Web site: www.amigaos.net
Origin: USA
Category: Desktop
Desktop environment: Workbench
Architecture: Motorola 68000, PowerPC
Based on: independent
Wikipedia: AmigaOS
Media: Install
The last version | Released: 4.1 Update 2 | January 12, 2021
AmigaOS – a commercial OS originally developed for the Motorola 68k based Commodore Amiga line of computers – now owned by Amiga, Inc. Version 1.0 was released in 1985 with the release of the Amiga 1000 computer.
The system is 32-bit from the beginning, it was written for the Motorola 68000 processor. Supported processors are: MC68000, MC68010, MC68020, MC68030, MC68040, MC68060. Systems in versions 3.x also support PowerPC processors also known as PPC, thanks to the WarpOS or PowerUP subsystems.
The current version of AmigaOS 4.1 has been completely rewritten for PowerPC processors and runs on AmigaOne, micro A1, SAM440ep, SAM440 Flex, Pegasos II computers. The software that was written for classic Amigas equipped with MC68x series processors can be run thanks to two emulators built into the system: interpreted, ensuring high compatibility with original hardware systems and JIT called Petunia ensuring high emulation speed.
AmigaOS and its clones
The core of the system was characterized by multitasking, advanced graphics capabilities, closely related to the construction of Amiga computers, as well as low response time, thanks to which it found a place in real-time applications, although it was not designed for them. The downside was the lack of memory protection. Compliance with the POSIX standard and the X Window System can be achieved using external libraries.
The system offered a modern graphical system with Workbench as the shell. There are also standalone text shells that run in a graphical mode window. A characteristic feature of the graphics systems and the system itself was the lack of purely text-based graphics modes. The system already in the first phase of the launch offered a graphical interface.
AmigaOS comes with its own desktop environment called Workbench. Workbench comes with a range of functions to help users access and arrange their documents, photographs, music and video files in an intuitive manner. AmiUpdate is now integrated into AmigaOS to provide timely operating software updates on a regular basis.