AxRuntime

[deadwood]

Hello,

I wanted to share with you something I've been working on for some time. The project is called AxRuntime and it allows re-compiling existing Amiga/MorphOS/AROS software as Linux applications.

The runtime allows developers to continue developing Amiga applications in unmodified way while at the same time being able to utilize modern development tools available on Linux like IDEs, debuggers, profilers, etc.

This solution lets developers compile their Amiga API-based applications as Linux binaries. Once the features are implemented, tested and optimized using the runtime on Linux, developers re-compile their applications for their Amiga-like system of choice and perform final quality checking.

Applications created with AxRuntime can be distributed to the Linux community giving developers a much broader user base and a possibility to invite developers from outside general Amiga community to contribute to the application.


Here are some videos of AROS applications running under Linux:

Wanderer: https://www.axrt.org/media/axrt-Wanderer.mp4
MPlayer: https://www.axrt.org/media/axrt-MPlayer.mp4

More images in gallery: https://axrt.org/index.php?tab=gallery

Download & Instructions
===================

https://axrt.org/index.php?tab=download

Release notes
===========

AxRuntime 40.2 changes:

  webp.datatype
  sound.datatype
    Added to distribution
  bsdsocket.library
    Enable (basic) network support
  libaxrt-2.0-dbg.deb package
    Debug symbols separated from runtime package
  NList
    Fix crashes when loading classes
    64-bit fixes
  TextEditor
  BetterString
    Fix crashes when loading classes
  libaxrt.so
    Better error handling during initialization and library loading
    Correctly exit with return code instead of trapping.
  exec.library
    Fixed SMP race condition in SetSignal.
  timer.device
    Fixed SMP related crash with VBlank emulation.
  muimaster.library
    Fixed memory override in Slider class.
    Handle 'r' penspec in imagespec

Application changes:

  MPlayer 1.0b2
    Updated FFMpeg to 2.6.9
    Ported to 64-bit
    Enabled network support
    Fixed a long standing audio driver bug which caused clicking and statics
    Added Equalizer window and filter support
    Fixed caching code to allow for smaller cases (previous 1MB cache was hardcoded)
    Published repository on GitHub (https://github.com/deadw00d/mplayer-mui)

  WookieChat 3.1
    Ported to 64-bit
    Fixes to connection logic, null pointer access
    Workaround for crash at exit
    Implement private messages
    Fixes to nick management for JOIN/PART
    Implement QUIT command
    Implement handling connection retries

[deadwood]

Hello everyone,

Its has been quite quiet on AxRuntime front for the last couple of months. I've been mainly working on releasing a stable version of 64-bit AROS as well as updating the current i386 (so called ABIv0) AROS with more features from main development branch. Time has come however to do some interesting work on AxRuntime as well. I focused on ability of a single executable to be started from Linux as well as from "within" the runtime (think RunCommand(), SystemTags or simply Shell). I've shared first work-in-progress version here: https://ae.amigalife.org/index.php?t...sg9916#msg9916

Take a look and try it for yourself if you are running 64-bit x86 Linux. The binaries were built and tested on Ubuntu 20.04 compatible setup, but hopefully will also work on other distributions. If you have feedback and want to try to build your Amiga application for Linux, let me know!

[tygre]

Hi Deadwood!

Very impressive, thanks!

I read a bit the doc. and was wondering if an Amiga program could be compiled to use AXRT on the Amiga? I guess nothing really would prevent that but what do you think?

You may ask why: because I'd like to do all my development on my Amiga but wouldn't mind generating Linux programs

Cheers!

[deadwood]

Hello tygre,

Thanks! To answer your question: Yes, there should be no problem. If you have a cross-compiler from Amiga to Linux, the AxRuntime is "just" a set of headers and linker libraries.

[deadwood]

Hello all,

For people interested in AxRuntime development, here is a small video of what I've been working on: [ Show youtube player ].

This is still a proof-of-concept level of functionality (so less than 'alpha release') but if you are interested in trying it out, I prepared instructions here: https://ae.amigalife.org/index.php?t...13708#msg13708

[deadwood]

Hello,

I prepared a new video showing capabilities of AxRuntime, Intuition and Scalos in action. Enjoy!

[ Show youtube player ]

Intuition (Window Manager) is currently in beta version. If you are interested in trying it out on your Linux setup, send me a private message.

If you are interested in developing using AxRuntime, contact me via https://axrt.org/contact.

[DisasterIncarna]

progress looks really promising, cant wait to see more of this, almost makes me wish this was something like WINE for Amiga>Linux instead of Windows>Linux that just kinda ran workbench stuff without a recompile, but this looks like the next best thing.

[deadwood]

Thanks!

What you describe is possible. You can already run Amiga 68k applications "so they feel integrated" under AROS x86, so it can also become part of AxRuntime.

[DisasterIncarna]

Originally Posted by deadwood

Thanks!

What you describe is possible. You can already run Amiga 68k applications "so they feel integrated" under AROS x86, so it can also become part of AxRuntime.

i feel that solution using your project via linux would be a very good alternative to many users wanting a modern OS but still being able to run their workbench programs, be that new or old.

[deadwood]

Originally Posted by DisasterIncarna

i feel that solution using your project via linux would be a very good alternative to many users wanting a modern OS but still being able to run their workbench programs, be that new or old.

Hopefully. Time will tell.