Google translation:
I am 27 years old, I live in Geneva and I currently work on Linux projects which are remunerated without history.
All those which intended to speak about you, know that you are one of the first to have worked on MorphOS. Could you say why, in your opinion, Ralph Schmidt contacted you to develop MorphOS
Ralph Schmidt trainait on channel IRC that VaporWare used for the betatesting. Considering I was the author of a version PowerUP de VFlash, it has to conclude that I was interested by a OS PPC and could bring a native version to him To travel. What was confirmed thereafter.
could you tell us the beginnings of MorphOS? How did it constitute the core of the programmers, how was organized, which were the relations with bPlan, and Amiga Inc?
MorphOS was begin with Ralph Schmidt and Frank Mariak. At the beginning, they still used most of KickStart of Amiga and an emulator 68k interpreted although sufficient fast to be usable. But it was not sufficient to make a complete system of it. It was necessary to replace all the parts of KickStart by native code, without speaking about the components which are reproduced on the disc of an installation of AmigaOS. They were thus in the search of developers interested by the concept. I was the first to join them and gradually, other people arrived. All occurred on a private channel IRC and the developers contributed during their spare time, with with dimensions of their travail/études. It is significant to note that at the time already, certain people, for which Ralph Schmidt, did not need an income to live.
bPlan arrived later, formed by Gerald Carda and Thomas Knaebel. The latter do not like to use Internet to communicate and all was done by the means of Ralph. But Pegasos was not finished yet and all was done on PowerUP charts. The relation with Amiga Inc was very short, time that Haage And Partners and Hyperion learn our attempt from communication, they refused any reasonable collaboration with us. I did not seek to know why so many people hated Ralph at this time. But it is something which I was going to discover later...
to summarize, MorphOS was a hobby for the majority of the people. < did br>
# Comment evolve/move the project after the arrival of Thendic/Genesi/Bill Buck?
Genesi did not exist at the beginning. Bill Buck and his Raquel wife were shareholders of Pretory. Thendic France was a box that Pretory had and "managed" by Thierry Velasco, brother of Raquel. Thendic developed cameras and gadgets of monitoring and they were interested by a complete data-processing platform.
the first step was to urge the most people possible so as to increase the speed of development of MorphOS so that it can become a true commercial product. Pretory was a rather large box and generated much money (in manner dishonest person but anybody of external with limps did not know it). It is by the means of Ralph that I was contacted. I thus gave my resignation to my preceding work to be able to devote me full-time on MorphOS as from August 2002. Several other people were committed, certain working directly in the buildings of Thendic in Paris and others since their residence in time that consultants. In short, all seemed very promising: the cashflow was there and of the development full time is incomparable as regards effectiveness.
I then received my first Pegasos. A "special" version with a bus with 133 MHz. The catastrophe. Not only it was very difficult to find memory which functioned but the machine was not usable. All that was installed on the disc ended up being damaged. But one really did not know from where that came. The reduction of the buses with 100 MHz was sufficient so that the machines survive long enough during the shows.
Thereafter bPlan found that it was about Articia and developed a material corrective measure (April) to decrease the effects of them. That was announced in Aachen during a show. All the developers could set out again with a mother chart having April and the development of MorphOS was some accelerated by reducing the compile times, the PowerUP charts having been used until there. From this moment, the decision not to use chips May Logic more was already made. There then was April2 which fixes all the known problems of corruption (April let some pass some... send to me a mall if you want to know how to test).
the development was organized in the following way. Each developer had access to a waiter CVS which turned on one of my machines and or almost all the sources were. The discussions were carried out on a private channel IRC (of which everyone must know the name now) and on a mailing-list. I had also set up a system of bug carryforwards. We laid out betatesteurs but considering there no had really been selection in their recruitment, they for the majority were regarded as buffoons (from where the famous nickname: let us betabouffons). With final all beta testing was carried out by ourselves. < did br>
# Comment occur the dark period, to your page "money back"?
It is necessary to retain the following points for including/understanding the continuation well:
the programmers have contracts with Thendic. Thendic was never regular in its payments. They could not pay very well for 2 months then all arrived of a blow. The excuse was each time related to problems of administration. There is no yet found market, except the Amiga market, which is very small. All the cashflow comes from Pretory. Ralph does not need money to live.
at the beginning of 2003, Buck announced a fusion between Thendic and bPlan so as to form Genesi, the goal being to repurchase what Thendic had. It made record the box in Luxembourg by PriceWaterhouseCoopers. A few months later, it proposed to me to open a branch in Switzerland by promising to me that all would be managed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers Suisse. The reasons were that a commercial structure based in Switzerland would be more interesting (less raised VAT, etc). There were plans to order of Pegasos by Internet and I was to mount a waiter to Switzerland for the remote loadings of MorphOS. I accepted and, a little later the branch was recorded in Switzerland.
In August 2003 it is the exit of MorphOS 1.4, but Thendic has already 2 months of delay for the invoices of the majority of the people. It is said to us that all is normal and that it is caused by the migration of Thendic in Genesi. Then it is learned that Pretory has serious problems. Buck says to us that there still, all is normal and that it was envisaged, that fusion between Thendic and Genesi will be made like agreed and that the wages had just been versed on our banking accounts. During this time, the newspapers publish worrying articles on Pretory. If you want more information, test research on "Pretory" in Google (you will notice that the Web site of Pretory continues to exist and affirms that all is well) or get newspapers such as the VSD from the 8 to July 14, 2004 for example. There is also a video report on Pretory which trails on eDonkey. Buck and Raquel seem to remain in the USA without never giving the feet to Europe.
Everyone continues to work. In December 2003 I receive a phone call of Thierry Velasco who affirms us that "This time it is good. The money arrived, everyone was paid ", it seemed if relieved that obviously even had not been paid him for a long time. Super, but this time still, nothing arrives.
at the end of December first Pegasos 2 are ready. It is promised to us that that will make return the money necessary to pay us partly. There, it starts to do without the strange things. First of all, I learn how that Thierry authorized the retailer (City Computer) to take Pegasos delivered by bPlan in the name of Genesi Suisse, without me to inform some. Then Pegasos are delivered since Computer City to the various retailers and to certain developers (by UPS, to maximize the costs...). Each retailer is informed to still pay the machines with Genesi Suisse... a thing which by was not envisaged and whose I was unaware of the existence.
It had only one machine hundred there for this order. Genesi passes a 2è from there to bPlan at the beginning of January and benefits from it to pay nothings (kind less than 10% of the sum due) with the developers which started with impatienter seriously, while promising that the remainder of the sum and that had especially not to be stopped the development was going to arrive soon. I learned thereafter that this money came from Paul Adams, who then left Genesi.
Then I realize with stupor that the money transferred by the retailers on the account of Genesi Suisse is almost entirely transferred on the account from Thierry Velasco in France by Buck. I think that all the people having bought Pegasos 2 at its beginnings will be glad to note that no part of their money was used for MorphOS but to pay the wages of Thierry.
In February, Thendic is put in bankruptcy. Fusion with bPlan never took place. Buck continues to affirm that all is well, that the blow of Pretory was only one plot of the French government and that one will be paid very soon.
the people who had worked in the buildings of Thendic and which were also unpaid are compensated by the French social services, but not developers independent under contracts, obviously (a setting in bankruptcy never produces benefit).
the period which follows reveals very unpleasant. Certain programmers already left, others are outragés by the behavior of Buck and finally, there remains a part (of which Ralph) which is convinced that a miracle will arrive and that it is normal for a startup to mislead its employees. I even propose officially to break any relation with even if it means Bill Buck to take again a status OS developed in spare time but Ralph refuses in block.
the development stagnates. The handle of programmers remaining do what they want, when he want it, and it is normal considering the situation. Bill Buck continues to make its promises. They obtain a contract with Freescale which should all save, this time it is for truth. The figures are communicated to us, 300 units that Freescale will pay 1400 USD each one, adding up 420000 USD. I think that this time they do not have any more excuses not to pay us.
In October 2004 I put the fist on the table. I say to Bill Buck and Raquel which considering that they have the money should be paid us now. Finished the promises and others. With the place, they propose to me to set out again to zero as if nothing had occurred. It is too much! I give them two weeks, last this time I will explain the situation with everyone. I no reaction obtains absolutely. Ralph does not even react.
I contact several programmers to ask them for their opinion, some agree to be quoted on www.morphos.net others refuse for reasons which escape to me still at the present time. The site appears and causes the surprise in the users and returns the other furious ones. Buck makes me threats and I am shown to have tarnished the name of MorphOS by Ralph (poor cabbages).
In the week which follows, Stefan Stuntz and me let us be contacted by Buck and Ralph in order to provide a plan for a release of MorphOS 1.5 for January 31, 2005. Maybe, I give the list of what was made until now and there adds what misses and would be realizable for time given. The price to be paid is fixed so that they owed me hitherto or a reasonable percentage whose remainder would be payable later. Stefan quotes similar. All is refused in block and we receive threats in the place. In short, at least it was clear, it did not have there really more nothing to hope for these people there.
Ralph says to me that I should act like a person under contract and should ask to be paid at the end of carried out work. It is there that I ask to him whether it really takes to me for an imbecile.
# That did it occur since January 2005 and why you decided to pass Ambient under licence LPG?
In January, I make a proposal with the remaining programmers which is as follows (Ralph having left the channel of the developers):
MorphOS would become free and would be developed in time libre.
the PowerUP version would be disponible.
the version Pegasos 1 and 2 would be always supported but we would not encourage the purchase of new Pegasos nor would not support a new model of Pegasos as long as bPlan would be associated Buck.
a Macintosh port would be développé.
It would not have there more no contact or relation with Buck and it would be clearly annoncé.
< Br > Everyone agrees but it remains to convince Ralph. It joined the channel a little later and refuses the offer by modifying all the parts wanting to move away Buck. For him, Buck must remain because it is useful (!). It also adds that version 1.5 should cost 100 euros without wanting to speak about the difficulty of equitably distributing the sum between several developers. According to http://support.morphos.net/there is a little more than 200 recorded people and that is not used for nothing to try to build a market around if few people.
After the behavior of Buck, which proves nevertheless to be pure and simple fraud, I categorically refuse to be associated him. Moreover, Ralph acts in a wretched way. Not only it throws the fault of the lack of advance in MorphOS on the programmers (cf the famous log of # morphos) but in more it considers that all that Buck did until there is perfectly normal! I do not know on which planet it saw but that it shows me a group of unpaid people which continues to work as if nothing were not for a long period.
In short, I am left with the choice let rot Ambient on my hard disk or put it in Free Software so that it is developed by the community. < is br>
# Which the state of MorphOS at the present time? How is the current team made up and which are the relations with Genesi? How will MorphOS evolve/move, in your opinion?
One pourait statement that approximately 6 months ago of work between version 1.4 and MorphOS which the developers currently have. Work is carried out very slowly. Here what I know about the current developers ("purified "version):
Frank Mariak: does not do almost anything any more since more than one year, it has a true job.
Emmanuel Lesueur: similar, it has a true job.
Teemu Suikki: it left without anything to say since 2003. It has to have some to await its payments enough. It has a true job (and became dad! Congratulations).
Sigbjoern Skjaeret: deal mainly with FFMpeg. ARexx will never be finished. It does what it wants when that sings to him (and it is right well). It has a true job.
Nicholai Benalal: too much occupied by its true job, does not do anything any more.
Nicolas Sallin: it carries some plays in SDL per Ci by there and deals with reassuring everyone by saying that MorphOS never went as well.
Olsen Mark: it writes pilots 3d, when that sings to him.
Harry Sintonen: after having been unpaid by Genesi it was a true job and fixes some bugs per Ci by there, when that sings to him.
Jacek Piszczek: unpaid by Genesi. It seeks work.
Benjamin Vernoux: really any more time for MorphOS does not have, it has a true job and became dad (congratulations!).
Chris Hodges: student, bump on Poseidon during its spare time. It should be noted that the last version (3) is not licencée any more for MorphOS. Buck still did not pay him the licence for Poseidon 2.
Nicolas Szalski: it was paid nothings for its incredible graphic work. It had enough and left it.
Treveur Bretaudiere: unpaid, legal procedure in progress, no recognized right, has which one from the TEAM for free cruelty towards dust that advised to release never should be shaken.
Gurer Ozen: it left, then returned. Never received its Pegasos 2 as promised.
Oliver Wagner: unpaid, party. With carried felt sorry for against Buck.
Stefan Stuntz: unpaid. It agrees to make a version of MUI for everyone (OS 3.x, OS4, MorphOS) but Ralph in is always to attack Hyperion and at put more than one year for finally yielding.
Bertrand Presles: the famous hobbit. It passed on Mac after being disgusted of Thendic/Genesi, inevitably, it worked in their offices in Paris...
Mathieu Leroyer: it lays some software per Ci by there. I believe that it is rather independent. Without doubts unpaid but it nothing will claim.
Felix Schwarz: Buck owes him a large sum. Left on Mac.
Marcin Kurek: depended on Jacek to be paid but considering this last was not paid... consequently, Marcin cannot be it either. Does not make large any more thing, too occupied by its studies.
Michal Rybinski: even case that Marcin. Does not make large any more thing, I believe that it studies too.
Grzegorz Kraszewkski: all that it finds with saying is that MorphOS misses leadership. Unpaid.
Andre Siegel: unpaid graphic designer. Find Buck Brilliant.
Johan Ronnblom: unpaid. Pass its life to defend Genesi in forums.
Nico Det: it bump still on some pilots during his spare time. Student.
Michal Wozniak: student. Deal of TinyGL and bearings during its spare time.
Stefan Ruppert: the author of amigaguide.library, unpaid. You wonder why you do not have a amigaguide.library? Here...
Ralph Schmidt: unpaid since the beginning of 2003 (!), continues to support Buck.
the relations with Genesi are simple. The majority of the people above hate Bill Buck and Raquel but a too great number will never dare their statement opposite. The relation is carried out by the means of Ralph.
As regards the evolution of MorphOS, it is necessary to go to the obviousness, it is not more similar. There is no more no chance so that it is supported commercially and enough of programmers so that he becomes competitive. A solution would be to pass it in Open Source but with people limited like Ralph Schmidt, this is impossible. After all that occurred its only concern is that Hyperion disappears.
Approximately you do not wait large evolutions. QBox? It has practically not changed for 3 years. Version 1.5, if it leaves one day will bring only minor changes (it appears that it is already available will warez some).
As regards Pegasos, Freescale informed me that they did not hope to sell some.
# do you Regret on your decisions passed, to join MorphOS TEAM as much that to leave it? Could something make you return to the development?
I regret not having left before when the things started to be spoiled about August 2003 but I were far from doubting to me all that was going to arrive. I develop always but more under MorphOS nor AmigaOS, and now that I am accustomed to environments which do not require any more a complete reboot with least planting of an application I do not think of retrogressing.
What disappointed me the most is the behavior of Ralph Schmidt. I had much admiration for him at the beginning. Some people who had been near to him had warned to me but I had not believed there. It had the means of saving the boat at the beginning of 2004 but it did not do it.
# Which was your vision d"Ambient when you started to develop it. Which functions, in addition to those of traditional Workbench, did you wish to integrate? What did you finalize above and that remains it has to make? Will you follow the development of Ambient, and Will continue you to use MorphOS and/or develop for this OS, or another AmigaOS?
My vision was to have an office complete, and directed object. The whole having a context depend on the action carried out. It is true that the first version was a clone of Workbench "to see" but I quickly changed the rules them. Ambient modular and is filled of under systems dedicated to each task. For example there is a graphic and sound system. To tell the truth I had thought of making of it a complete platform with final which would have made it possible to develop extensions in a simple and fast way. For example, Ambient has "sights" which make it possible to post an object, that it is a repertory, a file, a URL, etc in a different way. Currently there is a sight for the icons, another for the files in list, a sight of images, a sight of objects BOOPSI (Amigaguide, etc), a sight of text, a sight for the sound files (MP3, OGG, etc). Similar for the panels, it was expected that they can be extended by plugins (the current buttons have already the structure necessary and are simple plugins integrated in some kinds). A large work was made to bring a basic structure necessary to all these ideas, and, even if it is not visible directly, the foundations of Ambient are there. I had really had a long-term vision on this project.
I do not know if I will have time to follow his development. As regards using MorphOS or AmigaOS, I already very replaced by solutions which, my time, appear higher on almost all the points.
# Of what are you most content in your work completed on MorphOS and which are the best memories than you have this period?
the source code of Ambient rather clean and is structured. In spite of the complexity of the machine, I could keep of it a design which I regard as rather evolutionary.
good moments ago. Throw a glance with the file ambient/src/modules/about/aboutcrypt.txt to have some quotes (in English), for part IRC in any case. As regards displacements to the shows or meetings, people such as Bertrand, Sebastien, Eric, Sharwin and Rakesh were extremely sympatic.
# If were to be remade, which errors would be to avoid, and which would have to be made absolutely?
a project aiming at réimplémenter a clone of AmigaOS? I would say that one should not work full-time above, it is too risky. And if you work during the spare time, reflect well if that is worth the sorrow of it because that can badly require not sacrifices. I would speak to you well about my preceding experiment with Metabox but the article would be too long:).
In my case I already refused two proposals which followed MorphOS. I think that the Amiga-like platforms at the present time do not have any more their place on some market that it is. OS embarked riper exist for a long time and nobody any more wants of a desktop with few applications and without protection memory.
Certainly, he remains still amigaists but it is not a market.
# a message for the readers of Obligement?
I make a point of thanking all those which sent to me donations and/or messages sympathetic nerves at the time of the exit of Ambient in LPG, as all those which encouraged me throughout this adventure. Perhaps that I will re-examine some of them on other platforms, which knows.
[ pegasos ii / g4 | morphos1.4.4 ]
