make sure it doesn't get away with it. ®