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Documentation page for beginners

Last updated on 5 hours ago
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OlafSchMember
Posted 2 days ago
#1
In my view most complicated is to start with aros at all. AROS is different because based on amiga and still with many modern features. I try to create a webpage explaining aros specific technologies for people without amiga background. Feedback appreciated. Of course I am more 68k orientated but I think and hope it is useful beyond that. Perhaps it would make sense to have something like that in adapted form for RPi users. I will also look in old amiga magazines I own and use beginner courses there as base for my own work.

https://aros-visi...rence.html
Edited by OlafSch on 10-09-2026 18:16, 2 days ago
ntromans
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miker1264Software Dev
Posted 2 days ago
#2
Thanks for moving forward on documentation. It's important for new users to have for reference.

I also started writing three PDF User Guides. AROS Desktop Guide, Hardware Configuration & Magellan User Guide (condensed version).

I'll provide them here for you when completed. Another AROS user is assisting with some of the hardware user guide. I mainly do software.
OlafSch
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OlafSchMember
Posted 2 days ago
#3

miker1264 wrote:

@miker1264 - Thanks for moving forward on documentation. It's important for new users to have for reference.

I also started writing three PDF User Guides. AROS Desktop Guide, Hardware Configuration & Magellan User Guide (condensed version).

I'll provide them here for you when completed. Another AROS user is assisting with some of the hardware user guide. I mainly do software.


I think documentation is most important right now when new users without amiga knowledge become interested. AROS as amiga based is very different. That makes it interesting but also difficult to start. I look at it through my 68k glasses but something like that is needed for all platforms, be it X86/AMD64 or ARM or perhaps RISC-V and of course 68k
Edited by OlafSch on 10-09-2026 18:27, 2 days ago
miker1264
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OlafSchMember
Posted 10 hours ago
#4
webpage for beginners explaining shell, handler, devices and dos commands

https://aros-visi...Shell.html

I used AI for creating the text
miker1264, coffeecat
C
coffeecatMember
Posted 8 hours ago
#5
Thank you for putting this together!

I wonder if a small “first steps” section could make it even more useful for people coming to AROS without an Amiga background. Things like assigns, SYS: and RAM: might be completely new to them.

A few simple examples, such as moving between directories, listing files, and launching a program, with a short explanation of what’s happening, could be a helpful starting point before diving into the command reference. It’s easy for those of us familiar with AmigaOS to forget how much we’ve picked up over the years.
OlafSch
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miker1264Software Dev
Posted 8 hours ago
#6
I think this is a great idea!

I'm also writing a AROS PDF User Guide intended for new users and more experienced users.

The introduction & first couple sections are dedicated to new users. It details the History of Amiga-like OS'es including AROS. It lists some of common directory structure, the terminology such as Workbench, Drawers and Files. Prefs and Drawer names that contain system files.

We can share information. ;-)
OlafSch
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coffeecatMember
Posted 8 hours ago
#7
I'd propose setting up MediaWiki or even a public repo on GitHub where more people could contribute

While working on the term, I figured out how many things are possible in the user/startup sequence, which I did not know 20 years ago. The same goes for, e.g., AppleScript, which I currently use heavily -> 30 years later, I discovered that I could do many of those things with Arexx.
retrofaza, OlafSch
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OlafSchMember
Posted 7 hours ago
#8

coffeecat wrote:

@coffeecat - Thank you for putting this together!

I wonder if a small “first steps” section could make it even more useful for people coming to AROS without an Amiga background. Things like assigns, SYS: and RAM: might be completely new to them.

A few simple examples, such as moving between directories, listing files, and launching a program, with a short explanation of what’s happening, could be a helpful starting point before diving into the command reference. It’s easy for those of us familiar with AmigaOS to forget how much we’ve picked up over the years.


thanks for ideas

yes that is a good idea

for someone who never used amigas or left amiga platform in early ninetees it is certainly difficult to get in the platform

there should be manuals, be it pdf or online, who are dedicated to this group
AMIGASYSTEMAMIGASYSTEMDistro Maintainer
Posted 6 hours ago
#9

coffeecat wrote:

@coffeecat - I'd propose setting up MediaWiki or even a public repo on GitHub where more people could contribute

While working on the term, I figured out how many things are possible in the user/startup sequence, which I did not know 20 years ago. The same goes for, e.g., AppleScript, which I currently use heavily -> 30 years later, I discovered that I could do many of those things with Arexx.


All Info:

http://www.aros.o...using.html

http://www.aros.o...ction.html

http://www.aros.o...ripts.html

https://en.wikibo...s/User/DOS
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miker1264Software Dev
Posted 5 hours ago
#10
aros.org would be a good location to put the Beginner User Guide.

There's already some information there. Just add to it. :-)

There's no reason we can have PDF User Guides for the desktop too. I like having pictures in my guides.
Edited by miker1264 on 12-09-2026 18:17, 5 hours ago
T
terminillsMember
Posted 5 hours ago
#11
Correction..

"USB stack

USB support on AROS is implemented by using the open source version of . Poseidon is a commercial product but author Chris Hodge permitted to make the source codes at a certain time open source. It is used on both AROS and MorphOS. Poseidon itself is commercial on AmigaOS 3.1 but no new versions for a long time. Backport is permitted and recently someone worked on it."

Chris not only Opened it at the time he did the original port himself.
OlafSch
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Users who participated in discussion: terminills, AMIGASYSTEM, miker1264, OlafSch, coffeecat