Difference between revisions of "Stream2"
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X-Plain was the first and only (?) vector graphic description language for the Amstrad CPC. Like Postscript it was able to define complete printable pages, which could be scaled by any factor. It was quite fast and made true type like fonts possible on the CPC. There was a tool for converting bitmap graphics into vector graphics. | X-Plain was the first and only (?) vector graphic description language for the Amstrad CPC. Like Postscript it was able to define complete printable pages, which could be scaled by any factor. It was quite fast and made true type like fonts possible on the CPC. There was a tool for converting bitmap graphics into vector graphics. | ||
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| + | Examples of graphics generated by the x-Plain preview function can be found here: [[Stream2_Demo]] | ||
== Applications == | == Applications == | ||
Revision as of 04:37, 6 January 2009
Stream2 was an operating system extension for the Amstrad CPC released by the german company Advanced Software Project (Ronald Heitmann and Martin Lancorn) in the middle of the 90ies. It contained a graphical user interface and a new file system called "Prem", which was part of its AMSDOS replacement "MoDOS". One of the most impressive parts of Stream2 was x-Plain, which was a module for rendering very fast vector-based graphics.
Stream2 was called "operating system", but due to the fact, that it was still based on the CPCs' own operating system, it was rather an extension like GEOS or MS Windows 3.11. The advantage of this concept was, that it is still possible to run Locomotive BASIC and a lot of old CPC software.
A big problem for the success of Stream2 was, that it was commercial software and copy-protected. Released in the middle of the 90ies, when most people weren't interested in spending money for CPC software anymore, it hasn't been sold very often.
Contents
Graphical user interface
The GUI of Stream2 contained most of the usual elements of a WIMP including fast proportional text routines.
MoDOS
MoDOS was a replacement of Amsdos and included a new file system called "Prem". Prem formatted 40 track discs with a capacity of 212KB (instead of 178KB). Similiar to the FAT format it was able to handle sub directories inside an unlimited tree structure. The below image shows the Stream2 desktop, while both drive windows are open. (Left: Prem formated disk, Right: Amsdos formated disk). Files could be copied seamless between the two formats.
x-Plain
X-Plain was the first and only (?) vector graphic description language for the Amstrad CPC. Like Postscript it was able to define complete printable pages, which could be scaled by any factor. It was quite fast and made true type like fonts possible on the CPC. There was a tool for converting bitmap graphics into vector graphics.
Examples of graphics generated by the x-Plain preview function can be found here: Stream2_Demo
Applications
StreamWrite
CharTrace
StreamChart
Entering chart values
The different chart options in StreamChart.
All graphics are scaleable
Charts can be plotted both in 2D and 3D (pseudo)
About StreamChart
L-System
StreamFractal
LissaJous
AddressManager
StreamTrace
A bitmap image has been loaded.
Select the region you want to have converted into vector format
Setting the parameters for the bitmap to vector conversion
About StreamTrace
The conversion is in progress
The result can be scaled as vector (Smiley)
Another example. Image of girl is loaded
Initiate conversion
The resulting vector image of girls face
Reversi
The game that came with Stream2
- x-Plain bitmap converter
