Conference 7.286::atarist

1046.0. "SLICCTOP mulitasking software" by CX3PST::WSC023::B_NOTTINGHAM (Bill Nottingham) Thu Jan 03 1991 12:27

Has anyone had any experience with the following product. It seems to have a 
good potential of a low cost multitasking OS for the Atari. The retail
cost is $49.00 with discounts thru mail order.

I have the product on order and will provide any feedback requested but I wanted
to see if anyone else has been using it.

I got the following from GENIE BBS.


                   SLICCTOP IS NOT JUST ANOTHER DESKTOP!
                   =====================================

  I


 by:  Randy Foster,
      President of SLICCWARE


       SLICCTOP is  a very  advanced operating  system which  is capable of
 performing multiple  functions concurrently  -- multitasking.   To provide
 the  user  with  the  greatest  possible  control  over  the  multitasking
 functions, SLICCTOP employs a system of CPU and resource allocation called
 priority-tasking.

                              PRIORITY-TASKING

                               OK, What is it?

       Within  the  basic  architecture  of  SLICCTOP  is probably the most
 advanced system of multitasking ever devised for use  on a micro-computer.
 The  system  is  called  priority-tasking.  Priority-tasking, unlike other
 multitasking systems, is not based primarily upon a simple preemptive time
 slicing process  originally designed  for use  on computers which provided
 little or  no user  interaction.   Instead, priority-tasking  is a complex
 combination of  processor control, as well as resource, display and memory
 management; built  upon a  system driven  primarily by  event response and
 transaction processing.   In  other words  SLICCTOP employs a system which
 from the start has  been designed  to place  the user  in the  position of
 greatest importance,  and to  respond in  the most effective manner to any
 user request.

       The power of priority-tasking  greatly enhances  the flexibility and
 power given  the user.   He  may now  start one  task, such  as a multiple
 folder/file transfer;  then, start  a second  task such  as file printout;
 then  start  a  third,  maybe  another  file  transfer or printout; then a
 fourth; etc.  Tasks in the same category are automatically  queued so that
 they are  performed in  the order  of their  request.   Tasks in differing
 categories are initiated immediately,  and proceed  concurrently, based on
 the  priority  assigned  them  by  the  system.   And, of course, any task
 currently executing may be cancelled by the user  by simply  selecting the
 CANCEL button on the watch box corresponding to that task.

       Another product,  SLICCDOS, which will be released in 4 to 5 months,
 will completely replace the file management system on the Atari.  SLICCTOP
 does  not  require  SLICCDOS  to  function.    However, with SLICCDOS, the
 operating system is complete,  and priority-tasking  is taken  to its full
 potential;  becoming  almost  totally  transparent  to the user.  However,
 without SLICCDOS, using standard system file  management, occasional brief
 delays may be encountered in keyboard or mouse response while transferring
 files due  to the  enormous overhead  involved in  opening the  file.  The
 delays encountered  are minimal,  and occur only while opening a file; and
 should not cause any great inconvenience.

       Certain tasks  are  considered  priority-response,  and  are handled
 immediately.

   Such tasks include:

             1.   Responding to user selection;
             2.   Opening a window;
             3.   Getting information about a disk, folder or file;
             4.   Activating a new application, accessory or program.

       In general,  all file  management and disk processing belongs to the
 same category, and will be placed into the  same queue  once all necessary
 information  has  been  obtained  from  the user via a transfer initiation
 form.  Three notable exceptions do exist for systems in which SLICCDOS has
 not been installed.

    They are:

             1.   Erasing an entire floppy disk or hard disk partition;
             2.   Formatting a floppy disk;
             3.   Duplicating a floppy disk.

       All three  of these  processes are performed immediately if SLICCDOS
 has not been installed onto the  system.   if SLICCDOS  is on  the system,
 high speed  asynchronous floppy  disk access  is supported, and therefore,
 these processes may be placed  into  the  same  queue  as  all  other file
 management and disk processing requests.

       Printer  processing,  likewise,  has  its  own  queue.  As a result,
 printouts are handled one after another in the  order they  are requested,
 and a  page eject is generated any time an individual file is completed or
 the printout is cancelled by the user.  Because printer processing has its
 own queue,  printouts may  be made  at the  same time  transfers are being
 carried out.

                        NOW COMES THE REAL POWER!
     Queued processing does not take over the system!  Quite the contrary.


       Queued processing is only carried out as decreasing user interaction
 makes  the  system  available.    When  a  user-intensive process (such as
 dragging a window) is taking place,queued processing may become completely
 suspended.   On the  other hand, while the user is engaged in deep thought
 and not using the computer  directly,  queued  processing  may  proceed at
 nearly maximum speed.  The usual situation is somewhere in between.

       Not  only  may  the  user  perform normal desktop operations and run
 desktop applications while queued processing is taking place,  he may also
 access  desktop  accessories  and  even  use  his favorite Atari programs.
 Programs using a menu bar even allow the user to return to  the desktop to
 monitor  queued  processing  directly,  terminate  or  initiate additional
 queued processes,  access desktop  applications, or  perform other desktop
 operations.

       "TOS"  and  "TTP"  programs  are  a  special case.  Without SLICCDOS
 installed, queued processing is suspended while  "TOS" and  "TTP" programs
 are  executing.    With  SLICCDOS  installed, "TOS" and "TTP" programs run
 directly on  the desktop  in user  sizable windows;  and queued processing
 continues just as it would for any desktop application.


 II
       SLICCTOP is  a very  advanced operating  system which  is capable of
 performing multiple  functions concurrently  -- multitasking.   To provide
 the  user  with  the  greatest  possible  control  over  the  multitasking
 functions, SLICCTOP employs a system of CPU and resource allocation called
 priority-tasking.


       Not  only  may  the  user  perform normal desktop operations and run
 desktop applications while queued processing is taking place,  he may also
 access  desktop  accessories  and  even  use  his favorite Atari programs.
 Programs using a menu bar even allow the user to return to  the desktop to
 monitor  queued  processing  directly,  terminate  or  initiate additional
 queued processes,  access desktop  applications, or  perform other desktop
 operations.

       "TOS"  and  "TTP"  programs  are  a  special case.  Without SLICCDOS
 installed, queued processing is suspended while  "TOS" and  "TTP" programs
 are  executing.    With  SLICCDOS  installed, "TOS" and "TTP" programs run
 directly on  the desktop  in user  sizable windows;  and queued processing
 continues just as it would for any desktop application.


                     YES, COLUMBUS.  THE WORLD IS ROUND!
                         BUT, NO, THIS IS NOT INDIA.

       Yes, now  there is true multitasking on ATARI . . . and a system far
 superior to any other in the marketplace.   But, that  does not  mean that
 your  system   is  now   capable  of  executing  multiple  Atari  programs
 concurrently.  Many of the developers who designed software for use on the
 Atari have designed it in such a way as to prevent efficient multitasking,
 and in some cases, even made  their software  totally incompatible  with a
 multitasking  system  by  use  of  what  may  be  termed as system-hacking
 technology.

       To avoid the disasters of system  crashes resulting  from attempting
 to multitask  conflicting hacker software, SLICCWARE has chosen to run the
 entire Atari operating system as though it were a single task.  To further
 avoid problems,  the major  operating system functions such as disk access
 and window control are constantly monitored, even if the major  portion of
 SLICCTOP has been swapped out at the user's request while an Atari program
 is executing.  The result, the user may  only run  one Atari  program at a
 time.  He may, however, run that program while queued processing is taking
 place.  And if that program contains a menu bar,  he may  also run concur-
 rently any  number of  SLICCTOP compatible applications as well as perform
 desktop functions and monitor any queued processing taking place!

       To execute an Atari program, simply "open" the corresponding icon or
 select the  appropriate entry  from the  quick access menu as described in
 the user's manual.   Any  necessary  clean-up  or  reorganization  will be
 performed  to   allow  concurrent  processing  (queued  processes)  to  be
 temporarily suspended.  Once  the  program  has  been  entered, concurrent
 processing will  be reinstated.   At that point the desktop is immediately
 accessible by selecting SLICCTOP from the accessory menu.

       Although the Atari operating system was  not designed  with SLICCTOP
 in mind,   (How  could it  be?) every  effort has  been made to simulate a
 priority-tasking response  within  that  environment.    And,  even though
 without  SLICCDOS  installed,  there  may  be  a  minor  delay in keyboard
 response just at the instant a  transferring  file  is  being  opened, the
 keyboard priority is such that normal typing speed (even for us "hunt-'n'-
 peck" types) should be sufficient to force most queued processing  to wait
 for  the  occasional  user  pause.    The  result being, that any keyboard
 response delay due to  queued processing  is only  likely to  occur at the
 beginning  of  any  typing  sequence,  and  then,  only  occasionally.  In
 addition, once SLICCDOS has been  installed,  all  keyboard  delay  due to
 queued  processing  will  disappear,  and queued processing itself will be
 many times more efficient.

       Certain actions temporarily suspend queued processing.   Among these
 are:
                    - Desktop menu processing,
                    - Alert boxes, and
                    - Help screens.

       Occasionally  a  queued  process  may  encounter a problem such as a
 system error or, in the case of file transfers, a name conflict.   In such
 a case, the appropriate form is displayed to the screen to inform the user
 and to elicit a response.  This form will appear on the screen whether the
 user is  on the  desktop or  in his favorite Atari program.  Once the user
 has responded, all processing will continue  just  as  it  had  before the
 problem was encountered.

       Because  queued  processing  is  intended  not to interfere with the
 user, queued processing  watch  boxes  are  designed  to  be  treated like
 windows.   Although they  may not be resized, they may be moved around the
 desktop and placed almost entirely off screen.  Also, other windows may be
 brought to the foreground for processing while the watch box is displayed.

       In addition,  watch boxes  may be  brought to  the foreground in the
 same way  as a  standard window,  by mouse  selection, or  by entering the
 window number which is located in the upper left corner.  (ie: A watch box
 with "#02" in the upper left corner may  be brought  to the  foreground by
 entering "ESCAPE" "0" "2" from the keyboard.)


       Finally, standard  data entry forms may also be moved about the desk
 so that monitoring of  queued processing  may continue  while the  user is
 entering data  into the  forms.  However, no other windows or forms may be
 accessed while a standard data entry form is present on the screen.   This
 does not  apply to  concurrent process  forms such as database entry forms
 that are treated as  ordinary windows.   Concurrent  process forms  may be
 easily identified by the window number in the upper left corner.(ie: #03")

       A queued  processing watch box is a type of concurrent process form.
 Also, alert boxes and help screens may not be moved about the screen.

       Because transfer operations are defined as queued processes, and may
 be carried  out concurrently  with other  operations; the  user is able to
 initiate a number of transfers in the order desired; clear  any windows he
 chooses; and then, go about his business on the desktop or in his favorite
 Atari program.  The  operations  will  be  carried  out  in  the  order he
 initiated them, and any conflict will be reported to him directly, whether
 he is on the desktop or in his favorite Atari program.  He has, in effect,
 much  of  the  same  power  normally  reserved for those who use macros or
 command files inside a command line interface.  And, he has all this power
 with the convenience of a mouse and icon selection process.

                   Stay tuned.  There is more to come!

       The  entire  design  and  marketing  strategy of SLICCWARE assumes a
 constant generation of new software.  Every three  to four  months another
 major application  will be  produced to run on the desktop.  And its price
 is expected to be in a range  of  the  price  paid  for  SLICCTOP.   These
 products will  be available  in traditional  retail outlets.  In addition,
 numerous smaller items will be produced at a much faster rate and  will be
 available to  registered owners  of the  software through mail order only.
 They  will  sell  primarily  for  less  than  ten   dollars  (five-'n-dime
 software).

       The reason  this high  volume of software production is possible, is
 because much of the processing required  by any  software item  is already
 coded into the SLICCTOP operating system.  And since the software is fully
 modular, relocatable, reentrant and  swappable;  it  may  be  used  by any
 application running  on the  desktop.   This also  results in  the size of
 major applications being very  small indeed.   It  additionally allows for
 upgrades  and  enhancements  to  be  added  to  the  operating  system and
 individual applications with a minimum of impact.

       Because of the ease  and  flexibility  of  system  modification, our
 upgrade policy  is simple.   If  an upgrade is available for some product,
 and it does not define a new functionality or major enhancement it will be
 placed automatically  (at no  charge) on any five-'n-dime software ordered
 by the user; or made available on networks  or through  user groups.   New
 functionalities and enhancements will appear as five-'n-dime software.