[[Image:stream2.gif|thumb|320px|Stream2 desktop]]
'''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 [[AmsdosAMSDOS]] 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 smaller [[Locomotive BasicBASIC]] programs and a lot some of the 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.
A big problem for the success of Stream2 was, that it was commercial software and copy-protected. Released in the middle of the 90's, when most people weren't interested in spending money for CPC software anymore, it hasn't been sold very often. As well as the disc version, there was a ROM version that boots from ROM later on.
== 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 image below 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. [[Image:stream2 1.png|320px|Stream2 can work with both Amsdos and a Prem formatted disks. Left coloum shows a Prem formated disc(In drive A), while right coloum shows a Amsdos formatted disc(In drive B]]
== 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 === <gallery> caption="Screen shots showing StreamWrite in action">Image:Stream2_4.png|Image:Stream2_5.png|</gallery> === CharTrace === <gallery> caption="Screen shots showing CharTrace in action">Image:Stream2_20.png|Image:Stream2_21.png|Image:Stream2_22.png|Image:Stream2_23.png|</gallery> === StreamChart === <gallery> caption="Screen shots showing StreamChart in action">Image:Stream2 6.png|Entering chart valuesImage:Stream2 7.png|The different chart options in StreamChart.Image:Stream2 8.png|All graphics are scaleableImage:Stream2 9.png|Charts can be plotted both in 2D and 3D (pseudo)Image:Stream2 10.png|Image:Stream2 11.png|About StreamChart</gallery> === L-System === <gallery> caption="L-System a tree drawing tool">Image:Stream2 17.png|Image:Stream2 18.png|Image:Stream2 19.png|</gallery> === StreamFractal === <gallery> caption="Screen shots showing StreamFractal in action">Image:Stream2 12.png|Image:Stream2 13.png|Image:Stream2 14.png|Image:Stream2 15.png|</gallery> === LissaJous === <gallery> caption="Screenshots showing LissaJous in action">Image:Stream2 24.png|Image:Stream2 25.png|Image:Stream2 26.png|</gallery> === AddressManager === <gallery> caption="Screenshots showing AddressManager in action">Image:Stream2 2.png|Image:Stream2 3.png|</gallery> === StreamTrace === <gallery> caption="Screenshots showing StreamTrace in action">Image:Stream2 27.png|A bitmap image has been loaded.Image:Stream2 28.png|Select the region you want to have converted into vector formatImage:Stream2 29.png|Setting the parameters for the bitmap to vector conversionImage:Stream2 30.png|About StreamTraceImage:Stream2 31.png|The conversion is in progressImage:Stream2 32.png|The result can be scaled as vector (Smiley)Image:Stream2 33.png|Another example. Image of girl is loadedImage:Stream2 34.png|Initiate conversionImage:Stream2 35.png|The resulting vector image of girls face</gallery> === Reversi === <gallery> caption="Screenshots showing Reversi in action">Image:Stream2 16.png|The game that came with Stream2</gallery> *x-Plain bitmap converter == Download == * [[Media:Stream2_plus_apps.rar|Rom images of Stream2 and Applications disk image]] (ROM and DSK for Emulators)
* Stream Chart* Stream Fractal* Lissajous* Address manager* Trace* Reversi* x-Plain bitmap converter[[Category:Disc Operating_System]][[Category:CPC GUI]]