[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

Re: brief status report



>>>>> "Chad" == Chad Page <cpage@best.com> writes:

    Chad> On Sat, 1 Apr 1995, Clifford Thomas Matthews wrote:

    >> A week delay doesn't really hurt the Linux users, since we are
    >> usually stuffing new (and hopefully good things) into the core
    >> code during the week of delay, so even though a given release
    >> might come out a little later, it's also a little better.

    Chad> 	I'm glad to hear the code isin't frozen while the DPMI
    Chad> work is going on, and if the 1.99l that comes out is better
    Chad> than the one that would without the freeze, I'm happy.

Yeah, that's the good side of "experimental" releases.  We don't have
to go through a "code freeze" before they come out.  The bad side is
that every once in a while an experimental version comes out that is
significantly *worse* than its predecessor.

    Chad> 	- Chad, (who's wondering what cool new stuff is in
    Chad> 1.99l.)

I wonder too.  That's one more aspect of record keeping that ARDI
doesn't do too well.  Some things that I can think of are:

	Browser will be used by default

	Chaining from one app to the browser and to another app works
		much better than the old chaining stuff

	"Eric's Ultimate Solitaire" a very well done solitaire app now
		runs and will be included as one of the demos

	We got permission to include Stuffit Expander, so it will be
		much easier for folks to expand .hqx files and
		whatnot.

	We'll probably have a text editor in there, although I have to
		make up my mind about that in the next hour or two.

	Some misleading options that aren't yet supported are now
		dimmed out to make things less confusing

	BinHex will work for Linux users

	Printing will work for Linux users

	ClarisWorks is much closer to being useable

	Text in various dialogs that used to get erased (various
		error messages in ResorcerDemo, for instance) no
		longer do

	Although our DOS extender isn't perfect, it's better than what
		is in 1.99k (doesn't help Linux users, though)

	Better explanation of why people should register in the splash
		screen/license sequence

	Animation works better under Linux (See Ultimate Solitaire)

	Right alternate is now option key under Linux

	A bunch of browser fixes

	A lot of misc. fixes that will make it more likely that
		randomly selected programs will work


I'm not sure if I've posted this timeline to this list yet.  If this
is old information, you have my humble apology:

	1.99m will have a significantly faster blitter under DOS,
		(we're hoping for about a speedup of about a factor
		of five).  It will also support some screens with 16
		bpp (thousands of colors) and 32 bpp (millions of colors).
		We also hope that the remaining
		DPMI provider bug that we know of will be fixed by
		then, and we will be paying attention when people find
		browser bugs.  I don't know if System 7 spoofing will
		be in "m", but it is my goal (however, of all the ARDI
		employees, I'm the one who is most likely to not meet
		my goals).  Floppy disk formatting and the ability to
		install fonts and DAs by dragging them into the hot
		band are also tentatively slated for 1.99m, as is a
		"death certificate" that tells you *why* Executor died
		when it dies unexpectedly.

	1.99n will have any of the features mentioned above in 1.99m
		that don't make the cut.  Tentatively, 1.99n will be
		the last experimental version to have new
		functionality.

	Beyond 1.99n we plan to fly Cotton out to Albuquerque (he
		normally works out of Boston) and have a two or
		three (three is preferred) week "hackathon", where
		without having to worry about getting a new version
		out the door, and without any of us having to add new
		functionality or chase DOS extenders, we'll work
		exclusively on making more applications run.

	After the "hackathon" is finished, Executor will go into a six
		week beta period where we only fix major bugs, and
		document minor bugs.  During this time we'll also be
		working on our packaging and documentation, working on
		our list of how well which apps work and which don't,
		and lining up our distributors, writing our press
		releases and placing our ads in popular magazines.

	After those six weeks have elapsed, 2.0 will ship.

That's the plan, anyway.

[We actually have plans for beyond 2.0, but astrology is hard]

	--Cliff
	ctm@ardi.com


Follow-Ups: