Slashdot Mirror
The Contiki Desktop OS for C64, NES, 8-bit Atari,
Adam Dunkels writes "This is for those of you who think that a text-based operating system that fits compressed on a 1.44Mb floppy counts as 'tiny': the brand new Contiki operating system and desktop environment for the Commodore 64, with ports to a bunch of other platforms such as the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System, the VIC-20, 8-bit Ataris, Atari Jaguar, the Tandy CoCo, and the Apple ][ under development. The Contiki system includes
the following: a multi-tasking kernel, a windowing
system and themeable GUI toolkit, a screen saver, a TCP/IP
stack, a personal
web server, and a web
browser. The Contiki web browser, which is likely to be the world's smallest browser given its extremely small memory footprint, is the world's first true web browser for an 8-bit system and probably makes the 21 years old Commodore 64 the oldest system ever to run a real web browser! All of the above programs are contained in a single, fully self-contained, 42 kilobytes large binary. The entire Contiki system with all programs running simultaneously is comfortable in 64 kilobytes of memory. The name 'Contiki' is derived from Thor
Heyerdahl's famous Kon-Tiki
raft which was able to sail across the Pacific Ocean despite being built using prehistoric techniques, something previously thought impossible. There are also screenshots
and a FAQ
avaliable."
where do I plug the RJ-45 cable into my NES?
Have you seen my stapler?
Will this work on the TI 99/4A or will I need a few extra 16k memory expansion cards to get up to snuff?
I still don't understand why any of you use these big computers. We only need 32k to do everything! I'm using one now and although I had to split this message over a cassette tape, it's still better than using those computers that Bill Gates said were too memory rich.
The Commodore 64 market has been screaming for an up to date operating system and web browser for decades. This should breathe new life into a sector which has been seen by many as obsolete, and may well trigger a renaissance in C64 development and application support.
If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
You mean a version of Eliza that says things like "Comrades, we must seize the means of production!" and "Down with Capitalism!"
Sorry, I'll get me coat...
-- And when Justice is gone, there is always... Force. --Laurie Anderson, "Oh Superman"
Seriously, this is very cool stuff. I might dig up my old CBM from the attic to play with this. Now only to be able to hook my oceanic 1541 drive to my PC or my Mac somehow. Or are there ways to simulate a c64 disk drive from a PC with a resoldered C64 disk cable?
How _does_ one transfer software from PC to a real hardware C64 nowadays? Can some people in the know drop some pointers to FAQ's and links?
Please some clever person with no value on their time: Make a version for the spectrum, the world needs this! The speccy is a (modified) Z80, so is the NES (as I remember) - it should be possible and possibly quite easy that would be so cool! Web browsing on a rubber keyboard, those fancy CBM machines are almost "real" computers by comparison
You guys are so behind times man! Katz's buddy Junis from Afghanistan was beta testing this a year back!
Excellent! Now I can play Monty on the Run and Sanxion in Death Match mode..
Not everything needs to be useful.
That's ridiculous. Hobbies must be useful. That's why we all collect stamps & hotelsoap.
When will I end this grieving ? When will my future begin ?