No. It would be most accurately described as a 'middleware solution'.
Q:
What does Amiga Anywhere 2 offer?
A:
It provides software developers with an application programmer interface (API) to a thin layer abstraction over a given host platform graphics, sound, and input APIs, providing a common multi-platform base on which new games and applications can be built.
Q:
How is this different to other operating system APIs?
A:
The Amiga Anywhere 2 (AA2) platform is designed to work transparently on numerous different host operating systems, all of which have different capabilities and APIs. AA2 provides a single common API allowing developers to write/maintain a single source tree and deploy to multiple diverse supported operating systems.
Q:
Aren't there other products that already do the same thing?
A:
Such middleware solutions are certainly not a new idea, and other products with similar goals are already well established and commonly used. AA2 differs in the extent of the number and range of features offered and the ease to which these can be used.
Q:
What types of host platforms does Amiga Anywhere 2 support?
A:
Past Amiga Anywhere products have tended to focus on cell phones and PDAs. Though this was primarily driven by the greater sales potential in those markets, it led to a common misconception that Amiga Anywhere was only for small handheld devices. This is not the case as full size desktop applications are also supported, in both windowed and full-screen modes.
Q:
I have heard about something called "OS5". Is this the same thing?
A:
No. AA2 and the product often referred to as OS5 are entirely separate distinct products.
Q:
So what is OS5 then?
A:
OS5 is an ongoing project to build a new distributed virtualized operating system (in the true sense of the term operating system) that is also capable of running in a hosted form. OS5 is a long-term project that incorporates many of the next generation operating system concepts Amiga has extolled in the past.
Q:
How does AA2 relate to OS5?
A:
Operating systems are extremely large and complex software projects.
This is particularly so when it includes novel and/or state-of-the-art
capabilities. Although Amiga plans to roll out parts of the new
operating system as and when they become available, the project as a
whole will take time to fully realize.
Amiga recognized that existing Amiga Anywhere developers have an
immediate need for some of these resources and services, and so has
designed and implemented a new middleware solution that can be used
for multi-platform application development both today and in the future.
Q:
Then is AA2 merely a stopgap solution?
A:
Not at all. When completed, OS5 will incorporate and support the AA2 API
on top of its own APIs to enable future compatibility for existing
source code. The AA2 API has been designed with this in mind, ensuring
that it will retain a useful niche function within the much larger
completed OS5 product. AA2 products will also continue to support being
deployed as small foot print standalone applications on other operating
systems. For these reasons, AA2 has continued value both inside and
outside OS5, both today and in the future.
Q:
What is this AA2 niche function you mention?
A:
Whereas OS5 will offer comprehensive API support at both high and low
levels, AA2 is designed to specialize in quick adoption; ease of use;
and rapid application development -- attempting to provide the shortest
path to the full multimedia capabilities with the least amount of setup.
The API is also geared primarily towards game and other multimedia
applications.
