Amiga Realm - Knowledge Base Channel

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knowledge base channel: /home/knowledge base/glossary of amiga related terms

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written and compiled by paul andrews jr. for use in conjunction with the knowledge base channel.

Acceleration: An option, selected through the Input editor, that causes the pointer movement to increase as the mouse is moved at a constant speed. Acceleration provides a higher degree of control for small mouse movements and less control, but greater mouse speed, for large movements.

Accelerator: Any card which speeds up a computer. Although memory alone sometimes does this, typically an accelerator features a faster processor than currently installed in the host computer.

Address: a byte-numbered memory location. The Zorro II bus is based on a 24-bit addresses, the Zorro III bus on a 32-bit address.

Agnus: One of the three main Amiga custom chips. Contains the Blitter, Copper, and DMA circuitry.

AGA: Advanced Graphics Architecture. This is the latest Chipset to be found in the A1200 and A4000 line of Amigas. Plus all modern Amiga Clones. Many enhancements made over ECS including the move to full 32Bit Data Handling.

AHI: AHI (Audio Hardware Interface) is a shareware Retargettable Audio System. Similar in principle to CybergraphX, it allows software developers to support all 16-Bit sound cards by writing to just one standard. Just like CyberGraphX this system will only work if AHI supports your chosen sound card.

Aliasing Distortion: A side effect of sound sampling, where two additional frequencies are produced, distorting the sound output.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange): A standardized format for text that assigns code numbers to characters, allowing the exchange of information between different types of computers.

Amiga Keys: Two keys on the keyboard to the left and right of the space bar.

AmigaDOS: The disk operating system (DOS) used by Amiga computers. The DOS provides the basic functions necessary for the computer to work. Like for instance giving you the ability to access Floppy + Hard Drives and executing programs and applications. Although basic in usage AmigaDOS is a very powerful and streamlined Operating System.

AmigagGuide: AmigaGuide is the HyperText system used by the Amiga. It enables software developers and programmers the option to include point and click documentation along with their software. Every AmigaGuide document produced is basically a standard ASCII document except that it includes special tags which the AmigaGuide program will understand.

Amplitude: In audio applications, the voltage or current output expressed as volume from a sound speaker.

Amplitude Modulation: In audio applications, a means of producing complex audio effects by using one audio channel to alter the amplitude of another.

AppIcon: An icon on Workbench that allows the user to pass arguments to an application.

AppMenu: An AppMenu allows the user to add a custom menu item to the Workbench Tools menu. Release 2 workbench.library

AppWindow: An application window into which you can drag an icon to load the icon fle into the application. The MultiView window and Amiga file requester are AppWindows.

Arbitration: The unambiguous selection of one request out of a number of possible simultaneous requests for a resource. There are two kinds of arbitration in a Zorro III system; bus arbitration and quick interrupt arbitration.

Archive: 1.(verb) To copy files to disk for backup purposes.; 2.(noun) A backup copy of a file or files.
An Archive is a way of storing information which is not needed immediately in a space efficient manner. Archived files take up much less room, but must be Un-archived or extracted again before use.
Popular Archivers on the Amiga include: -LHA, -LHARC, -ZIP, -ZOO, -DMS

ARexx: A text-based language that, along with Workbench and the Shell, serves as a built-in user interface for the Amiga. ARexx has two main uses. As a scripting language, it can operate internally with applications. It can also be used to operate two or more applications that may or may not be inherently compatible.

Argument: additional item of information, such as a filename, value or option, included along with a command. This information determines the exact action of the command.
For example -LHA e Progs1- tells the LHA program to extract all files from the Archive called Progs1.

Argument Passing: Specifying parameters for a program or command to follow. On the workbench this can be handled through the Tool Types and Default Tool fields of an icon, or through an AppWindow, AppIcon or AppMenu. More traditionally, arguments can be passed via a command line in the Shell.

ARP (AmigaDOS Replacement Project): A holy crusade undertaken by Charlie Heath (of Microsmiths) to implement and distribute a free set of improved CLI commands, and programmer facilities.

Asserted: The active state of a state, regardless of its logic sense.

Assign: To link a directory name to a logical device name, with the ASSIGN command, so that programs which use that directory can look for one device name rather than having to search through several volumes for the directory. For instance, the RAM:T directory is commonly assigned to the device name T:.

Atomic Cycle: A cycle or set of cycles that are uninterruptable, and thus treated as a unit; both Multiple Transfer and LOCKed cycles are considered atomic under the Zorro bus.

Attach Mode: 1. With sprites, a mode in which a sprite uses two DMA channels for additional colours. 2. In sound production, combining two audio channels for frequency/amplitude modulation or for stereo sound.

Attributes: A series of flags stored with every file. Attributes indicate file type and control the file operations (read, write, delete, etc.) permissible on the file. Also called protection bits.

AUTOCONFIG: From "automatic configuration," the Zorro bus specification for how software and hardware cooperate to permit PIC addresses to be set by software and PIC type information to be determined by software.

AUTODOC: A brief, sometimes cryptic, summary of each Amiga library routine is kept in the actual original source code. These are extracted automatically by C-A and distributed on paper (in the RKM) or on disk to programmers.

Back Up: (verb) To make a backup copy.

Background Process: A program that is started from the Shell with the RUN command. The program does not take over the Shell but is run in the "background".

Backup: (noun) A copy of a file on disk or tape used to replace lost data.

BASIC (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code): Programming language using easy to remember commands such as LET, INPUT, PRINT, IF, GOTO etc.

Barrel Shifter: The part of the Blitter that can shift bit images to arbitrary boundaries nearly instantly.

Basename: A specific and non-conflicting name for an application that should be used by the developer when naming accompanying files and ports such as the application's ARexx port and the file where application-specific preferences are stored. In most cases, the basename should be the same as the name of the application's executable.

Baud Rate: The speed at which a device receives or transmits information in serial communication. Roughly equivalent to bits per second. binary The base-2 number system that uses only the digits 0 and 1.

BBS (Bulletin Board System): A computer which hosts files and message areas for people to log into and download via modem. Very popular before the Internet became available.

BGUI (BOOPSI Graphical User Interface): An alternative graphical user interface library for the Amiga.

Binary: Numbering system using two digits (0,1). Commonly used on computer systems.

Bit: A single binary digit (1 or 0).

Bitmap: An image made up of pixels.

Bitplane: An area of RAM that holds screen graphics data. Each bit in a bitplane controls one screen pixel. The number of bitplanes for a screen controls the maximum number of simultaneous colours possible for that screen.

Blitter: A graphics engine that is part of the custom chips. It can do BLITs (Block Image Transfers) in hardware. Sometimes called a BIMMER (Bitmap IMmage Manipulator) because it can also do logic operations during the transfer, line draws, hardware fills, and more.

Blitz Basic: Popular BASIC compiler for the Amiga, developed by Acid Software.

Blizzard: Range of accelerator cards from Phase 5 for the A1200 range of Amigas.

BlizzardVision: New graphics card for Blizzard PPC accelerator using Permedia2 2D/3D chipset.

Bob: Blitter Object, animated object controlled by the Blitter similar to sprites.

Boopsi (Basic Object Orientated Programming System for Intuition): Defines certain Intuition entities such as Gadgets and Images as objects. Allows customisation, expansion, inheritance and consistent interface. ClassACT uses Boopsi.

Boolean: Having possible states: on or off, true or false, yes or no.

Boot: To start or restart one's computer from scratch. With the exception of recoverable RAM disks, this means loosing all data in memory.

BoXeR: First Amiga Clone by Access. Uses a new ATX motherboard with a 68040 or 68060 processor, an all-in-one new AGA+ chipset with unlimited Chip RAM and supports Zorro 3 or PCI slots.

Bridgeboard: An expansion board made by Commodore that allows the Amiga to emulate PC-compatible computers.

Brush: An IFF graphics file, usually a section cut from a full-sized picture.

Buffer: A temporary storage area. For example a storage area held within RAM.

Bug: An error in software or hardware.

Busy Pointer: An image of a stopwatch that appears in place of the normal pointer when the Workbench is busy and cannot accept further input. Also called the wait pointer.

Byte: A unit of memory consisting of eight bits, usually equivalent to one character.

C/C++: High-level programming language for application software. Originally developed on Unix based systems to write operating systems.

Cache: Many processors today have their own on board Cache of memory with which they use to store the last few instructions or data which had been processed previously.
All Motorola processors from the 68020 onwards include some kind of Data/Instruction Caches.

Cache Memory: A temporary area in memory with extremely fast access that improves the system performance.

Catalog: The files that contain the system texts and messages translated to a different language.

CD (Compact Disc): Contains audio, video or 640MB of data. Requires CDROM drive.

CD32: A console based Amiga 1200 with built in CD Drive. Built many for home users and game playing. It was one of the last new Amigas built by Commodore.

CD ROM: A read only storage media. Stores upward of 550 MB on a disk similar to an audio compact disc.

CDTV (Commodore Dynamic TeleVision): A CD based Amiga based on the OCS chipset with AmigaOS 1.3. First of its kind, was marketed not as a computer but as a Multimedia machine. It was very expensive and flopped on the market

Chunky Graphics: Uses one or bytes to describe the colour of a single pixel on the screen. Ideal for 3D graphics and very fast for lots of colours. Most Amiga Graphics Card use this method.

Check Box: A gadget that lets you turn an option on or off when a check mark appears in the box, the option is selected, or on. chip

Chip: An electronic component in many computer systems. Contains thousands or millions of miniature circuits designed to do a specific task. Usually made of silicon.

Chip RAM: The area of RAM accessible to the Amiga's custom chip set used for graphics and sound data. Also known as Graphics Memory. This is the area of the Amigas memory which can be directly accessed by the Amigas Custom Chips.
The problem with ChipRAM is that the main processor has to wait around twiddling its pins whilst the custom chips are accessing it. So to speed up your Amiga always make sure your system has FastRAM on board.

CIA (Complex Interface Adapters): Amigas contain two of these chips. Usually control timers, interrupts, keyboard, parallel port, serial port and floppy drives.

CISC (Complex Instruction Set Chip): Type of processors with lots of instructions, some of which can do multiple tasks. The Motorola 680x0 series are CISC processors.

Chunk: See IFF

Clear: 1. To change a bit or flag to 0, off or disabled state. Opposite of set.; 2. To erase a screen or window display.

CLI (Command Line Interface): A means of communicating with a computer by issuing commands from the keyboard. The program that allows this on the Amiga is called the Shell and, along with Workbench and ARexx, is one of the three built-in interfaces. Before the Shell was available, the program used was called CLI.

Coercion: Method used in AmigaOS to determine which frequency to use when different screen modes are used at the same time.

Clipboard: An area in memory that is used to store text and graphics while they are being transferred between programs.

Close: To remove a window from the screen, to end a program, or to finish the access to a data file.

Close Gadget: A gadget that can appear in the upper left corner of a window to allow you to close the window.

Colour Correction: A printing option, selected through the PrinterGfx editor, that tries to better match the colours of a printout to the colours on the screen.

Commodore Business Machines: They bought out HiTorro/Amiga Incorp. (Jay Miner's team) and developed the Amiga into what it is now. They finally when bust in 93/94 due to poor marketing and poor management.

Compiler: Converts a high-level language to machine code programs. BASIC and C/C++ compilers exist. May include other utilities such as Debug utilities, profilers and optimisers.

: TV signal which can be used in Video or PAL modes only, better than RF type signals but poorer quality than RGB signals.

Computer: An electronic device that stores, recalls and processes information.

Console: A device which allows a Command Line Interface or Shell for entering AmigaDOS commands onto a scrollable window. Commands include DIR, LIST, TYPE etc. (CON:)

Copper: Display co-processor. Yet another microprocessor within the Amiga, this time specialized at for raster synchronization. It only has three instructions, but since it can access any of the ~100 custom chip registers it's rather powerful. Easy tricks include changing resolution on any line, reusing sprites later in a display, modifying the palette on the fly, page flipping with no 68000 involvement.

Co-Processor: Effectively an extra brain for the computer. The Co-processor is usually designed to do a specific task e.g. A Maths Co-processor/FPU. Also the Amigas Custom Chips can be described as Co-processors.
For details of Maths Co-processors see FPU.

Cold Reboot: To reset the Amiga by turning the power off, waiting 20 seconds, then restoring power.

Command: A statement given to the Amiga to perform a task or achieve a result.

Command History: A feature of the Shell that allows you to recall previously entered command lines by using the cursor keys.

Command Template: A line of text showing how a command and its arguments should be used. When a user types "<command> ?" in the Shell, he should be shown the template for that command. Release 2 dos.library Release 2 GadTools

Commodities Exchange: A system that simplifies the process of writing programs which monitor the input handler system - these programs can respond to hot keys, take actions based on mouse action or inactivity, or even modify the input stream as it goes by.

Condition Flag: A variable that contains a return code value indicating the success or failure of command execution.

Console Window: A window used for input and output of text.

Control-Key Combination: A key combination that performs a special function, entered by holding down Ctrl while pressing another key on the keyboard. Some Control-key combinations are executed as soon as they are pressed, such as when Ctrl+C is used to abort the execution of an AmigaDOS command. Some produce a reversed character image and have no immediate effect.

CPU (Central Processing Unit): The "brain" of a computer; the integrated circuit chip primarily responsible for executing the instructions in a program.

Crash: Refers to a situation when the computer fails due to a software failure or some sort of hardware fault. A Reboot or restart is required to regain control of the computer.

CrossDos: Suite of drivers and utilities that allow the Amiga to read and write PC formatted disks in 720KB or 1.44MB sizes. Usually has PC0, PC1 DosDrivers and a CrossDos commodity for text filtering and translation.

Current Directory: The current location in the directory structure. The directory AmigaDOS uses as the default directory to operate within, if no other directory is specified.

Current Window: The highlighted window that accepts input from the keyboard. A Shell window is current when it is opened.

Cursor: A highlighted rectangle used in the Shell and some applications to indicate text position.

Cycle Gadget: A gadget for selecting one of several options. One option is displayed at a time and as the gadget is selected, the other options become visible. The displayed option is the selected option.

Cylinder: A logical division of a magnetic storage disk. Amiga 3.5 inch floppy disks are divided into 80 cylinders during the formatting process.

CyberGraphX: The Amigas first RTG Graphics standard founded by phase 5. Enables software developers to make their software compatible with 3rd party Graphics cards old and new.
CybergraphX has recently been updated to include support for OpenGL, the 3D Graphics standard.

CyberStorm: Range of accelerator cards from Phase 5 for A3000/A4000 range of Amigas.

CyberVision: Graphics card from Phase 5 for Zorro II/III based Amigas.

Data: A collection of information.

DataTypes

Datatypes are an integral part of the Amigas Operating System. They are in essence small programs which when installed on your system allow your computer to read different files formats, depending on what you have installed.
Some applications like Web Browsers rely heavily on Datatypes, and require you to have the necessary Datatypes installed before they will work.

8SVX - IFF sound files

AmigaGuide - Amiga Help Files

FTXT - IFF text files

ANIM - ANIM format animation files

CDXL - CDXL format files

ILBM - Standard Bitmap amiga picture files

DC: Direct Current. This type of current is used for supplying power to disk drive, keyboard, external disk drive, etc.

Dead Key: A key, or key combination, that modifies the output of the next key to be pressed. For example, on an American keyboard, Alt+H superimposes a caret (^ ) symbol over the next key to be pressed. Alt+H is a dead key combination.

Debug: To find and fix mistakes in software or hardware.

Default: A value or action assumed if the user has not specified anything else.

Default Tool: An argument passing device used with project icons on the Workbench. When a project icon is double-clicked, the application specified in the Default Tool field of that icon's Information window will automatically load and run.

Delimiter: A character that marks the beginning and end of a string.

Denise: One of the "big three" custom chips in the Amiga. Contains the video output signals, mouse input and misc. timing.

Density: The number of printer dots per inch. Many printers support several print densities. Usually, the higher the density, the darker and sharper the printout.

Depth Gadget: A gadget that may appear in the upper right corner of a window or screen for moving that window or screen in front of or behind other windows or screens. This is sometimes referred to as depth arranging.

Destination: The device, directory or file that is receiving information.

Device: A physical mechanism, such as a printer or disk drive, or a software entity (logical device), such as CON: or NIL:, used as a source or destination for information. In the Release 2 user manual, hard disk and disk drive designations such as DF0: were capitalized.

Device Handler: Files that act as intermediate stages between AmigaDOS and physical devices, such as the Port-handler file in the L: directory which handles the interface for the PAR:, SER: and PRT: devices.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol): Provides IP addresses dynamically, commonly used on networks or when using the (C)SLIP protocol when connecting to the internet. Replaces the older BOOTP method.

DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Module): 64 bit memory board to add memory to modern computers. Tend to come in sizes of 16Mb, 32MB or more and run at 10ns or faster.

Directory: A subdivision in a computer's filing system. Directories are represented on the Workbench as drawer icons.

Disk / Disc: A medium for storage of computer data.

Disk Drive: A storage device that reads and writes data from and to a storage disk, such as a floppy disk.

Disk Operating System (DOS): The software that controls the basic input and storage functions of a computer.

Diskfont: Library on the Amiga which allows access to Bitmap fonts.

DiskSalv: Widely used disk salvage program which can repair faults on OFS and FFS formatted disks, and recover from Validation problems and undelete files.

Display Box: A rectangular box, usually under a scroll gadget or next to a selection gadget, that displays the current selection. You cannot edit a display box.

Display Mode: A name given to the set of parameters, such as resolution and scan frequency, that define a screen. For example, a High Res display mode is 640 pixels wide and 200 pixels high (for NTSC Amigas).

Dithering: l. Creating smoother colour or grey-scale shading of screen or printed displays by alternating pixel colours or density. The PrinterGfx and PrinterPS Preferences editors provides several settings for automatic dithering of printed graphics.
2. Creating the illusion of a colours by using a pattern of other colours. For example, creating the illusion of purple by alternating pixels of red and blue.

DMA (Direct Memory Access): This is a second processor to the 68000 which performs all of the memory accesses. The DMA controller therefore is connected to the chip ram address bus.
The Amigas DMA controller is contained within Agnus.

DMAC (Direct Memory Access Chip): Used on A3000s and A4000s for memory access.

DMS (Disk MaSher): A disk image creator and extractor program. Only works on Amiga floppy drives, an alternative is the ADF format for other platforms.

DNS (Domain Name Server): Converts between IP addresses and human readable formats e.g. 110.56.76.12 to www.noname.com

Dopus (Directory Opus): Popular file manager type program and the latest versions can replace Workbench with a better desktop system

DOS (Disk Operating System): Library which provides functions for file management on the Amiga.

DOS Drivers

Dos Drivers are software drivers that extend the abilities of the OS. AmigaOS comes with 5 of these:

PC0/PC1 - Allows for the mounting and usage of MSDOS formatted disks

CD0 - CDrom driver for mounting of cdroms

PIPE Pipe Driver

AUX - Auxiliary serial shell driver

RAD - Recoverable RAM disk driver.

Double-Click: To quickly press and release the selection button twice.

DPI (Dots Per Inch): Resolution of printed out, refers to number of printed dots per inch of paper.

Drag: To move an icon, window, gadget or screen across the display by pointing to the object, holding down the selection button and moving the mouse.

Drag Selection: The process of selecting several icons at once by holding down the selection button and using the mouse to draw a box around the icons you want to select. When you release the mouse button, all the icons in the box are selected.

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory): Type of memory used for main memory on computers, tends to very cheap and quite fast. Loses its contents when the computer is switched off.

Drawer: A subdivision of a disk storage area. A drawer corresponds to an AmigaDOS directory.

Drive Name: The name assigned to a floppy disk drive or hard disk such as FH1: or DF):. It's the same as the device name.

Driver: A Program which interfaces a peripheral or device connected to the Amiga with the Operating System and gains access to that device's many features.
Drivers include Printers, Scanners, Modems, SCSI devices and so on.

Dump: A printout of the image displayed on the screen.

DTP (DeskTop Publishing): Refers to page mockup production. The Amiga uses a number of DTP programs such as PageStream, ProPage and Page Setter.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): Replaces the CD for video, produces very high quality pictures and sound. Can contain around 4GB of data. Not supported on the Classic Amigas.

Dynamic IP (Dynamic Internet Protocol): When dialling your provider to get onto the Internet, sometimes they give you an IP address from a pool of addresses. So you don't always use the same address.

E: Programming language for the Amiga.

Early Startup: Initial screen which is brought up by pressing both Mouse buttons during a boot. Allows users to select boot device, graphics mode and turn off/on caches.

ECP (Extended Capabilities Port): Allows bidirectional communication on new Parallel Ports. Ten times faster than the older Centronics standard. IOBlix supports ECP.

ECS(Enhanced Chip Set): The upgraded version of the Amiga's Agnus and Denise coprocessor chips. The ECS offered new display modes and expanded existing graphics capabilities. Many of the benefits of the ECS are available only in conjunction with Release 2 of the operating system.
The main differences between ECS and OCS were that ECS gained extra Screen Modes: Super Hires and Extra Half Bright modes. Plus ECS implemented a newer Agnus Chip called Fatter Agnus which increased ChipRAM 512K to 1Meg.

EDO (Extended Data Out): Faster type of memory SIMM commonly used on modern PCs. Uses shorter access times for access to memory. Not directly supported on the Amiga.

EHB (Extra HalfBrite): A video mode that allows 64 colours per line. Available on all A500s and A2000s, and some A1000s.

EIDE (Enhanced IDE): Faster and bigger capacity than normal IDE which also supports ATAPI (also known as ATA-2).

Elate: New Operating System for the Next Generation Amiga. Features include hardware independent, processor independent using VP code, can run on top of existing OS such as Linux.

E-Mail (Electronic Mail): A method of transferring messages over the internet to an E-Mail address e.g. [email protected] Uses special protocols such as SMTP and POP3.

EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port): Found on newer parallel ports which allows bidirectional communication. See also ECP.

Escom: Former owner of the Amiga who took over ownership from Commodore a year after they went bust. Escom went under themselves due to over-expansion of their PC shops. Escom also restarted production of the Amiga 1200 and A4000T for a short while.

Escape Sequence: A sequence of characters, beginning with the Escape character, that performs a special function when entered on a command line or printed as part of a string. Escape sequences are typically used to alter the style of type used by a printer or in a console window.

ENV:: A directory where environment variables and user preferences are temporarily stored. Short for "environment".

ENVARC:: Similar to ENV: but it will survive a reboot. Short for "environment archive".

Environment Variable: A variable used by AmigaDOS to represent a string or a value.

Error Code: A number identifying an error that has occurred during execution of a command or program.

Exec: The kernel or core of the Amiga Operating System, this library controls what programs are run and schedules them using multi-tasking depending on priority. Also looks after memory allocation.

Execute: To carry out the instructions in a command line, program, or script.

Executable: The name for an application which the user types into the Shell in order to run the program. The executable should be one word - short, but long enough to prevent it from conflicting with the executables of other programs.

Extended Selection: The process of selecting several icons at once by holding down Shift while selecting each icon with the mouse.

Extension: A sequence of characters beginning with a period, such as .info, added to the end of a filename to identify the type of file.

Fast RAM: General memory used by programs and data; as opposed to Chip RAM.
FastRAM (Random Access Memory) is the Amigas memory which is directly accessed by the main processor.

FastFileSystem (FFS): An enhanced Amiga file system usable with both floppy and hard disks. A volume is formatted as either FFS or OldFileSystem (OFS).

Fatal Error: Describes an error serious enough to halt the process that caused it.

Fidonet: Special message based system used on BBS' (Bulletin Boards), people can join message groups called Echos which concentrate on particular subjects to which they can read and contribute. Now superceded by NewsGroups and Mailing Lists on the Internet.

Field: The screen area behind the text of a Workbench icon label. The colour of the field can be changed with the Font editor.

FIFO (First-in, First-Out): FIFO is an approach to handling program work requests from queues or stacks so that the oldest request is handled next.

File: An organized collection of data referred to by a name and stored on some type of media.

File System: The organization and software that controls the data, files, and directories stored on a volume. The primary types of Amiga file systems are FFS (FastFileSystem) and OFS (OldFileSystem).

Firewire: A high speed communication port, replaces SCSI. Used for disks, video and so on. Also, known as IEEE 1394.

Flag: A status indicator variable with a limited number of possible states.

Flash ROM: A re programmable ROM chip used in various devices such as Modems and expansion cards. Instead of replacing the chip as before, updates can be 'flashed' onto the ROM instead.

Floppy Disk: A removable magnetic storage medium. The Amiga uses 3.5 inch, double-sided, floppy disks in a rigid plastic case.

Floppy Drive: A device that reads and writes to floppy disks. On the Amiga they are referred to as DF0:, DF1:, DF2: and DF3:. The Amiga uses Double Density drives normally but High Density Drives can be added.

Font: Also called typeface. A particular design of a set of letters, symbols, and numbers used for text display, such as Topaz and Helvetica. Fonts are usually available in several sizes, defined in points (IE: 10 point,12 point).

Format: 1. To prepare a disk for use with the Amiga. Use this term instead of initialize when referring to disks.
2. A way of describing the proper syntax for AmigaDOS commands.

Fragmentation: A scattered distribution of data on a disk or in memory. Disk fragmentation results in slower disk performance; memory fragmentation can prevent some programs from running properly.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Method used on the Internet to transfer programs between computers.

Function Keys: Keys at the top of the Amiga keyboard, labeled Fl to F10, that can be programmed to perform special tasks.

FPM (Fast Page Memory): Fast Page Memory. Type of memory SIMMs used in the majority of Amiga computers.

FPU: An FPU (Floating Point Unit) or Maths Co-processor is a chip specifically designed to assist the main processor in Floating point calculations.
This Chip can be very useful in speeding up programs which use heavy maths calculations like 3D RayTracing packages for instance or Spreadsheets.

Function Keys: Keys at the top of the Amiga keyboard, labeled F1 to F10, that can be programmed to perform special tasks.

Fusion: Apple Macintosh Emulation program for the Amiga.

G3: Third generation PowerPC processors used in the new PowerPC only accelerator cards on the Amiga. Developed by DCE, Phase5, Escana and Met@box.

G4: Forth generation PowerPC processors used in the new PowerPC only accelerator cards on the Amiga. Developed by DCE, Phase5, Escana and Met@box.

Gadget: A Gadget is an area of the screen usually some kind of Button or Click type Requester which will initiate some sort of command or function when clicked with the mouse.

Gadtools: Library provided with Workbench 2+. Updated the gadget library from Intuition with better functions and better looking interface.

GadToolsBox: Program which allows programmers to design program interface using menus, screens windows and gadgets for application programs.

Gary (Gate ARaY): A single custom chip used in the Amiga 500 that replaces a large number of individual chips from the original A1000.

Gateway 2000: Parent company of Amiga Inc and Amiga Intl. Based in US. Bought the rights to the Amiga in 1997 from the remains of Escom.

Gayle: Gate ARraY chip on AGA based Amigas.

GB (Giga Bytes): A thousand million bytes of data or more accurately 1024 x 1048576 = 1,073,741,824 bytes

GCR (Group Coded Recording): Type of encoding used to read data from a storage unit. Applications for these drives include Apple II and Amiga. Data is mapped in groups of bits.

Genlock: The capability that allows synchronizing of the Amiga's video to an external source and the overlay of the two images.

Ghosting: Superimposing a pattern of dots in the shadow colours over disabled menu items or gadgets. This gives the user a visual cue that the item is unavailable. Intuition will do this automatically to all standard menu items and gadgets that your program disables.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): Used extensively on PCs and on the Web. Uses LZW compression for images. Copyrighted by CompuServe Inc.

Graphics: Library which is used on the Amiga to produce the images, gadgets, sprites etc on an Amiga screen.

Graphics Card: A replacement graphics chip which supercedes the in built graphics chipset. Tend to use PC style chunky 256 colour or more displays which is faster.

Goliath PSU: A very large and powerful replacement Power Supply Unit usually in the range of 200W.

Graphic User Interface (GUI): A visually oriented system allowing you to tell a computer what to do by manipulating graphic symbols rather than by typing in commands. Often, the GUI employs a metaphor for ease of understanding. The Workbench is the Amiga GUI.

Guru Meditation: Name of a Software Failure or crash when the Amiga reboots itself. Gives the address and cause of the failure in an alert.

HAM (Hold and Modify): HAM (Hold And Modify) is a graphics mode which enables the Amiga to display over 262.000 colours on screen at once.

Handler: Program which handles a given device such as the RAM Disk, auxiliary device, ports, queues and speech synthesis.

Handshaking: The electronic protocol required for communication between two computing devices.

Hard Disk: A high-speed, large-capacity mass-storage device from which the disks usually cannot be removed. Often called a hard drive or hard disk drive.

Hard Drive: Similar to hard disks but also contain circuitry to control the hard disk.

Hayes: A Hayes Compatible Modem uses AT commands to control the functions of a modem. The majority of modems are Hayes compatible.

HDToolbox: Tool used to setup and partition hard disks into logical parts called volumes.

Hex (Hexadecimal): Numbering system containing 16 digits for numbers 0 to 15. i.e. 0 to 9 and A to F. Uses Base 16.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): Document format for hyper linked files containing text, graphics and sound. Extensively used on the World Wide Web.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): Used on the World Wide Web to transmit and display HTML pages between the server and the client.

Hierarchical: A term used to describe the multi-leveled AmigaDOS file structure in which directories can contain other directories and/or files.

History Buffer: A section of memory that stores the most recent commands for a given Shell.

Hold Down: To continually press a mouse button until instructed to release it.

HOMBRE: Project Hombre is the name for the next generation Chipset which was started by Commodore before there demise. Not to be confused with AAA which was scrapped in favour of this new Chipset.
Hombre was to be a complete system in two chips. The first was a CPU chip which contained a RISC core, a Blitter, a 3D colour rendering engine, Audio etc. The second chip was the Video Data Path.

Hot Key: A key or key combination used by Commodities Exchange programs to open a hidden window.

Hot Spot: The pixel in a pointer, normally the tip of an arrow or the centre of a cross hair, that must be touching an object on the screen to select it.

Hunk: A subdivision of an AmigaDOS object file. HUNKS come in several flavours including those that store CODE, DATA and BSS (un initialized data). If all the HUNKS in a file do not line up correctly, AmigaDOS will report error 121, "file not an object module".

Hybrid Memory: Memory that can't be addressed by the custom chips, yet is still subject to the delays they can cause. Sometimes called SLOW FAST memory.

Icon: An image appearing on the screen to represent a disk, drawer, project or tool. Icons can be moved and selected with the mouse to allow you to work with the items they represent.

ICS (Initial Chip Set): The first set of custom chips used in the Amiga, and this section attempts to chronical the development and history of the Amiga during the time that Initial Chip Set was being used.
This chipset is often incorrectly referred to as the Original Chip Set, but this name referred to a later version of the chips and was probably betters known as the PAD.

ICQ (I Seek You): Special protocol that allows people to find out if some one is online on the internet and then allow to communicate with them.

IDE (Intelligent Drive Electronics): Name of interface for Hard Disks and CD ROMs. Built into the A600, A1200 and A4000. Called via the scsi.device.

IDEFix: Updates the old IDE interface to allow Atapi devices to be added to the Amiga, such as CDROMs.

IFF (Interchange File Format)

The standardized format in which the Amiga stores data for such things as text, graphics and sound. Such a standard is useful for data sharing between applications. iffparse.library (can be used with Release 1.3 and Release 2)
IFF Form types:-

ILBM Interleaved Bitmap - A Graphics file.
FTXT IFF Formatted Textfile.
SMUS Simple Music Score.
8SVX 8-Bit sampled voice - A sound sample.

Each form is composed of one or more CHUNKS. Each CHUNK holds a specific class of the file's data. For example in ILBM FORMs there are several possible CHUNKs including BHMD which holds the actual picture data, CMAP which holds the colour map, and DEST which has to do with converting pictures with different depths. Any writer that does not know about DEST won't write that. Any reader that does not care about DEST won't read it. If a program wants a CMAP, but a file does not have it, it will use default values or make something up. The beauty of this system is that new CHUNKS can be added to an existing IFF file definition without affecting portability.

ILBM (InterLeaved BitMap): Format used for Amiga Graphics files. First used with graphics application DPaint from Electronic Arts.

.info File: A file containing the image and position data for an icon.

Input Buffer: An area of memory used during serial communication to hold incoming information.

Interlace: A Screenmode used by the Amiga which doubles its vertical resolution. To achieve this each raster line of data alternates at 50 frames a second between two lines of image data.
Unfortunately it is not possible to view this mode without excessive Flickering, unless you own a special Monitor or a Flicker-Fixer hardware device.

Internal Command: Refers to an AmigaDOS command that is built into the Shell, rather than loaded from disk.

Inter-Process Communications (IPC): The means by which two or more applications can operate in conjunction with one another regardless of whether they are inherently compatible. On the Amiga, this can be accomplished with ARexx.

Interpreter: Program which converts a high level language to machine code while it is executing. Programs such as BASIC and ARexx use interpreters.

IP (Internet Protocol): Basic system used to transmit data over the internet.

IPX (Intranet Packet Exchange): Used by a company called 'Novell Networks' for its networks.

Internet: Global network of computer using TCP/IP for its method of transmission of data. Covers E-Mail, Newsgroups, FTP, Telnet and the WWW.

Intuition: The collective term for the GUI toolkit and function libraries that contain the elements necessary for you to build graphic interfaces for your Amiga application.

IRC (Internet Relay Chat): Program used to chat to other people on the internet in real time.

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture): Name given to expansion slots on older PCs. Now superceded by faster PCI slots.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): A digital network system which is faster than using modems over the telephone line.

ISO9660: Standard in which CD discs are written in. Amiga CDs use this standard for its CDs. The RockRidge standard is used for long filenames (PCs use Joliet). NB: ISO = International Standards Organisation.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): Company which setups and looks after your internet account. They provide an account name, and phone number to call with your modem.

Java: Programming language created by Sun MicroSystems for a platform independence. Created for dynamic web pages or stand alone programs.

JavaScript: Programming language developed by Netscape for its Web Navigator program. Used extensively as part of web pages for powerful features.

Joliet: CD filesystem standard for Windows 95+ CDs with long filename support.

Joystick: Peripheral designed for games which has four or more direction movements and fire buttons.

JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group): Standard for photo quality picture files with 'losy' compression built in.

Jumper: A feature which uses a small electronic 'switch' to turn features on or off on the motherboard of a computer.

K (Kilobyte): 1024 bytes. The abbreviation used in the Release 2 user's manual; e.g., "512K".

Keyboard: Input device consisting of typewriter style QWERTY keyboard layout with letters, digits, symbols and special function keys.

Keymap: A file that determines the arrangement of characters on the keyboard and determines the meaning of each key. Different languages have different keymaps.

Keyword: A word recognized by a command as identifying an argument or specifying an option. If the user needs to type the keyword on the command line along with its argument. "/K" should follow the keyword in the command template.

Kickstart: Software that is read from disk and used to boot the Amiga. Also refers to the portion of OS that is in ROM.
The size of the Kickstart ROM has increased over the years with each major revision of the OS. From 256K to 512K through to 1Meg with the arrival of AmigaOS 3.1.

LHA: File archive format widely used on the Amiga. Uses Lempel-Ziv compression and Hoffman encoding. Same as LZH files.

Linux: Popular Unix type operating system. A 68k and PPC version is available to run on the Amiga.

Library: A related set of functions and collections of data that can be shared by various programs. For instance, the Commodities.library in the LIBS: directory is used by all the Commodities Exchange programs.

LIFO (Last-In, First-Out): LIFO is an approach in which the most recent request is handled next and the oldest request doesn't get handled until it is the only remaining request on the queue (or in the stack).

Link: A file that is a pointer to another file. When the original file is called, the linked file will be used.

Lisa: Graphics chip used in AGA based Amigas, replaces the older Denise chip. Adds 256 colour modes, more screen modes, bigger HAM modes and larger Sprites.

Lock: An AmigaDOS structure that prevents multitasking programs from stomping on shared files. Other Amiga subsystems use locks for other purposes.

Locale: Library which caters for different languages other than English. Locale set up via the Locale Preferences. Application programs can be localised by installing catalog files to cater for different languages.

Lowlevel: Library which provides low level functions for mice, joysticks and joypads esp. for CD32 games.

LZX: File archive format, tends to be faster than LHA and compresses better.

Macro: A single command that represents a sequence of commands. ARexx should be the macro language used by applications on the Amiga.

Machine Code: Programs written for a specific processor, usually Assembled or Compiled from a Development System e.g. C/C++, BASIC etc.

MB (Megabyte): The abbreviation for megabyte (1,048,576 bytes) used in the Release 2 System Software manual.

Magic Workbench: A collection of 8-colour dithered icons to replace Commodore 4 colour icons.

Mailing List: Sending E-Mails about a particular subject to a list of subscribers. An alternative to news groups but tend to be relatively short term and managed.

Math Libraries: Special maths libraries to process integer or floating point maths. Some libraries process single or double precision numbers.

MCP (Master Control Program): A commodity program which patches Workbench with new features and bug fixes.

: Magic Commodity. Another commodity program which uses system legal features.

MED (Music Editor): Name of music modules produced by MED programs such as Octamed.

Mediator: PCI Expansion board for Amiga computers. Allow standard PCI cards to be added to the Amiga e.g. Voodoo, Network cards. Made by Elbox.

Memory: The Amiga had both Chip (graphics) and Fast (normal) RAM, as well as 512K of ROM memory.

Menu: A list of on-screen options, displayed by using the menu button, from which you can choose commands that control a program.

Menu Bar: The list of headings that appears across the top of the screen when the menu button is held down.

Menu Button: The right mouse button.

Menu Item: An option that appears in a menu. For example, New Drawer is the first menu item in the Workbench's Window menu.

MFM (Modified Frequency Modulation): Type of encoding used to read data from a hard disk unit. Applications for these drives include Amiga, early PC, XT and some 80286 based AT computers. A change recorded on the disk has a one to one correspondence between the bits of data.

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): Standard used to transmit data across a chain of music instruments using a standard data format.

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Multimedia Extensions): Tells mail applications what sort of data is contained in a message and encodes data to be sent via Internet mail systems using Base64 or Quote-Printable.

MMC (Multi-Media Chip or Mystery Monster Chip): Proposed replacement chip yet to be announced by Amiga Inc. to replace the 680x0 series for the Amiga II.

MMU (Memory Management Unit): A device for arbitrating and protecting against a task damaging the memory of another task. Also has lots of other uses that are beyond the scope of this glossary.

MOD: Name of other types of music files produced by other tracker programs like SoundTracker, NoiseTracker.

Modem: Modulator/Demodulator. Converts digital signals to analogue signals and vice versa over telephone lines. Speeds can range from 2400 to 56000 baud. Amigas can use any Hayes compatible external modem.

Mono Spaced Font: A font in which each character takes up an equal amount of space.

Monitor: A video display terminal on which a computer's visual output is shown. There are many types of monitors; the Amiga's standard output uses an analogy RGB colour monitor to display both graphics and text.

Monitors: The Devs/Storage drawer and Storage/Monitors drawer contain icons for the available monitor types that are supported.

MountList: A text file in the DEVS: directory that contains information about devices that have been attached to or installed in the Amiga.

Mouse: The device used to move the pointer on the screen and to communicate with the Amiga. Its buttons can be used for displaying menus, and for selecting and dragging icons, windows and screens.

MPEG (Motion Picture Expert Group): Type of 'losy' compression used in video or music. Commonly used with VideoCD and DVD.

MSDOS (Microsoft's Disk Operating System): Microsoft's software that controls the basic input and storage functions

MSH (MessyDos File System): Allows older Amigas to read/write PC disks.

MUI (Magic User Interface): A replacement for Gadtools, adds new libraries and classes to enhance programs to be more configurable and flexible.

Multiscan: A type of video monitor that can accept several different scan rates.

Multi-Tasking: The ability to perform more than one operation, or task, at a time.

Multi-Processing: The Amigas custom chips have the ability to perform operations independent of the CPU. This ability is called Multi Processing.

Multisync: Advanced typed of Monitor which has a wide range of frequencies support. Ideal for low frame rate(IE:15Khz) Amiga screenmodes.

Mutually Exclusive: Only one option can be chosen from a give group of options.

NDOS (Non-Dos Disk): Refers to disks formatted with a custom file system to prevent copying. Used extensively on games disks.

NewIcons: Icon collection with multiple colours and 3D images. Uses a different system to Workbench's icon library by adding the image to the tooltypes e.g. IM1=hex values

NewsGroup: Special message area on News Servers for specific interests where people can read messages on specific subjects and write their own. Available on the Internet.

Non-Proportional Font: A font, such as Topaz, in which each character takes up an equal amount of space. For example, an uppercase W is allotted the same amount of space as a lowercase 1. Also called a mono spaced font.

Notification: A means by which an application can receive a message whenever a specified file is modified. Release 2 dos.library

NSD (New Storage Device): Standard for large hard disks now supported on AmigaOS 3.5.

NTSC (National Television Standards Committee): North American TV format 640x200.

Null String: An empty string. Null strings are commonly used in text editors to delete information. If the user replaces a word with a null string, the word is deleted.

OCS (Original Chip Set): This was the very first Custom Chipset to be found in the A500 and A2000 Amigas.
Boasting a massive 512K Ram capacity, 4096 colours on screen, a hardware Blitter plus many more features.

Octal: Numbering system based on 8 digits (0-7).

Offset: To shift or move over.

Open: To make the selected object available for use. Open an icon by double-clicking on it or by selecting it then choosing the Open menu item from the Icons menu. When you open a disk or drawer icon, a window appears, displaying its contents. When you open a project or tool icon, a program is started.

OpenGL (pen Graphics Language): Open Graphics Language. Standard widely available to program 3D graphics. Developed by Silicon Graphics Inc.

Operating System (OS): Software, in ROM or supplied on floppy or hard disk, that controls the basic functions of a computer.

Overlay: An AmigaDOS feature that allows part of a program to sit on disk, to be brought into memory only when needed.

Overscan Area: The normally unused area surrounding a standard-size screen. The Overscan Preferences editor allows the user to expand her screen to fill this area. Release 2 Intuition QueryOScan()

Overwrite: To write information to a file or disk, replacing any information that previously was stored there.

PAL (Phase Alteration Line): European Standard for TV resolutions running at rates of 15.6kHz Horizontal and 50Hz Vertical. DblPAL runs at 27.5KHz Horizontal. Standard size of 640 x 256.

Parallel: An interface port that transfers data on complete byte (8 bits) at a time, contrasted to a serial interface which sends a single bit at a time. The Amiga has an extended parallel port to which a printer is often connected.

Parent: The window or directory from which another window, directory or file was generated.

Parsing: When the system examines and interprets arguments so the appropriate operation can be performed. Release 2 dos.library ReadArgs()

Parity: A method of detecting errors in serial communication by attaching an extra bit to bytes of data.

Partition: An area of space on a Hard disk. They are often broken up into Partitions which act as separate devices, in the interests of speed and security.
Most Hard disks are split-up into partitions. One for the AmigaOS and other for files.

Path: The series of device, directory and subdirectory names that defines the location of a file.

Pattern Matching: An AmigaDOS feature that lets the user specify file and directory names by using wildcards and other tokens. Release 2 dos.library MatchFirst MatchNext() MatchPattern()

Paula: Another of the "big three" custom chips. Includes the audio DAC's, 4703 custom interrupt chip, custom serial chip, and hyper-fancy custom disk controller.

Peripheral: An external hardware device.

PC (Personal Computer): Tends to refer to Intel based computers running MS DOS or Windows. But can be valid for any single user computer.

PCI (Peripheral Connection Interface): Standard expansion slot for modern computers such as PCs, Macs and Suns. Replaces the older ISA slot.

PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.): Standard for 'Smart Cards' such as memory or RAM Disk cards that can be fitted on the left side slot of A600s or A1200s. Can be used for SCSI such as the SquirrelSCSI or Whippet fast serial card.

PC-Task: IBM PC compatible emulation program for the Amiga.

PCx: IBM PC compatible emulation program for the Amiga

PCX: ZSoft's Paintbrush picture format used on PCs mainly.

PDF (Portable Document Format): Page description format but simpler than postscript.

PFS (Professional Filing System): Replaces FFS at is faster, and more stable (no more Validation) and can bypass the 4GB limitation.

Pitch: The number of characters printed in a horizontal inch.

Pixels: The dots of light that make up the Amiga display. A pixel is the smallest unit of display information on a given screen.

Planar Graphics: Uses layers of bitmaps together to produce colour on the screen. Amigas use this standard to display its graphics, can produce very good 2D graphics and smooth scrolling. Very slow with lots of colours.

PLIP (Parallel Line Interface Protocol): Network communication between computers using parallel port.

PNG (Portable Network Graphic): Replacement file format for GIF as GIF has licensing restrictions from CompuServe while PNG doesn't.

Point: 1.(v) To place the mouse pointer so that its hot spot is touching the object pointed to.
2.(n) The unit of measurement of vertical font size. Traditionally this is 1/72 of an inch; on the Amiga it means one screen pixel.

Pointer: An image on the screen that moves as the user moves the mouse. A default pointer, which can be redefined by the user, is included in the system. The pointer often changes to reflect processes on a given screen.

POP3: Post Office Protocol v3. Protocol used to send/receive Electronic mail over dial-up connections usually.

PostScript Printer: A high-resolution printer that can accept text and graphics information in the PostScript page description language.

Postscript_init.ps: Holds information needed to initialize a PostScript printer when using PrinterPS

PowerPacker: Compression method used on pictures or text or even programs which allows real time decompression when opened.

PowerUp: Name given by Phase 5 to PowerPC accelerator cards for the Amiga computer. Currently 603 and 604 PPC chips are used.

PowerPC (PPC): Name of the range of Processor chips made by Motorola, uses RISC technology for extra speed. Range includes 601, 603, 604, 620 and G3.

PPP (Point to Point Protocol): A protocol used for communication between locations for Dial Up networking.

Preferences (Prefs): A Workbench drawer containing editors that let the user configure and customize his Amiga environment.

Printer Driver: A program that enables the Amiga to communicate with a given printer. A printer driver works as a translator between a computer and a printer, taking the information in a standardized form (ASCII characters and ANSI escape sequences) from the computer and presenting it to the printer in a format that the printer can understand.

Priority: A variable determining the proportion of the Amiga's processing time that will be allotted to a give task. Each task had an independent priority. Task priority is set automatically but can be changed with the CHANGETASKPRI command.

Process: A task that can communicate with AmigaDOS. Each process had a unique process number. Shell process numbers are usually displayed as part of the Shell prompt.

Project: Workbenchism for the output of a tool. A file in which information created or used by a tool is stored. For example, files created with a text editor or paint program are projects.

Promotion: A software de-interlacer on AGA chipsets. Turns off display flickering on non-interlaced VGA monitors.

Prompt: A message or symbol, such as 1<, that indicates that text input to the computer is possible.

Protocol: A standard using in networking for sending data between people. Standards include: IPX, TCP/IP, SMTP, POP3 etc.

Protection Bits: See attributes.

Pseudo-Icon: An icon that is displayed, when the Show All Files item is chosen from Workbench's Window menu, for and object that does not have a .info file.

PSU (Power Supply Unit): Usually a transformer which converts mains electricity to lower voltages for use with computer equipment.

Pure: Describes a command or program that can be made resident.

Q-Drive: CD ROM Drive developed by Amiga Technologies which fits to the PCMCIA port.

Qualifier: A key, such as Shift, Ctrl or Alt, that changes the Amiga's interpretation of a simultaneous or subsequent keystroke or mouse click.

Quarterback: A backup package which can backup files to floppy disks or other removable devices.

Quarterback Tools: A Disk FileSystem repair utility for the Amiga.

QuickTime: Name of a video or animation format developed by Apple Computers.

QNX: Company and name of OS kernel (core) to be used for new Amiga OS.

Radio Button: A circular gadget beside an option on a list. To select an option, select its radio button. You can only select one option from the list at a time.

RAM (Random Access Memory): Part of the Amiga's internal memory that can be used for data storage and is directly accessible by the CPU. Data in RAM is lost when the Amiga is rebooted or powered off.

Ram Disk: A section of RAM set aside to function as if it were a disk drive. Also known by its logical device name of RAM:.

RAMSEY: Name of memory control chip in big box Amigas.

RC: In ARexx, the field where numerical returns are placed. String values are placed in the RESULT field.

RDB (Rigid Disk Block): Portion of disk that contains details of the hard disk, the partition and the file systems stored on the disk.

RDRAM (Rambus Direct RAM): A very new type of memory that may replace SDRAM/DIMMs with Rimms (Rambus Memory Modules). Runs at 1.6GB/sec.

Read: To retrieve information.

Read Only: If disk status is Read Only, you can only look at the contents of the disk, you cannot alter them.

Read/Write: If disk status is Read/Write, the user can look at and alter the contents.

Reboot: To reset the Amiga by pressing Ctrl, Left-Amiga and Right-Amiga simultaneously. Also called a warm/soft boot.

Reaction: New GUI interface system using BOOPSI to replace Gadtools introduced in AmigaOS 3.5.

Realtime: Refers to processes which are time critical. QNX is a real time Operating System. AmigaOS is very fast and very close to a real time OS.

Redirect: To change the source or destination of a command's input or output from the default by using the special character < or >.

Register: Name of a special memory location on a Processor. Used by programs to store data about to be processed.

Relative Pathname: The path to a file or directory that does not include the device or partition name that leads to the file.

Release 2: Release 2 of the operating system.

ReqTools: Library which provides file or font requesters for AmigaOS.

Requester: A window with a choice of files or list of choices to be selected from. Libraries such as ARP, ASL or Reqtools can produce requesters.

Rexx: An Inter Program Communication language developed by IBM. Used by programs to process data and pass it to other programs. Supplied with Workbench 2.0+.

Resident: Describes a command or program that has been copied into memory, with the RESIDENT command, for quicker execution. Only pure files can be made resident.

Resolution: The number of pixels associated with a particular display mode. For example, a normal NTSC Hires screen has a resolution of 640 (horizontal) by 200 (vertical) pixels.

Result: In ARexx, the field where string values are returned. Numerical values go in the RC field.

Return Code: A numerical value, generated upon execution of a command, to indicate its level of success. The number is 0 if the command was successful and usually 5, 10 or 20 if there was a problem in executing the command. The return code value is assigned to the condition flag.

RGB (Red-Green-Blue): A type of video signal in which the three primary colours signals are sent separately. Standard Amiga output uses an RGB monitor.

: Replaces the CISC (Complex) processors with fewer but faster machine code instructions.

RKRM Amiga Rom Kernel Reference Manual (RKM): By Addison-Wesley. The main developer books needed by programmers to program using AmigaOS. There are a number of volumes: 'Includes & Autodocs', 'Devices', 'Libraries', 'Hardware Reference Manual' and the 'Amiga User Interface Style Guide'. The last version was the Third Edition that covered Workbench 2. No further editions were published.

RLL (Run-Length Limited): Type of encoding used to read data from a hard disk unit. Applications for these drives include early PC, XT and some 80286 based AT computers. RLL is a special case of GCR that was designed to use a complex form of data manipulation to fit more information in the storage medium without exceeding the range limits of its capability to handle flux transitions. In the most common form of RLL, termed 2,7, each byte of data is translated into a pattern of 16 flux transitions.

RockRidge: Standard used on Amiga CD disks for long file names.

ROM (Read Only Memory): Permanent memory that is pre-programmed with system instructions and does not change. The contents of ROM are not affected by user commands or program operation.

Root Block: The area of a disk that contains the name of the disk and information pertaining to the disk layout. If the root block is erased, you cannot retrieve any information from the disk -- it is effectively blank.

Root Directory: The main directory on a volume. The root directory is at the top of the filling hierarchy and created when a volume is formatted. The root directory is specified by the volume name and followed by a colon.

RTG (ReTargetable Graphics): Process to direct output from any graphics chipset to a monitor.

RTA (ReTargetable Audio): Process to direct sound from any sound chips to speakers.

RS232: Standard for serial ports

SANA-II (Standard Amiga Network Architecture): System used for networking using Serial, Parallel or Ethernet communications.

Save: To write the current version of a file to disk.

Scaling: Changing the size of an image or font for printing or display. Usually, a screen image is scaled down to a smaller size for printing, but you can also enlarge, or scale up, an image.

SCART: Special video and audio connection used widely on television and video equipment. Also, appears on Commodore 1084(S) monitors.

Screen: An area of the display that shares the same video attributes, such as resolution and palette.

Script: A text file containing a series of commands that can be automatically executed to perform a complex or repetitive task. An example of a script is the Startup-sequence that is executed when the Amiga is booted.

Scroll: To move through the viewing area of a window.

Scroll Arrows: Parts of a scroll gadget that can be used to move the viewing area continuously.

Scroll Bar: The highlighted area within which the scroll bar can be dragged. You can click in the scroll box to move the scroll bar.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface): A standard interface protocol for connecting peripherals, usually mass storage devices, to computer equipment.

SDK (Software Developer Kit): Programming software for developing new application software for a given Operating System.

SDRAM (Synchronous Direct RAM): New memory type which mainly uses DIMMS. They can run very fast at 0.8GB/sec. Not used on the Amiga.

Selection Button: The left mouse button.

Selection Gadget: A gadget from which you can choose one of several displayed options, often used for colours.

Serial: An interface port that transfers data one single bit at a time, contrasted to a parallel interface which sends one complete byte (eight bits) at a time.

Set: To change a bit or flag to its on or enabled state. Opposite of clear.

ShapeShifter: Apple Mac emulator for the Amiga.

Shell: The command line interface used to send typed commands to the Amiga. One of the three interfaces built into the Amiga.

Sizing Gadget: A gadget that can appear in the lower right corner of a window to allow you to enlarge or shrink the size of the window. slider gadget A gadget from which you can select a value by dragging a bar through the gadget. As you move the slider bar, different values are displayed.

SIMM (Single In Line Memory Module): Type of memory board used widely on Amigas and other computers. Can be 16 or 32 bit, usually has 72 pins (older simms have 30 pins) and run at 70, 60 or even 50ns.

Slider Value: A number that appears next to a slider gadget to indicate the currently selected value.

SLIP (Serial Line Interface Protocol): Used for Dial Up networking via serial port.

Slow Memory: Refers to fast memory on the A500s Trapdoor. Tends to run slower there, than from the Expansion port.

Smoothing: A printing option available in the PrinterGfx editor that attempts to eliminate, or smooth, jagged lines that can sometimes appear in printouts.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol): Protocol used to send/receive Electronic Mail.

Snapshot: To save the positions of a window and/or the icons in it.

SOCKS: Short for Sockets, a Proxy Protocol which allows users to access other hosts via a Socks Server (a Firewall) for extra security.

SoftKick: Loads kickstart from a file instead of a ROM chip. Programs which can do this include SKick, ReloKick, kick or ZKick.

Source: A device, directory or file that is supplying information.

Sprite: A hardware driven image run independently of what is on the screen. The Amiga's mouse pointer is a sprite.

Squirrel: Name given to SCSI adapters for the A1200 and A600 which fit in the PCMCIA port. A Surf Squirrel has a fast serial port.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): Method of encryption over the internet for Email messages and HTML information.

Stack: A special area of RAM reserved by a program for temporary storage. In a LIFO stack data can be pushed onto the top of the stack. The address registers of the M6800x0 family support post incremented and predecremented addressing modes. This allows a programmer to use up to eight stacks, one stack per address register. By convention, the A7 register is used as the stack frame pointer for most languages.

Static IP: Uses a fixed Internet number for access to the network. Usually provided by the Internet Provider.

Startup-Sequence: An AmigaDOS script file, executed when the Amiga is booted, that helps set up the hardware and directory systems.

Stop Bits: Extra bits added to signal the end of a character, used during serial communication.

String: A piece of text treated as a single unit.

Subdirectory: A directory that is within another directory.

Submenu: A secondary menu that appears when some menu items are highlighted.

SVGA (Super Video Graphics Adapter): Video mode which supports 256 colours or more and higher screen resolutions. Also refers to PC Monitors which support 31kHz or more Horizontal rate.

Syntax: The rules for the proper arrangement of commands, keywords and punctuation.

Swap: To alternately place different floppy disks into the same drive, as when performing a single-drive disk copy.

SYS: The name assigned to the volume that the Amiga searches for its system files and directories. Usually the volume booted from. SYS:

System Configuration: Holds certain preferences configuration data needed when booting your Amiga.

Task: A software function spawned by a process. The system's idea of a running program. Each task thinks that it has the main processor all to itself. Each task is wrong. It will actually be sharing it with many other tasks. Tasks that have nothing to do will Wait(). Waiting tasks take virtually no processor time.

TCP/IP (Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): The main protocol or standards used to communicate over the internet.

Telnet: Program used to login directly to other computers over the internet and enter commands.

Text Gadget: A rectangular box in which you can type information, such as a filename or command. Text gadgets are used by the filename and Execute Command menu items, as well as many programs.

Threshold: A PrinterGfx value related to colour intensity. It determines which colours are printed as black and which are printed as white during black-and-white printing.

Timestamp: The date and time associated with a file or directory. This is usually the date and time when the file or directory was created or last modified.

Title Bar: The top border of a screen or window, which commonly displays the name of the screen or window.

Toggle: An option that can be switched between two states, such as on and off.

Tool: Workbenchism for "program"

Tool Types: A method for passing arguments used by the GUI. Tool Types is a field in the information window of a project or tool icon where optional parameters can be entered.

Trackdisk: Name of the device that controls floppy disks and drives in AmigaOS

Trashcan: A directory for storing files the user wants to delete.

Type Ahead: A feature of the Shell that lets you enter commands as a previous command's output is being displayed.

UAE (Umbiqious Amiga Emulator): Program to emulate an ECS based Amiga on PCs, Macs and Unix machines. Learn more.

Utility: Name given to small programs that do a small function such as look at a text file, view a picture or animation or some other small function. They are stored in the Utilities drawer.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair): Network cable that uses pairs of twisted cable for high speed data transfer.

USB (Universal Serial Bus): New standard which replaces the serial, parallel, game and floppy ports with a faster port which can do all of the above and allow devices to be chained together and be 'hot-swappable'.

User-Startup: A user-created file containing specific system settings that are read and executed during the system startup sequence. volume A mounted storage unit, such as a floppy disk or hard disk partition.

UUX: Uuencoding. Encoding method for sending binary files as ASCII files especially via E-Mail. Replaced by MIME.

Version: A number that identifies the edition of a program.

VGA (Video Graphics Adaptor): Name given to 16 colour or better computer displays on PC computers. Can also refer to the 15 pin video port on computers.

: A device which can display text or graphics. Video sometimes refers to television and video recorder. A Genlock can be used to combine video and computer displays.

Video Toaster: A device create by NewTek that allows special effects to be included in video productions on the Amiga.

Virtual RAM: A method in which main memory can be extended to use the hard disk as memory. Not very fast.

Virus: A malicious program which can destroy programs and data by infecting other programs or bootblocks. They can also cause strange things to happen while your computer is on.

Viscorp: They 'took over' from Commodore for short time to pay Amiga's way until Escom took over. They wanted to make ED, a Set Top Box based on Amiga Technology. It never appeared.

VRAM (Video Random Access Memory): Memory for access by video or graphics cards only (similar to Amiga's Chip RAM).

Voodoo: Name given to a highly regarded 3D graphics add on to produce fast and detailed 3D graphics. Elbox's Mediator PCI expansion cards allows Voodoo cards to be used on Amigas.

Volume: A floppy disk or partition.

Volume Name: The name given to a disk or partition.

Wait Pointer: An image that appears in place of the normal pointer when an application is busy and cannot accept further input.

WarpUp: Name given to a suite of libraries used to control PowerPC accelerator cards instead of Phase 5's ppc.library. Produced by Haage & Partner.

Warp3D: Name given to a suite of libraries used to control 3D graphics cards on the Amiga such as the CyberVision, BlizzardVision and Voodoo cards.

WorldWideWeb: Name given to the text and graphics based view of the internet. Uses HTTP protocol to view HTML pages over the internet using a program called a Browser. Common Amiga browsers are Alynx, IBrowse, Voyager and AWeb.

Windows: Name given to an area or framed area of the screen. Consists of four borders, with a title bar and sizing gadgets. Used by the majority of Amiga Programs.

WAV: A wave form sample of sound or music. Common format used on PC computers.

WCS (Writable Control Store): This is the 256K of extra memory on the Amiga 1000 that is provided to hold the contents of the Kickstart disk. The V1.1 and V1.2 operating system updates where distributed on disk.

Wildcard: A symbol used in pattern matching to represent a range of possible values, such as when specifying filenames that all start or end with the same character. The question mark (?), for example, is used as a wildcard to match any single character.

Workbench: The Amiga's icon-based GUI. The name given to the Amigas WIMP (Windows, Icons, Mouse, Pointers) environment.

Word Processor: An application program, such as 'AmigaWriter' which processes words like a type writer but with extra features such as picture insertion, spell and grammar checking and so on.

Write: To record data in memory or on a storage medium such as disk or tape.

Write-Enable: To allow information to be written onto a storage device. When a floppy disk is write-enabled or Read/Write, a small, plastic tab is covering the hole in the corner of the disk.

Write-Protect: To prevent information from being written onto a storage device. Floppy disks have a plastic tab that can be moved to write-protect the entire disk, making it Read-Only. Also called write-inhibit.

XPK: A suite of compression libraries used to compress data or files.

XFD: A library used to compress or decompress files or data.

YAK: Yet Another Commodity. Another multi-function commodity program.

YAM: Yet Another Mailer. An electronic mail program commonly used on the Amiga.

Zico: Hardware specification for the AmigaOne computer(s).

Zip File: Compression method commonly used on the PC computers.

Zip Disk: A 100MB removable disk which can be used in Iomega's Zip Drive.

Zip Drive: A special removable drive that can hold Zip disks of 100/250MB.

Zoo: An older compression method used on the Amiga.

Zoom Gadget: A gadget that may appear in the upper right corner of a window to allow the window to alternate between two sizes.

Zorro: The name for the expansion slot specification used by Amiga computers.
Trapdoor - simplified expansion slot on A500s, A600s and A1200s.
Zorro II - full slot on the A2000 or A1500 for 16/24 bit expansion cards.
Zorro III - full slot on the A3000 or A4000 for 32 bit expansion cards.
Zorro IV - 5x faster version of Zorro II using new 96 pin slots.


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