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The Operating System (TOS) is the operating system
Operating system

An operating system is an interface between hardware and applications; it is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer....
 of the Atari
Atari

Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Infogrames ....
 ST
Atari ST

The Atari ST is a home computer/personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s. It was released by Atari Corporation in 1985....
 range of computers. This range includes the 520ST, 1040ST and the F, FM and E variations (e.g.1040STE). Later, 32-bit machines (TT
Atari TT030

The Atari TT030 is a 32-bit version of the 16/32-bit Atari ST family....
, Falcon030
Atari Falcon

HistoryThe Atari Falcon was Atari Corporation's final computer product, more specifically named the Atari Falcon030 Computer System....
) were developed using a new version of TOS, called MultiTOS, which allowed multitasking
Multitasking

Multitasking may refer to any of the following:*Computer multitasking - the apparent simultaneous performance of two or more tasks by a computer's central processing unit...
. More recently, users have developed TOS further into FreeMiNT
MiNT

MiNT is a free software alternative operating system Kernel for the Atari ST and its successors. Together with the free system components fVDI , XaAES , and TeraDesk , MiNT provides a free Atari TOS compatible replacement OS that is capable of computer multitasking....
.

Atari TOS debuted with the Atari 520ST in 1985.






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Encyclopedia


The Operating System (TOS) is the operating system
Operating system

An operating system is an interface between hardware and applications; it is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the limited resources of the computer....
 of the Atari
Atari

Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Infogrames ....
 ST
Atari ST

The Atari ST is a home computer/personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s. It was released by Atari Corporation in 1985....
 range of computers. This range includes the 520ST, 1040ST and the F, FM and E variations (e.g.1040STE). Later, 32-bit machines (TT
Atari TT030

The Atari TT030 is a 32-bit version of the 16/32-bit Atari ST family....
, Falcon030
Atari Falcon

HistoryThe Atari Falcon was Atari Corporation's final computer product, more specifically named the Atari Falcon030 Computer System....
) were developed using a new version of TOS, called MultiTOS, which allowed multitasking
Multitasking

Multitasking may refer to any of the following:*Computer multitasking - the apparent simultaneous performance of two or more tasks by a computer's central processing unit...
. More recently, users have developed TOS further into FreeMiNT
MiNT

MiNT is a free software alternative operating system Kernel for the Atari ST and its successors. Together with the free system components fVDI , XaAES , and TeraDesk , MiNT provides a free Atari TOS compatible replacement OS that is capable of computer multitasking....
.

Details

The Atari TOS debuted with the Atari 520ST in 1985. TOS combines Digital Research
Digital Research

Digital Research, Inc. was the company created by Dr. Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related products. It was the first large software company in the microcomputer world....
's GEM
Graphical Environment Manager

GEM was a windowing system created by Digital Research for use with the CP/M operating system on the Intel 8088 and Motorola 68000 microprocessors....
 GUI running on top of the DOS
DOS

DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is a shorthand term for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me....
-like GEMDOS. Features include a flat memory model
Flat memory model

In low level software design, a flat memory model refers to the memory addressing paradigm. A flat memory model uses a linear addressing scheme, allowing direct addressing all of the available memory locations....
, MS-DOS
MS-DOS

MS-DOS is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s....
-compatible disk format, support for MIDI, and a variant of SCSI
SCSI

Small Computer System Interface, or SCSI , is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices....
 called ACSI in later versions. Atari's TOS is run from ROM chips contained in the computer, thus before local hard drives were available in home computers it was an almost instant-running OS. TOS originally booted off floppy disks but later ST models came with the latest version of TOS in ROM
Read-only memory

Read-only memory is a class of computer storage media used in computers and other electronic devices. Because data stored in ROM cannot be modified , it is mainly used to distribute firmware ....
.

TOS consisted of the following:
  • Desktop - The main interface loaded after bootup.
  • GEM - Graphical Environment Manager
    • AES - Application Environment Service
    • VDI - Virtual Device Interface (screen drivers only, other drivers loaded using GDOS)
  • GEMDOS - GEM Disk Operating System
  • BIOS - Basic Input/Output System
  • XBIOS - Xtended BIOS
  • Line-A - Low-level high-speed graphics calls. Obsolete


The following were extensions to TOS (loaded separately):
  • GDOS - Graphics Device Operation System
  • AHDI - Atari Hard Disk Interface (driver for Hard Drive)


True multitasking was not directly supported, TOS allows desk accessories to be loaded into the system which are similar to TSRs (Terminate and Stay Resident
Terminate and Stay Resident

Terminate and Stay Resident is a computer system call in DOS computer operating systems that returns control to the system as if the program has quit, but keeps the program in memory....
) on PCs (up to a maximum of six) and could co-operatively multitask. MultiTOS was developed to allow TOS to preemptively multitask.

Desktop

St Desktop
The TOS desktop uses icons to represent files and devices, windows and dialog boxes to display info. The desktop file "DESKTOP.INF" was read to determine window settings, icon placements and drive icons, otherwise the standard default desktop of two floppy icons and the trash icon was used.

Later versions use "NEWDESK.INF" for saving and reading the desktop configuration.

Executable
Executable

In computing, an executable causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instruction ," as opposed to a file that only contains data ....
 files are identified by their extensions
Filename extension

A filename extension is a substring to the filename of a computer file applied to indicate the encoding convention of its contents.In some operating systems it is optional, while in some others it is a requirement....
:
  • *.ACC - Desktop accessory. Automatically loaded.
  • *.APP - Application (not common).
  • *.PRG - Executable program. Can be GEM programs.
  • *.TOS - "TOS" program that doesn't use GEM. The desktop clears the screen, turns on the text cursor
    Cursor (computers)

    In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device....
     and hides the mouse
    Mouse (computing)

    In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting dimension motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons....
     cursor.
  • *.TTP - "TOS takes parameters". This opens a dialog box
    Dialog box

    In graphical user interfaces, a dialog box is a special Window , used in user interfaces to display information to the user, or to get a response if needed....
     where arguments
    Parameter (computer science)

    In computer programming, a parameter is a special kind of variable#In_computer_programming that refers to data that a subroutine receives to operate on....
     can be added for the program. However, it converts characters to uppercase
    Capital letters

    Capital letters or majuscules [IPA pronunciation: /m?'d??skjuls, 'm?d???skjuls/], in the Roman alphabet A, B, C, D, etc., may also be called capitals, or caps....
    .


TOS programs (but not GEM programs) can auto boot by placing them in a folder named "AUTO". TOS 1.4 allows GEM programs to be set to load automatically from the "Install Application" dialog. Programs with *.TTP extensions and environments can not be used for auto boot. Desktop accessories were placed in the root directory of the default drive and loaded automatically.

Versions


TOS 1

  • 1.0 (ROM TOS) Earliest version released on disk. First ROM release of TOS.
    • Formats: floppy, 2 chip and 6 chip ROMs (192 KB
      KB

      The abbreviation KB or kb can refer to:*Kilobit , a unit of information used, for example, to quantify computer memory or storage capacity...
      )
    • Rom date: 20 Nov 1985
    • Machines: 520ST, 1040ST
  • 1.02 (MEGA TOS) fixed bugs, supported Blitter
    Blitter

    In a computer system, a blitter is a co-processor or a logic block on a microprocessor that is dedicated to rapid data transfer within that computer's RAM....
     co-processor and real-time clock.
    • Formats: 2 chip and 6 chip ROMs (192 KB)
    • Rom date: 22 Apr 1987
    • Machines: 520ST, 1040ST, Mega 2, Mega 4
  • 1.04 (RAINBOW TOS) Many bug fixes, file selector changed, DOS-compatible disk formatting, much improved performance. However, compatibility problems with older software.
    • Formats: 2 chip and 6 chip ROMs (192 KB)
    • Rom date: 6 Apr 1989
    • Machines: 520ST, 1040ST, Mega 2, Mega 4, Stacy
  • 1.06 (STE TOS, Revision 1) Support for STe machines only. Needed STE_FIX.PRG to patch bugs.
    • Format: 2 chip ROMs (256 KB)
    • Rom date: 29 Jul 1989
    • Machines: 520STE, 1040 STE
  • 1.62 (STE TOS, Revision 2) bug fixes for the previous 1.06 STE TOS.
    • Format: 2 chip ROMs (256 KB)
    • Rom date: 1 Jan 1990
    • Machines: 520STE, 1040 STE


TOS 2

  • 2.02 Early TOS release for Mega STE.
  • 2.05 (Mega STE TOS) Only found in the Mega STE with 720K floppy drive.
    • Format: 2 chip ROMs (256 KB)
    • Rom date: 5 Dec 1990
    • Machines: Mega STE
  • 2.06 (ST/STE TOS) Bug fixes, 1.44 MB disk support, memory test. Greatly enhanced GEM GUI. IDE hard disk booting. Last TOS version for ST/STE computers.
    • Format: 2 chip ROMs (256 KB)
    • Rom date: 14 Nov 1991
    • Machines: 520ST, 1040ST, 520STE, 1040STE
  • 2.07 used on the Falcon prototype "FX-1"
  • 2.08 used in notebook ST.


TOS 3

  • 3.01, 3.05, 3.06 (TT TOS) Primarily for 68030 TT support only.
    • Format: 4 chip ROMs (512 KB)


TOS 4

  • 4.00, 4.01, 4.02, 4.04 (512 KB) Update for Falcon 030 machines only.
  • 4.92 Last TOS version, was never officially released


TOS 4 ROM contains five, user-selectable language versions.

See also

  • EmuTOS
    EmuTOS

    EmuTOS is a replacement for Atari TOS , released as free software. It does not add any functionality and is mainly intended to be used with Atari emulators, such as ARAnyM....
  • Multitasking versions of TOS
    • MiNT
      MiNT

      MiNT is a free software alternative operating system Kernel for the Atari ST and its successors. Together with the free system components fVDI , XaAES , and TeraDesk , MiNT provides a free Atari TOS compatible replacement OS that is capable of computer multitasking....
    • MultiTOS
  • GEM
    Graphical Environment Manager

    GEM was a windowing system created by Digital Research for use with the CP/M operating system on the Intel 8088 and Motorola 68000 microprocessors....


External links

  • - User's guide
  • - Reference guide for Atari ST programming. Recommended