The future

I have to confess I see RISC OS on the Beagleboard as a means to an end – it is a stepping stone to getting RISC OS functionality on a ‘desktop’ ARM 9 computer with a fast graphics interface and a fast hard disc interface, both of which are lacking on the BB.

Whether we get RISC OS working on the Touchbook/Smartbook (if it ever appears) and/or the Pandaboard is probably moot. It is, though, a good idea so that we are ready for the next increment of work to get it working in 6 to 12 months time on the first proper, fast ARM 9 I mean Cortex A9 desktop implementations.

Software-wise things are looking good. However this will all be wasted effort if it remains ‘geeks only’, by which I mean a few enthusiasts downloading a ROM image. Once ARM 9 I mean Cortex A9 hardware is around, we need to be able to resell this hardware as RISC OS machines (perhaps multi-booted with their proprietary system). The commercial aspects of RISC OS as a saleable optional operating system for this new hardware need to be sorted out.

RISC OS Limited is a dead company walking and Castle is a dead company sleeping. RISC OS Open Limited is a live company with its hands and feet bound by licence conditions. Between them there is the ability to make some money here. Let the dead bury the dead – can we get some common purpose here? Let us forget the history and be practical and co-operate.

One daring thought – is it possible to write a version of Virtual RISC PC that would run on ARM 9 I mean Cortex A9 hardware? After all not much emulation would be needed for a 32bit RISC OS, whether RISC OS 6 or RISC OS 5. That would avoid the need for any reconciliation between the warring tribes.

Sadly, not much has publicly changed since I posted this summary. And the roadmap tackles technical issues but not the practicalities or politics of “shipping boxes” (which are AIUI outside the remit of "managing the RISC OS source opening activity").

I see RISC OS on the Beagleboard as a means to an end

Me too. Although when I first started I didn’t really think about that, and was only intersted in doing it so I could get to play with the cool new hardware ;)

ARM 9

Cortex-A9, I hope you mean! Remember that the ARM9 is a much different (and older) beast.

One daring thought – is it possible to write a version of Virtual RISC PC that would run on ARM 9 hardware? After all not much emulation would be needed for a 32bit RISC OS, whether RISC OS 6 or RISC OS 5. That would avoid the need for any reconciliation between the warring tribes.

Yes it’s possible.