PROJECTS
Collaborative working is fundamental to the open source community and its successes. As such, we are proud to work with some very talented individuals and dedicated organisations across a range of industries. If you are interested in the work we are doing or would like to propose a new project to work on, we’d be glad to hear from you.
New Open Source TCP/IP Stack for RISC OS available to download
RISC OS Developments is pleased to be able to make available the first release of our new TCP/IP stack for RISC OS. Our programmers have been working on this for the last 18 months and are very pleased to finally share with you the fruits of their labours.
Please be aware that like any 1.0 release, this is still somewhat work in progress, and there are features (especially in terms of user interface) that will arrive further down the line. However, the core stack implementation is now fully functional, and has been tested by a wide range of users with a broad selection of RISC OS programs from across the generations.
FEATURES OF THE NEW TCP/IP STACK
The new stack is based on the highly respected OpenBSD network stack, which known to be one of the most secure solutions available. It was chosen because of its security, and the ease by which interfaces can register and de-register on the fly, making it ideally suited to what we want to achieve on RISC OS, with an eye to wifi and flexibility.
The development has focussed on making the stack compatible with RISC OS with the fewest changes possible, so that we can track the base BSD stack, with much of the conversion process being automated. The goal has been to create something that does not need to be re-created each time we update / synchronise the stack with BSD, yet remain compatible with existing RISC OS software.
Much of the development time has been spent ensuring that existing applications behave exactly as before, regardless of which generation of Acorn/Pace/Castle specifications they were written to. To this end, the stack has undergone months of rigorous testing across a broad range of platforms.
Additionally, much documentation has been created for programmers, including many sections that are now publicly documented for the very first time.
All this paves the way towards wifi in the coming months....
KEY FEATURES INCLUDE
- Modern TCP/IP stack supporting IPv4 and IPv6 network/internet standards
- Static (manual) and automatic address assignment via DHCP (IPv4) and SLAAC (IPv6)
- Easy installation (or uninstall) alongside the classic RISC OS network stack. No need to replace your OS - it can be installed on any modern-ish version of RISC OS 5 (ideally 5.24+), but please check the supported platforms below.
- Supports Acorn's internet 4 (80s/90s) and 5 (~1996 onwards) APIs for compatibility with every network application we have found to test with.
- Highly compatible - even your existing network config files work seemlessly with the new stack!
- No requirements for developers to modify existing code (unless they wish to).
- New Open Source Resolver and MBufManager modules to replace closed-source versions. These are compatible with the older stack too, to allow developers to test new software (eg. IPv4 and IPv6 aware applications) on all machines.
- Extensive documentation included for developers with no restrictions on access.
- Dynamic network configuration means no more reboots when reconfiguring your networking (at last!)
- 802.11 protocol support paves the way for wifi
- Unlocks potential for higher performance networking - stack supports much larger mbufs, jumbo frames and more. Real world performance varies based on application, typically ranging plus/minus 25%, but can be dramatically faster. For example, Titanium users report up to 40x faster performance at gigabit speeds! Note that this is with existing, unmodified software.
- Supports larger number of sockets (although existing applications will be limited to Acorn's previous specifications to avoid compatibility issues).
- For the first time, Unix Domain Sockets are supported to allow inter-task communiction in line with other platforms.
- Optimized for ARMv7+ platforms, but also supports ARMv5 such as Pi zero and Pi 1.
- Testers report noticeable network reliability improvements with the new stack. To quote one user "I've not been able to do that for a number of years... Well done to the TCP/IP stack developers - it's made RISC OS more producive."
- Open Source technology coupled with commercial partnerships mean that the new stack (and its source code) is available to all RISC OS users, developers and vendors equally, at no cost.
- Responsive feedback system allows both users and developers direct access to information, resources and assistance from ROD and its developers.
- The best is yet to come - this release provides a firm foundation for RISC OS networking. The next step will be to expand things with more drivers and support, improved network configuration, and of course... wifi
SUPPORTED PLATFORMS
Users are expected to be running RISC OS 5, ideally 5.24 onwards or later (5.28+ preferred).
The following computers have been tested and are considered "supported platforms" for the new stack:
Gigabit ethernet platforms
- i.MX6
- Titanium
- Pi 4 / 4te
- Pi 400
100Mbit USB ethernet based devices such as
- Beagleboard
- Pandaboard
- Earlier Pi models 1 - 3
- Pi zero (w) with USB ethernet adapter
The following platforms are reported as working, but have had limited testing
- IGEPv5 USB ethernet
The following platforms are presently unsupported, but may be supported in future
- Iyonix
- RiscPC with open source NIC/podule interfaces
- RPCemu (pending deeper investigation)
- Elesar Wi-Fi Hat for Pi (EtherWILC)
HOW TO INSTALL
Download the zip below. Open the zip on a supported RISC OS 5 computer platform using SparkFS. We recommend unpacking the contents of the zip somewhere for safe keeping, but this is optional.
Run the enclosed !Install utility to install (or uninstall) the new TCP/IP stack.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Click on the download button below
REPORTING PROBLEMS
A ticket system (powered by RISC OS, running on the new stack) is provided for feedback and support.
Details are included in the zip.
SOURCE CODE AVAILABILITY
We are presently preparing the source for a github/gitlab release, but this is still "in progress".
For now, zip of source code is available on request under the widespread CDDL 1.0 licence which is compatible with RISC OS' Apache 2.0 licence, and is used by some existing components of RISC OS.
This code has already been provided to many RISC OS partners, so please drop an email to info@riscosdev.com to request your own copy..
Best wishes, and enjoy the new stack!
The real RISC OS Cogwheel
RISC OS Cogwheel icon and resource graphics for anyone who wishes to use it
Details are included in the zip.
Click on the download button below
RISC OS Direct for the Raspberry Pi
A comprehensive distribution of the Open Source RISC OS computer operating system supported by an informative video series
Download RISC OS Direct
Download v2 upgrade for users of previous versions (Jan 2021)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
RISC OS Direct includes not only the operating system, but there is a huge range of software and other resources, including famous RISC OS programs like the Impression desktop publishing software, vector graphics with Draw, Fireworkz and PipeDream spreadsheets, and Zap and StrongEd editors. Not to mention some games too!
PROGRAMMING
RISC OS is home to one of the best and most flexible/capable versions of BASIC (BBC BASIC 5/6), and RISC OS Direct makes it easy to start coding. Also included are many other popular programming languages such as Python, C, C++, Perl, PHP, Lua and more
WHY RISC OS?
Whatever your interest, you'll want to check out RISC OS Direct on your Raspberry Pi. Not only is it one of the fastest operating systems, it is the modern evolution of the very first OS for ARM processors, which went on to dominate the CPU industry
WHAT TO DO NOW
Download the SD card image above, unzip it on your main computer, and write the disc image to a 16GB to 256GB micro SD card by following the instructions in the HOW TO VIDEOS below
KEEP UP TO DATE
RISC OS Developments Ltd
Rozel
Barling Road
Barling Magna
Great Wakering
Essex
SS3 0LX
Formed in 2016 in order to:
provide investment into RISC OS
provide development into RISC OS
provide development into RISC OS applications
bring RISC OS to new markets