Do you think it is a good idea to add a software shutdown option to AmigaOS?

The option would only apply to the hardware platforms which support it.

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@ssolie

As long as it doesn't obstruct people who prefer to used the power switch I can't see anyone objecting.

@ssolie

As you said "good idea", are you referring to the fact, this would also give the power to shutdown / reboot your computer to ANY software you decide to run?

I dont think it would be THAT much different from "just being able to crash the whole system" anyway...

Have not had any problems with MorphOS having this feature - Actually I even use it quite a lot, much faster than "holding down the power button long enough".
Also opens the possibility to make computer shutdown after some big rendering / video encoding / whatever process.

@ssolie

I think it's a great idea and should take advatage of using the power button to activate it. :)

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@ssolie

Of course, why not !

Long ago i opened a thread asking that so still a very good idea for me

http://forum.hyperion-entertainment.biz/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=623&p=8161&hilit=shutdown#p8161

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@ssolie

Of course it should be included

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Can I shut off the shut off? You see, I love it when a someone who is not in the know about Amigas tries to figure out how to shut off my machines. I love it when their chins drop as I kill the power to shutdown.

You'll spoil my fun with a more "civilized" way of bringing a session to end.

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@mbrantley

Very true ! But then again you can always just remove the shut down icon from your AmiDock & still shock em

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Not that i need it but why not.

@ssolie

Sure. There are a number of things that could be hooked into a "soft" power-off.

By "soft" power-off I am referring to:
- a request triggered by the user (i.e. a shutdown menu item)
- a request triggered by software (i.e. need to reboot after installing something)
- a request triggered by a short-duration power button press

There is also a "hard" power-off which could be triggered by holding the power button down for 3 or 4 seconds - this would be managed by the motherboard/BIOS and bypass any operating system logic.

The power button handling is something that is customizable in Windows and also by some PC BIOS settings.

It's a tricky thing to "get right".

@ssolie
Sure. Let's make the Amiga more like a Windows PC. Once we get to the point where you can't tell an Amiga from a PC we can throw our Amiga's away. Of course I'm being facetious but I'd rather see us devote precious time to fixing and improving the O.S. I could list a lot of things (like improved printing, PCIe cards, drivers etc.) that I would rather have than software shutdown. I've never owned a PC and don't see what advantage there is in having software shutdown. However, if everybody wants it, my only request is that I be able to disable such a feature.

Last edited by Xenic on 19-Jul-2012 at 12:25 AM.

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@ssolie

Yes.
As someone who uses VNC in both directions between Amiga OS 4.1 and Windows I think that it would be very useful to be able to remotely shut down a machine running Amiga OS 4.x.

Quote:

ssolie wrote: Do you think it is a good idea to add a software shutdown option to AmigaOS? The option would only apply to the hardware platforms which support it.

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If you are using VNC or such, cant you send the CTRL-A-A equivalent code sequence as all keyboard codes are trapped by the OS for a reboot? Isnt there a keyboard sequence that forces a complete cold boot, or is that one of the third party routines?

It should be, if you have a soft power switch, the Os should go extra in double saving stuff continously in a non corrupting manner so the machine can be shut down without warning and all files and file systems are coherent and non corrupted.

Having caching is ok, but not when it takes so long for the buffer to fill that the hard drive spins down due to non use and if you switch off youve lost a couple hours work because it wasnt autosaved by default without you having to remember, which is the sign of a well trained butler, secretary or other assistant worthy the name?

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@Xenic

Shutdown is only limited to the Windows PC ?

Mmm i don't think so, you can find it on MacOS X, AROS and even on MorphOS and mostly on any other operative system out there

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Yes! Very much so. Always wanted this and never understood why it wasn't in the OS itself. Found a nice util on os4depot.net I use, but it'd be so much nicer to have it in the OS like every other OS out there.

@ssolie

I personally don't need a software shutdown option. I use the power switch.

But, I can see that it might be nice for those people who have several systems networked together, or people who use more than one operating system.

When I am using QNX on one old of my old pc's, the software shutdown logs me out and does a clean power down when done. It is definately faster than Windows XP shutdown operation on the same machine. (Dual boot Windows XP or QNX).

redfox
MicroA1 + AmigaOS 4.1 Update 4

Last edited by redfox on 19-Jul-2012 at 01:34 AM.

@ssolie

Yes, I think it's a good idea. Like it or not, it does make the OS appear more professional.

Also, since having hard disks for which a light might not be entirely visible, it is much easier to switch off at the wrong time and corrupt your disk than the old days. Plus, although it doesn't affect most of us "seasoned" Amiga users, a new user cannot be expected to necessarily "know" that the computer can only be turned off when the lights start flashing. It has to be taken into account if you want new users.

I think it should replace the Workbench Close menu option which for the most part just tells you that it can't close because of running programs; and even if it does it simply shuts down the Workbench app which for the isn't usually very helpful.

On the same topic and an argument possibly against; wouldn't you encounter the same problem Workbench does in shutting down in that there are programs running that can only be requested to be stopped, not forced. Well, the task could be halted but it might be in the middle of writing to disk at that time as well. Programs using the application.library might respond OK (I don't know as I haven't really tried to use it yet), but there are plenty more around, started automatically via Workbench that do not support that protocol at this time.

Just some thoughts on the topic.

@ssolie

Would this be the Workbench > Quit menu item?

Workbench > Quit tells me ...

Cannot quit yet, there are 7 WB launched program(s).

One is AmiDock. Not sure what else is included.

redfox

@redfox

Quote:

Would this be the Workbench > Quit menu item?

Nope, talking about turning off the whole machine by s/w instead of hitting the power button.

Be great for X1000 users, who need to hold the power button in for 4 sec to shut down.

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I dont really understand. AmigaOS has had software shutdown for many years.
Does this not work with OS4?