Well, I'm done fighting with apache and Linux for a while. After taking stock, I've decided that the only interesting part of this issue of The Purr is the interview anyway.

And I've decided that getting it out is better than.. um... keeping it in?

So here it is. No -- I'm not giving in or giving up (therefore, I'm not giving un).

For those who subscribe to the mailing list, there is a interesting charecter who has taught us all the value of anonymity. Apparently anonymity is useful as a technique to keep developers hunting you down and beating you with a stick. Personally, I hate it when that happens, and neitehr do I want such a dark fate for my guest. So, in the interest of safety, I've decided to use my super-secret name "Rinnan" in place of my real name, "Erik Hill", and for Randy Vice, I've decided to use his digital nom de plume as well.

Please don't be confused.

SPONSORS PURR

(slightly longer this time, because Randy deserves it!)

Rinnan: You and your company Black Troll have been strong supporters of AROS for a while now.

Damocles: Thanks, I will also note that I am the founder of TeamAROS.

Rinnan: AROS has, in this time, been at least a "hobby OS", enjoyed by OS fans and developers, and possibly a "compatibility segue hopeful", for AmigaOS users hoping to move on. In addition, do you think AROS has a future as a part of real yet-to-be developed products, which have no direct connection to AmigaOS? Do you think we'll see more like AHT Europe, in the future? What about Black Troll itself? Any plans?

Damocles: For other companies, it's hard to say at this point in time. Being a open source OS, it does give companies looking to be unique or Amigaish, a avenue to explore. As of right now, I can only see embedded market being interested in AROS as there seems to lack of consumer interest in buying hardware that is dedicated towards AROS. I'm hoping to see this change as the OS matures and evolves.

As for BTTC, I'm still pushing for support and drivers around specific desktop mobo manufacturer, ASUS. I'm also in the final stages of securing a very low cost laptop that I plan to sell with AROS installed.

Rinnan: Many of your suggestions in Aros-Exec seem to speak for a rapid compatibility approach. Would you say that AROS has a window of opportunity? Is that window closing?

Damocles: The term, "No Schedule and Rock'n" is pretty much the reality of AROS. Since there is no coder on payroll, we get what we can get from the Devs when they have the interest and time. As such, there is no window closing that I'm aware of. This is the glory of Open Source Operating System, during the down time for commercial interest, the OS itself is still alive and going forward.

Rinnan: Do you see direct company support, such as that promised by AHT Europe, as a key to growth for AROS?

Damocles: When money is poured into AROS, we do see thing happen that may not have happened for years. But it's a two way street, if the AROS Community, as small as it is, can support the companies that are pushing forward, we would be seeing more seed money come to the Developers. I'm very thankful we do have some pretty generous donors to TeamAROS from the AROS Community and they have helped alot in pushing AROS forward. Unfortunetly, they are a limited number compared to the total AROS user base. For those Europeans wishing to donate to TeamAROS but did not want or have access to PayPal (or are using a credit/debit card from US or EU), we now do have a collection point in the EU (thanks Holley) at:http://www.aros-max.co.uk/bounties.html

Rinnan: AROS has popularized the "Bounty" approach to supporting developers and encouraging specific development., and both you and Black Troll are frequent contributors. Has this approach worked out? Are there some tweaks (or overhauls!) to that system that you think would make it work better?

Damocles: It's in constant evolution, things are changed when there is a will and a way to do so. Holley accepting donation from with in the EU should be a big help in promoting developement or bug fixing. Developers do get tired of working long hours, month after month and need encouragement to do another project; cash helps. =) It also shows that there is a core community wrapping itself around the OS (and directly around the dev's work) that is willing to roll up their sleeve and help. Let's face it, the amount of work vs the donation dollar is way too lopsided and is not the sole reason for a dev to do a project. TeamAROS would have to have far better bounties for the amount of work that needs to be done on most of these bounties.

We do get other corps donating monies as you can see here:
http://www.thenostromo.com/teamaros/sponsors.html but it's been limited and I would like to see this greatly expanded. However, other then their generous donations because they would like to see an alternative OS based around a very old and friendly OS succeed, I can see most companies being put off by lack of financial support from within the AROS Community.

For the future of AROS, I see some truely impressive ideas on where AROS can go from deep within the Developer Community that would add modern OS capabilities to AROS. It's down to a question of available time and the will to see this completed. AROS is truely blessed with some very gifted developers who can think around what seems like unpassable road blocks. I would like to thank all the Devs for their great work and long hours of coding stress. You guys rock!

Randy Vice
President
Black Troll Technology Corporation

BRU ? or is that for tapes

If linux is for real men, and Windows is for little boys, does AROS get you chicks?

Then ill rather be a litle boy and use Win =) *pukes on nix* :).

Linux/UNIX is only for real men

Staf.

Well, you're certainly not the first person to have done that

Quote:

Browser cache?

It'll be here very late tomorrow. I wrote it and finished it April 1st, then moved it over to the web server to test it for rendering -- forgot I moved it instead of copying it --

And deleted it. So I've started over. This has been the worst luck I've ever had with this, it just never ends.

ext3 has no workable recovery tools, just so you know.