Man, I miss pre-OSX Macintosh operating systems. They just had more personality than most modern operating systems.
OS9Map
51–58 of 58 posts
Re: OS9Map
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow. As a comparison, I just opened a new Google Maps tab in Chrome. According to the Chrome Task Manager, the tab alone uses 433mb RAM and 34mb GPU memory footprint after first load.
Florb (an FLTK based map viewer similar to Dillo in specs) would use almost the same RAM as native Mac OS 9 software. And yet people say "JS software it's far better". Even a TCL/TK based viewer with TCCLib/TKLib it's far lighter.
JS is easier to develop, easier to deploy cross-platform, and, more importantly from a business perspective, easier to hire for. So it makes complete sense to use JS in the commercial world.
Re: OS9Map
#53This is really cool, time to dust off an old PowerPC. I've been thinking about building apps for old Mac OS versions for a while with the advent of LLMs, glad to see someone is doing it.
This got me wondering if vibecoding might bring with it a newfound interest in developing apps for vintage computers. Are the LLMs that most people use trained as well on these older coding languages / platforms as they are on modern ones?
LLMs are surprisingly good at dealing with ancient APIs, even terrifying things like VBScript and ActiveX in IE5 (usually with a condescending disclaimer at the end of the response). With a manual on hand to double check it can be helpful sometimes. Gemini (only one I really tried) is very knowledgeable about DirectX 5.
I don't like the idea of vibecoding esoteric stuff though. I feel it kind of ruins the magic of these things when you have Claude bang it out in an afternoon, especially if your project idea is more art than anything. There have been a few vibecoded weird doom ports posted on here before, obviously its just how i feel but it seems like a wasted opportunity.
Re: OS9Map
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You can get a 1.67Ghz G4 Mac Mini on eBay with OS 9 preinstalled. It's wicked fast (especially with an IDE SSD adapter) The fastest Mac mini G4 topped out at 1.5 GHz, not 1.67. I'm the guy selling many of those Mac mini G4s upgraded with SSDs on eBay... just a hobby business. Also sell on my website at https://os9.shop where there's a FAQ where you can read more about it and why it's a good model/upgrade to buy or…
Huh. I thought it was 1.67 for some reason. My mistake! I actually bought one a year or so ago from your eBay store though, looking at my records! Have recommended to retro friends in the Seattle area, too
Thanks, much appreciated.
Re: OS9Map
#55I was hoping this article had something to do with Microware OS-9, but it doesn't. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS-9
MC6809 forever! (The Hitachi clone is also quite nice.)
All of my OS-9 development was done on the 68k port. Years before that (mid 1980's), I did a lot of bare metal MC6809 embedded development, but I never did any OS-9 stuff on 6809.
Re: OS9Map
#5616 MB RAM required, 32 MB RAM recommended... how refreshing! Great work.
For the time when OS 9 was relevant that would have been a RAM hog. My iBook (first generation) had 32 MB RAM on board (plus an upgrade slot, how refreshing). Sure, that wasn't top of the line, but it would definitely restrict your ability to multi task with other programs at the same time. My memory is that many programs used far less than that, allowing you to easily have 5-7 programs open (I had a RAM upgrade for…
> ...many programs used far less than that...
Maybe because those programs were not doing anything as graphically intensive as this. Or perhaps this programs caches more. When OS 9 was relevant were there any programs with comparable capabilities? Such statements are meaningless unless you have insight into how much memory this task should take (and even that is highly variable depending on how one wants to trade-off CPU vs memory usage). Only then can you determine the difference between a “RAM hog” and your computer being too small.
Re: OS9Map
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Self promotion but relevant: I have a hobby business doing something very similar, except I focus on a specific model—pretty much the most power efficient PowerPC desktop Mac you can get that can still run Mac OS 9, the Mac mini G4. It's at https://os9.shop
Excellent! This made me remember that I've still got a G4 Mac Mini! I was bringing up a current Linux on it, last time I had it running. 2019, perhaps. I need to fire it up...
Yes, I have one too. Mine has an external HDD and between the 3 of them it triple-booted OS X, the last PowerPC Ubuntu, and MorphOS.
TBH neither Ubuntu nor MorphOS was a patch on OS X, IMHO. Never re-set the machine up after emigrating in 2014.
But now, I badly want to get MacOS 9 running on it.... Sadly the machine is in my basement in another country, 1000 miles away, though.
Last time I was there, I managed with great effort to find my iBook G4. It runs fine. But it needs a new reed switch and the replacement process looks horrendous...
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iBook+G4+14-Inch+1.42+GHz+Reed+...
Re: OS9Map
#58I was hoping this article had something to do with Microware OS-9, but it doesn't. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS-9
If you want something modern connected with OS-9, then I have good news!
https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/06/25/foss-de...