Operating System

Kickstart

Kickstart v3.0 ROMs

Kickstart v3.1 boot screen

Released:	1985
Platforms:	Commodore Amiga
License:	Proprietary

Overview

This page is intended to serve as a central place for information related to development within the Amiga operating system, to be placed or linked to.

Resources

File Formats

Name	Description
hunk	Executable file format.

Link Libraries

Name	Description
amiga_lib	C utility library.

Shared Libraries

Name	First OS Version	Description
asl		The sole purpose of this library is to provide standard file and font requesters for application programs.
commodities		Provides a simple, standardized way to program and control custom input handlers.
diskfont
dos		File related operations.
exec		Relied on by other systems to control multitasking, to manage the message-based interprocess communications system, and to arbitrate access to system resources.
expansion		Provides the ability to do configuration and initialization of these RAM expansion boards and other expansion bus peripherals.
gadtools		Designed to simplify the task of creating user interfaces with Intuition.
graphics		Provides ability to do graphical stuff, and stuff.
icon		To help support the Workbench iconic interface and manage .info files.
iffparse		Created to help simplify the job of parsing IFF files.
intuition		Provides the ability to create and control components that an application uses to build and operate a graphic user interface.
keymap	V37	Allows applications to inquire after the default keymap, map key codes to ANSI characters and map ANSI characters back into raw codes.
layers		Provides routines that are used to manage overlapping rectangular drawing areas that share a common display.
mathffp		The basic function library.
mathtrans		The FFP transcendental math library.
mathieeesingbas		The IEEE single-precision library.
mathieesingtrans		The IEEE single-precision transcendental library.
mathieeedoubbas		The IEEE double-precision library.
mathieesingtrans		The IEEE double-precision transcendental library.
rexxsyslib		?
translator		Provides a single function that converts an English language string into a phonetic string.
utility		The home for all the OS functions which don't fit in the other libraries.
workbench		Provides the ability to access Workbench arguments sent to an application when it is started, or while it is running (via drag and drop or menus).

Devices

Name	First OS Version	Description
audio		The audio device commands help isolate the programmer from the idiosyncrasies of the custom chip hardware and make it easier to use.
clipboard		The clipboard device allows the exchange of data dynamically between one application and another.
console		The console device provides the text-oriented interface for Intuition windows.
gameport		The gameport device manages access to external pointing devices like mice (two and three button), joysticks, trackballs and light pens.
input		The input device is the central collection point for input events.
keyboard		The keyboard device gives low-level access to the Amiga keyboard.
narrator		The narrator device is used to produce high-quality human-like speech in real time.
parallel		The parallel device provides a hardware-independent interface to the Amiga's Centronics-compatible parallel port.
printer		The printer device offers a way of sending configuration-independent output to a printer attached to the Amiga.
scsi		The SCSI device allows an application to send Exec I/O commands and SCSI commands to a SCSI peripheral.
serial		The serial device provides a hardware-independent interface to the Amiga's built-in RS-232C compatible serial port.
timer		The Amiga timer device provides a general interface to the Amiga's internal clocks.
trackdisk		The Amiga trackdisk device directly drives the disk, controls the disk motors, reads raw data from the tracks, and writes raw data to the tracks.

Resources

Name	First OS Version	Description
battclock		Provides access to the battery-backed clock which keeps the time while the system is powered off.
battmem		Provides battery-backed memory which preserves a small portion of Amiga memory while the system is powered off.
cia		Provides access to the timers and timer interrupt bits of the Complex Interface Adapter (CIA) A and B chips.
disk		Obtains exclusive access to the floppy disk hardware.
filesysres		Returns the filesystems that are available on the Amiga.
misc		Oversees usage of the serial data port and communication bits, the parallel data / handshake port and communication bits.
potgo		Used to get control of the hardware POTGO register connected to the game controller ports.

Other Information

Wiki References

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External Links

Amiga Disassemblies - Home of the AmigaOS 1.2 Exec disassembly.
AmigaOS - The Wikipedia entry for the Amiga operating system.
Reconstructing the Leftovers on the Amiga Kickstart 1.0 Disk - An analysis of the source code known to be present on the original Kickstart 1.0 disk.