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David The XORcist!
Advanced Member

Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 268
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Posted: 28 Oct 2003 08:31:04 am Post subject: |
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As far as I know, this is what we have planned for the APP 1 release.
To summarize, NimbusOS main goal is to provide a better interface to run programs in and to allow file management.
Description of the start-up procedure
First it checks the presence of the Nimbus appvar. If exists and is in the correct format, settings are loaded. Else, a new appvar is created with default values, and a splash screen is being presented to the user.
The interface
The interface will look like this. We will also include a scrollbar on the scrollbar track. The free amount of RAM/Archive mem is being displayed, as well as the status of the batteries (the icon in the right corner at the top). Program attributes are represented by icons.
Key mapping
- 2nd or ENTER - Run specified program
- DEL - delete program
- F1-F5 - "Soft Keys"
- MODE or CLEAR - exit to TI-OS
- UP/DOWN - Navigate the programs list
- ON - Toggle power ON/OFF
- + and - : adjust contrast using a graphical contrast meter
- * (mult) and / (div) : page up/down in programs list
Program Execution
NimbusOS supports ION, stand-alone asm, and TI-BASIC programs. If there is sufficient RAM available equal to the program size, archived programs can be run.
The execution of RAM assembly progs can take place even if there's very little free RAM, 20 bytes should be enough. We will go to great lengths finding a bug-free way of running BASIC programs.
Alteration of program attributes
(Un)lock, (Un)hides, (Un)archives and deletes programs with the touch of one button.
Error handling
NimbusOS is programmed Murphy's law in mind , and can therefore be considered as fairly reliable. Errors in TI-BASIC programs are handled by NimbusOS, which tells the user what has gone wrong and where it did go wrong.
Flash memory friendliness
We have reduced swapping of programs/appvars between RAM and the archive as far as possible. Unlike other shells for the TI-83+, Nimbus only performs writeback when needed. For those who are unfamiliar to the term, I can tell you that many asm programs store data into themselves (eg highscores and preferences).
If we copy an archived program to RAM to run it, the copy in RAM would get updated but not the archived one. This is why you have to perform writeback. What Nimbus does it to compare the RAM copy to the archived program, and if they don't match, writeback is triggered.
Writeback becomes disabled if the batteries are low, due to archive integrity reasons. Furthermore, I intend to prevent the opportunity to select No in event of a GarbageCollect when NimbusOS is running.
Energy saving
NimbusOS consumes very little power while it's idle, far less than for example the TI-OS homescreen. It also has an internal APD system that turns off the power after 30 sec - 4 minutes.
The options screen
These settings can be changed
- Force rearchiving of locked/hidden files
- Smart writeback technology (enabled or no writeback at all)
- Confirm deletions? (yes/no)
- Unit to display free mem in (byte, K or %)
- Set the TI-OS lowercase flag?
- Internal APD-time (between 30 secs to 4 minutes in 15 sec intervals)
- Show hidden programs (yes-default/no)
Well, that's it.
If there's anything else I've missed, please post it! 
Last edited by Guest on 30 Oct 2003 05:09:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GuillaumeH
Newbie

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 13
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Posted: 28 Oct 2003 02:11:22 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: We have eliminated swapping of programs/appvars between RAM and the archive as far as possible. Unlike other shells for the TI-83+, Nimbus only performs writeback when needed. [...]
What Nimbus does it to compare the RAM copy to the archived program, and if they don't match, writeback is triggered.
This idea is golden. |
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Toksyuryel Crimson Dragon Software
Elite

Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 880
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Posted: 28 Oct 2003 03:58:44 pm Post subject: |
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Can't wait for it. I want a beta!!!(please?) |
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David The XORcist!
Advanced Member

Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 268
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Posted: 28 Oct 2003 04:23:13 pm Post subject: |
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It's not even stable yet!
Don't worry, when the time has come for beta testing, we will tell you all. |
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Adm.Wiggin aka Tianon
Know-It-All

Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 1874
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Posted: 28 Oct 2003 07:26:23 pm Post subject: |
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That idea is soo golden, it deserves the 'wub' emoticon ;)
SWEET!!!! now excited for it all over again!  |
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Darth Android DragonOS Dev Team
Bandwidth Hog

Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 2104
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Posted: 30 Oct 2003 01:11:59 am Post subject: |
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where is the signup list for beta testing and the contract that we sign saying we wont give friends copies?!?!?!?  |
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David The XORcist!
Advanced Member

Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 268
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Posted: 30 Oct 2003 03:56:09 am Post subject: |
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None of them exist yet.
However we will probably request the calc-id from all beta testers and make the app executable only on their calcs. |
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Darth Android DragonOS Dev Team
Bandwidth Hog

Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 2104
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Posted: 30 Oct 2003 02:15:40 pm Post subject: |
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great idea! 04091-5F462-F1C3  |
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NextPerception
Member

Joined: 08 Sep 2003 Posts: 203
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Posted: 01 Nov 2003 11:30:01 am Post subject: |
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Up in the top right corner is that a battery thingy that displays what the battery's power percentage is???
By the way will that hide option on the bottom hide the program in nimbusos or will it hide it in the normal calculator os???\
Edit: oops I just read the paragraph and both those things were talked about. I was in a really big hurry yesterday and didn't read past the first couple sentences and looked at the picture. I feel stupid now Oh Well 
Last edited by Guest on 04 Nov 2003 07:24:38 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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NETWizz Byte by bit
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Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 2369
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Posted: 01 Nov 2003 02:42:37 pm Post subject: |
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I depends on wheather or not you have nimbus set to show hiddenn programs. |
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dabombjr2000
Newbie

Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 43
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Posted: 18 Oct 2004 08:10:11 pm Post subject: |
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You should try to make it go to parts of the list when someone presses 2nd then a letter, and other than that, it looks really great |
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Adm.Wiggin aka Tianon
Know-It-All

Joined: 02 Jun 2003 Posts: 1874
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Posted: 19 Oct 2004 08:40:23 pm Post subject: |
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talk about topic revival... 1 year - 13 days
I think I get what you are saying though (kinda cryptic, dude... )
In case you didn't get it, hopefully this will make more sense:
If you press a letter while in the program list, it scrolls to the first program starting with that letter. Kinda like the TI-OS does with the program list there... |
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Toksyuryel Crimson Dragon Software
Elite

Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 880
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Posted: 19 Oct 2004 10:21:47 pm Post subject: |
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2nd then a letter? Dude, what are you smoking? I want some!!  |
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leofox INF student
Super Elite (Last Title)

Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 3562
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Posted: 20 Oct 2004 03:11:55 am Post subject: |
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i think it should have 2 different hide functions:
-1 hides it for NimbusOS
-1 hides it for the TIOS but shows it in NimbusOS |
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DarkerLine ceci n'est pas une |
Super Elite (Last Title)

Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 8328
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Posted: 20 Oct 2004 04:13:10 pm Post subject: |
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why would you hide it for NimbusOS? |
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leofox INF student
Super Elite (Last Title)

Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 3562
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Posted: 21 Oct 2004 03:18:58 am Post subject: |
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well, i've had a ton of Mario levels, and they just made my list really full with data programs i can't run anyway. |
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Toksyuryel Crimson Dragon Software
Elite

Joined: 14 Jun 2003 Posts: 880
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Posted: 21 Oct 2004 01:21:51 pm Post subject: |
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Well, create a new folder and call it mariolvs Simple enough  |
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NETWizz Byte by bit
Bandwidth Hog

Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 2369
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Posted: 23 Nov 2004 06:25:52 pm Post subject: |
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That would be good, but nimbus os doesn't have folders. |
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DarkerLine ceci n'est pas une |
Super Elite (Last Title)

Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 8328
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Posted: 23 Nov 2004 07:08:14 pm Post subject: |
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No folders? Make folders!
Even better, allow creating folders inside folders. |
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NETWizz Byte by bit
Bandwidth Hog

Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 2369
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Posted: 23 Nov 2004 07:18:40 pm Post subject: |
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That would requre a small database... |
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