Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

AMOS (programming language)

2017-08-31T18:39:16Z

Spellcoder: Added a link to the 'Amos Professional' Facebook group which is an active group where also AMOS it's original creator François Lionet regulary posts

{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=June 2011}}
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{{Infobox programming language
| name = AMOS
| logo =
| paradigm = [[Imperative programming|Imperative]], [[Procedural programming|Procedural]]
| year = {{Start date and age|1990}}
| designer =
| developer = [[François Lionet]] and [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]
| latest_release_version =
| latest_release_date =
| latest_test_version =
| latest_test_date =
| typing = Static
| implementations =
| dialects = AMOS, Easy AMOS, AMOS Professional
| influenced_by = [[STOS BASIC]]
| influenced =
| operating_system = [[AmigaOS]]
| license = [[BSD licenses|BSD style license]]
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204085705/http://www.clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 AMOS and STOS]
}}
[[File:AMOS Professional Screenshot.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of the AMOS Professional user interface and code editor, displaying the start of a program included with the language.]]
'''AMOS BASIC''' is a dialect of the [[BASIC]] [[programming language]] implemented on the [[Amiga]] computer. AMOS BASIC was published by [[Europress Software]] and originally written by [[François Lionet]] with [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]].

== History ==
AMOS is a descendant of [[STOS BASIC]] for the [[Atari ST]]. AMOS BASIC was first produced in 1990.

AMOS competed on the Amiga platform with Acid Software's [[Blitz BASIC]]. Both BASICs differed from other dialects on different platforms, in that they allowed the easy creation of fairly demanding multimedia software, with full structured code and many high-level functions to load images, animations, sounds and display them in various ways.

The original AMOS version was [[interpreter (computing)|interpreted]] which, whilst working fine, suffered the same disadvantage of any language being run interpretively. By all accounts, AMOS was extremely fast among interpreted languages. The language was fast enough that an extension called AMOS 3D could produce playable 3D games even on plain 7 MHz Amigas. Later, an AMOS [[compiler]] was developed that further increased speed.

AMOS could also include inline Assembly Language.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/1990-lionet-francois-amos-the-creator-user-guide/1990-lionet-francois-amos-the-creator-user-guide_djvu.txt The Creator], by Frangois Lionet, 1990, ''"AMOS Basic includes special facilities which allow you to combine assembly language routines with your Basic programs."''</ref>

To simplify animation of sprites, AMOS included the AMOS Animation Language (AMAL), a compiled sprite scripting language which runs independently of the main AMOS BASIC program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grove.ufl.edu/~cwarner/computers.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-11-22 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208051702/http://grove.ufl.edu/~cwarner/computers.html |archivedate=2010-12-08 |df= }}</ref> It was also possible to control screen and "rainbow" effects using AMAL scripts. AMAL scripts in effect created CopperLists, small routines executed by the Amiga's Agnus chip.

After the original version of AMOS, Europress released a compiler ('''AMOS Compiler'''), and two other versions of the language: '''Easy AMOS''', a simpler version for beginners, and '''AMOS Professional''', a more advanced version with added features, such as a better [[Integrated development environment|IDE]], [[ARexx]] support, a new [[user interface|UI]] API and new [[control flow|flow control constructs]]. Neither of these new versions was significantly more popular than the original AMOS.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012|reason=For example, from my experience it was way more popular. References to sales figures or alike would be nice.}}

AMOS was mostly used to make multimedia software, [[video game]]s (platformers and graphical adventures) and educational software.

The language was mildly successful within the Amiga community. Its ease of use made it especially attractive to beginners.

Perhaps AMOS BASIC's biggest disadvantage, stemming from its Atari ST lineage, was its incompatibility with the Amiga's [[AmigaOS|operating system]] functions and interfaces. Instead, AMOS BASIC controlled the computer directly, which caused programs written in it to have a non-standard user interface, and also caused compatibility problems with newer versions of the operating system.

Today the language has declined in popularity along with the Amiga computer for which it was written. Despite this, a small community of enthusiasts are still using it. The [[source code]] to AMOS has been around 2001 released under a [[BSD licenses|BSD style license]] by [[Clickteam]] - a company that includes the original programmer.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071130053321/http://clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 Amos & Stos » Main Download] on clickteam.com (archived 2007)</ref>

== Software ==
Software written using AMOS BASIC includes:

* [[Miggybyte]]
* [[Scorched Tanks]]
* Games by [[Vulcan Software]], amongst which the [[Valhalla: Before the War|Valhalla]] trilogy
* Amiga version of [[Ultimate Domain]] (called [[Genesia (game)|Genesia]]) by [[Microïds]]
* [[Flight of the Amazon Queen]], by [[Interactive Binary Illusions]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gamasutra.com/blogs/JohnPassfield/20150601/244740/Making_of_Flight_of_the_Amazon_Queen__A_20th_Anniversary_Retrospective.php|title=Making of Flight of the Amazon Queen: A 20th Anniversary Retrospective |accessdate=1 January 2016|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref>
* [[Extreme Violence]], included on an [[Amiga Power]] cover disk

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130530022407/http://www.pianetaamiga.it Source code for AMOS Professional] 68000 ASM from pianetaamiga.it (archived, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151031001644/http://www.pianetaamiga.it/downloads/AMOSPro_Sources.zip ZIP])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071130053321/http://clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 Source code for AMOS and STOS] 68000 ASM from clickteam.com (archived, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120207175110/http://www.clickteam.com/webftp/files/2/5/AMOSCompiler.zip ZIP])
* [http://www.ultimateamiga.co.uk/index.php/page,16/ The AMOS Factory] (An AMOS support/community site)
* [http://www.amigacoding.com Amigacoding website] (contains in-depth info and references for AMOS)
* [http://www.triumphoverchallenges.com/stos-and-amos-game-creators/ History of STOS and AMOS]: how they came to be published in the UK
* [https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmosPro/ Amos Professional group on Facebook] (one of the members is AMOS it's original developer [[François Lionet]])

{{AmigaOS}}
{{BASIC}}

[[Category:BASIC programming language family]]
[[Category:Video game development software]]
[[Category:Amiga development software]]

Poker Face (song)

2017-02-10T10:20:15Z

Spellcoder: linked the producer name to the wikipedia article about the producer

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox single
| Name = Poker Face
| Cover = Lady Gaga - Poker Face.png
| Alt =
| Artist = [[Lady Gaga]]
| Album = [[The Fame]]
| Released = {{Start date|2008|9|26}}
| Recorded = {{unbulleted list|[[Record Plant Studios]]|([[Hollywood]], [[California]])}}
| Format = {{hlist|[[CD single|CD]]|[[7" single|7"]]|[[music download|digital download]]}}
| Genre = [[Synthpop]]
| Length = 3:58
| Label = {{hlist|Streamline|[[KonLive Distribution|KonLive]]|[[Cherrytree Records|Cherrytree]]|[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]}}
| Producer = [[RedOne|RedOne]]
| Writer = {{hlist|[[Lady Gaga|Stefani Germanotta]]|[[RedOne|Nadir Khayat]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=9990767&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|title="Poker Face" writing credits|accessdate=April 19, 2010|publisher=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated]]}}</ref>}}
| Last single = "[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]" (2008)
| This single = "'''Poker Face'''" (2008)
| Next single = "[[Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)]]" (2009)
}}

"'''Poker Face'''" is a song by American singer [[Lady Gaga]] from her debut studio album, ''[[The Fame]]'' (2008). It was released on September 26, 2008 as the album's second single. "Poker Face" is a [[synthpop]] song in the key of [[G-sharp minor|G{{Music|sharp}} minor]], following in the footsteps of her previous single "[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]", but with a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is [[bisexuality]] and was a tribute by Gaga to her [[rock and roll]] boyfriends. The song's lyrics finds the protagonist talking about sexual innuendos.

"Poker Face" was acclaimed by most critics, who praised the robotic [[Hook (music)|hook]] and the chorus. The song attained worldwide success, topping the charts in twenty countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European countries. "Poker Face" is the best-selling single of 2009 worldwide, with over 9.5 million in sales. It is among the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles of all time]], having sold over 14 million copies. The accompanying music video for the song portrays Gaga singing it in various costumes and playing [[strip poker]] in a getaway villa.

Gaga performed the song for the [[American Idol (season 8)|eighth season]] of the television show ''[[American Idol]]'' as well as the [[The Fame Ball Tour|Fame Ball]] and [[The Monster Ball Tour|Monster Ball]] tours. The live performances included an [[electronic music|electronic]] version and an [[acoustic music|acoustic]] version, which she played on the piano. It was nominated for both [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] at the [[52nd Grammy Awards]], and won the [[Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording|Award for Best Dance Recording]].

==Background==
[[File:Monster-ball-poker face acoustic.jpg|thumb|Gaga performing the piano version of "Poker Face" on [[The Monster Ball Tour]], accompanied by [[Kid Cudi]]. The backdrops display videos submitted by her fans.]]
"Poker Face" was written by Gaga and [[RedOne]], while production was handled also by RedOne.<ref name="liner"/> Gaga stated in an interview that "Poker Face" was written by her as a pop song and was a tribute to her "[[rock and roll|rock 'n' roll]] boyfriends". She also stated that the main idea behind the song was sex and gambling.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,521190,00.html|title=Lady Gaga Opens Up About Her Preference for Boys That Look Like Girls|last=McKay|first=Hollie|date=May 22, 2009|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]. [[News Corp]]|accessdate=April 28, 2009}}</ref> In an interview with UK's ''[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]'', Gaga noted of the song, "It's about a lot of different things. I gamble but I've also dated a lot of guys who are really into sex and booze and gambling, so I wanted to write a record my boyfriends would like too."<ref name="dailystar">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/75068/EXCLUSIVE-Lady-Gaga-s-hot-secret/|title=Lady Gaga's Hot Secret|first=Kim|last=Beysil|date=April 1, 2009|work=[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]|publisher=[[Northern & Shell]]|accessdate=April 10, 2009}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine, when asked about the meaning of the line "bluffin' with my muffin", Gaga explained that it really was a metaphor for her [[vulva]].

<blockquote>
"Obviously, it's my pussy's poker face! I took that line from another song I wrote but never released, called 'Blueberry Kisses.' It was about a girl singing to her boyfriend about how she wants him to [[Cunnilingus|go down on her]], and I used the lyric. [Gaga sings] 'Blueberry kisses, the muffin man misses them kisses'."<ref name="inspiration">{{cite news|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gaga-worships-queen-and-refuses-to-wear-pants-20090219 |title=
Lady Gaga Worships Queen and Refuses to Wear Pants|last=Scaggs|first=Austin|date=February 19, 2009|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|accessdate=February 20, 2009}}</ref>
</blockquote>

During her [[The Fame Ball Tour|Fame Ball Tour]] performance at [[Palm Springs, California]], on April 11, 2009, Gaga explained to the crowd the true meaning behind the term "Poker Face" used in the song. She suggested that the song dealt with her personal experience with [[bisexuality]]. The idea behind the song was to be with a man but fantasizing about a woman, hence the man in the song needs to read her "Poker Face" to understand what is going through her mind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/entertainment/celebrity/Lady_GaGa_Entertains_Thousands_At_Palm_Springs_White_Party.html|title=Lady GaGa Entertains Thousands At Palm Springs White Party|date=April 14, 2009|accessdate=April 17, 2009|work=[[Access Hollywood]]|publisher=[[NBC]]}}</ref>

==Composition==
"Poker Face" is a [[synthpop]] song, and follows the footsteps of Gaga's previous single "[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=John |url=http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2010/02/lady-gaga-s-ambiguous-feminism/25392/ |title=Lady Gaga's Ambiguous Feminism |work=[[Thewire.com|The Wire]] |date=February 25, 2010 |accessdate=September 20, 2013 |quote="Ever since Lady Gaga stormed the airwaves with her synth-pop super-hit Poker Face, she's been an irresistible enigma to culture critics."}}</ref> Whereas "Just Dance" was predominately [[electropop]], "Poker Face" carries a [[dark electro|dark sound]] with clear vocals on the [[refrain|chorus]] and a pop [[hook (music)|hook]]<ref name=top40.about.com>{{cite web|last=Lamb|first=Bill|url=http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/pokerface.htm |title=Lady GaGa – "Poker Face"|publisher=[[About.com]]|date=November 12, 2008|accessdate=March 18, 2009}}</ref> while combining the [[synthesizer|synths]] from "Just Dance" and the more [[electronic dance music|dance]]-oriented beat of the next single "[[LoveGame]]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Norman|first=Ben|url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/LadyGagaTheFame.htm|title=Lady Gaga – 'The Fame'|publisher=About.com|date=October 2, 2008|accessdate=March 18, 2008}}</ref> According to Kerri Mason of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', the composition "carr[ies] the pleather-and-sequins vibe of the downtown New York scene out of the underground and onto the FM dial without losing its smut and [[:wikt:sass|sass]]."<ref>{{cite web |last=Mason |first=Kerri |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifcb24c059ef1f1a6fc19c0d9b0ddd48c |title=The Fame |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 1, 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416045906/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifcb24c059ef1f1a6fc19c0d9b0ddd48c |archivedate=April 16, 2009 |accessdate=March 17, 2009}}</ref>

{{Listen
| filename = Lady_GaGa-Poker_Face.ogg
| title = "Poker Face"
| description = A 23 seconds sample from "Poker Face" which plays the chorus, where Gaga's voice spans from C5 to G3, followed by the stuttering [[Hook (music)|hook]] which samples [[Boney M.]]'s song "[[Ma Baker]]".
| format = [[Ogg]]
| pos = left
}}
Poker Face is set in a common time [[time signature]], with a fast [[tempo (music)|tempo]] of 120 [[beats per minute]]. It is written in the key of [[G-sharp minor|G {{sharp|music}} minor]] with Gaga's [[vocal range]] spanning from the note G3 to the note C5.<ref name="musicnotes">{{cite news|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=mn0073785&arp=1|title=Lady Gaga 'Poker Face' Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com. [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]|accessdate=2014-07-06}}</ref> It begins with a medium tempo followed by electronic chord arrangement and the "Mum-mum-mum-mah" hook. The chords follow in this order: G {{sharp|music}} m–E/G {{sharp|music}}–F {{sharp|music}}, and then for the chorus G {{sharp|music}}m–E–B–F{{sharp|music}}. This is followed by the sound of [[dance music]], produced by a powerful beat from the instruments, and a stuttering [[hook (music)|hook]] following the chorus.<ref name="musicnotes"/>

Lyrically, "Poker Face" is all about sexual innuendo and teasing.<ref name=top40.about.com/> According to ''[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]'', the [[Chorus effect|chorus]] repeats two alternating lyrics. After the hook "Can't read my Poker Face" the backup singer says "He's got me like nobody" and then in the next line says "She's got me like nobody". Gaga explained in an interview with them that the line carries a bit of an undertone of confusion about love and sex.<ref name="dailystar"/> However, the liner notes from the album booklet indicate both these lines only repeat "she's got me like nobody".<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes|title=[[The Fame]]|type=Liner Notes|publisher= [[Interscope Records|Interscope]] |year=2008|others=[[Lady Gaga]]}}</ref> According to [[BBC]], the "Mum-mum-mum-mah" hook used in the song references [[Boney M.]]'s 1977 hit "[[Ma Baker]]".<ref name=bbcchartblog>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2009/03/lady_gaga_poker_face.shtml|title=Lady GaGa – 'Poker Face'|last=McAlpine|first=Fraser|date=March 11, 2009|accessdate=March 17, 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]. [[BBC]]}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
[[File:Monster-ball-poker face.jpg|thumb|Gaga performing "Poker Face" on The Monster Ball Tour, wearing a dress made of guns.]]
Upon release, "Poker Face" received critical acclaim. Priya Elan from ''[[The Times]]'', in a review for ''The Fame'', said that "Poker Face" was one of the finest moments of the album with its "love-as-card-game cheek".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article5465929.ece|title=The Big CD: Lady GaGa – The Fame|last=Elan|first=Priya|work=[[The Times]]|date=October 10, 2008|accessdate=February 3, 2008| location=London}}</ref> [[BBC Music]] reviewed the "strut-tastic" single as "expressing her overwhelming desire for celebrity and fortune."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/f6bd/|title=BBC review of The Fame|author=Music group|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=October 9, 2008|accessdate=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Bill Lamb of [[About.com]] said, "'Poker Face' works well on pop radio, but with slight mixing alterations it would be equally at home in a dark, sweaty, late night party atmosphere. She has refreshed the pop world in the US and UK at one of the slowest times of the year. 'Poker Face' keeps the motors humming as everyone waits for the next step forward from Lady Gaga."<ref name=top40.about.com/> Chris Williams of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' also gave a positive review of the song saying, "Once again, hooks are aplenty, with '80s-inspired synthesizers, robotic verses and a warm, sunny hook in the chorus, which is even more addictive than the previous single ('Just Dance')...With a focused artistic vision, a swagger in her interview style and above all, a fantastic collection of diverse pop nuggets, Gaga is playing her cards right—and "Poker" is another obvious ace."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://login.vnuemedia.com/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003943244|title=Single Reviews: Poker Face|last=Williams|first=Chris|date=February 28, 2009|accessdate=February 28, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

[[Slant Magazine]] music reviewer Sal Cinquemani included "Poker Face" among the songs that work in ''The Fame'', namely tracks like "Starstruck," "Paper Gangsta" and "Summerboy".<ref name="slant">{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?id=1558|title=Lady GaGa: The Fame review|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal|date=October 25, 2008|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|accessdate=April 14, 2009}}</ref> Matthew Chisling from [[Allmusic]] called the song "infectious" and along with the title track "The Fame", complimented them for "rejuvenating the vibe on the album for its second half."<ref name="amg">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1421208/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( The Fame > Overview )))|last=Chisling|first=Matthew|date=September 28, 2008|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=April 14, 2009}}</ref> Andy Downing from ''[[The Chicago Tribune]]'' called the song "jaunty" while reviewing Gaga's [[The Fame Ball Tour|Fame Ball tour]].<ref name="chicago">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0326-lady-gaga-ovnmar26,0,2296304.story|title=Lady Gaga delights|last=Downing|first=Andy|date=March 26, 2009|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|accessdate=April 14, 2009}}</ref> Evan Sawdey from [[PopMatters.com]] felt that "Poker Face" along with the track "Paparazzi", duplicate much of the same "glitzy territory that previous single '[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]' had covered, but never once does it feel like Gaga is deliberately repeating herself."<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/68939-lady-gaga-the-fame/|title=The Fame by Lady Gaga|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|date=January 12, 2009|work=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=April 14, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' in a review for [[The Fame Ball Tour]] compared the live acoustic "bluesy" version of "Poker Face" with the music of singer [[Amy Winehouse]].<ref name="rolling">{{cite journal|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gagas-fame-attracts-kanye-west-perez-hilton-to-l-a-show-20090316|title=Lady Gaga's 'Fame' Attracts Kanye West, Perez Hilton to L.A. Show |last=Wood|first=Mikael|date=March 16, 2009|work=[[Rolling Stones]]|issn=0035-791X}}</ref> Erika Hobert from the ''[[New Times Broward-Palm Beach]]'' newspaper called the song "trashtastic [[Europop]]."<ref name="broward">{{cite web|url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2009-04-02/music/some-like-it-pop/|title=Some Like It Pop|last=Hobart|first=Erika|date=March 31, 2009|work=[[New Times Broward-Palm Beach]]|publisher=[[New Times Media]]|accessdate=April 15, 2009}}</ref> The song was nominated for [[52nd Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]] in the categories for [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of The Year]], [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of The Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording|Best Dance Recording]], ultimately winning the last of these.<ref name="GuardianGrammy">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/feb/01/taylor-swift-tops-beyonce-grammys-los-angeles|title=Swift reward: Taylor's Grammy double|last=Whey|first=Simon|date=February 1, 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|publisher=[[Guardian News and Media]]|accessdate=February 1, 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627480/20091202/knowles_beyonce.jhtml|title=Grammy Nominations Special: Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift Lead Pack|last=Montogomery|first=James|date=December 2, 2009|publisher=[[MTV]]|accessdate=December 3, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked it number ninety-six on their list of 100 Best Songs of the 2000s decade.<ref>{{cite journal|title=100 Best Songs of the Decade: Rolling Stone|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 9, 2009|issn=0035-791X}}</ref> In October 2011, ''[[NME]]'' placed it at number 103 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years/248648/page/5 |title=150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years |work=NME |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
[[File:Lady Gaga.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Gaga wearing a yellow leotard and an admiral's cap, performing "Poker Face" on [[The Fame Ball Tour]].]]
In the United States, the song entered the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] at ninety-two and reached number six on the issue dated March 7, 2009.<ref name=florida>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1273893/flo-rida-ti-hold-their-billboard-hot-100-spots|title=Flo Rida, T.I. Hold Their Billboard Hot 100 Spots|first=Ayala |last=Ben-Yehuda|date=February 26, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=February 26, 2009}}</ref> The next week the song climbed another three places to reach a peak of three and stayed there for two additional weeks.<ref name=soulja>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269283/soulja-boy-climbs-hot-100|title=Soulja Boy Climbs Hot 100|first=Ayala |last=Ben-Yehuda|date=March 5, 2009|accessdate=March 4, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> On the ''Billboard'' issue dated April 11, 2009, the song topped the chart.<ref name=pair>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269065/lady-gaga-draws-a-pair-of-no-1s|title=Lady GaGa Draws A Pair Of No. 1s|author=Pietroluongo, Silvio|date=April 1, 2009|accessdate=April 1, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> "Poker Face" became Gaga's second consecutive number one song on the Hot 100, marking the first time a new artist has had their first two charting singles hit number one on the Hot 100 since [[Christina Aguilera]] did so with "[[Genie In a Bottle]]" and "[[What a Girl Wants (Christina Aguilera song)|What a Girl Wants]]" in 1999–2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269058/lady-gaga-scores-hot-100-milestone-with-poker-face|title=Lady GaGa Scores Hot 100 Milestone With 'Poker Face'|first=Ayala |last=Ben-Yehuda |author2=Silvio Pietroluongo|date=April 2, 2009|accessdate=April 2, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> The song stayed on the Hot 100 for 40 weeks. "Poker Face" also peaked on both the [[Hot Dance Airplay]] and [[Hot Dance Club Play]] charts.<ref name="hotdance"/> It became the first single since [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]'s 2006 single "[[Sorry (Madonna song)|Sorry]]", to top all the three dance charts in a single week including the [[Hot Dance Singles Sales]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/chart-beat-chat-al-green-lady-gaga-triple-1003941564.story|title=Chart Beat Chat: Al Green, Lady Gaga, Triple A Chart|first=Fred |last=Bronson|date=February 13, 2009|accessdate=March 18, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516173424/http://www.billboard.com/news/chart-beat-chat-al-green-lady-gaga-triple-1003941564.story|archivedate=May 16, 2010}}</ref> The song has been certified ten times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), and sold 7.3 million paid digital downloads in the United States as of April 2016, according to [[Nielsen SoundScan]].<ref name="PF2016US">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7334121/ask-billboard-lady-gagas-sales-whats-the-longest-streak-for |title=Ask Billboard: Lady Gaga's Sales & What's the Longest Streak for Americans Atop the Hot 100?|first=Andrew |last=Hampp|work=Billboard |date=April 17, 2016|accessdate=April 17, 2016}}</ref> Gaga is the first artist in digital history to top the six and seven million mark in paid downloads with two songs, the first being "[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]".<ref name="riaa"/><ref name="2013us">{{cite web|url=http://radioinkmedia.intertechmedia.com/nielsen.pdf|title=Nielsen & Billboard's 2013 U.S. Music Report |work=Billboard |date=January 1, 2014 |accessdate=January 8, 2014|archivedate=January 9, 2014|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6MUfWHziu}}</ref> "Poker Face" is Gaga's most digitally-sold track in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=March 30, 2014|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6029335/ask-billboard-lady-gagas-biggest-hot-100-hits|title=Ask Billboard: Lady Gaga's Biggest Hot 100 Hits|work=Billboard|accessdate=June 4, 2014}}</ref>

In Canada, the song debuted at number forty-one on the [[Canadian Hot 100]]. On the chart dated December 13, 2008, "Poker Face" ascended to the number one spot and then spent nine non-consecutive weeks at the top.<ref name="can"/> The song was certified eight times platinum by the [[Canadian Recording Industry Association]] (CRIA) for paid digital downloads of 320,000.<ref name="cria"/> "Poker Face" entered the Australian charts at number 26, and in its seventh week peaked at number one.<ref name="aus"/> "Poker Face" has shipped over 420,000 copies in Australia, earning six-times [[Music recording sales certification|Platinum]] certification by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA).<ref name="aria"/> It held the record for the longest-charting song in [[ARIA Chart]] history of 106 weeks until this was broken in May 2015 by [[Vance Joy]]'s "[[Riptide (Vance Joy song)|Riptide]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/vance-joys-riptide-breaks-lady-gagas-incredible-record-on-the-australian-charts/story-fni0bvjn-1227349125707|title= Vance Joy's Riptide breaks Lady Gaga's incredible record on the Australian charts|first= Cameron |last=Adams|work=Herald Sun|date= 10 May 2015|accessdate= 10 May 2015}}</ref> In New Zealand, the song debuted on the official chart at number twenty-one. In its sixth week, it peaked the chart spending ten consecutive weeks at number one.<ref name="nz"/> "Poker Face" was certified two times [[Music recording sales certification|platinum]] after twenty-seven weeks on the chart, selling over 30,000 copies, according to the [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]] (RIANZ).<ref name="rianz"/>

In the United Kingdom, "Poker Face" debuted at number thirty on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. After three weeks, it climbed to number one, thus giving Gaga her second consecutive British number one single.<ref name="uk"/> It was the biggest selling digital single in the United Kingdom, before being overtaken by "[[I Gotta Feeling]]" by [[The Black Eyed Peas]] in June 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/press-area/news-amp3b-press-release/article/2009-is-record-year-for-uk-singles-sales.aspx|title=2009 Is Record Year For UK Singles Sales|last=Taylor|first=Geoff|date=October 23, 2009|accessdate=November 3, 2009|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]}}</ref> However, the song became the country's biggest-selling single of 2009, and was awarded [[The Record of the Year#2009|The Record of the Year]].<ref name="pfuk">{{cite news|url=http://uk.yearinreview.yahoo.com/2009/blog/13|title=Top 10 best-selling singles of 2009|last=Gilbert|first=Ben|date=December 1, 2009|accessdate=December 20, 2009|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> As of January 2017, it has sold 1.18 million copies and has been streamed 8.27 million times according to the Official Charts Company, receiving a double platinum certification from the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI).<Ref name="bpi"/><ref name="uksales">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lady-gagas-biggest-songs-and-albums-revealed__17902/|title=Lady Gaga's biggest songs and albums in the UK revealed|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=February 1, 2017|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate= February 1, 2017}}</ref> In Italy the song debuted at number nineteen and peaked at number two.<ref name="ita"/> The song has also reached the peak in a number of European countries including Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.<ref name="fla"/><ref name="ire"/> In Germany "Poker Face" became the most successful download single of all time and the first one to sell more than 500,000 downloads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gfk-entertainment.com/news/poker-face-knackt-500000er-download-marke.html |title="Poker Face" knackt 500.000er-Download-Marke |publisher=Media Control Charts |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref> The song also spent sixteen non-consecutive weeks atop the ''Billboard'' [[European Hot 100 Singles]] chart.<ref name="european"/> Worldwide, the song had sold 9.8 million copies by November 2009 according to IFPI.<ref name="ifpi2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/dmr2010.pdf|title=Top 10 Digital Songs 2009|publisher=[[International Federation of the Phonographic Industry]]|page=7|accessdate=January 15, 2012}}</ref> It has since gone on to sell over 13.4 million copies as of September 2013, making it one of the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling singles of all time]].<ref name=ifpi2010/><ref name="Poker Face North American single sales 2009-2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627833/20091208/eminem.jhtml|title=Eminem Is The Best-Selling Artist Of The Decade |last=Montogomery|first=James|date=December 9, 2009|publisher=[[MTV]]|accessdate=December 11, 2009}}
*{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-sept-8-2013-songs-race-r-203208472.html|title=Week Ending Sept. 8, 2013. Songs: Race & The R&B Chart|last=Grein|first=Paul|work=Nielsen SoundScan|publisher=Yahoo! Music|date=September 11, 2013|accessdate=September 12, 2013}}
*{{cite certification|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Lady Gaga|title=Poker Face|award=Platinum|number=8|accessdate=September 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Korean Top 100 International Singles 2010">{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=39|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319075835/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=39|title=2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 100위 - 국외|publisher=Gaonchart|date=February 10, 2011|archivedate=March 19, 2013|accessdate=September 18, 2013}}</ref>

==Music video==
The music video for "Poker Face", directed by [[Ray Kay]] and aided by [[Anthony Mandler]],<ref name=video>{{cite web |url= http://www.interscope.com/artist/player/default.aspx?mid=3156&aid=599|title=Video Premiere: Lady GaGa's 'Poker Face'|date=October 23, 2008|accessdate=April 6, 2009|work=[[Interscope Records]]}}</ref> was filmed at the luxury villa on [[bwin]] PokerIsland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://home.bwin.com/page.aspx?view=aboutus&path=%2fnews%2fLady_GaGa|title=bwin features in the Lady GaGa hit 'Poker Face'|publisher=[[bwin]]|date=March 24, 2009|accessdate=September 27, 2009}}</ref> bwin also provided the poker equipment and obtained product placements in return.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aktien-portal.at/shownews.html?id=17532|title=bwin prominently placed in Lady GaGa music video ''Poker Face''|date=February 4, 2009|accessdate=October 1, 2009|work=Aktien-Portal |language=German}}</ref>
The video premiered on October 22, 2008. It is set by a pool, as well as in a mansion. It begins with Gaga emerging from the pool wearing a mirror masquerade mask and a black sleeveless latex bodysuit with a jaged shoulder pad, with two [[Great Dane]]s beside her. She throws the mask aside and the song begins with a facial shot of Gaga singing it.<ref name=video/> Gaga wears a metallic sticker on her left cheek in this shot. Featured in the video are scenes of Gaga in a mansion and dancing poolside with her dancers in a turquoise leotard.<ref name=video/> Gaga attends a wild party where every man and woman tries their luck on a [[strip poker]] game. The party gets wilder when all the party's guests strip down to their underwear, dance around, and share kisses with each other. The video also features several white mannequins on her swimming pool deck. During the musical interlude before the "I won't tell you that I love you" hook, Gaga is shown in her trademark "Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow" sunglasses while sitting beside the pool. The video ends with the head shot of Gaga singing the Mum-mum-mum-ma hook.

Gaga explained in the nineteenth episode of her "Transmission Gagavision" series, the main idea behind the music video of "Poker Face". She said that "I knew I wanted it to be sexy, so I thought no pants, because that's sexy, [...]And I knew I wanted it to be futuristic, so I thought shoulder pads, because that's my thing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interscope.com/artist/player/default.aspx?mid=4556&aid=599|title=Transmission Gagavision: Episode 19|date=December 13, 2008|work=[[Interscope Records]]|accessdate=April 17, 2009}}</ref> The music video premiered on [[MTV (UK & Ireland)|MTV UK]] on February 17, 2009. In some versions of the song, the words "muffin" (being a slang term for the woman's [[vagina]]), "[[Russian Roulette]]" and "gun" are censored out (bleeped).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueblood.net/2009/03/lady-gaga-poker-face/|title=Lady Gaga is Bluffin with her Muffin|last=G|first=Amelia|date=March 18, 2009|work=Blue Blood|accessdate=April 17, 2009}}</ref> On June 21, 2009, the video won the [[Best International Artist Video (MMVA Award)|Best International Artist Video]] at the [[2009 MuchMusic Video Awards]].<ref name="mmva">{{cite web |url= http://new.ca.music.yahoo.com/blogs/soundcheck/836/fans-agog-over-lady-gaga-at-mmvas-nickelback-takes-most-hardware/|title=Fans agog over Lady Gaga at MMVAs|last=Patch|first=Nick|date=June 21, 2009|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|publisher=[[Google News]]|accessdate=June 22, 2009}}</ref> The video received four nominations at the [[2009 MTV Video Music Awards]], in the categories of [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]], [[MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]], [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video|Best Female Video]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video|Best Pop Video]]. Along with five other nominations for "[[Paparazzi (Lady Gaga song)|Paparazzi]]", Gaga was tied with [[Beyoncé Knowles|Beyoncé]] for most nominations each for that year.<ref name="prnewswire">{{cite web|url=http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-04-2009/0005071680&EDATE=|title=Beyonce and Lady Gaga Tied With Nine '2009 MTV Video Music Awards' Nominations While Britney Spears Comes In a Close Second With Seven Nods|agency=[[PR Newswire]]|accessdate=August 4, 2009}}</ref>

In June 2010, Gaga held a [[reverse auction]] for one of the necklaces worn in the music video, designed by [[Brian Lichtenberg]]. All the proceeds from the auction went to the [[Lupus Foundation of America]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-style/news/lady-gaga-auctions-off-poker-face-necklace-to-lowest-bidder-2010156|title=Lady Gaga Auctions Off 'Poker Face' Necklace|date=June 15, 2010|work=US Weekly}}</ref>

==Live performances==

"Poker Face" has been performed by Gaga at a number of shows including the [[AOL Sessions]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.interscope.com/artist/news/default.aspx?aid=599&pg=2|title=AOL – Live Performance: Lady GaGa – Poker Face Live|date=December 22, 2008|accessdate=March 17, 2009|work=[[Interscope Records]]}}</ref> the ''Cherrytree House'' of [[Interscope Records]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ladygaga.com/player/default.aspx?mid=3156|title=Now Playing: Lady Gaga live|accessdate=March 17, 2009|work=[[Interscope Records]]}}</ref> and also the ''[[MTV]]'' sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/lady-gaga/session/lady-gaga|title=MTV Live sessions – Lady Gaga|publisher=[[MTV]]|accessdate=April 15, 2009}}</ref> The song was performed by Gaga both in the original version and the acoustic piano version in her headlining [[The Fame Ball Tour|The Fame Ball]] tour. She performed the piano version wearing a dress made of plastic transparent bubbles and playing the glass piano with her stilletoes with a glowing mannequin, like the music video, standing in front of the stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://omg.yahoo.com/news/lady-gaga-wows-with-big-beats-bluesy-surprises/20032|title=Lady GaGa wows with big beats, bluesy surprises|first=Sheri |last=Linden|date=March 15, 2009|accessdate=March 17, 2009|agency=[[Reuters]]|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> Gaga claimed that the transparent bubble filled piano was specifically made to match her dress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://login.vnuemedia.com/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003951569|title=Concert Review: Lady GaGa|last=Rosen|first=Craig|date=March 15, 2009|accessdate=April 8, 2009|work=Billboard}}</ref> The actual version was performed by Gaga as the final song of the [[encore (concert)|encore]], after "Boys, Boys, Boys".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0326-lady-gaga-ovnmar26,0,2296304.story|title=Lady Gaga delights |last= Downing |first=Andy|date=March 26, 2009|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|accessdate=April 15, 2009}}</ref> She started the performance saying "Some say Lady Gaga is a lie, and they’re right: I am a lie, and every day I kill to make it true."<ref name="rolling"/> Gaga wore a nude corseted leotard embellished with crystals and an admiral's hat during the performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/49890/Lady-GaGa-Gets-Wrapped-In-Bubbles-On-US-Tour|title=Lady GaGa Gets Wrapped In Bubbles On US Tour |first=Jason |last=Gregory|date=March 13, 2009|accessdate=April 2, 2009|publisher=[[Gigwise.com]]}}</ref> The hat as well as the fingerless gloves worn were decorated with the word Gaga on it.<ref name="dailyconcert">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1176858/Madonna-Cyndi-Lauper-style-notes-Lady-Gaga-parades-latest-leotards-concert.html|title=Madonna and Cyndi Lauper take style notes as Lady Gaga parades latest leotards in concert|last=Abraham|first=Tamara|date=May 4, 2009|work=[[Daily Mail]]|accessdate=May 13, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Fameballbubble3.jpg|thumb|left|Gaga performing the piano version of "Poker Face" during The Fame Ball Tour, wearing a dress made of plastic bubbles and playing a transparent piano.]]
On April 1, 2009, both the acoustic and normal version of "Poker Face" was performed live on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s ''[[American Idol]]''. The performance started with Gaga sitting at a Plexiglass piano filled with bubbles and bathed in pink light. She started singing the second verse of "Poker Face" in a [[Bette Midler]] style accompanied by a violin player while wearing a shiny aluminum shoulder pad and platinum bleached blond wig. After the first chorus, the pace increased whence the original intro for the song started. Gaga got up from her seat and proceeded to perform the song in the middle of the stage. She wore a silvery leotard with a giant star on her shoulder and tassels. As the song progressed to the intermediate verse, the violist played a hoe-down version of the music and Gaga danced around frantically over the stage. The performance ended with Gaga staring towards the audience while revealing an open zipper, patched over her left eye. The performance was described an "alien-disco performance art."<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1608347/20090402/lady_gaga.jhtml |title= Lady Gaga Shows Her Flashiest 'Poker Face' On 'American Idol' |first= Gil |last=Kaufman|date=April 2, 2009|accessdate=April 6, 2009|work=[[MTV]]}}</ref> Cortney Harding of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote, "[it was] Gaga's crowning TV moment ... show[ing] middle America that she was a bona fide pop star."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/267810/lady-gaga-the-billboard-cover-story|title=Lady Gaga: The Billboard Cover Story|date=August 7, 2009|accessdate=September 7, 2009|last=Harding|first=Cortney|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

The acoustic version was performed by Gaga at [[BBC Live & In-Session]] on April 19, 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1172061/The-mad-hatter-Lady-GaGa-shows-latest-fashion-fetish.html|title=The mad hatter: Lady GaGa shows off her latest fashion fetish|last=Reporter|first=Daily Mail|date=March 20, 2009|work=[[Daily Mail]]|accessdate=April 30, 2009}}</ref> In the same day, she had her first appearance on Italian TV, on the TV program ''[[Quelli che... il Calcio]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.italiatopgames.it/section/nsn.asp?ID=773|title=Lady Gaga on Italian TV show 'Quelli che il calcio'|date=April 19, 2009|publisher=[[Raidue]]}}</ref> She also performed "Poker Face" in the United Kingdom on ''[[The Paul O'Grady Show]]''. First she played an acoustic version first before going on to the normal version,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalledger.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=36&num=25725|title=Bad Impressions for Lady Gaga|work=The National Ledger|accessdate=May 5, 2011}}</ref> and a rock version on ''[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00jwck6 |title= Lady GaGa – Poker Face (Live on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross)|publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate= May 11, 2009}}</ref> On May 12, 2009, Gaga performed "Poker Face" on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' while wearing a [[gyroscope]] on her head, designed by theatrical hat designer [[Nasir Mazhar]] and playing the piano while standing on the stool.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1181210/Lady-GaGas-wacky-headgear-knocks-chat-host-Ellen-DeGeneres.html|title=Lady GaGa's wacky headgear almost knocks out chat show host Ellen DeGeneres|last=Reporter|first=Daily Mail|date=May 13, 2009|work=[[Daily Mail]]|accessdate=May 14, 2009}}</ref> Gaga referred to the gyroscope as her "Gaga barrier". It prevented [[Ellen DeGeneres]] from greeting her because of the size of the gear.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_lady_gagas_intergalactic_headgear_nearly_sends_ellen_degeneres_into_orbit.html |title= Lady GaGa's intergalactic headgear nearly sends Ellen DeGeneres into orbit |last= Schultz |first= Heather |date= May 13, 2009 |work= [[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |accessdate= May 19, 2009 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063132/http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2009/05/13/2009-05-13_lady_gagas_intergalactic_headgear_nearly_sends_ellen_degeneres_into_orbit.html |archivedate= May 16, 2009}}</ref> A remixed version of "Poker Face" and "[[LoveGame]]" was performed at the [[2009 MuchMusic Video Awards]], during the indoor-outdoor streetside show. This performance, which included Gaga being trapped in a fake subway car surrounded by fake police officers, was billed as a tribute to [[New York City]].<ref name="mmva"/> Snippet of the song was performed by Gaga at the [[Saturday Night Live (season 35)|thirty-fifth season]] of American comedy show ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', while wearing a giant contraption ("The Orbit") of several metallic concentric rings that rotated around her.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1622985/20091004/lady_gaga.jhtml |title= Lady Gaga, Madonna Catfight, Almost Kiss On 'Saturday Night Live'|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=October 5, 2009|publisher=[[MTV]]|accessdate=October 6, 2009}}</ref>

It was also performed on Gaga's [[The Monster Ball Tour]]. The piano version was played by Gaga while balancing on the piano stool and holding one leg up in the air. Rapper [[Kid Cudi]] joined her then to perform his song "[[Make Her Say]]" which contains a sample of "Poker Face".<ref name="torontomonster">{{cite news |url= http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/columnists/jane_stevenson/2009/11/29/11967326-sun.html|title=Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show|last=Stevenson|first=Jane|date=November 29, 2009|work=[[Toronto Sun]]|publisher=[[Sun Media Corporation]]|accessdate=November 30, 2009}}</ref> The actual version was performed at the last segment of the show. Gaga wore a dress made of guns and during the performance she pumped her hands in the air.<ref name="gazette">{{cite news |url= http://communities.canada.com/montrealgazette/blogs/wordsandmusic/archive/2009/11/28/concert-review-lady-gaga-romances-bell-centre-crowd-nov-27.aspx|title= Concert review: Lady Gaga romances Bell Centre crowd, Nov. 27|last=Dunlevy|first=T'Cha|date=November 28, 2009|work=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]]|publisher=[[Canwest]]|accessdate=November 28, 2009}}</ref> It was also performed at the [[52nd Grammy Awards]], where she opened the show with the song while standing on a pedestal. In the middle, she was then flung into the garbage chute of the Fame Factory set, before emerging seated at a piano, facing [[Elton John]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1247638/Grammy-Awards-2010-Elton-John-Lady-Gaga-duet-sing-Your-Song-Speechless.html|title=Elton John gets dirty with Lady Gaga as they duet at the Grammys|last=Smith|first=Liz|date=February 1, 2010|accessdate=April 30, 2011|work=[[Daily Mail]]}}</ref> In May 2011, Gaga performed the song during [[Radio 1's Big Weekend]] in [[Carlisle, Cumbria]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a319632/lady-gaga-closes-radio-1s-big-weekend-video.html|title=Lady GaGa closes Radio 1's Big Weekend|last=Sperling|first=Daniel|date=May 16, 2011|accessdate=May 16, 2011|work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> The song was included on the set list of her 2012 [[Born This Way Ball Tour]] in which she sports a modified version of her famous meat dress.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/lady-gaga/news/born-this-way-ball-tour-south-korea-review/ |title=Lady Gaga Delights Fans As She Begins 'Born This Way Ball' Tour In South Korea - Video |publisher=Capital FM |date=April 27, 2012 |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref> At the end of the song Her dancers dump her down a giant meat grinder. On February 5, 2017, Gaga performed the song during the [[Super Bowl LI halftime show]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/super-bowl/7678062/lady-gaga-super-bowl-2017-halftime-show-video|title=Watch Lady Gaga's Show-Stopping Super Bowl 2017 Halftime Performance|work=Billboard|date=February 5, 2017|accessdate=February 5, 2017|first=Taylor|last=Weatherby}}</ref>

==Cover versions and adaptations==
[[Rock music|Rock]] musician [[Chris Daughtry]] performed an [[Acoustic guitar|acoustic]] version of the song while at a radio station in Germany.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/arts/music/13choi.html|title=Critics' Choice – New CDs From Daughtry, David Berkman Quartet and Miroslav Vitous|last=Pareles|first=Jon|authorlink=Jon Pareles|date=September 29, 2009|accessdate=September 29, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 2009, a single by rapper [[Kid Cudi]] featuring [[Kanye West]] and [[Common (rapper)|Common]] titled "[[Make Her Say]]" was released; it contains a vocal sample of the acoustic version of "Poker Face" from ''The Cherrytree Sessions'' EP. The song was originally entitled "I Poke Her Face" but was changed to make it more acceptable for radio. It features [[Kanye West]], who also produced the track, and [[Common (rapper)|Common]], as well as [[Scratching|scratches]] from DJ [[A-Trak]].<ref>{{cite news |author= Reid, Shaheem |title= Kanye West 'Inspired' By Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' For Kid Cudi Single |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1612265/20090527/west_kanye.jhtml |publisher= [[MTV]] |date= May 28, 2009 |accessdate= May 28, 2009}}</ref> Actor [[Christopher Walken]] performed a special a capella rendition of "Poker Face" on BBC1's ''[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]'' for Halloween 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/_341499.html |title= Christopher Walken Performs 'Poker Face' (VIDEO) |date= November 1, 2009 |work= [[The Huffington Post]] |publisher= [[Arianna Huffington]] |accessdate= November 10, 2009}}</ref> The song was also covered by British singer [[Mika (singer)|Mika]] during his visit to the [[BBC Radio 1]] Live Lounge. It was later released as a track on his single "[[Rain (Mika song)|Rain]]".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/livelounge/artist/090928_mika.shtml |title= Mike |date= September 28, 2009 |publisher= BBC Radio One |accessdate= December 11, 2009}}</ref>

The song was also featured in the ''[[South Park]]'' episode titled "[[Whale Whores]]", sung by series character [[Eric Cartman]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/254171/ |title= Poker Face on Whale Whores |accessdate= October 29, 2009 |publisher= South Park Studios}}</ref> On March 16, 2010, ''South Park'''s version of "Poker Face" became available as a [[Complete list of downloadable songs for the Rock Band series|downloadable song]] for the video game ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]'', in the same day a Lady Gaga track pack featuring the original song was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/news/lady-gaga-eric-cartman-dlc|title=Lady GAGA Makes Her Debut On Rock Band With A Hot Four Pack! |publisher= [[Harmonix]]|date=March 10, 2010|accessdate=August 16, 2010}}</ref> On a live special ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode, the song was performed by [[Alex Borstein]] who was parodying [[Marlee Matlin]] who interrupted the performance in a guest stint.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/11/08/seth-macfarlane-comedy-show/|title=Seth Macfarlane Comedy Show|date=January 9, 2010|accessdate=July 1, 2010|work=Entertainment Weekly|last=Fraser|first=David}}</ref> [[Lea Michele]] and [[Idina Menzel]], in character as [[Rachel Berry (Glee)|Rachel Berry]] and [[Shelby Corcoran]] respectively, covered an acoustic version of "Poker Face" in the "[[Theatricality]]" episode of ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]''. Their version debuted at position 100 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and moved up to a peak of 20 on the next week.<ref>{{cite web |last= Caulfield |first= Keith |title= Chart Moves: Miley Cyrus, Muse, 'Glee,' Christina Aguilera and More|url= http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3ifeb8cbc990332c1ca13ea606dad491d5 |work= Billboard |accessdate= July 1, 2010 |date= May 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Trust |first= Gary |title= Chart Beat Thursday: Katy Perry, Black Eyed Peas, "Glee" |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/957827/chart-beat-thursday-katy-perry-black-eyed-peas-glee |work= Billboard |accessdate= July 1, 2010 |date= June 10, 2010}}</ref> It went on to become one of the show's most popular recordings; having sold 410,000 U.S. downloads, it remains the tenth best-selling song in the show's history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6509278/glee-cast-10-best-selling-downloads |title='Glee' Cast's 10 Best-Selling Downloads |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 20, 2015 |accessdate=March 20, 2015}}</ref> [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] included the chorus in his polka medley "[[Polka Face]]" from his 2011 album ''[[Alpocalypse]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.covermesongs.com/2010/07/weird-al-unveils-his-new-polkaface.html |title= Weird Al Unveils His New Polka (face) |publisher= Cover Me |date= July 23, 2010 |accessdate= July 14, 2014}}</ref> During the end credits of the 2012 ''[[The Simpsons]]'' season-finale episode "[[Lisa Goes Gaga]]", [[Homer Simpson]] performed a parody version entitled "Homer Face".<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaiser|first=Rowan|title=Lisa Goes Gaga|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/lisa-goes-gaga,75201/|accessdate=May 20, 2012|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=May 20, 2012}}</ref>

==Formats and track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*;Australian CD single<ref name="track">{{cite web |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Lady+GaGa&titel=Poker+Face&cat=s |title=Poker Face track listing |language=Dutch |publisher=Ultratop |accessdate=March 2, 2009}}</ref>
#"Poker Face" (Album Version) – 3:58
#"[[Just Dance (song)|Just Dance]]" (Robots to Mars Mix) – 4:37

*;German CD single<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/product/602527003566/Lady+Gaga/Poker+Face+(2-Track)/2276764/5+Zoll+Single+CD+(2-Track)+SGL-CD.html |title=Lady Gaga – Poker Face (2-Track) |language=German |publisher=Musicline.de. PHONONET GmbH |accessdate=September 13, 2009}}</ref>
#"Poker Face" (Album Version) – 3:58
#"Just Dance" (RedOne Remix featuring [[Kardinal Offishall]]) – 4:19

*;German CD maxi single<ref name="GerMaxi"/>
#"Poker Face" (Album Version) – 3:57
#"Poker Face" (Space Cowboy Remix) – 4:53
#"Just Dance" (Robots to Mars Mix) – 4:37
#"Poker Face" (video) – 3:39

*;French CD single<ref name="track"/>
#"Poker Face" (Main Version) – 3:58
#"Poker Face" (Glam As You Club Mix by Guéna LG) – 7:51
#"Poker Face" ([[Dave Audé]] Remix) – 8:12
{{col-2}}

*;US CD single – Remixes<ref name="track"/>
#"Poker Face" (Space Cowboy Remix) – 4:25
#"Poker Face" (Jody den Broeder Remix) – 8:07
#"Poker Face" (Dave Audé Remix) – 8:12
#"Poker Face" (Album Version) – 3:57
#"Poker Face" (Instrumental) – 3:59

*;UK CD single<ref name="track"/>
#"Poker Face" – 3:58
#"Poker Face" (Tommy Sparks & The Fury Remix) – 3:58

*;UK 7" picture single<ref name="track"/>
:A. "Poker Face" – 3:57
:B. "Poker Face" ([[Space Cowboy (musician)|Space Cowboy]] Remix) – 4:53

*;iTunes EP<ref name="track"/>
#"Poker Face" (Space Cowboy Remix) – 4:54
#"Poker Face" (Dave Audé Club Remix) – 8:13
#"Poker Face" (Jody den Broeder Club Remix) – 8:05
{{col-end}}

==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''The Fame''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=[[The Fame]] |type=CD liner notes |others=[[Lady Gaga]] |publisher=[[Interscope Records]] |year=2008}}</ref>

* [[Lady Gaga]] – lead vocals, backing vocals, [[songwriter]], [[record producer|producer]]
* [[RedOne]] – backing vocals, engineering, instrumentation, songwriter, producer, programming
* Gene Grimaldi – mastering
* Robert Orton – mixing
* Dave Russell – engineering

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2008–09)
! scope="col"| Peak position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="aus"}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="fla"}}
|-
{{single chart|Wallonia|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Canada|1|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="can"}}
|-
{{single chart|Czech Republic|2|year=2009|week=15|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Denmark|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[European Hot 100 Singles]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref name="european">{{cite web |last=Sexton |first=Paul |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1268918/placebo-holds-off-black-eyed-peas-on-euro-chart |title=Placebo Holds Off Black Eyed Peas On Euro Chart |work=Billboard |date=June 25, 2009 |accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref>
| 1
|-
{{single chart|Finland|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="fin"}}
|-
{{single chart|France|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Germany2|1|id=500112|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 25, 2016|refname="ger"}}
|-
{{single chart|Hungary|5|year=2009|week=32|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 25, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|6|year=2009|week=39|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 25, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Hungarydance|1|year=2009|week=19|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 25, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland|1|year=2009|week=09|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="ire"}}
|-
! scope="row"| Israel ([[Media Forest]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Media Forest: Airplay Chart: Week 9, 2009|language=Hebrew |url= http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/HistoryWeeklyCharts.aspx?year=2009&week=09 |publisher=[[Media Forest]]}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{single chart|Italy|2|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="ita"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|21|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
! scope="row"| Mexico Top Inglés ([[Monitor Latino]])<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.tabascohoy.com.mx/noticia.php?id_nota=178450 |title= 'La Loba' de Shakira rompe récord musical |language= Spanish |publisher= Tabasco HOY |date= August 9, 2009 |accessdate= June 1, 2012}}</ref>
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| Mexico Ingles Airplay (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2015-05-16/mexico-ingles|title=Mexico Ingles Airplay|work =Billboard|accessdate=June 11, 2015}}</ref>
| 4
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="nz"}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
! scope="row"| Russia Airplay ([[Tophit]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tophit.ru/en/tracks/16471/view |title=Lady Gaga – Poker Face |publisher=[[Tophit]] |accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref>
| 2
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=2009-04-19|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 25, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Slovakia|1|year=2009|week=13|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
! scope="row"| South Korea International Singles ([[Gaon Music Chart|Gaon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/chart/download.php?f_chart_kind_cd=E&f_week=17&f_year=2010&f_type=week|title=Gaon Digital Chart: Week 17, 2010|publisher=[[Gaon Music Chart]]|language=Korean|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}</ref>
| 7
|-
{{single chart|Spain|2|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Swiss|1|artist=Lady Gaga|song=Poker Face|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="uk"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="bbhot100"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|12|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014|refname="hotdance"}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|75|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|1|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 22, 2014}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|5|artist=Lady Gaga|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 21, 2014|refname="rhythmic"}}
|-
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2000–09)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|[[List of best-selling singles of the 2000s (Australia)|Australian Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/delta-goodrems-talents-top-the-charts/story-e6frfn09-1225816830674|title=Delta Goodrem's talents top the charts|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]]|date=July 1, 2010|accessdate=October 1, 2010|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5mephEecf|archivedate=October 1, 2010 | first=Kathy | last=McCabe}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
!scope="row"|Austrian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://austriancharts.at/00er_single.asp |title=Bestenlisten - 00er-Single |publisher=austriancharts.at |date=December 25, 2009 |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
!scope="row"|German Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtl.de/cms/unterhaltung/tv-programm/show/die-ultimative-chartshow/hits-neue-jahrtausend-download.html |title=Die ultimative Chart Show | Download |publisher=RTL.de |accessdate=November 5, 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles Chart<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/12_december/14/radio1.shtml |title= Radio 1 to reveal best-selling singles and albums of Noughties |date= December 28, 2009 |publisher=[[BBC Radio 1]] |accessdate= January 12, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts-decade-end/hot-100-songs?year=2009&begin=41&order=position |title= The Billboard Hot 100 Decade End Charts |date= December 31, 2009 |work= Billboard }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|42
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2008)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2008.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2008|accessdate=December 23, 2009|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|14
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp?chartYear=2008&chartKind=S|title=Annual Top 50 Singles Chart 2008|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]]|accessdate=December 26, 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6
|-
!scope="row"|Romanian Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.telegrafonline.ro/1262901600/articol/search/108139/rockul_cenzurat_de_posturile_romanesti_de_radio.html |title= Rock-ul, cenzurat de posturile româneşti de radio |publisher= Telegraful |language= Romanian |accessdate= January 10, 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2009)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2009.htm|title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association]]|accessdate=January 9, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
!scope="row"|Austrian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/2009_single.asp|title=2009 Year End Austrian Singles Chart|year=2009|accessdate=July 16, 2010|publisher=[[Ö3 Austria Top 40]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2009|title=Jaaroverzichten 2009 (Flanders)|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=Dutch|accessdate=December 26, 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Belgian Singles Chart (Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2009|title=Rapports Annuels 2009 (Wallonia)|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=French|accessdate=December 26, 2009}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Canadian Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/canadian-hot-100|title=Charts Year End: Canadian Hot 100|date=December 19, 2009|accessdate=December 23, 2009|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
!scope="row"|Danish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist.asp?list=download%2050 |title=Track 2009 – Top-50 |language=Danish |publisher=Hitlisten.NU. [[IFPI Denmark]] |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5vOMCk03B |archivedate=December 31, 2010 |accessdate=May 7, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
!scope="row"|Dutch Top 40<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr2009.html |title=Jaargang 45, 2009 |language=Dutch |publisher=top40web.nl |accessdate=May 6, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
!scope="row"|European Hot 100 Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/european-hot-100-singles |title=2009 Year End Charts – European Hot 100 Singles |publisher=Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004235659/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/european-hot-100-singles |archivedate=October 4, 2012 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{Year-end single chart|Finland|1|year=2009|refname=FIN ye 2009|accessdate=August 27, 2013|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"|French Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/fr/pag-259376-Classements-Annuels.html?year=2009&type=1 |title=Classement Singles – année 2009 |language=French |publisher=[[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
!scope="row"|German Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2009 |title=Single Jahrescharts 2009 |language=German |publisher=[[MTV]]. [[MTV Networks Europe|MTV Networks]] |date=December 29, 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101115430/http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2009 |archivedate=January 1, 2010 |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|Hungarian Airplay Chart<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=eves_osszesitett_listak&id=radios&ev=2009 |title= Éves összesített listák – MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 (súlyozott) |publisher=[[Mahasz]] }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
!scope="row"|Irish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.irma.ie/best2009.htm |title= Best of 2009 |publisher= Irish Recorded Music Association |accessdate= July 13, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
!scope="row"|Italian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimi.it/dett_ddmercato.php?id=47 |title=Classifiche annuali dei cd, dvd, compilation più venduti e digital download più scaricati online nel 2009 |language=Italian |publisher=[[Federation of the Italian Music Industry]] |date=January 19, 2010 |accessdate=December 18, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart_annual.asp?chartYear=2009&chartKind=S |title=Annual Top 50 Singles Chart 2009 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand]] |accessdate=September 27, 2011}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
!scope="row"|Spanish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.promusicae.es/files/listasanuales/canciones/Top%2050%20Canciones%20Anual%202009.pdf |title=Chart: PROMUSICAE 2009 |publisher=[[Productores de Música de España]] |accessdate=February 4, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|13
|-
!scope="row"|Swedish Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitlistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=43&dfom=20090001&newi=0&height=420&platform=Win32&browser=MSIE&navi=no&subframe=Mainframe |title= Årslista Singlar – År 2009 |publisher=[[Swedish Recording Industry Association]] |accessdate=October 9, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
!scope="row"|Swiss Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://swisscharts.com/year.asp?key=2009 |title=2009 Year End Swiss Singles Chart |publisher=[[Swiss Music Charts]] |accessdate=July 16, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web |last=John |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1039511&sectioncode=22 |title=Bad Romance is back on top |work=[[Music Week]] |quote=Total sales for 2009 was 882,059 |date=January 30, 2010 |accessdate=February 6, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-100-songs |title=2009 Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs |publisher=Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005163332/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-100-songs |archivedate=October 5, 2012 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
!scope="row"|US Hot Dance Club Play<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-dance-club-play-songs |title=2009 Year End Charts – Dance Club Songs |publisher=Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006014915/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2009/hot-dance-club-play-songs |archivedate=October 6, 2012 |accessdate=September 30, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|-
!scope="row"|US Mainstream Top 40 (''Billboard'')<ref>http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/hot-pop-songs</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (2010)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|European Hot 100 Singles<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2010/european-hot-100-singles |title=2010 Year End Charts – European Hot 100 Singles |publisher=Billboard.biz. Prometheus Global Media |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912003119/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2010/european-hot-100-singles |archivedate=September 12, 2011 |accessdate=June 22, 2011}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|92
|-
!scope="row"|Italian Singles Chart<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.fimi.it/dett_ddmercato.php?id=73 |title= FIMI - Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana - Ricerche e dati di mercato |publisher= Fimi.it |date= July 23, 2012 |accessdate= November 5, 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|95
|-
!scope="row"|[[RIAJ Digital Track Chart|Japanese Yearly Top 100]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2010/pdf/pr101220.pdf |title= レコード協会調べ 2009年12月16日～2010年12月14日「着うたフル(R)」 2010年有料音楽配信「年間チャート」（通称：レコ協チャート） |trans_title= Record Association Analysis: December 16, 2009 – December 14, 2010 ''Full-length Cellphone Download'' 2010 paid digital sales "Yearly Chart" (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart) |publisher= RIAJ |date= December 20, 2010 |accessdate= December 22, 2010}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|62
|}

===All-time charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://austriancharts.at/bestall.asp |title=Austria Top 40 - Hitparade Österreich |publisher=austriancharts.at |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/bestall.asp |title=Ultratop Belgian Charts |publisher=ultratop.be |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|98
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/bestall.asp |title=Ultratop Belgian Charts |publisher=ultratop.be |date=December 26, 2013 |accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|56
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/lady-gaga-scores-another-million-selling-single-2425/ |title=Lady Gaga scores another million-selling single! |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |first=Daniel|last= Lane |accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|84
|}

{{col-end}}

==Certifications and sales==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|type=single|award=Platinum|number=6|accessdate=July 15, 2013|refname="aria"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|relyear=2008|relmonth=08|certyear=2012|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|relyear=2008|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=8|salesamount=320,000|accessdate=July 15, 2013|digital=true|refname="cria"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|relyear=2009|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|salesamount=60,000|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=July 15, 2013|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-august|title=Danish single certifications – Lady Gaga – Poker Face|publisher=IFPI Denmark|accessdate=November 21, 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|accessdate=July 15, 2013|salesamount=14,227}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Lady Gaga|nocert=true|title=Poker Face|type=single|salesamount=300,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|last1=Durand|first1=Dominic|title=Les Singles & Titres les plus Vendus depuis le 1er Janvier 2000|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/Lady-GaGa/news-97192.html|publisher=Charts in France|language=fr|date=July 21, 2014|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}</ref>|relyear=2012|certyear=2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|relyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|certyear=2010|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|relyear=2008|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w101220.html|title=November 2010 Report|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]]|language=ja|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>|note=full-length [[Chaku-Uta]]}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|relyear=2008|certyear=2011|type=single|digital=true|award=Platinum|note=PC download|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110325.html|title=February 2011 Report|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|language=ja|accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|id=1663|refname="rianz"|accessdate=December 1, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|relyear=2008|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|accessdate=December 1, 2012}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea ([[Gaon Music Chart|Gaon]])|artist=Lady Gaga|award={{N/A|None}}|title=Poker Face|type=single|salesamount=1,304,202|salesref=<ref>Total sales of "Poker Face" in South Korea:
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=39|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319075835/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=39|title=Gaon Chart: Archive March 2013|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|accessdate=April 30, 2014|archivedate=March 19, 2013|language=ko}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_year=2011&chart_Time=year|title=2011 Gaon Chart|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|accessdate=April 30, 2014|language=ko}}
*{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E&current_year=2012&chart_Time=year|title=2012 Gaon Chart|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|accessdate=April 30, 2014|language=ko}}</ref>|certref= }}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|relyear=2008|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|relyear=2008|certyear=2009|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=September 20, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|relyear=2008|certyear=2010|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|accessdate=July 15, 2013}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2008|certyear=2015|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|accessdate=October 23, 2015|refname="bpi"|salesamount=1,180,000|salesref=<ref name="uksales"/>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2008|certyear=2015|title=Poker Face|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=10|salesamount=7,300,000|salesref=<ref name="PF2016US" />|accessdate=November 30, 2015|refname="riaa"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Lady Gaga|LGBT|2000s}}
{{div col|2}}
*[[List of best-selling singles]]
*[[List of best-selling singles in the United States]]
*[[List of million-selling singles in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2009]]
*[[List of European number-one hits of 2009]]
*[[List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2008 (Canada)]]
*[[List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 2009 (U.S.)]]
*[[List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2009 (U.S.)]]
*[[List of number-one dance singles of 2009 (U.S.)]]
*[[List of number-one singles in Australia in 2008]]
*[[List of number-one singles in Australia in 2009]]
*[[List of number-one hits of 2009 (Austria)]]
*[[List of number-one hits in Denmark#2009|List of number-one hits in Denmark]]
*[[List of number-one hits of 2009 (France)]]
*[[List of number-one hits of 2009 (Germany)]]
*[[List of number-one singles in 2008 (New Zealand)|List of number-one singles from the 2000s (New Zealand)]]
*[[List of number-one hits of 2009 (Sweden)]]
*[[List of number-one hits of 2009 (Switzerland)]]
*[[List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)#2009|List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)]]
*[[Ultratop 40 number-one hits of 2009]]
*[[Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 2009]]
{{div col end}}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"|Region
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Format
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|Australia
|September 26, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/poker-face-single/id291750319 |title=Poker Face – Single by Lady Gaga |publisher=[[iTunes Store]] Australia. [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|[[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
|October 25, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2117593/Poker_Face |title=Poker Face |publisher=[[Sanity (music store)|Sanity]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|[[CD single]]
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|December 16, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/poker-face-remixes-ep/id299442104 |title=Poker Face (Remixes) – EP by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|Digital EP – Remixes
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="3"|France
|December 22, 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/poker-face/id300282397?l=en |title=Poker Face by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store France. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|Digital download
|-
|January 23, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/fr/album/poker-face-ep/id301418678?l=en |title=Poker Face – EP by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store France. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|Digital EP
|-
|January 26, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://musique.fnac.com/a2537303/Lady-Gaga-Poker-face-CD-single |title=Poker face – Lady Gaga – CD single |language=French |publisher=[[Fnac]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|CD single
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|January 27, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2009 |title=CHR – 2009 |work=[[FMQB]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|[[Contemporary hit radio|Mainstream radio]]
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|Germany
|February 20, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.universal-music.de/lady-gaga/diskografie/detail/product:157950/poker-face |title=LADY GAGA | Poker Face |language=German |publisher=[[Universal Music Group|Universal Music Germany]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/de/album/poker-face-ep/id305177790?l=en |title=Poker Face – EP by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store Germany. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|{{flatlist|
*CD single
*digital EP}}
|-
|February 24, 2009<ref name="GerMaxi">{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.de/dp/B001T188EO |title=Poker Face (Maxi Single) |language=German |publisher=[[Amazon.com]] |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|CD [[maxi single]]
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|March 10, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001SXZ7QK |title=Poker Face Remixes |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|CD single – Remixes
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"|United Kingdom
|April 9, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/poker-face-ep/id311794403 |title=Poker Face – EP by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|Digital EP
|-
|April 13, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001Y5W7RY |title=Poker Face |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001Y5W7RO |title=Poker Face [7" VINYL] |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|{{flatlist|
*CD single
*[[gramophone record|7" single]]}}
|-
!scope="row"|Germany
|June 3, 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/de/album/poker-face-remixes-ep/id319545941?l=en |title=Poker Face (Remixes) – EP by Lady Gaga |publisher=iTunes Store Germany. Apple |accessdate=September 20, 2013}}</ref>
|Digital EP – Remixes
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|lady-gaga|poker-face}}
* {{YouTube|id=bESGLojNYSo|title="Poker Face" music video}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before="[[Ready, Set, Go!]]" by [[Tokio Hotel]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist]] |years=[[2009 MTV Video Music Awards|2009]]}}
{{s-aft|after="[[Baby (Justin Bieber song)|Baby]]" by [[Justin Bieber]] featuring [[Ludacris]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before="[[Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger]]" by [[Daft Punk]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording]]|years=[[52nd Grammy Awards|2010]]}}
{{s-aft|after="[[Only Girl (In the World)]]" by [[Rihanna]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Lady Gaga songs}}
{{UK best-selling singles (by year) 1990–2009}}

[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:2008 songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Dance Club Songs number-one singles]]
[[Category:Billboard Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) number-one singles]]
[[Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cherrytree Records singles]]
[[Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles]]
[[Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording]]
[[Category:Interscope Records singles]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Lady Gaga songs]]
[[Category:LGBT-related songs]]
[[Category:Monitor Latino Top Inglés number-one singles]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Ray Kay]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Austria]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Denmark]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Finland]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in France]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Germany]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Romania]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Sweden]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by RedOne]]
[[Category:Songs about sexuality]]
[[Category:Songs written by Lady Gaga]]
[[Category:Songs written by RedOne]]
[[Category:UK Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles]]
[[Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Wallonia) number-one singles]]

User:Spellcoder

2012-09-11T00:58:10Z

Spellcoder: removed a dead link to my homepage and did some small additions

Hello, I'm from the Netherlands and I'm into web-development (design and coding), music, photography, cats and Amiga computers.

Some other misc info on me:
* in 2007 I've recieved my 'Bachelor of Art and Technology' (from Hogeschool Enschede/Netherlands)
* I work for a company which creates webapplications, websites and backends/CMS-systems using their own inhouse developed webserver, js en webapp framework and serverside scripting language
* I maintain a WIKI on programming on Amiga computers since 2007 (http://amigacoding.com)
* writing my own mediawiki extentions to combat spam

Fred Fish

2012-09-11T00:52:30Z

Spellcoder: changed the reference link to the spindazzle site to the latest working archived version of the page on archive.org

{{Other persons|Frederick Fish}}

{{ infobox person
| name = Fred Fish
| image = Fish-Compton-Haynie.jpg
| caption = Fred Fish, Jason Compton, and [[Dave Haynie]] in 1995
| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|11|04}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2007|04|20|1952|11|04}}
| known_for = Fish Disks
}}

[[Image:Amiga koln.jpg|thumb|Image taken at the first Amiga show in Cologne (Köln).]]

'''Fred Fish''' (November 4, 1952 – April 20, 2007) was a [[computer programmer]] notable for work on the [[GNU Debugger]] and his series of Fish disks of [[freeware]] for the [[Amiga]]. He was a pioneering spirit pervasive in the Amiga community. The Fish Disks (term coined by [[Perry Kivolowitz]] at a Jersey Amiga User Group meeting) became the first national rallying point, a sort of early postal system. Fish would get his disks off around the world in time for regional and local user group meetings who in turn duplicated them for local consumption. Typically, only the cost of materials changed hands. The Fish Disk series ran from 1986 to 1994. In it, one can chart the growing sophistication of Amiga software and see the emergence of many software trends.

The Fish Disks were distributed at computer stores and Commodore Amiga enthusiast clubs. Contributors submitted applications and source code and the best of these each month were assembled and released as a diskette. Since the Internet was not yet in popular usage outside military and university circles, this was a primary way for enthusiasts to share work and ideas.<ref name = "Fish Disks">[http://www.amiga-stuff.com/pd/fish.html Fish] disks, Amiga Stuff.</ref> He also initiated the "GeekGadgets" project, a GNU standard environment for [[AmigaOS]] and [[BeOS]].

Fish worked for [[Cygnus Solutions]] in the 1990s before he left for [[Be Inc.]] in 1998.<ref name = "Spindazzle">[http://web.archive.org/web/20081224200258/http://spindazzle.org/greenblog/index.php?/archives/60-Fred-Fish.html Fred Fish], Green Blog.</ref>

In 1978, he self-published ''User Survival Guide for TI-58/59 Master Library'' [ftp://gateway.vttoth.com/pub/CALCDOCS/TI/TI%20Master%20Library%20Survival%20Guide.pdf], which was advertised in enthusiast newsletters covering the [[TI-59]] programmable calculator.

==Personal life==

Fred Fish was married to Michelle Fish. He previously lived in Phoenix with his wife, until he lived his dream of living aboard a boat. He and his wife lived the sea life with their two dogs. Living space was small, and they were cut off from most things.

When they decided their two year boat crusade was done, they lived Michelle's dream of living in a "cabin" like home. They moved to Idaho.

Fred Fish died at his home in Idaho on Friday April 20, 2007 of a heart attack.

Michelle, now widowed, moved back to Phoenix. Along with her she takes her business, Fish Eye Photography, her belongings, and her memories of Fred.

He had one biological son, Richard, from a previous relationship. He also had two adoptive fraternal twin sons, Mat and Adam, that were a result of a previous relationship of his wife Michelle.<ref name =

"richard">[http://sourceware.org/ml/gdb/2007-04/msg00154.html ''Fred Fish will be missed''], GNU gdb mailing list, 25 April 2007.</ref>

==Notes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://amiga-fish.erkan.se Searchable database of Fish disk Amiga PD software]
*[ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/amiga/fish/ Fish Disks]
*[http://diveadx.back2roots.org/ Living his LifeLong Dream]
*[http://groups.google.com/group/net.micro.amiga/msg/8687b1f863fcc352?dmode=source Announcement of first Fish disks]
*[http://geekgadgets.back2roots.org/ Geek Gadgets Project]
*[http://fish.back2roots.org/ Fred Fish memorial archive] - research in progress, explicitly welcomes Wiki usage.


{{Persondata
|NAME=Fish, Fred
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Fredric Fish;Fredric Norton Fish III;"Ric" in his early years (deprecated :-)
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=U.S. computer programmer
|DATE OF BIRTH=
|PLACE OF BIRTH=Manchester, Connecticut
|DATE OF DEATH=20 April 2007
|PLACE OF DEATH=Idaho, United States
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish, Fred}}
[[Category:Computer programmers]]
[[Category:Amiga people]]
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing]]

[[de:Fred Fish]]
[[es:Fred Fish]]
[[fr:Fred Fish]]
[[it:Fred Fish]]
[[pl:Fred Fish]]
[[pt:Fred Fish]]

Desperate Housewives

2011-11-06T20:55:36Z

Spellcoder: Undid revision 459345373 by Hsahhaha (talk) (dates were messed up/vandalised)

{{Infobox television
| show_name = Desperate Housewives
| image = [[File:Desperate Housewives Logo.svg|250px]]
| caption =
| genre = [[Comedy-drama]] [[Mystery (fiction)|Mystery]]
| picture_format = ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]), [[576i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]) [[Channel 4]] and [[E4 (channel)|E4]] [[720p]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) [[ABC HD]], [[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) [[Channel 4 HD]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| audio_format = 5.1-channel [[surround sound]]
| camera = [[Single camera]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2004|10|3}}
| last_aired = present
| creator = [[Marc Cherry]]
| starring = [[Teri Hatcher]] [[Felicity Huffman]] [[Marcia Cross]] [[Eva Longoria]] [[Nicollette Sheridan]] [[Steven Culp]] [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] [[Mark Moses]] [[Andrea Bowen]] [[Jesse Metcalfe]] [[Cody Kasch]] [[Doug Savant]] [[Alfre Woodard]] [[Richard Burgi]] [[Kyle MacLachlan]] [[Dana Delany]] [[Neal McDonough]] [[Shawn Pyfrom]] [[Drea de Matteo]] [[Maiara Walsh]] [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] [[Kathryn Joosten]] [[Kevin Rahm]] [[Tuc Watkins]] [[Jonathan Cake]] [[Madison De La Garza]] [[James Denton]]
| narrated = [[Brenda Strong]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Danny Elfman]]
| composer = [[Steve Bartek]] [[Stewart Copeland]] [[Steve Jablonsky]]
| story_editor = [[Kevin Etten]] (season 1) [[Jenna Bans]] & [[Josh Senter]] (season 2–3) [[Dahvi Waller]] (season 3)
| num_seasons = 8
| num_episodes = 163 
| list_episodes = List of Desperate Housewives episodes
| executive_producer = Marc Cherry [[Tom Spezialy]] (seasons 1–2) [[Michael Edelstein]] (seasons 1–2) [[Joe Keenan (writer)|Joe Keenan]] (season 3) [[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]] (seasons 3–4) [[Bob Daily]] (season 4) [[John Pardee]] & [[Joey Murphy]] (season 4) [[Kevin Murphy (screenwriter)|Kevin Murphy]] (co-exec) [[Chris Black (screenwriter)|Chris Black]] (co-exec, season 2) [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] (co-exec, season 3) [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]] (co-exec, season 3)
| company = Cherry Alley Productions [[Cherry Productions]] [[ABC Studios|Touchstone Television/ABC Studios]]
| related = ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas]] Argentina'' (2006–2007), ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas]] Uruguay-Colombia'' (2007–present), ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas]] USA'' (2008), ''Donas de Casa Desesperada'' (2007-2008) ''Umutsuz Ev Kadınları, Turkey'' (end of 2011)<ref>ABC hit Desperate Housewives Turkish with local version today's Zaman.</ref>
| website = http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives
}}
'''''Desperate Housewives''''' is an American television [[comedy-drama]] series created by [[Marc Cherry]] and produced by [[ABC Studios]] and [[Marc Cherry|Cherry Productions]]. [[Executive producer]] Cherry serves as [[Showrunner]]. Other executive producers since the fourth season include [[Marc Cherry]], [[Bob Daily]], [[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]], [[John Pardee]] and [[Joey Murphy]], [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]], [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] and Sabrina Wind.

The setting of the show is the street of [[Wisteria Lane]] in the fictional American town of [[Fairview (Desperate Housewives)|Fairview]] in the Eagle State. It follows the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor. They work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their—at the surface—beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410975/</ref>

The show features an [[ensemble cast]], headed by [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[Susan Mayer]], [[Felicity Huffman]] as [[Lynette Scavo]], [[Marcia Cross]] as [[Bree Van de Kamp]] and [[Eva Longoria]] as [[Gabrielle Solis]]. [[Brenda Strong]] narrates the show as the deceased [[Mary Alice Young]], appearing sporadically in flashbacks or dreams.<ref>http://www.tv.com/desperate-housewives/show/24641/cast.html</ref>

Since its premiere on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] on October 3, 2004, the show has been well received by viewers and critics alike. The show is a multiple [[Emmy Award|Emmy]], [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] and [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild]] award winner. The series premiere drew 21.6 million viewers<ref>http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000724800</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/10/06/abcs_housewives_starts_strong | work=The Boston Globe | first=David | last=Bauder | title=ABC's 'Housewives' starts strong | date=October 6, 2004}}</ref> and the show's first season finale attracted over 30 million viewers.<ref>http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000929912</ref> In 2007 it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million<ref>[http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=news&articleID=4566 Desperate Housewives On SABC3 Confirmed], ''TVSA News Desk'', April 3, 2007</ref> and was also reported that the series is the third most watched TV show in a study of ratings in 20 countries.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5231334.stm | work=BBC News | title=CSI show 'most popular in world' | date=July 31, 2006}}</ref> In 2010, it was the most-watched comedy series internationally, with an average viewership of 51.6 million viewers across 68 territories.<ref>http://www.tvfestival.com/newstv/11juin2010/uk_all.html</ref><ref>[http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/06/csi-the-worlds-most-watched-show.html "CSI": The World's Most-Watched Show], ''Zap2It.com'', June 11, 2010</ref><ref>http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/06/12/csi-awarded-as-world%E2%80%99s-most-watched-tv-show/</ref> It has held this position since 2006.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000446/2006</ref> Moreover, it was the third-highest revenue earning show for 2010, with US$2.74 million per half hour.<ref>http://ca.news.yahoo.com/american-idol-king-tv-advertising-revenue-20110317-164428-984.html</ref><ref>[http://blogs.forbes.com/dorothypomerantz/2011/03/16/tvs-biggest-moneymakers TV's Biggest Moneymakers], ''Forbes'', March 16, 2011</ref>

''Desperate Housewives'' was officially renewed by ABC on May 17, 2011 for an [[Desperate Housewives (season 8)|eighth season]].<ref name="tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com">[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/05/17/abc-2011-12-primetime-schedule-announced/92903 ABC 2011-12 Primetime Schedule Announced], ''TV By the Numbers'', May 17, 2011</ref> The season premiere episode was broadcast on Sunday, September 25.<ref name=premiere>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/27/abc-announces-fall-series-premiere-dates-late-starts-for-once-upon-a-time-man-up/96596 ABC Announces Fall Series Premiere Dates: Late Starts for "Once Upon a Time", "Man Up"], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 27, 2011</ref> The eighth season will be the show's final season.<ref name=final>[http://www.deadline.com/2011/08/exclusive-abc-will-end-desperate-housewives-in-may-2012-after-8th-season EXCLUSIVE: ABC Will End "Desperate Housewives" In May 2012 After 8th Season], ''Deadline Hollywood'', August 5, 2011</ref><ref name=official>[http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/abc-press-tour-desperate-housewives-ending ABC Boss Confirms "Desperate Housewives" to End: "We Wanted It To Have Its Victory Lap"], ''TV Line'', August 7, 2011</ref>

==Production==
The idea for the series was conceived as Marc Cherry and his mother were watching a news report on [[Andrea Yates]]. Prior to ''Desperate Housewives'', Cherry was best known for producing and writing episodes of [[ABC Studios|Touchstone Television]]’s hit comedy series ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' and its successor, ''[[The Golden Palace]]''. In addition, he had created or co-created three sitcoms: ''[[The 5 Mrs. Buchanans]]'', ''[[The Crew (TV series)|The Crew]]'' and ''[[Some of My Best Friends]]'', none of which lasted longer than a year. Initially, Cherry had a hard time getting any [[television network]] interested in his new series – [[HBO]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]], and [[Lifetime (TV channel)|Lifetime]] all turned his offer down.<ref>[[Charles McDougall|McDougall, Charles]]: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/01/05/bvdesp05.xml Desperately seeking a ratings hit], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', January 5, 2005</ref> Finally, two new executives at [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[Lloyd Braun (media executive)|Lloyd Braun]] and Susan Lyne, chose to greenlight it.<ref>O'Hare, Kate: [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C94058%7C1%7C,00.html ‘Desperate Housewives’ Has a Cherry on Top], ''Zap2it'', March 19, 2005</ref> Shortly thereafter, Disney had both Braun and Lyne fired, following their approval of another new drama series: ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref>Craig, Olga: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/14/wlost14.xml The man who discovered 'Lost' – and found himself out of a job], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', August 13, 2005</ref>

The ABC executives were not initially satisfied with the name of the new show, suggesting ''Wisteria Lane'' and ''The Secret Lives of Housewives'' instead,.<ref>"Desperate Housewives – The Complete First Season” DVD</ref> However, on October 23, 2003, ''Desperate Housewives'' was announced by ABC, presented as a prime time soap opera created by [[Charles Pratt Jr.]] of ''[[Melrose Place (1992 TV series)|Melrose Place]]'' fame, and Marc Cherry, who declared the new show to be a mix of ''[[Knots Landing]]'' and ''[[American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]]''.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6211 Development Update: 23 October], ''The Futon Critic'', October 23, 2003</ref> While Cherry continued his work on the show, Pratt was credited as executive producer for the pilot episode only, remaining linked to the show as a consulting producer during the first two seasons.

On May 18, 2004, ABC announced the 2004–2005 lineup, with ''Desperate Housewives'' in the Sunday at 9:00–10:00 p.m. ET slot,<ref name="thefutoncritic.com">[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6591 2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations: ABC, Part 1]''The Futon Critic'', May 18, 2004</ref> which it still holds. After only three episodes were broadcast, on October 20, ABC announced that ''Desperate Housewives'', along with ''Lost'', had been picked up for a full season.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20041020abc03 ABC Orders Back Nine of Top-10 Series; ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Lost’ Get Full Season Pick-Ups], ''The Futon Critic'', October 20, 2004</ref> On May 18, 2010, ABC picked up ''Desperate Housewives'' for a seventh season for the 2010–2011 television season.<ref>[http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/05/18/abc-announces-fall-2010-schedule ABC Announces Fall 2010 Schedule], ''Entertainment Weekly'', May 18, 2010</ref>

''Desperate Housewives'' is produced by creator Marc Cherry (Cherry Productions), Austin Bagley and, since 2007, ABC Studios. From 2004 to 2007, ''Desperate Housewives'' was produced in association with Touchstone Television.

===Production crew===
Cherry, [[Tom Spezialy]] and [[Michael Edelstein]] served as [[executive producers]] for the first two seasons on the show. Spezialy, who also served as a staff writer, left his previous position as writer and executive producer for ''[[Dead Like Me]]'' to join the crew on ''Desperate Housewives''. He had also worked as writer and co-executive producer on several shows, among them ''[[Ed (TV series)|Ed]]'', ''[[Jack & Jill (TV series)|Jack and Jill]]'', and ''[[Parker Lewis Can't Lose]]'', while Edelstein had been the executive producer of ''[[Threat Matrix]]'' and ''[[Hope & Faith]]''.

Second season conflicts arose among the executive producers. Subsequent to this, Edelstein left the show mid-season, and by the season's end, so did Spezialy.<ref name=autogenerated1>Keck, William: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-05-18-housewives-main_x.htm Wisteria Lane’s new landscape], ''[[USA Today]]'', May 19, 2006</ref> For the third year, Cherry was joined by award-winning writer and producer [[Joe Keenan (writer)|Joe Keenan]]—of ''[[Frasier]]'' fame—and [[television movie]] producer [[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]], who had been a crew member of ''Desperate Housewives'' since the show's conception. Although receiving praise for his work on the show, Keenan chose to leave ''Desperate Housewives'' after one season to pursue other projects.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117962170.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 Keenan not ‘Desperate’ any more], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', March 29, 2007</ref> Replacing him as executive producer for the fourth season of the show was [[Bob Daily]], who had joined the crew as a writer and co-executive producer during the third season. Daily’s previous work include writing for the [[animated]] series ''[[Rugrats]]'', as for ''Frasier''. Also joining Cherry, Perkins and Daily for the fourth season were [[John Pardee]] and [[Joey Murphy]], who had been with the series since the beginning.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7408 Development Update: Week of June 15], ''The Futon Critic'', June 15, 2007</ref> Both had also worked on Cherry’s previous show ''The Crew'' in 1995, as well as on the sitcom ''[[Cybill]]''.

In the first four seasons, [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] and [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]] have been the most prolific directors, together directing more than half of the episodes.

===Filming===
{{See also|Wisteria Lane|Colonial Street}}
[[File:Beaver House 2003.jpg|thumb|The residence of Mary Alice Young (as seen in the premiere episode of ''Desperate Housewives''), on "Wisteria Lane".]]

''Desperate Housewives'' is filmed on [[Panavision]] [[35 mm film|35 mm]] cameras; it is broadcast in [[SDTV|standard]] and [[widescreen television|16:9 widescreen]] [[high-definition television|high definition]], though it is framed for the [[4:3]] [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]].<ref name="asc">{{cite journal|last=Feld|first=Rob|coauthors=Oppenheimer, Jean; Stasukevich, Ian|month=March | year=2008|title=Tantalizing Television|url=http://www.ascmag.com/magazine_dynamic/March2008/Television/page2.php|journal=American Cinematographer|volume=89|issue=3|format=}} {{dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref> The set for [[Wisteria Lane]], consisting mainly of facades but also of some proper houses, is located on the [[Universal Studios Hollywood]] back lot. It is referred to by film crews as ''[[Colonial Street]]'', and has been used for several motion pictures and television shows since the mid 1940s.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/street_colonial_history.shtml TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street – History], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> Notable productions that were filmed here include: ''[[So Goes My Love]]'', ''[[Leave It to Beaver (film)|Leave it to Beaver]]'', ''[[The 'Burbs]]'', ''[[Providence (TV series)|Providence]]'', ''[[Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact]]'', ''[[Bedtime for Bonzo]]'', ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (film)|The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'', ''[[Gremlins]]'', ''[[The Munsters]]'', ''[[Psycho (1998 film)|Psycho]]'', and ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/street_colonial_history.shtml Colonial Street History], Retrieved 2010-11-13</ref> For the second season of ''Desperate Housewives'', the street went through some heavy changes. Among the most noticeable of these changes was the removal of a church facade and a mansion in order to make room for Edie’s house and a park.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/street_colonial_church.html TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street/Circle Drive – The Church], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/colonial_mansion.shtml TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion], Retrieved August 16, 2007</ref>

===Opening sequence===
The initial idea for the show opening sequence was Cherry’s. After asking sixteen companies to come up with suggestions for how best to realize it, the producers finally hired [[Hollywood]]-based yU+co to provide the final version.<ref>[http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=29118 yU + co Opens ABC's "Desperate Housewives"], ''Digital Producer Magazine'', November 12, 2004</ref> According to the yU+co’s official website, the idea behind the sequence is, "to evoke the show's quirky spirit and playful flouting of women’s traditional role in society."<ref>[http://69.26.172.147/main.html yU+co Official Website], Retrieved August 5, 2007 {{Dead link|date=November 2010}}</ref> The images featured are taken from eight pieces of art, portraying domesticity and male-female relations through the ages.<ref>Phelan, Joseph: [http://www.artcyclopedia.com/feature-2005-05.html Missing the Picture: Desperate Housewives Do Art History], [[ArtCyclopedia]], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref>

The music for the opening is composed by [[Danny Elfman]], and has been awarded both an [[Emmy Award]] and the [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI TV Music Award]].<ref>[http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534992 2007 BMI Film/TV Awards List], ''[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI.com]]'', May 17, 2007</ref> In 2005 it was included on the album ''[[Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives]]''. When an episode runs long, only the first sequence (the falling apple) is kept.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} From the episode "[[Now You Know (Desperate Housewives)|Now You Know]]" onwards, only the main chorus of the theme is heard, which is the falling apple scene, and the photograph of the four lead actresses, crediting [[Marc Cherry]] as creator.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

===Music===
In addition to the theme composed by Danny Elfman, the series underscore music, composed by [[Steve Jablonsky]] since the second episode of the first season, defines the overall sound of the show by creating a musical counterpoint to the writing style. The score is electronic-based, but every [[Sound recording|scoring session]] incorporates a live string ensemble. Jablonsky incorporates recurring themes for events and characters into the score.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0558699/ "Desperate Housewives" Ah, But Underneath (2004)]</ref> [[Hollywood Records]] produced the first soundtrack album, ''Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives'' distributed by [[Universal Records]]. Several of those songs have been used in subsequent seasons.

''Housewives''{{'}}s unique style combined with the heavy dialogue and a quick-fire writing style limits the amount of [[popular music]] used within the series.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} The series' [[music supervisor]], [[David Sibley (music supervisor)|David Sibley]], works closely with the producers to integrate these musical needs into the show. In addition to featured performances by central characters such as Susan Mayer singing along with [[Rose Royce]]'s "[[Car Wash (song)|Car Wash]]" and Lynette's rendition of "[[Boogie Shoes]]", several characters have been accomplished musicians, such as Betty Applewhite (a [[concert pianist]]) and Dylan Mayfair (a [[child prodigy|prodigy]] [[cellist]]).

===Future===
In August 2009, Marc Cherry said that ''Desperate Housewives'' would be on television for a few more years, stating that the series still "has a lot of life left in it." He told ''The Wrap'': {{quotation|Steve McPherson (ABC Entertainment president) and I agree that we shouldn't keep the show going for more than a couple [of] years past my seven-year initial contract. We don't want it to just fade away. We've been in negotiations. I expect to sign my new deal soon to set up a future scenario for the show. Someone else will run the show after season seven and I will serve as executive producer from a distance.}} He went on to explain that he felt the program had been revitalized by the five-year leap forward for season five, saying: "Yes, I think it worked well. It was a way to start fresh and let everyone start from scratch in a way".<ref name=years>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/a173530/cherry-housewives-could-be-on-for-years.html Cherry: "Housewives" Could Be On for Years], ''Digital Spy'', August 24, 2009</ref>

In October 2009, Cherry signed a two-year deal with ABC that could keep ''Desperate Housewives'' on the air until 2013.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010525.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Marc Cherry Signs New Deal with ABC], ''Variety.com'', October 28, 2009</ref>
The stars of ''Desperate Housewives'' finalized new deals to make way for Season 8,<ref>[http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/desperate-housewives-stars-finalizing-new-deals-paving-way-to-season-8-pickup "Desperate Housewives" Stars Finalizing New Deals, Paving Way To Season 8 Pickup], ''Deadline Hollywood'', April 11, 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/news/Desperate_Housewives_Cast_Signs_on_For_Season_8/7783436 "Desperate Housewives" Cast Signs on For Season 8], ''Hollywood.com'', April 12, 2011</ref> and signed at the price of $12 million.<ref>[http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/305633 "Desperate Housewives" stars net $12m], ''Digital Journal'', April 14, 2011</ref>

Originally, Marc Cherry hinted that ''Desperate Housewives'' would end in 2013<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s21/desperate-housewives/news/a302132/desperate-housewives-exec-plans-2013-end.html "Desperate Housewives" Exec Plans 2013 End], ''Digital Spy'', February 4, 2011</ref> and in April 2011, Eva Longoria confirmed that there would definitely be an eighth season and expressed hopes for a ninth.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s21/desperate-housewives/news/a312988/eva-longoria-housewives-finale-amazing.html Eva Longoria: "Housewives" Finale Amazing], ''Digital Spy'', April 5, 2011</ref> ''Desperate Housewives'' was officially renewed by ABC on May 17, 2011 for an [[Desperate Housewives (season 8)|eighth season]].<ref name="tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com"/>

===The Final Season===
It has now been confirmed that Season 8 of ''Desperate Housewives'' will be the final season.<ref name=final/><ref name=official/>

Eva Longoria commented about the end of ''Desperate Housewives'' on her Twitter account: {{quotation|It's confirmed! We are filming our last season of ''Desperate Housewives''! I am so grateful for what the show has given me! We always knew we wanted to end on top and I thank ABC for giving us our victory lap! And a special thanks to Marc Cherry who forever changed my life!<ref>http://www.whosay.com/EvaLongoria/content/83265?code=iwKzky</ref>}}

==Series synopses and episodes==
{{See also|List of Desperate Housewives episodes}}

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 1)|first season]] premiered on October 3, 2004 and introduces the four central characters of the show: [[Susan Mayer]], [[Lynette Scavo]], [[Bree Van de Kamp]] and [[Gabrielle Solis]], as well as their families and neighbors on [[Wisteria Lane]]. The main mystery of the season is the unexpected suicide of [[Mary Alice Young]], and her husband and son's involvement in the events leading up to it. Bree fights to save her marriage, Lynette struggles to cope with her demanding children, Susan fights [[Edie Britt]] for new neighbor [[Mike Delfino]]'s affection, and Gabrielle tries to prevent her husband [[Carlos Solis|Carlos]] from discovering that she is having an affair with their gardener, [[Acquaintances of Gabrielle Solis#John Rowland|John Rowland]]. The end of the first season results in Bree's husband, Rex, dying while believing Bree has poisoned him, Carlos being informed of Gaby's affair by John himself before being sent to prison, a fired Tom allowing Lynette to take his place as the bread-winner of the household, and a cliffhanger which puts Mike in danger of being shot by his own son.

[[File:WisteriaLanePurpleHouse.jpg|thumb|The Applewhite house, focus of ''Desperate Housewives''' season-long mystery from 2005 to 2006]]

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 2)|second season]] premiered on September 25, 2005 and its central mystery is that of new neighbor [[Betty Applewhite]], who moved onto Wisteria Lane in the middle of the night. Throughout the season, Bree tries to cope with being a widow, unknowingly begins dating the man who poisoned her husband, fights alcoholism, and is unable to prevent the gap between her and her son from growing to extremes. Susan’s love life becomes even more complicated as her ex-husband is engaged to Edie (who has been promoted to the role of fifth lead) and is also started to incline towards Susan, Lynette goes back to her career in advertising and eventually becomes her husband's boss, and Gabrielle decides to be faithful to her husband, and begins preparations to have a child. In the closing moment of the season finale, Mike is run over by Susan's dentist friend [[Orson Hodge]].

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|third season]] premiered on September 24, 2006. In the third season, Bree marries Orson, whose past and involvement with a recently discovered dead body becomes the main mystery for half of the season. Meanwhile, Lynette has to adjust to having another child around the house, as a previously unknown daughter of her husband arrives. The Scavos also experience tension as Tom, Lynette's husband, wants to start a pizzeria. Gabrielle goes through a rough divorce, but finally finds new love in Fairview’s new mayor. Edie sees her chance to make her move on Mike, who is suffering from amnesia. Susan loses hope that Mike's memory will return and in the process moves on to a handsome Englishman whose wife is also in a coma. Edie's family relations are explored throughout the season. A shooting at the local grocery store leaves two characters dead and changes everyone's lives forever.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 4)|fourth season]] premiered on September 30, 2007,<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=07/25/2007&id=20070725abc01 ABC Announces Fall Première Dates], ''The Futon Critic'', July 25, 2007</ref> and its main mystery revolves around new neighbor [[Katherine Mayfair]] and her family, who returns to Wisteria Lane after twelve years away. Her daughter remembers nothing about living on Wisteria Lane. Lynette battles cancer; the newlywed – but unhappy – Gabrielle starts an affair with her ex-husband Carlos; Susan and Mike enjoy life as a married couple and learn that they are expecting a child; Bree fakes a pregnancy and plans to raise her teenage daughter's illegitimate child as her own; and Edie schemes to hold on to her new love, Carlos. A gay couple from Chicago – Lee ([[Kevin Rahm]]) and Bob ([[Tuc Watkins]]) – become residents of Wisteria Lane when they move into the house formerly occupied by Betty Applewhite ([[Alfre Woodard]]), and Gloria and Alma Hodge. A tornado threatens to destroy everything, and everyone, that the housewives hold dear. The season finale has Katherine's abusive cop ex-husband killing and getting killed, then in the closing minute the characters and their story have flashed forward by five years: Bree is a successful cookbook writer, her son works for her, Gabrielle has had children, Lynette's twins are old enough to drive cars, and Susan has a new lover played by Gale Harold—but what happened to Mike?

[[File:KathrynsHouse.JPG|thumb|The house of Katherine Mayfair on Wisteria Lane, as seen on ''Desperate Housewives'' from 2007 to 2010.]]

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 5)|fifth season]] premiered on September 28, 2008, with the time period jumping five years after the previous season, with some flashbacks to events which happened between the two periods. The season mystery revolves around Edie Britt's new husband, [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dave Williams|Dave Williams]], played by [[Neal McDonough]]. Dave is looking for revenge on someone on Wisteria Lane (later revealed to be Mike Delfino and then Susan). Susan deals with being a single mother and having a new romance with Jackson ([[Gale Harold]]). Lynette and Tom learn that their son is having an affair with a married woman whose husband's nightclub burns down with all of Wisteria Lane's neighbors inside. Carlos and Gabrielle struggle with their two daughters, Juanita and Celia, as Carlos' sight returns. Bree and Orson have marriage problems, because Bree has become too focused on her career, and Orson begins to steal from neighbors as a coping mechanism. As a result, Orson is found lying in the street when Edie is racing away from her house after she discovers that Dave is plotting to kill Mike and all those he loves; Edie swerves to avoid hitting Orson and crashes into an electrical pole, then exits the car, only to die of electrocution before she can expose Dave. It is later when Susan reveals to Dave that it was she, not Mike, who was driving the car the night that a woman and child ran a stop sign because it had fallen over on a dark stretch of road. Dave's revenge plans suddenly change as he says "Hi" to M.J., Mike and Susan's son.

The fifth season featured the show's one-hundredth episode, revolving around Eli Scruggs (played by [[Beau Bridges]]), a handyman who had an important role in all of the ladies' lives. This episode features flashbacks and returning characters, including Mary Alice Young, [[Martha Huber]] and [[Rex Van de Kamp]]. The episode was broadcast on ABC on Sunday, January 18, 2009.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|sixth season]] premiered on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 9pm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/FallTV-ABC-Premieres-1006734.aspx|title=ABC Announces Fall Premiere Dates for 19 Shows|publisher=TVGuide.com|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> The main mystery of this season is surrounding new neighbor [[Angie Bolen]] and her family. The first half of the season consists of the conflict between Lynette and Gabrielle as Lynette attempts to sue Carlos, Susan's daughter Julie being attacked by an unknown person, Katherine's eventual breakdown at losing Mike to Susan and Bree's affair with Karl, Susan's ex-husband. Bree's affair ends tragically when Karl's hired plane crashes into a building with the two of them and Orson inside. The second half of the season focuses on Katherine experimenting with her sexuality, Lynette inviting the Fairview strangler to stay with them before discovering the truth, the conflict between Bree's stepson Sam and Andrew and the solving of the Bolen mystery.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 7)|seventh season]] premiered on September 26, 2010 <ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/07/08/abc-announces-fall-series-premiere-dates/56502 ABC Announces Fall Series Premiere Dates], ''TV By the Numbers'', July 8, 2010</ref> and its main focus is the return of [[Paul Young (Desperate Housewives)|Paul Young]] to Wisteria Lane and his plans of seeking revenge on the residents for shunning him during his incarceration. This season also focuses on the mystery of Paul’s new wife Beth, and Felicia Tilman’s plans to avenge the death of her sister, Martha Huber. Gabrielle and Carlos learn an unsettling fact about their daughter Juanita, which ultimately takes them back to Gabrielle’s home town of Las Colinas. Due to financial problems, Susan and her family have moved off the lane, and Susan is forced to earn money by somewhat untraditional means. Lynette’s best friend from college, [[Renee Perry]] ([[Vanessa Lynn Williams|Vanessa Williams]]) moves to the Lane and stirs things up among the other housewives. Following a major riot on the lane, Susan is put on the waiting list for a vital [[organ donation]]. Carlos learns the truth about his mother’s death, consequently ending the friendship between the Solis family and Bree. Lynette persuades Tom to take an exciting new job, which leads to unprecedented problems in their marriage. The two-hour season finale aired on May 15, 2011 and seemingly ends the troubles between Felicia Tilman and Paul Young. An unexpected visitor arrives in the Solis family home, paving the way for the eighth season.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 8)|eighth]] and final season commenced on Sunday, September 25, 2011.<ref>[http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives], ABC.com</ref>

==Cast and characters==
{{Cleanup-rewrite|2=section|reason=extreme overlinking; no clear discretion for inclusion seems to have taken place; includes major redundancies from the season synopses|date=November 2010}}

===Main cast===
{{See also|List of Desperate Housewives cast members|List of Desperate Housewives characters}}
During its premiere season the show featured thirteen starring actors, all credited in the [[opening sequence]]. For the show's second year, several actors, mainly [[child actor|child]] and teenage ones, who had guest starred during the first season, were promoted to series regulars without having their names included in the opening sequence. Instead they were billed as "also starring" during the first minutes of each episode, together with episode guest stars. This practice continued for season three and four.

[[File:Teri Hatcher crop.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Teri Hatcher plays Susan Mayer]]

The thirteen starring actors for season one included four leading actresses: [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[Susan Mayer]], a divorced mother with a sense of humor for drama and in search of love; [[Felicity Huffman]] as [[Lynette Scavo]], a former businesswoman turned stressed out stay-at-home mother of four; [[Marcia Cross]] as [[Bree Van de Kamp]], the seemingly perfect mother struggling to save her marriage; and [[Eva Longoria]] as [[Gabrielle Solis]], an ex-model whose unhappy marriage has had her beginning an affair with her 17-year-old gardener. Furthermore, [[Nicollette Sheridan]] played [[Edie Britt]], Susan's arch rival, described by her as "the neighborhood slut", who since then slowly had grown to become somewhat of a fifth lead. [[Steven Culp]] played [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Rex Van de Kamp|Rex Van de Kamp]], Bree’s frustrated husband with secret sexual desires, while [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] portrayed Gabrielle’s spouse [[Carlos Solis]], a rough business man who regarded his wife mainly as a trophy, and [[James Denton]] acted as [[Mike Delfino]], the mysterious new neighbor who becomes Susan's love interest. [[Brenda Strong]] portrayed the show’s narrator [[Mary Alice Young]], who generally doesn’t appear in front of the camera, and whose unexpected suicide in the first episode remained a mystery throughout season one. [[Mark Moses]] played [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Paul Young|Paul Young]], Mary Alice's widower, who went to extremes not to have the reason for his wife's suicide revealed, and [[Cody Kasch]] acted as [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Zach Young|Zach Young]], the troubled teenage son of Paul and Mary Alice, who eventually turned out to be Mike's biological son. Finally, [[Andrea Bowen]] took the part of Susan’s caring and kind-hearted teenage daughter [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#Julie Mayer|Julie Mayer]], and [[Jesse Metcalfe]] played [[Acquaintances of Gabrielle Solis#John Rowland|John Rowland]], Gabrielle’s teenage gardener/lover.

[[File:Eva Longoria Cannes.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left|Eva Longoria plays Gabrielle Solis]]

For the second season, Culp and Metcalfe left as show regulars, as Rex died from a heart attack and Gabrielle had ended her relationship with John. Several actors who had appeared as guest stars during the entire run of the first season were promoted to regulars for the second year, including [[Doug Savant]] as [[Tom Scavo]], Lynette’s husband who for the second season quit his job determined to become a [[stay-at-home dad]]; [[Brent Kinsman]], [[Shane Kinsman]] and [[Zane Huett]] as [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Preston and Porter Scavo|Preston]], [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Preston and Porter Scavo|Porter]] and [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Parker Scavo|Parker Scavo]], Lynette and Tom's rascal boys; [[Shawn Pyfrom]] as Bree’s complicated gay son [[Andrew Van de Kamp]]; and [[Joy Lauren]] as [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Danielle Van de Kamp|Danielle Van de Kamp]], Andrew's hardheaded sister. [[Alfre Woodard]] and [[Mehcad Brooks]] joined the cast as [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Betty Applewhite|Betty Applewhite]] and her son [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Caleb and Matthew Applewhite|Matthew]], who moved to the street in the middle of the night in order for the neighbors not to discover that they had Betty's other son [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Caleb Applewhite|Caleb]] – originally played by [[Page Kennedy]], but soon replaced by [[NaShawn Kearse]] – locked up in the basement. Also joining the main cast for the second season, after guest starring in a few season one episodes, were [[Richard Burgi]] as [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#Karl Mayer|Karl Mayer]], Susan's ex-husband who becomes engaged to Edie, and [[Roger Bart]] as [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#George Williams|George Williams]], Bree's pharmacist, and later obsessed fiancé, who had caused Rex's death. Bart, however, left the show mid-season, due to the death of George.

As the Applewhite mystery was solved in the second season finale, Woodard, Brooks and Kearse all had left the show when the third season began, as had Mark Moses, as Paul was framed for murder and incarcerated; Cody Kasch, due to Zach's becoming a millionaire after causing his ill biological grandfather to die and thereby inheriting his entire fortune; and Richard Burgi, following Karl being dumped by both Susan and Edie. Two additions were made to the main cast for season three: [[Kyle MacLachlan]] as [[Orson Hodge]], who marries Bree and whose dark family history serves as the main mystery for most of the season, and [[Josh Henderson]], playing Edie's bad boy nephew [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Austin McCann|Austin McCann]], who starts a relationship with Julie, but ends up getting Danielle pregnant and left the series mid-season.

[[File:Dana Delaney 2010.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Dana Delany plays Katherine Mayfair]]

For the fourth season, after having appeared as a recurring guest star during season three, [[Rachel G. Fox|Rachel Fox]] was added to the main cast playing [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Kayla Huntington Scavo|Kayla Scavo]], Tom's daughter from a previous "one night stand". Also joining the main cast were [[Dana Delany]] and [[Lyndsy Fonseca]] as [[Katherine Mayfair|Katherine]] and [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dylan Mayfair|Dylan Mayfair]], a mother and teenage daughter who lived on Wisteria Lane twelve years earlier, but had left the street. [[Dana Delany]]'s character is married to [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Adam Mayfair|Dr. Adam Mayfair]] played by guest star [[Nathan Fillion]]. Joining the recurring cast in the [[If There's Anything I Can't Stand|fourth episode]] were [[Kevin Rahm]] and [[Tuc Watkins]] as a gay couple, [[Lee McDermott (Desperate Housewives)|Lee McDermott]] and [[Bob Hunter (Desperate Housewives)|Bob Hunter]], who move in next door to Susan.

[[Neal McDonough]] joined the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as a series regular in season 5. He played [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dave Williams|Dave Williams]], the new husband of [[Nicollette Sheridan]]'s character, [[Edie Britt]]. [[Max Carver|Max]] and [[Charles Carver|Charlie Carver]] were been cast as Preston and Porter Scavo, respectively, Joshua Logan Moore as Parker Scavo and Kendall Applegate as Penny Scavo. [[Madison De La Garza]] and Daniella Baltodano also joined the recurring cast as Juanita and Celia Solis, respectively, the young daughters of Carlos and Gabrielle Solis, and so did [[Mason Vale Cotton]] as [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#M.J. Delfino|MJ Delfino]], Susan and Mike's young son.

[[Shawn Pyfrom]] quit his regular role as Andrew Van de Kamp after season 5 and has only made guest appearances in the recent years, and Edie Britt was killed off near the end of season 5, and thus Nicollette Sheridan has left the main cast.

[[File:Kathryn Joosten 2009.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Kathryn Joosten plays Karen McCluskey]]

In the show's sixth season, [[Andrea Bowen]] re-joined the series' cast as a regular. After appearing as a guest star in [[If It's Only In Your Head (Desperate Housewives)|the fifth season finale]], [[Maiara Walsh]] was made into a regular actress. [[Drea de Matteo]], [[Jeffrey Nordling]], and [[Beau Mirchoff]] joined the cast as [[Angie Bolen|Angie]], [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Nick Bolen|Nick]] and [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Danny Bolen|Danny Bolen]], respectively, being the season's mystery. [[Kathryn Joosten]] was promoted to a series regular, after being a recurring guest star for five years. [[Madison De La Garza]], who plays Gabrielle's eldest daughter, Juanita, and [[Mason Vale Cotton (actor)|Mason Vale Cotton]], who plays Susan and Mike's son, MJ, were also promoted to regulars. [[Max Carver]] wasn't on the show until his character, Preston, returned from an extended trip in Europe with a girlfriend, Irina, thus being demoted to a recurring cast member, supposedly because the show's cast was big enough already.

As of the seventh season [[Tuc Watkins]] and [[Kevin Rahm]] have both been upgraded to series regulars, and [[Kyle MacLachlan]] left ''Desperate Housewives''. [[Mark Moses]] returned to ''Desperate Housewives'' to reprise his role as [[Paul Young (Desperate Housewives)|Paul Young]], widower of [[Mary Alice Young]], in the season six finale. [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] joined the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as [[Renee Perry]], an old rival of Lynette's from college. The role of Penny was recast, with Applegate being replaced by [[Darcy Rose Byrnes]].

[[Jonathan Cake]] joined the ''Desperate Housewives'' cast towards the end of Season 7 in the role of [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Chuck Vance|Chuck Vance]], a love interest for Bree.<ref>[http://www.deadline.com/2011/03/jonathan-cake-joins-abcs-desperate-housewives-as-new-regular Jonathan Cake Joins ABC's "Desperate Housewives" As New Regular], ''Deadline Hollywood'', March 21, 2011</ref>

[[Charles Mesure]] has joined the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as Ben, a ruthless self-made contractor who will find Renee Perry attractive.<ref name=mesure>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/desperate-housewives-charles-mesure-joins-209332 "Desperate Housewives": "V"'s Charles Mesure Joins as Series Regular], ''Hollywood Reporter'', July 8, 2011</ref>

===Casting===
[[Eva Longoria]] was the first reported to have landed a starring role, on February 9, 2004,<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6412 Development Update: February 9], ''The Futon Critic'', February 9, 2004</ref>
followed by [[Felicity Huffman]] (February 10),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6414 Development Update: February 10], ''The Futon Critic'', February 10, 2004</ref>
[[Teri Hatcher]] (February 18),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6421 Development Update: February 18], ''The Futon Critic'', February 18, 2004</ref>
[[James Denton]] and [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] (February 26),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6431 Development Update: February 26], ''The Futon Critic'', February 26, 2004</ref>
[[Marcia Cross]] (March 1),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6437 Development Update: March 1], ''The Futon Critic'', March 1, 2004</ref>
[[Sheryl Lee]], [[Mark Moses]], and [[Cody Kasch]] (March 3),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6445 Development Update: March 3], ''The Futon Critic'', March 3, 2004</ref>
[[Andrea Bowen]] and [[Kyle Searles]] (March 4),<ref name=autogenerated6>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6447 Development Update: March 4], ''The Futon Critic'', March 4, 2004</ref>
and [[Michael Reilly Burke]] (March 8).<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6450 Development Update: March 8], ''The Futon Critic'', March 8, 2004</ref>
On May 18, 2004 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced their 2004–2005 lineup, with ''Desperate Housewives'' as one of its new shows, starring an ensemble cast of these twelve names.<ref name="thefutoncritic.com"/>

On July 2, after having shot the first pilot, ABC announced that Lee, Searles and Burke were to be replaced by [[Brenda Strong]], [[Jesse Metcalfe]] and [[Steven Culp]], respectively.<ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6640 Development Update: July 1–2], ''The Futon Critic'', July 2, 2004</ref> While Lee was turned down after producers rethought the character of Mary Alice,<ref>Porter, Rick: [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C89359%7C1%7C,00.html Lee May Return from Dead on 'Desperate Housewives'], ''Zap2it'', July 13, 2004</ref> Searles was replaced because of the lack of chemistry between him and his onscreen lover, Eva Longoria.<ref>Keck, William: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-11-18-desperate-metcalfe_x.htm Desperately seeking Metcalfe], ''[[USA Today]]'', November 18, 2004</ref> Steven Culp had been the producer's first choice for the part as Rex Van de Kamp, but as he had missed a meeting with the ABC executive to complete shooting for another television show, ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', the part had been offered to Burke instead. After the original pilot was filmed, Culp was off the ''Enterprise'' cast, and when asked again Culp accepted the part, and Burke was let go.<ref>[http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/2028.html Desperate Housewives: The Trek Connection], ''Airlock Alpha'', May 21, 2005</ref>

===Housewives===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"; border="1"
! Name !! Actress !! Episodes !! Years
|-
| [[Mary Alice Young]] (Narrator) || [[Brenda Strong]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–present || 2004–present
|-
| [[Susan Mayer]] || [[Teri Hatcher]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–present || 2004–present
|-
| [[Lynette Scavo]] || [[Felicity Huffman]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–present || 2004–present
|-
| [[Bree Van de Kamp]] || [[Marcia Cross]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–present || 2004–present
|-
| [[Gabrielle Solis]] || [[Eva Longoria]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–present || 2004–present
|-
| [[Edie Britt]] || [[Nicollette Sheridan]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]]–[[Everybody Says Don't (season five episode)|5.23]] || 2004–2009
|-
| [[Betty Applewhite]] || [[Alfre Woodard]] || [[Goodbye for Now|1.22]]–[[Remember (Desperate Housewives)|2.24]] || 2005–2006
|-
| [[Katherine Mayfair]] || [[Dana Delany]] || [[Now You Know (Desperate Housewives)|4.01]]–[[My Two Young Men|6.18]] || 2007–2010
|-
| [[Angie Bolen]] || [[Drea de Matteo]] || [[Nice is Different Than Good|6.01]]–[[I Guess This is Goodbye|6.23]] || 2009–2010
|-
| [[Renee Perry]] || [[Vanessa L. Williams|Vanessa Williams]] || [[Remember Paul?|7.01]]–present || 2010–present
|-
|}

==Reception==
===Ratings===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
! Season
! Timeslot (EDT)
! Season Premiere
! Season Finale
! TV Season
! Rank
! Viewers (in millions)
! 18-49 Average
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 1)|1]]'''
| rowspan="8" |Sunday 9:00 P.M.
| October 3, 2004
| May 22, 2005
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2004–05 United States network television schedule|2004-05]]
! style="text-align:center" | #4<ref name="season1">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 24, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052405_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/20/04 through 05/22/05|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 23.69<ref name="season1"/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''10.66'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings">{{cite web|url=http://www.spottedratings.com/2010/07/war-of-18-49-desperate-housewives.html|title=The War of 18-49, Desperate Housewives|publisher=Spotted Ratings |date=2010-07-25 |accessdate=2011-05-01}}</ref>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 2)|2]]'''
| September 25, 2005
| May 21, 2006
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2005–06 United States network television schedule|2005-06]]
! style="text-align:center" | #4<ref name="season2">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 28, 2006|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/19/05 through 05/28/06|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 21.70<ref name="season2"/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''10.09'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|3]]'''
| September 24, 2006
| May 20, 2007
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2006–07 United States network television schedule|2006-07]]
! style="text-align:center" | #12<ref name="season3">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=June 3, 2007|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060507_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/18/06 through 06/03/07|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 16.70<ref name="season3"/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''7.57'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 4)|4]]'''
| September 30, 2007
| May 18, 2008
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2007–08 United States network television schedule|2007-08]]
! style="text-align:center" | #8<ref name="season4">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 28, 2008|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/24/07 through 05/25/08|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 17.52<ref name="season4"/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''6.71'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 5)|5]]'''
| September 28, 2008
| May 17, 2009
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2008–09 United States network television schedule|2008-09]]
! style="text-align:center" | #9<ref name="season5">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 19, 2009|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051909_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/22/08 through 05/17/09 |accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 15.66<ref name="season5"/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''5.29'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
| style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center"| '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|6]]'''
| September 27, 2009
| May 16, 2010
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center"| [[2009–10 United States network television schedule|2009-10]]
! style="text-align:center"| #20<ref name="bare_url">[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 Final 2009-2010 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 16, 2010</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |12.83<ref name="bare_url" />
| style="text-align:center"| '''4.25'''<ref name="Spotted Ratings"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 7)|7]]'''
| September 26, 2010
| May 15, 2011
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |[[2010–11 United States network television schedule|2010-11]]
! style="text-align:center" | #26<ref name=finale>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/01/2010-11-season-broadcast-primetime-show-viewership-averages/94407 2010-11 Season Broadcast Primetime Show Viewership Averages], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 1, 2011</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 11.85<ref name=finale/>
| style="text-align:center"| '''3.9'''<ref name=finale/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 8)|8]]'''
| September 25, 2011<ref name=premiere/>
| Spring 2012
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" | [[2011–12 United States network television schedule|2011-12]]
! style="text-align:center" | TBD
| style="text-align:center" | TBD
| style="text-align:center" | TBD
|}

===The premiere year===
The show was the biggest success of the 2004–2005 television season, being well-received by both critics and viewers. The pilot episode had 21.3 million viewers making it the best new drama for the year, the highest rated show of the week, and the best performance by a pilot for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], since ''[[Spin City]]'' in 1996.<ref>Jaffer, Murtz: [http://primetimepulse.insidepulse.com/articles/21768/2004/10/04/housewives-premiere-cleans-up-for-abc.html ‘Housewives’ Premiere Cleans Up for ABC], ''Prime Time Pulse'', April 10, 2004</ref>

Along with ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'', ''Desperate Housewives'' was credited to have turned around ABC’s declining fortunes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bianco|first=Robert|title=A good season, with reason|url =http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-04-26-tv-lookback_x.htm| publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=April 26, 2005}}</ref> Many critics agreed with Cherry’s initial comparison to the popular [[black comedy]] film [[American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]],<ref>Scott Pepper, Scott: [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/10/04/223204.php TV Review: “Desperate Housewives”], ''[[Blogcritics]]'', October 4, 2004</ref> while its themes and appeal to female viewers were compared to those of the award winning TV show ''[[Sex and the City]]'',<ref>McFarland, Melanie: [http://www.seattlepi.com/tv/193207_tv01.html Timely ‘Desperate Housewives’ is life after ‘Sex and the City’], ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' October 1, 2004</ref> and its mysteries were said to resemble those of [[David Lynch]]’s classic TV series ''[[Twin Peaks]]''.<ref>Schmeiser, Lisa: [http://www.teevee.org/archive/2004/10/05/index.html Fall '04: “Desperate Housewives”], ''TeeVee.org'', October 5, 2004</ref> In its first review, ''[[USA Today]]'' proclaimed the show to be "refreshingly original, bracingly adult and thoroughly delightful" and naming it to be "sort of ''Knots Landing'' meets ''The Golden Girls'' by way of ''Twin Peaks''".<ref>Bianco, Robert: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-09-30-desperate-housewives_x.htm 'Housewives' has the recipe for a bubbly evening soap], ''[[USA Today]]'', September 30, 2004</ref>

Following the initial success of the show, the term "desperate housewives" became a cultural phenomenon. This warranted "real-life desperate housewives" features in TV shows, including ''[[The Dr. Phil Show]]'',<ref>[http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/425 Dr. Phil – The Real Lives of Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref> and in magazines.<ref>McKeever, Katrina & Britton, Paul: [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s159/159293_the_real_desperate_housewives.html The Real Desperate Housewives], ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'', May 19, 2005</ref><ref>Blackwell, Elizabeth: [http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/Desperatehousewives_12092004.xml&catref=lcat38 Confessions of Real-Life Desperate Housewives], ''[[Ladies Home Journal]]'', Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> Among the more prominent names to declare themselves fans of the show were [[Oprah Winfrey]],<ref>Brioux, Bill: [http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/D/Desperate_Housewives/2005/02/02/917437.html Oprah pays a visit to 'Housewives'], ''Jam Showbiz'', February 2, 2005</ref> who also dedicated an episode of ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' to her visit at the film set; and the former [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Laura Bush]], who, in a comedic speech during a dinner with [[White House Correspondents' Association]] on April 30, 2005, stated, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife", referring to the show.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-05-01-laura-bush-comments_x.htm Laura Bush: First lady of comedy?], ''[[USA Today]]'', May 1, 2005</ref>

The show ended up being the fourth most watched in the United States during the 2004–2005 season, with 23.7 million viewers each week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=May 27, 2005|title=Final audience and ratings figures|publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> The first season finale was watched by 30.62 million American viewers becoming the most watched episode of the series.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Weekly Program Rankings | publisher = ABC Medianet | date = May 24, 2005 | url = http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052405_04 | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</ref>

===Later years===
For its second year, the show still maintained its ratings – with 22.2 million viewers, it reclaimed its position as the number four most watched show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=May 26, 2006|title=2005–06 primetime wrap|publisher=''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''}}</ref> The second season's premiere was watched by 28.4 million viewers.<ref name="premiereratings">[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20050927abc02 Primetime Ratings for the Week of September 19-25, 2005], ''The Futon Critic'', September 27, 2005, Retrieved November 13, 2009</ref> The episode drew in the second largest audience for the series in its history However, several critics started to notice a declining quality of the show’s script,<ref>Guthrie, Marisa: [http://media.www.fsunews.com/media/storage/paper920/news/2006/04/03/ArtsAndEntertainment/In.Its.Second.Season.desperate.Housewives.Is.At.A.Dead.End-2353987.shtml In its second season, 'Desperate Housewives' is at a dead end], ''[[FSView & Florida Flambeau]]'', April 3, 2006</ref><ref>Goldblatt, Henry: [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1120827,00.html TV Review – Desperate Housewives], ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', October 21, 2005</ref>
and ''USA Today''’s Robert Bianco suggested that the part of the show getting “less good” was that showrunner Cherry had left much of the series writing in the hands of others.<ref>Biango, Robert: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2005-10-09-housewives_x.htm Housewives' is dragging desperately], ''[[USA Today]]'', September 9, 2005</ref> Midway through the season executive producer Michael Edenstein left the show due to conflicts with Cherry and in May 2006, just a couple of weeks prior to the second season finale, so did Tom Spezialy.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> After the end of the season, Cherry agreed to the second year’s weaker script and also agreed that it had been a mistake to let go too much of the show. He now stated that he was back full time, claiming that both he and the writing staff had learned from their mistakes.<ref>Martin, Ed: [http://www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2007/01/25/jmer-01-25-07/#continue Exclusive Interview! Desperate Housewives Creator Marc Cherry], ''Jack Myers Media Village'', January 25, 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.tvshows.nu/ABC-vows-stronger-third-season-for.html ABC vows stronger third season for its ’Desperate Housewives’], ''Wilmington Star'', July 26, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060718/desp_housewives_060718?s_name=&no_ads= Network exec promises better 'Housewives' season], ''CTVA.ca'', July 18, 2006</ref>

The critics generally agreed on the improved quality for the third year,<ref>[http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/report-abc-desperate-housewives-back-on-track-for-third-season-1009802.php ABC’s 'Desperate Housewives' back on track for third season], ''Reality TV World'', September 12, 2006</ref><ref>Martin, Ed: [http://www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2006/09/14/jmer-09-14-06/ Sizzling Preview of Desperate Housewives], ''Jack Myers Media Village'', September 14, 2006</ref><ref>Taroli, Justin: [http://departments.kings.edu/crown/articles/071116/tvshows.html The Third Time Isn’t Always the Charm for TV Hits], ''The Crown Online'', Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> but the overall ratings fell notably from previous seasons. Due to complications from her pregnancy Marcia Cross was put on bed rest. After filming one episode from her own personal bedroom she was forced to take maternity leave with eight episodes of season three still remaining. It was predicted that the ratings would be down by over 25% since the premiere year.<ref>Ryan, Joal: [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=917674c1-97fc-4696-9b82-18bd0d9e2e03 Housewives’ Most Desperate Hour], ''[[E! Online]]'', April 10, 2007</ref> However, for the last three episodes of the season, the rating turned somewhat, and the season ended up with 17.5 million viewers, falling from number four to number ten on the list of most watched shows.<ref name="HRwrap2006-07">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f|publisher=''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''|date=May 25, 2007|title=2006–07 prime time wrap}}</ref> While Cross's departure allowed for the much-underused Edie to have more story, fans noticed a decline in the stories during Cross's departure. Stories such as Lynette's emotional affair with restaurant manager Rick, proved unpopular. Furthermore, Susan's contrived triangle with Ian and Mike seemed tiring to many viewers, particularly in an episode where Susan is lost in the woods. Notable, however, was that the show’s rating among viewers age 18–24 increased from the previous season.<ref>Vasquez, Diego [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Research_25/Fact__College_kids_now_watch_more_TV.asp Fact: College kids now watch more TV], ''Media Life Magazine'', July 26, 2007</ref>

For its fourth season, the series proved to have staying power.<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20156391,00.html Desperate Housewives | TV Review|Entertainment Weekly]</ref> The series averaged 18.2 million viewers. Ratings peaked in Episode 9 where 20.6 million viewers tuned in to see the heavily marketed tornado episode. The show once again moved back up into the top 5 highest rated programs in the 2007–2008 season, being the #1 ABC drama and beating popular medical drama ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' after falling behind it for the first time in the third season. It also became for the first time the #1 scripted show, beating ''CSI''. Although ratings were down for the 5th season, along with every single scripted series on television, ''Desperate Housewives'' was still the most watched scripted series on ABC, consistently beating the other ABC flagship shows, ''Lost'' and ''Grey's Anatomy,'' although the latter is still number one in the 18–49 demographic, followed by ''Housewives''.

Similar to the fifth season, ratings were down for the sixth season because of heavy competition in many airings, but the show still managed to remain the second most watched scripted show on ABC and the eleventh most watched scripted show of all broadcast television. The series continued to hit lower ratings, because of competition like the [[67th Golden Globe Awards]], [[2010 Grammy Awards]], [[2010 Winter Olympics]], and the new [[CBS]] reality series ''[[Undercover Boss]]''. Nevertheless, the sixth season managed to finish in the top twenty overall, both in total viewers and 18-49 demographic audiences. Among scripted shows, it still ranked inside the top 10, in both categories.<ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336 Final 2009-10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 16, 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052710_13|title= ABC's 2010 May Sweep and 2009-10 TV Season highlights|publisher=ABC Medianet|date=2010-05-27 |accessdate=2011-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=43034&p3=|title=Die Season ist vorbei: Amerikas heißeste Liste|publisher=quotenmeter.de |date=2010-07-05 |accessdate=2010-09-02}}</ref><ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-18-49-ratings/54330 Final 2009-10 Broadcast Primetime Show 18-49 Ratings], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 16, 2010</ref><ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/06/18/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-live7-dvr-ratings/54601 Final 2009-10 Broadcast Primetime Show Live+7 DVR Ratings], ''TV By the Numbers'', June 16, 2010</ref>

The seventh season premiered on September 26, 2010 and averaged 11.85 million viewers. The season saw new lows for the series reaching for the first time below 10 million viewers, and saw lows of 2.7 in the 18-49 demographic. For the first half of the season, ratings started off strong averaging 12.3 million viewers and 3.9 in the 18-49 demographic which is similar to the second half of the sixth season. However, ratings declined in the second half of the season, after two continuous episodes had to first compete against the [[68th Golden Globe Awards]] and then the [[2011 Grammy Awards]]. The show failed to recover back to viewer levels hit in the first half of the season, and continued to receive 9 - 10 million viewers and 2.7 - 3.1 in the 18-49 demographic. This was the first time in its history that ''Desperate Housewives'' will not place in the 20 most watched shows of the season, although it will place in the 20 most watched scripted shows.

In 2006, the American cable network [[Bravo (US TV network)|Bravo]] launched their [[reality series]], ''[[The Real Housewives of...]]'', in the footsteps of the “real life desperate housewives” phenomenon.<ref>Chang, Richard: [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/atoz/article_1041399.php TV: “The Real Housewives of Orange County”], ''The Orange County Register'', March 13, 2006</ref> That program has taken place in areas such as [[Orange County, California]], [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], and two series within the New York-[[Tri-State Region]], within the City itself and the [[New Jersey]] suburbs. According to a survey of twenty countries conducted in 2006 by ''Informa Telecoms and Media'', ''Desperate Housewives'' was the third most viewed TV show in the world, after fellow American series ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' and ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5231334.stm|date=July 31, 2006|title=CSI show 'most popular in world'|publisher=BBC}}</ref> During a fund raising auction for the British child charity [[ChildLine]] in December 2006, a walk-on part in ''Desperate Housewives'' had the highest bid, £17,000, beating [[Daniel Craig]]’s [[James Bond]] [[Tuxedo (clothing)|tuxedo]] from ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]''.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6168389.stm James Bond tuxedo raises £12,000], ''BBC News'', December 11, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/12/11/james_bond_desperate_housewives_raise_mo James Bond, 'Desperate Housewives' Raise Money for UK Charity], ''StarPulse'', December 11, 2006</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{{Main|List of Desperate Housewives awards and nominations}}

[[Image:Desperate Housewives at 2008 GLAAD Awards.jpg|[[Dana Delany]], [[Teri Hatcher]], [[Brenda Strong]] and [[Andrea Bowen]] at the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards|thumb|right]]
For its premiere season, the show was awarded six [[Emmy Awards]], two [[Golden Globe Award]]s and two [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]. The nominations of all of the leading actresses except [[Eva Longoria]] for both Golden Globes and Emmys received some media interest. While Longoria seemingly wasn't bothered, stating for the press that ''“I'm new. I just arrived. I didn’t expect at all to be in the minds of the Academy”'', Marc Cherry regarded them being left out as a ''“horrendous error”''.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/longoria%20i%20never%20expected%20an%20emmy Longoria: “I Never Expected an Emmy”], ''ContactMusic.com'', July 24, 2005</ref> In the end, the Emmy went to [[Felicity Huffman]], while [[Teri Hatcher]] received the Golden Globe, as well as a Screen Actors Guild award.

The show’s second Golden Globe Award for its first year was for Best Musical or Comedy TV Series, while the other Emmys went to [[Kathryn Joosten]] for her guest role as Karen McCluskey (beating, among others, fellow cast member [[Lupe Ontiveros]]), [[Charles McDougall]] for his direction of the pilot episode, [[Danny Elfman]]’s theme music, the picture editing of the pilot, and the casting of the series. The entire cast was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award, and [[Nicollette Sheridan]] was nominated for a Supporting Actress Golden Globe.

In 2006 the show continued to receive several nominations. It was awarded with yet another Golden Globe for Best TV Musical or Comedy Series, and all the four leading women received Golden Globe nominations, although none of them won. The cast ensemble was awarded with another SAG Award, as was Felicity Huffman. Emmys nominations included, among others, guest actress [[Shirley Knight]] and supporting actress [[Alfre Woodard]], although none of the resulted in an actual award.

The show did continue to be nominated in 2007 – Felicity Huffman was granted an Emmy nomination for the second time, and guest actresses [[Laurie Metcalf]] and [[Dixie Carter]] also received Emmy nominations. The show, along with actresses [[Marcia Cross]] and Felicity Huffman, received Golden Globe nominations, and Huffman and the cast ensemble were also nominated for SAGs. None of the Golden Globe, Emmy or SAG nominations resulted in any actual awards.

2008 yielded the least nominations with none at the Golden Globes and only the cast being nominated at the SAGs. The show was nominated for four Emmys, including acting nods towards [[Polly Bergen]] and [[Kathryn Joosten]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]. Joosten won the show's seventh Emmy and first since its debut year.

Other notable awards include the 2005 [[People's Choice Award]] for Favorite New Television Drama, the Future Classic Award at the 2005 [[TV Land Awards]], the 2006 TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series, and the Golden Nymph at the 2007 Monte-Carlo TV Festival, among others.<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0410975/awards The IMDb.com list of awards for Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref>

===Foreign productions and translations===
On February 26, 2007, [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced that four South American versions of the show were about to begin production: one for Argentina, one for [[Colombia]], one for Brazil and one for [[Ecuador]].<ref>[http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117939263.html?categoryid=38&cs=1&query=Desperate+Housewives 'Housewives' going global], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', March 5, 2007</ref> Later on, the Colombian and Ecuadorean productions merged, leaving three [[Latin American]] shows:

The Argentine version, called ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas (Argentine TV series)|Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'', began being broadcast in 2006. The first year proved successful enough for a second season to begin production.<ref>[http://www.canal13.com.ar/micrositios/amas.resena.html Amas de casa desesperadas Official Canal 13 Website], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Wayback | url=http://www.canal13.com.ar/micrositios/amas.resena.html  | date=20070610041037 }}</ref> The first season of the version for Colombia ([[RCN TV]]) and Ecuador ([[Teleamazonas]]), also titled ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas (Colombian-Ecuadorean TV Series)|Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'', began being broadcast in Ecuador on May 2007, and is broadcast five days a week.<ref>[http://www.teleamazonas.com/amasdecasa.htm Amas de casa desesperadas Official Teleamazonas Website], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Wayback | url=http://www.teleamazonas.com/amasdecasa.htm  | date=20070716232635 }}</ref> The Brazilian version, ''[[:pt:Donas de Casa Desesperadas (série brasileira)|Donas de Casa Desesperadas]]'' began being broadcast on [[RedeTV!]] in August 2007.<ref>[http://www.redetv.com.br/siteredetv/grupos/series/donasdecasadesesperadas/ Donas de Casa Desesperadas Official RedeTV Website], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

In addition, a second US version is being developed for the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] television network [[Univision]]. Just as the two previous Spanish versions, it is to be named ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas (US TV series)|Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'', and the production began in July 2007.<ref>De La Fuente, Anna Marie: [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964896.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Univision gets Spanish 'Housewives'], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', May 14, 2007</ref>
The original US production, translated into [[Spanish language|Spanish]], is called Mujeres Desesperadas, which literally meand 'Desperate Women', and airs on Divinity Channel.

The original US production, translated into [[Japanese language|Japanese]], is called "[[:ja:デスパレートな妻たち|デスパレートな妻たち]]" and airs on [[NHK]].

The US production's [[Polish language|Polish]] translation is called "[[:pl:Gotowe na wszystko|Gotowe na wszystko]]" (literally means "Ready for Everything") and airs on [[Fox Life]] and [[Polsat]], [[n (Poland)|n]], [[Comedy Central]].

The US production's [[Greek language|Greek]] translation is called "[[:el:Νοικοκυρές Σε Απόγνωση|Νοικοκυρές Σε Απόγνωση]]" and airs on [[ANT1]] and [[ET1 (Greece)|ET1]], [[Foxlife]], [[Lumiere TV]]

The US production's [[Chinese language|Chinese]] translation is called "[[:zh:絕望的主婦|絕望的主婦]]" and airs on [[China Central Television]].

The US production's [[Estonian language|Estonian]] translation is called "[[:et:Meeleheitel koduperenaised|Meeleheitel koduperenaised]]" and airs on [[Kanal 2]], [[Fox Life]] and [[Sony Entertainment Television Baltic]].

The US production's [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] translation is called "[[:hu:Született feleségek|Született feleségek]]" and airs on [[TV2 (Hungary)|TV2]].

The US production's [[Italian language|Italian]] translation is called "[[Desperate Housewives - I segreti di Wisteria Lane]]" and airs on [[Foxlife]], [[Rai 2]] the first five seasons and from sixth season it's aired on [[Rai 3]] and [[Rai 4]]

The US production's [[Finnish language|Finnish]] translation is called "[[:fi:Täydelliset naiset|Täydelliset naiset]]" (literally means "the perfect women") and airs on [[Nelonen]].

The US production's [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] translation is called "[[:lt:Nusivylusios namų šeimininkės|Nusivylusios Namų Šeimininkės]]" and airs on [[TV3 (Lithuania)|TV3]]

The US production's [[Albanian language|Albanian]] translation is called "[[:sq:Desperate Housewives|Shtëpiake të dëshpëruara]]" and airs on [[Top Channel]]

The US production's [[Romanian language|Romanian]] translation is called "[[:ro:Neveste disperate|Neveste disperate]]" and airs on [[Prima TV]], [[TVR1]].

The US production's [[Korean language|Korean]] translation is called "[[위기의 주부들]]" and airs on [[KBS2]].

The US production's [[Latvian]] translation is called “[[:lv:Bīstamās mājsaimnieces|Bīstamās mājsaimnieces]]” and airs on [[Fox life]], sometimes on [[TV3 Latvia]], [[Sony Entertainment Television Baltic]]

The US production's [[Czech language|Czech]] translation is called "[[Zoufalé manželky]]" (literally means "Desperate Wives") and airs on [[TV Prima]] and [[Prima LOVE]].

The US production's [[Slovak language|Slovak]] translation is called "[[Zúfalé manželky]]" (literally means "Desperate Wives") and airs on [[Slovenská televízia|STV1]].

The US production's [[Slovenian language|Slovenian]] translation is called "[[Razočarane gospodinje]]" (literally means "Disappointed Housewives") and airs on [[POP TV]].

The US production's [[Serbian language|Serbian]] translation is called "[[Očajne domaćice]]" (literally means "Desperate Housewives") and airs on [[Radio Televizija Srbije|RTS]], [[Foxlife]], [[RTV Pink]]

The US production's [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] translation is called "[[Очајни Домаќинки]]" (literally means "Desperate Housewives") and aired on [[A1 TV channel (Macedonia)|A1 TV channel]] until the television channel bankrupted in the summer of 2011. During the time it aired in [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]], the first five seasons were broadcast.

The US production's [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] translation is called "[[:he:עקרות בית נואשות|עקרות בית נואשות]]" (Akrot Ba'it No'ashot; literally means "Desperate Housewives") and airs on [[yes Drama]]/[[yes Drama|yes Drama HD]] and [[HOT V.O.D]], [[STAR World]]

The US production's [[German language|German]] translation is called "[[:de:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[SIXX]], [[Pro Sieben]] and Sat.1 Comedy in Germany and ORF eins [[ORF 1]] in Austria.

The US production's [[French language|French]] translation is called "[[:fr:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs in France on [[Canal +]] and [[M6 (TV channel)|M6]], in Morocco on [[2M TV]].

The US production's [[Russian language|Russian]] translation is called "[[:ru:Отчаянные домохозяйки|Отчаянные домохозяйки]]" and airs on [[Sony Entertainment Television Russia]], [[Domashny]], [[Fox Life]] and [[CTC (TV channel)|CTC]].In Kazakhstan airs in Russian language on [[Sony Entertainment Television Asia|SET]].

The US production's [[English language|English]] translation is called "[[Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[Channel 4]], [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]], [[Seven Network]], [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], [[TV2 (New Zealand)|TV2]], [[ABC HD (Australia)|ABC HD]], [[E4 (channel)|E4]], [[TVNZ]], [[Arena (TV network)|Arena]], [[STAR World]].

The US production's [[Swedish language|Swedish]] translation is called "[[:se:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[Kanal 5 (Sweden)|Kanal 5]].

The US production's [[Irish language|Irish]] translation is called "[[:ir:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[RTÉ Two]].

The US production's [[Arabic language|Arabic]] translation is called "[[:ar:ربات بيوت يائسات|ربات بيوت يائسات]]" and airs on [[MBC 4]], [[2M TV]], [[OSN]].

The US production's [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] translation is called "[[Donas de Casa Desesperadas]]" and airs on [[Foxlife]], [[FOX (Portugal)|FOX]], [[Sociedade Independente de Comunicação|SIC]], [[RedeTV!]], [[Sony Entertainment Television (Portugal)|SET]].

The US production's [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] translation is called "[[:bg:Отчаяни съпруги|Отчаяни съпруги]]" and airs on [[bTV (Bulgaria)|bTV]], [[TV 7]], [[FOXlife (Bulgaria)|FOXlife]].

The US production's [[Croatian language|Croatian]] translation is called "[[:hr:Očajne kućanice|Očajne kućanice]]" and airs on [[Nova TV (Croatia)|Nova TV]], [[RTL Televizija]]

The US production's [[Spanish language|Spanish]] translation is called "[[:es:Mujeres desesperadas|Mujeres desesperadas]]" and airs on [[La 2 (Spain)|La 2]], [[Televisión Española|TVE]], [[Sony Entertainment Television |SET]], [[Canal+]], [[Fox (Spain)|FOX]].

The US production's [[Danish language|Danish]] translation is called "[[:da:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[TV 2 (Denmark)|TV 2]]

The US production's [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] translation is called "[[:is:Aðþrengdar eiginkonur|Aðþrengdar eiginkonur]]" and airs on [[RÚV]].

The US production's [[Dutch language|Dutch]] translation is called "[[:nl:Desperate Housewives|Desperate Housewives]]" and airs on [[NET 5]], [[Canvas (Belgium)|Canvas]], [[Eén]]

The US production's [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] translation is called "[[:no:Frustrerte fruer|Frustrerte fruer]]" and airs on [[TV 2 (Norway)|TV 2]].

The US production's [[Turkish language|Turkish]] translation is called "[[:tr:Umutsuz Evkadınları|Umutsuz Evkadınları]]" and airs on [[CNBC-e]], [[TRT 1]], [[Kanal D]], [[e2 (TV channel)|e2]], [[Show TV]].

The US production's [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] translation is called "[[:uk:Відчайдушні домогосподарки|Відчайдушні домогосподарки]]" and airs on [[ICTV (Ukraine)|ICTV]], [[Novyi Kanal]], [[LPF TV]].

===Internet ratings===
In its first public release of online individual TV program rankings, [[Nielsen Media Research|The Nielsen Company]] announced that the series had 723,000 unique viewers in December 2008. ''Desperate Housewives'' was the seventh most-pirated television show of 2009.<ref>[http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/01/05/pirated-tv-shows-2009 Most Pirated Shows of 2009: Someone's Still Watching "Heroes"], ''Entertainment Weekly'', July 12, 2010</ref>

==Other media and merchandise==
===DVD releases===
{{Main|List of Desperate Housewives DVD releases}}

{| class="wikitable"
!DVD Name
!Region 1
!Region 2
!Region 4
!Region 5
! No of discs
! No of episodes
|-
|The Complete First Season
| September 20, 2005
| October 10, 2005
| November 28, 2005
| July 18, 2006
| 6 (Reg. 1, 2 and 4) 5 (Reg. 5)
| 23
|-
|The Complete Second Season – The Extra Juicy Edition
| August 30, 2006
| November 13, 2006
| October 4, 2006
| June 28, 2007
| 7 (Reg. 2 and 4) 6 (Reg. 1 and 5)
| 23/24
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–2
|
| November 13, 2006
| October 24, 2006
|
| 13
| 47
|-
|The Complete Third Season – The Dirty Laundry Edition
| September 4, 2007
| November 5, 2007
| October 31, 2007
| December 13, 2007 ''(the release was cancelled)''
| 6
| 23
|-
|The Complete Seasons 1–3
|
| November 19, 2007
|
|
| 19
| 70
|-
|The Complete Fourth Season – Sizzling Secrets Edition
| September 2, 2008
| November 3, 2008 <ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001D7W8TU Desperate Housewives Season 4 (Region 2)] See Product Details</ref>
| October 29, 2008
|
| 5
| 17
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–4
|
| November 3, 2008
|
|
| 24
| 87
|-
| The Complete Fifth Season – The Red Hot Edition
| September 1, 2009
| November 9, 2009<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0022NH9IE Desperate Housewives Season 5 (Region 2)] See Product Details</ref>
| October 21, 2009
|
| 7
| 24
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–5
|
| November 9, 2009
|
|
| 31
| 111
|-
| The Complete Sixth Season – The All Mighty Edition<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003F3NDP8 Desperate Housewives: The Complete Sixth Season on DVD]. Amazon.com. Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref>
| September 21, 2010<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Desperate-Housewives-Season-6/13558 Desperate Housewives – The Complete 6th Season Announced...More Desperate DVDs Are On the Way!], ''TVShowsonDVD.com'', April 2, 2010</ref>
| October 4, 2010<ref name=amazon>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003TG5P9S Desperate Housewives - Season 6 - Complete DVD (2009)], ''Amazon.co.uk'', August 2, 2010</ref>
| October 20, 2010<ref>[http://www.mixup.com.mx/mixup/Product.aspx?sku=7509656212308]. www.MixUp.com. Retrieved July 27, 2010.</ref>
|
| 5 (Reg. 1)
| 23
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–6
|
|October 4, 2010<ref name=amazon/>
|October 20, 2010<ref>http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/dvd/dvd-genres/tv/desperate-housewives-box-set-season-1-6-37discs/538629</ref>
|
| 36 (Reg. 1) 37 (Reg. 4)
| 134
|-
| The Complete Seventh Season – Wild, Wild Wisteria Edition<ref name="dvd7">Lambert, David (May 6, 2011). [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Desperate-Housewives-Season-7/15367 "Desperate Housewives - Get 'Wild' on Wisteria Lane with 'The Complete 7th Season'!"]. TV Shows on DVD. Retrieved May 6, 2011.</ref>
|August 30, 2011<ref name="dvd7" />
|October 31, 2011<ref name="ukdvd7"> [http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=5930 "Desperate Housewives: Season 7"]. [[HMV]]. Retrieved August 29, 2011.</ref>
|
|
| 5
| 23
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–7
|
|October 31, 2011<ref name="ukdvd1-7"> [http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;0;-1;-1;-1&sku=291900 "Desperate Housewives: Series 1/2/3/4/5/6/7"]. [[HMV]]. Retrieved August 29, 2011.</ref>
|
|
| 41
| 157
|}

===Games===
In 2005, UK company Re:creation published ''Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game'', a [[board game]] based on season three of ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.recreationplc.com/Tradecat_2006/Trade%20Catalogue.pdf Re:Creation 2007 Product Catalogue, page 15], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Wayback | url=http://www.recreationplc.com/Tradecat_2006/Trade+Catalogue.pdf  | date=20070205074933 }}</ref> Players attempt to guess their opponents' secrets by answering [[trivia]] questions, while keeping clues to their own secrets concealed.

2006 saw the release of two [[video game]]s: [[Buena Vista Games]] released the [[life simulation game|sim computer game]] ''[[Desperate Housewives: The Game]]'', featuring an original storyline spanning 12 episodes.<ref>[http://buenavistagames.go.com/desperatehousewives/ Desperate Housewives: The Game Official Website], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> The game is set on Wisteria Lane, but the player does not play as any of the housewives, although they frequently appear.

A couple of months later, [[Gameloft]] released a [[mobile game]] based on the series.<ref>[http://www.gameloft.com/product.php?product=187&product_name=Desperate+Housewives%99 Desperate Housewives Mobile Game Official Website], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> “The inspiration for Gameloft’s take on Desperate Housewives comes from the most unlikely place, too – the original [[Mario Party]] on the Nintendo 64.”<ref>[http://wireless.ign.com/articles/759/759465p1.html IGN: Desperate Housewives Review]</ref>

===Soundtrack and literature===
In September 2005, [[Hollywood Records]] released a CD (distributed by [[Universal Music]]), [[Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives]], featuring music inspired by the series, as well as sound clips taken from the first season of the show. The songs included have been described as promoting “[[girl power]]”, and among the artists appearing – all being female – were [[LeAnn Rimes]], [[Gloria Estefan]] and [[Shania Twain]].<ref>[{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r787383|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic: Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> Controversially, no originally composed music from the show is included on the CD.

Two books have been officially released within the Desperate Housewives franchise. In September 2005 ABC’s sister company [[Hyperion Books]] released ''Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors'' (ISBN 978-1-4013-0826-1), a companion to the first season of the show, written by the production team behind the series.<ref>[http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401308260&SUBJECT=Entertainment Hyperion Books: ''Desperate Housewives – Behind Closed Doors''], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Wayback | url=http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401308260&SUBJECT=Entertainment  | date=20070513151657 }}</ref> One year later, in October 2006, Hyperion published ''The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits'' (ISBN 978-1-4013-0277-1).<ref>[http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401302777&SUBJECT=Cookbook Hyperion Books: ''The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits''], Retrieved August 3, 2007 {{Wayback | url=http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401302777&SUBJECT=Cookbook  | date=20070513151626 }}</ref> In addition, official [[wall calendar]]s, featuring shots taken from the series, were published by [[Andrews McMeel Publishing]] for 2006, 2007 and 2008.<ref>[http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/products/?isbn=0740765884 Andrews McMeel Publishing: Desperate Housewives 2008 Wall Calendar], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref>

Four unauthorized books written from different points of view were released in 2006. ''Delicious Housewives'', A Novel of Erotica, by International best-selling author Tamarias Tyree (ISBN 978-0-930865-79-5), from [[RSVP Press]], is an erotic parody of the popular TV series featuring the housewives' sexual misadventures which eventually lead them to an appearance on the Jerry Springer Show...
''Reading ‘Desperate Housewives’: Beyond the White Picket Fence'' (ISBN 978-1-84511-220-2), from [[I.B. Tauris]], is an academic look at the show by [[film studies]] lecturers Janet McCabe and Kim Akassm,<ref>[http://www.ibtauris.com/ibtauris/display.asp?K=9781845112202&sf_01=CAUTHOR&st_01=Janet+McCabe&sf_02=CTITLE&sf_03=KEYWORD&sf_04=identifier&m=2&dc=4 I.B. Tauris: Reading “Desperate Housewives” – Beyond the White Picket Fence], Retrieved August 5, 2007 {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> ''Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America’s Favorite Desperate Housewives'' (ISBN 978-1-932100-79-2), published by [[BenBella Books]], consists of seventeen essays written from a [[feminist]] perspective,<ref>[http://66.84.52.211/cgi-bin/plugins/MivaEmpresas/miva?plugins/MivaMerchants/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BB&Product_Code=WTWL&Category_Code=DHW BenBella Books: Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America’s Favorite Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref> and in Chalice Press’ ''Not-so-desperate: Fantasy, Fact And Faith on Wisteria Lane'' (ISBN 0-8272-2513-X) author Shawnthea Monroe is giving a [[Christian]] interpretation of the show.<ref>[http://www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2706 Chalice Press: Not-so-desperate – Fantasy, Fact And Faith on Wisteria Lane], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref> Also, following the “real life desperate housewives” phenomenon, several books have been released dealing with life strategies for contemporary women.

===Fashion dolls===
In December 2006 it was announced that the characters of Bree, Gabrielle, Edie, Susan and Lynette were to be made into {{convert|16|in|cm}} tall [[fashion doll]]s, produced by [[Madame Alexander]].<ref>Finn, Natalie: [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=1727979b-5a30-44a8-ab4f-fc8d0868433e Desperate Housewives Play Around], ''[[E! Online]]'', January 2, 2007</ref> In 2007 they were released in a limited edition of 300 pieces each.<ref>[http://www.madamealexander.com/fall_2007/product_cat.php/subid=7/index.html Madame Alexander Fall 2007 collection: Couture – Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 5, 2008</ref> A perfume was also released, named ''[[Forbidden Fruit (perfume)|Forbidden Fruit]]''.

===''Another Desperate Housewife''===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2010}}
In conjunction with season six, Marc Cherry was commissioned to write eight "mini-episodes" entitled ''Another Desperate Housewife''. The episodes were written after the previous season's extensive product placement proved unpopular with the fans.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} The mini-episodes were written to advertise mobile phone company Sprint{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} and involve just three characters. The two main characters are Stephanie (played by [[Rebecca Staab]]) and Lance (played by [[David Chisum]]) who have moved into the former house of Edie Britt after her death. The third character, Elsa, was Stephanie's friend. It is eventually revealed that Lance and Elsa have been having an affair. Stephanie finds out and tells Lance to break it off. Elsa suggests killing Stephanie, but Lance gets a text message indicating he's seeing another woman and a furious Elsa shoots him. In truth, Stephanie had sent the message herself. The final mini-episode has Elsa being arrested and Stephanie attracted to a handsome policeman at the scene. Each episode ends with a Mary Alice-like narration saying things such as "This is suspicion on the Now Network" or "This is betrayal on the Now Network."

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal box|United States|Television}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives}}
* {{IMDb title|0410975|Desperate Housewives}}
* {{tv.com|24641|Desperate Housewives}}
* [http://www.desperate-housewives.org/ Desperate Housewives Online]

{{Desperate Housewives}}
{{GoldenGlobeTVComedy 1990-2009}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAwardsTVEnsembleComedy 1994-2009}}
{{ABCNetwork Shows (current and upcoming)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desperate Housewives (Tv Series)}}
[[Category:2004 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:2010s American television series]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]]
[[Category:American comedy-drama television series]]
[[Category:American television soap operas]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Series Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Desperate Housewives| ]]
[[Category:English-language television series]]
[[Category:Fiction narrated by a dead person]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:Television series by Buena Vista Television]]
[[Category:Television shows set in the 2010s]]

{{Link FA|fi}}

[[af:Desperate Housewives]]
[[ar:ربات بيوت يائسات]]
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[[bs:Očajne kućanice]]
[[bg:Отчаяни съпруги]]
[[ca:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[cy:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[es:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[ko:위기의 주부들]]
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[[sw:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[ms:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[no:Frustrerte fruer]]
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[[pt:Desperate Housewives]]
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[[th:สมาคมแม่บ้านหัวใจเปลี่ยว]]
[[tr:Umutsuz Evkadınları]]
[[uk:Відчайдушні домогосподарки]]
[[vi:Những bà nội trợ kiểu Mỹ]]
[[zh:绝望的主妇]]

Comparison of JavaScript-based source code editors

2009-04-20T08:20:40Z

Spellcoder: updated info in table on EditArea (latest version and browser compatibility)

This article provides basic feature comparison between some of the [[JavaScript]]-based [[source code editor]]s available today. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date.

==Overview==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%; width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"
|+ List of source code editors
|-
! style="width: 12em" |
! Site
! Latest version
! Style / Clone of
! Cost ([[United States dollar|US$]])
! [[Software license]]
! [[Open source]]
! Browser compatibility
|-

! {{rh}} | CodeMirror
| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/ Home Page]
| 0.60, 2008-12-29
| [[Emacs]] / regular textarea
| {{free}}
| BSD-like
| {{yes| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/jstest.html repository]}}
| Firefox 1.5+, Internet Explorer 6+, Safari 3+, Opera 9.52+, Chrome<ref>[http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/index.html#supported CodeMirror supported browsers]</ref>
|-

! {{rh}} | CodePress
| [http://codepress.org dead home page], [http://codepress.sourceforge.net/ Demo], [http://sourceforge.net/projects/codepress/ SourceForge]
| 0.9.6, 2007-09-26
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{free}}
| [[LGPL]]
| {{yes}}
| {{?}}
|-

! {{rh}} | CodeTextArea
| [http://code.google.com/p/codetextarea/ Home page], [http://www.notapad.org Demo], [http://www.nicolarizzo.com/gamesroom/experimental/CodeEditor.html Experimental demo]
|
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{free}}
|
| {{yes}}
| {{?}}
|-

! {{rh}} | ECCO
| [http://ecco.sourceforge.net/ Home page]
| {{dropped|1=[https://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?thread_id=1990652&forum_id=550778 abandoned]}}
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{free}}
|
| {{dropped|[https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id%3D162582 no downloads]}}
| {{?}}
|-

! {{rh}} | EditArea
| [http://www.cdolivet.com/index.php?page=editArea Home], [http://www.cdolivet.com/editarea/editarea/exemples/exemple_full.html Demo]
| 0.8.1v2, 2009-04-19
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{free}}
| [[LGPL]]
| {{yes}}
| IE 6 & 7 & 8, Firefox 1.5 & 2 & 3, Safari 3.x & 4, Opera 9, 9.5, 9.6 and Chrome 1 & 2<ref>[http://www.cdolivet.com/editarea/editarea/docs/compatibility.html EditArea compatibility chart]</ref>
|-

! {{rh}} | Helene
| [http://helene.muze.nl/ Home], [http://helene.muze.nl/ariadne/loader.php/helene/demo/ Demo]
| 0.9, unknown release date
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{free}}
| [[GPL]]
| {{yes}}
|
|-

! {{rh}} | Markitup
| [http://markitup.jaysalvat.com/home/ Home], [http://markitup.jaysalvat.com/examples/ Demo]
| 1.1.3, 2008-09-15
| [[Markup language|markup]] editor, no syntax highlight
| {{free}}
| [[MIT License|MIT]], [[GPL]]
| {{yes}}
|
|-

! {{rh}} | 9ne
| [http://robrohan.com/projects/9ne/ Home Page]
| {{?}}
| [[emacs]]
| {{free}}
| [[GPL]]
| {{yes}}
|
|-

! {{rh}} | jsvi
| [http://gpl.internetconnection.net/vi/ Home Page]
| {{?}}
| [[vi]]
| {{free}}
| [[GPL]]
| {{yes}}
|
|-

! {{rh}} | CodeIDE
| [http://www.codeide.com/ Home Page]
| {{?}}
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{?}}
| {{?}}
| {{no}}
|
|-

! {{rh}} | MDK-Editor
| [http://www.mdk-photo.com/editor/ Home Page]
| 2.10, 2008
| [[Microsoft Visual Studio]]
| {{depends| Depends on the use}}
| Dual license
| {{no| Code is readable}}
| tested to work on: IE 6, 7 - Firefox 2, 3 - Chrome
|-

|}

==List of features==

Feature testing was performed with Firefox 3.0.6 against the current demo version, and results may not match those in other browsers or downloadable versions.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ List of source code editor features
|-
! style="width: 12em" |
! CodeMirror
! CodePress
! CodeTextArea
! EditArea
! Helene
! markItUp!
! MDK-Editor

|-
! {{rh}} | Implementation
| {{yes| nestable full parsers}}
| {{some| pattern-based parser}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes| parsers}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Syntax highlight
| {{yes| JS, CSS, XML, [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/mixedtest.html mixed mode], [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/contrib/php/ PHP], [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/sparqltest.html SPARQL]; can be extended with new parsers}}
| {{some| limited mixed mode: HTML+JavaScript (no CSS), PHP+HTML (no JavaScript or CSS), Java, Perl, SQL}}
| {{no| only keywords}}
| {{partial| [http://www.cdolivet.com/index.php?page%3DeditArea only one language at a time]: PHP, CSS, Javascript, Python, HTML, XML, VB, C, CPP, SQL, Pascal, Basic, Brainf*ck}}
| PHP
| {{no}}
| {{yes| mixed mode: PHP+HTML+JavaScript+CSS, single-mode: PHP, Javascript, CSS, XML; extensible}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Syntax checking
| {{some| basic; more comprehensive for PHP [http://groups.google.com/group/codemirror/browse_thread/thread/20cd864c74753db8/11a228d498da9261]}}
| {{no}}
| 
| 
| {{no}}
| 
| {{yes| HTML, JavaScript (using JSLint)}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Indent, new line keeps level
| {{yes}}
| {{partial| very limited}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no| N/A (can't press Enter)}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Indent, syntax
| {{yes}}
| 
| 
| {{no}}
| 
| 
| {{no}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Indent, selected block
| {{yes|either automatically, or block-level indent/unindent}}
| {{no}}
| 
| {{yes|yes, including Shift+Tab}}
| 
| 
| {{yes| yes, including Shift+Tab and using context menu}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Bracket matching
| {{partial | Ctrl+[ after the bracket; no angle bracket matching}}
| {{some| an implementation exists with mouse-hover bracket matching{{Fact|date=February 2009}}}}
| {{partial|Ctrl+B; no angle bracket matching}}
| 
| 
| {{no}}
| {{yes|matching bracket ([{<>}]) always highlighted}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | XML matching tag highlight
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Code folding
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Code snippets
| {{yes| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/jstest.html example using API]}}
| {{yes| type 'for' or 'if' then Tab}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes| JavaScript}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Code suggestion
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| 
|  {{yes|yes{{Fact|date=February 2009}}}}
| 
| {{no}}
| {{yes| CSS, HTML; in progress: JavaScript)}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Toggle syntax highlight on/off
| {{no}}
| 
| 
| {{yes|[http://www.cdolivet.com/editarea/editarea/exemples/exemple_full.html last example in demo]}}
| 
| N/A
| {{yes| textmode}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Keyboard shortcuts
| {{some| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/jstest.html basic]}}
| 
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes| All key combos (except F1 in IE7) can be bound to shortcuts }}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Line numbers
| {{yes| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/htmltest.html demo]}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes| supports mouse selection}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Search & replace
| {{yes| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/jstest.html via API]}}
| 
| {{no}}
| {{yes| toolbar button}}
| 
| 
| {{no|Ctrl+H}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | [[Spell checking]]
| {{yes|browser-based}}
| {{yes|browser-based}}
| {{no|none}}
| {{yes|browser-based}}
| {{no|none}}
| {{yes|browser-based}}
| {{no}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Toolbar
| {{some| [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/js/mirrorframe.js example using API]; [http://marijn.haverbeke.nl/codemirror/jstest.html demo]}}
| 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{some| kind of, API tools on the testsite{{Fact|date=February 2009}}}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Visual styling
| 
| 
| {{some| font-type and font-size}}
| 
| 
| 
| {{yes| 5 styles to choose from, having 2 font-sizes}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Undo/Redo
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| 
| {{yes}}
| 
| 
| {{yes| Infinite diff-based, with visual update{{Fact|date=February 2009}}}}
|-

|-
! {{rh}} | Usability
| {{some| Initial parse is slow, further performance is independent of document size}}
| {{partial| new text sometimes syntax highlighted only after going out of the viewable area}}
| {{some| No PageDown/PageUp}}
| {{some| text [[ghosting]] if syntax highlight enabled}}
| {{no| can't type Enter}}
| 
| {{some|no documentation}}
|-

|}



==TODO: Other aspects==
* Add Bespin http://labs.mozilla.com/projects/bespin/
* What size files do these editors handle best
* How many dependencies (files) does each require? When compressed, what is the minimum download size in kilobytes?
* Tabbed editing?
* Javascript architecture (prototype, functional, or closure-based)
* How responsive is each library (with and without a large file loaded)? (Not sure how to measure this yet.)
* How long is the delay before syntax-highlighting occurs on new text?

===Extensibility features===

* Feature plugins
* Interface languages (English, French, etc.)
* Syntax highlighting plugins
* Bracket completion plugins
* Language snippet plugins
* Code suggestion plugins

==Offspring projects==

Below is a list of projects based on each engine.

===CodeMirror powered===
* [http://code.google.com/apis/ajax/playground Google's API playground]
* [http://rthree.wiki.sourceforge.net/ r3], a template management engine developed by [[Yahoo!]]
* [http://github.com/darwin/firerainbow FireRainbow] - JavaScript syntax highlighting for Firebug
* [http://dev.freebaseapps.com/ Freebase's Acre IDE]
* [http://kml-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/interactive/index.html Google Earth KML sampler]
* [http://eloquentjavascript.net/chapter1.html Eloquent JavaScript's console]
* [http://billmill.org/static/canvastutorial/index.html A cool tutorial about the <canvas> element]
* [http://orc.csres.utexas.edu/tryorc.shtml An online IDE for the Orc programming language]

===CodePress powered===
* [http://www.webdevstudio.org WebDevStudio] - web IDE. [http://gayuba1.datsi.fi.upm.es/~iortiz/webdevstudio/project/work_project.php?name=wikipedia Demo].
* [http://www.mdk-photo.com/Trial/ Ultimate CMS Tool] by Martin Kirk - [Currently only Firefox is supported]
* [http://extplorer.sourceforge.net/ Extplorer] by Soeren Eberhardt
* [http://modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,8029.0.html ModX CMS plugin]
* [http://www.naden.de/blog/wordpress-code-editor WordPress plugin]
* [http://www.typo3-unleashed.net/nc/singleentry/date/2007/05/13/typoscript-editor-beta.html Typo 3 plugin]
* [http://drupal.org/node/145663 CMS Drupal integration]
* [http://www.fyneworks.com/jquery/Codepress/ Codepress plugin for jQuery]
* [http://extjs.com/learn/Extension:CodePress Ext plugin]

===EditArea powered===
* [https://fit.jupiterit.com/ F->IT], browser-based online JavaScript FTP client

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://groups.google.com/group/codemirror/browse_thread/thread/2039eaa4f01e3f1f CodeMirror vs. CodePress]
* [http://www.peterbe.com/plog/EditArea-vs-CodePress EditArea vs. CodePress]

[[Category:Text editors|*Comparison of JavaScript-based source code editors]]
[[Category:Software comparisons|Text editors]]
[[Category:Ajax (programming)]]
[[Category:JavaScript libraries]]
[[Category:JavaScript programming language]]
[[Category:Object-oriented programming]]

AVCHD

2009-03-22T20:58:24Z

Spellcoder: fix <ref> for dvdflick

[[Image:Avchd.png|right|AVCHD logo]]
'''AVCHD''' is a [[High-definition video|high-definition]] and [[standard-definition]] recording format for use in digital [[tapeless camcorder]]s and [[digital camera]]s. The initialism unoffically stands for '''A'''dvanced '''V'''ideo '''C'''odec '''H'''igh '''D'''efinition<ref> http://www.008soft.com/avchd-converter.htm </ref><ref> http://www.shedworx.com/hd-information/avchd </ref><ref> http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/Nero_Vision_5_AVCHD_Authoring_Guide_page1.html </ref>. It is based on the [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] video compression standard. Audio is stored in compressed form ([[Dolby AC-3]]). The container format for the audio and video is [[MPEG transport stream]].

== History ==

[[Image:Panasonic_AG-HMC150P.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Panasonic AG-HMC150P]]

In 2003 Sony introduced [[XDCAM]], one of the first professional tapeless video systems. The format used [[Professional Disc]] as recording media. The cost of media was comparable to other professional formats that existed at that time, and was prohibitively high for a consumer version of such a camera.

In April 2004 Sony mentioned the possibility of expanding XDCAM format or its variants into consumer market. Rick Clancy, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Sony stated that XDCAM is more of a higher end professional HD product, and future consumer tapeless camcorders would be based on the less expensive Blu-ray format.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/sony-hdv-nab-prototype-04_18_04.htm
|title=Sony plans to eventually release Blu-ray HD camcorder
|first=Robin |last=Liss |date=2004-04-18 |publisher=Camcorderinfo.com
}}</ref> Similar to Professional Disc, [[Blu-ray Disc]] format is based on blue-violet laser technology, but discs are single-sided, do not have protective cartridge, are made of cheaper material and deliver lower data rates.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_cartridge
|title=Will Blu-ray discs require a cartridge?
|work=Blu-ray FAQ
|publisher=Blu-ray Disc Association
}}</ref>

In September 2004 Sony augmented Blu-ray Disc specification with [[MPEG-4 AVC|AVC]] and [[VC-1]] video [[codec]]s in addition to existing [[MPEG-2]] codec. New codecs provided more efficient compression and allowed using lower data rates, meaning longer movies could be stored on the same disc.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/39352/2004/09/sony.html
|title=Sony is developing 200GB Blu-ray storage
|first=Paul |last=Kallender |date=2004-09-21 |publisher=Macworld, Mac Publishing, LLC
}}</ref>

In May 2006 Panasonic and Sony jointly announced AVCHD as a tapeless high definition recording format. The format was based on existing Blu-ray Disc specification and allowed recording AVC-encoded video onto optical discs. 8 cm [[DVD]] discs were chosen as recording media instead of considerably more expensive Blu-ray discs.<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www.avchd-info.org/press/20060511.html
|title=Panasonic and Sony jointly developed new HD Digital video camera recorder format for recording on disc
|publisher=AVCHD Format Co-promoters
|date=2006-05-11
}}</ref>

In July 2006 the format was amended to include other types of random-access media, like [[Secure Digital card|SD]]/[[Secure Digital card#SDHC|SDHC]] memory cards, "[[Memory Stick]]" cards and [[hard disk drive]]s. Blu-ray discs were not included in the list of supported media.<ref>{{cite press release
|date=2006-07-12
|url=http://www.avchd-info.org/press/20060713.html
|publisher=AVCHD Format Co-promoters
|title=Panasonic and Sony expand AVCHD recorder format
}}</ref>

The first AVCHD camcorder, Sony Handycam HDR-UX1, went on sale in September 2006 and recorded on 8 cm DVD media. Panasonic followed in spring 2007, releasing the [[Panasonic HDC-SD1|HDC-SD1]], the first AVCHD camcorder to record to [[Secure Digital card|SD/SDHC solid-state media]], as well as a more conventional DVD-based model, the HDC-DX1. First Canon models included the [[Canon HG10|HG10]], with built-in hard disk drive storage, and the DVD-based HR10. JVC, which had been promoting its proprietary [[MOD and TOD (video format)|TOD]] video-format, finally introduced AVCHD-capable camcorders in April 2008.

In October 2008 Panasonic released the first professional AVCHD camcorder, the [[Panasonic AG-HMC150|AG-HMC150]]. This is the first AVCHD camcorder that is capable of recording in all three high definition formats: 1080i, 1080p and 720p.

In January 2009 Panasonic came up with '''AVCHD Lite''' trademark, which identifies devices that are capable of 720p recording only.<ref>{{cite web
|date=2009-01-27
|url=http://www.avchd-info.org/
|publisher=AVCHD Format Co-promoters
|title=Added new trademark, "AVCHD Lite" in AVCHD Video Cameras Category
}}</ref>

==Overview==

[[Image:AVCHD actual file structure.jpg|thumb|right|380px|File organization on Panasonic and Canon solid-state AVCHD camcorders]]

AVCHD (AVC-HD, AVC HD) video is recorded using the [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC/H.264]] video compression codec. Audio is stored in compressed form ([[Dolby AC-3]]). Uncompressed linear PCM audio is not supported in any consumer devices. Aside from recorded audio and video, AVCHD includes features to improve media presentation: menu navigation, slide shows and subtitles. The menu navigation system is similar to DVD-video, allowing access to individual videos from a common intro screen. Slide shows are prepared from a sequence of AVC still frames, and can be accompanied by a background audio track. Subtitles are used in some camcorders to timestamp the recordings.

Audio, video, subtitle, and ancillary streams are multiplexed together into an MPEG-2 [[Transport stream#Modifications of transport stream specification for random-access media (M2TS)|Transport stream]]. The MPEG-2 transport stream is stored on random-access media as binary files. (In general, the FAT32 filesystem is used for memory cards and HDDs, ISO9660 is used on optical-disc.)

At the file system level, the structure of AVCHD is derived from the [[Blu-ray Disc]] specification, but is not identical to it. In particular, known Canon and Panasonic implementations use legacy "[[8.3 filename|8.3]]" file naming convention, while Blu-ray discs utilize [[Long filename|long]] filenames. Another difference is location of the BDMV folder, which contains media files. On a DVD-based camcorder the BDMV folder is placed at the root level, just like on a Blu-ray disc. On the HDD-based [[Canon HG10]] camcorder the BDMV folder is located in the AVCHD folder, which is placed at the root level.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://37prime.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/canon-hg10-avchd-camcorder-video-sample/#comment-11060
|author="Steve"
|title=Canon HG10 AVCHD camcorder video sample
|date=2008-05-18
}}</ref> Solid-state Panasonic and Canon camcorders nest the AVCHD folder inside the PRIVATE folder.<ref name="BackingUpAVCHD">{{cite web
|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/avchd_to_bluray.jsp
|title=Backing up AVCHD video onto DVDs and playing them on a Blu-ray player
|publisher=avchduser.com
}}</ref> Following a standard agreed upon by many still camera manufacturers, solid-state camcorders have a root-level DCIM folder for still images.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/digCam/dc240/ownerManual/ch77.shtml
|title=KODAK Digital Camera: Navigating to Your Pictures
|publisher=KODAK |year=1999}}</ref>

AVCHD recordings can be transferred to a computer by connecting the camcorder via the [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] connection. Many camcorders can record to removable media like SDHC and Memory Stick cards or DVD discs, which can be directly read on a computer. Copying files from an AVCHD camcorder can be performed much faster than from a tape-based camcorder, because it does not have to be done in realtime.

Just as HDV-editing once demanded an expensive high-end PC, the system requirements for AVCHD editing software currently limits it to powerful machines. Compared to HDV, AVCHD video compression requires 2-4x the processing power, placing a greater burden on the computer memory and CPU. Older computers, even those that are capable of handling HDV, are often unacceptably slow for editing AVCHD, and can even struggle with smooth playback of AVCHD recordings. Improvements in [[Multi-core (computing)|multi-core]] computing and graphics processor acceleration is bringing AVCHD playback to mainstream desktops and laptops.

== Media ==
AVCHD specification allows using several kinds of recording media, in particular recordable DVD discs, memory cards, non-removable solid-state memory and hard disk drives.

=== DVD discs ===
[[Image:DVDs-12cm-8cm.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Conventional 12 cm disc (left) compared to 8 cm disc (right)]]

DVD discs are the original media specified in the AVCHD standard. To reduce camcorder size, only smaller 8 cm discs, sometimes called [[miniDVD]]s, are allowed. Recording capacity ranges from 1.4 GB for a single-sided single layer disc to 5.2 GB for a double-sided double layer disc.

Pros:
* DVDs are familiar to most consumers, thus considered user-friendly
* Recordable DVDs are relatively cheap
* Recorded disc can be played back in most Blu-ray players
* Discs can be used as immediate backup media, can be stored separately from a camcorder

Cons:
* The longevity of recordable DVDs is argued to be much shorter than expected<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.manifest-tech.com/media_dvd/dvd_compatibility.htm
|title=DVD "rot": DVD Longevity and Reliability
|first=Douglas |last=Dixon |year=2003 |month=September}}</ref>
* Rewritable DVDs cost more than write-once discs
* DVDs have to be "finalized" to be played back on set-top players
* AVCHD DVDs cannot be played back on regular DVD players
* Recording data rate for DVD-based AVCHD camcorders is limited to 18 Mbit/s
* A single-sided single-layer 8 cm DVD can fit only 15 minutes of video at 12 Mbit/s data rate, 10 minutes at 18 Mbit/s data rate
* Unlike HDDs and memory cards, the DVD discs cannot grow in capacity

DVD discs are quickly falling out of favor as capacity of memory cards grows while their price drops. In 2008 all new AVCHD camcorders used either built-in HDDs or memory cards as recording media.

=== Hard disk drives ===

[[Image:HG10.png|thumb|right|250px|Canon HG10 HDD-based AVCHD camcorder]]

HDD was added as a possible media to AVCHD specification shortly after the new video standard had been announced. Capacity ranges from 30 GB to 240 GB.

Pros:
* Higher capacity than other media types, which allows for longer continuous recording.
* Faster data transfer rate than DVDs and memory cards; may require less time for uploading video on a computer than a memory card.

Cons:
* Sensitive to atmospheric pressure. Most HDD-based camcorders cannot be operated at altitudes above {{convert|10000|ft|m}}.
* Vulnerable to mechanical shock or fast movement.
* All HDD-based AVCHD camcorders employ non-removable disks. To transfer video to a computer the camcorder must be connected with a USB cable. Usage of an AC power adapter is often needed as well.

=== Memory cards ===

[[Image:Canon hf100 with memory card.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Canon HF100 camcorder using a 4 GB SDHC card]]

Many tapeless camcorders record to memory cards, such as [[Secure Digital card|SD]]/[[Secure Digital card#SDHC|SDHC]] cards or "[[Memory Stick]]" cards. Utilizing solid-state flash technology, memory cards offer rewritable storage in a compact form-factor with no moving parts.

Many inexpensive memory cards are slower than HDDs, but are still fast enough to justify switching from tape-based to tapeless workflow. With transfer speeds ranging from 10 MByte/s to 20 Mbyte/s, it takes about 1 minute to transfer 1 GB of video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/sdhc-memory-card-charts/Minimum-Read-Transfer-Rates,861.html|title=SDHC maximum read transfer rates}}</ref> Conversely, with HDV it takes one hour to capture one hour of video (approximately 13 GB).

Historically, flash memory capacity and pricing have improved steadily since introduction to the consumer market.

Pros:
* Compact and lightweight.
* Do not require time for spin-up and initialization, always ready for recording.
* Not vulnerable to magnetic fields.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}
* Can withstand a wider range of air pressure and humidity than HDDs.
* Can be easily backed up to DVD discs for viewing and for long-term archiving.<ref name="BackingUpAVCHD">{{cite web|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/avchd_to_bluray.jsp|title=Backing up AVCHD video onto DVDs and playing them on a Blu-ray player}}</ref>
* Can store mixed media content, including still images (snapshot photos or still-frame captures).
* Most computers, some TVs and Blu-ray Disc players, as well as many video players, personal portable media players, printers, etc. have built-in card readers and can play AVCHD video directly off a card.

Cons:
* More expensive per minute of recording than a built-in HDD or DVD media.
* Compatibility issues: not all card-readers can read high-capacity Memory Stick or SDHC cards.
* Vulnerable to electrical damage, such as static discharge.
* Not yet proven to be reliable archival media.
* Easier to misplace due to small form-factor.

=== Non-removable solid-state memory ===

Some AVCHD camcorders come with built-in solid-state memory either as a sole media, or in addition to other media.

Pros:
* Allows making a camcorder smaller if no other media is used
* Always available for recording, in case other type of media is full or missing

Cons:
* Because it is non-removable, a camcorder must be connected to a computer with a USB cable to transfer video. Usage of an AC power adapter is often needed as well.
* Non-removable media cannot be shared, sent or stored separately of the camcorder.

== Video formats ==

AVCHD specification allows for both high definition and standard definition recording. For high definition, all major variations are supported, including 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

=== Standard definition recording ===

AVCHD specification allows for standard definition recording, but no camcorder released to date can record in this mode.

=== 720p ===

In September 2008 the Panasonic AG-HMC150 became the first AVCHD camcorder to support 720p progressive recording, in addition to 1080i and 1080p recording modes.

In January 2009 the still digital DMC-ZS3/DMC-TZ7 camera that is also capable of video recording was added to the lineup. The camera is capable only of 720-line video and cannot record 1080-line AVCHD, as identified with newly created '''AVCHD Lite''' logo.

=== 1080i ===

[[Image:Interlaced video frame (car wheel).jpg|thumb|250px|An example of interlace combing]]

Most AVCHD camcorders released to date record [[1080i]] [[interlace]]d video. This creates issues when such video is watched on a computer or when it is rescaled. Computer monitors as well as plasma and LCD televisions are inherently progressive. Watching interlaced video on a progressive display device may produce horizontal ripples known as combing artifacts.

[[Deinterlacing]] allows getting rid of combing artifacts, but may reduce vertical resolution. Interlaced video can be deinterlaced in post-production and delivered as progressive, or it can be deinterlaced on playback. All modern flat-panel televisions have a built-in deinterlacing engine, so deinterlacing is not required if video is distributed on DVD or Blu-ray Disc. Watching interlaced video on a computer can be more complicated, but some codecs provide different deinterlacing schemes that can be manually chosen by a viewer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/watching_interlaced_video.jsp|title=Watching interlaced video on a computer}}</ref>

Some 1080i AVCHD camcorders offer capturing and recording of progressive video, borrowing techniques from television industry. In particular, [[Progressive segmented frame]] (PsF) is utilized in some Panasonic (Cinema Mode) and Canon (PF25 mode) camcorders for 50 Hz market and in some Canon camcorders for 60 Hz market (PF30 mode). [[Telecine#2:3_pulldown|2-3 pulldown]] is used in Canon camcorders (PF24 mode) for recording 24 frame/s progressive video. Some editing systems are capable of recognizing the pulldown pattern and recovering the original frames using the process known as [[Telecine#Reverse_telecine_(a.k.a._IVTC.2Finverse_telecine)|inverse telecine]].

Progressive video recorded within an interlaced stream is recognized as interlaced by most editing tools.

=== 1080p ===

Select Panasonic camcorders are able to record native 1080p video. The most notable model is the AG-HMC150, which is capable of recording in all three high definition formats: 1080i, 1080p and 720p. Of the consumer models, 60 Hz versions of the HDC-SD9<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=131497|title=Panasonic SD9 shoots true 24p footage}}</ref>, HDC-HS100/HDC-SD100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/panasonic_hdc_hs100_24p.jsp|title=Shoot 1080p24 with the Panasonic HDC-HS100 and HDC-SD100}}</ref> and HDC-HS300/HDC-TM300<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/camcorders/panasonic-hdc-hs300/10147.html|title=Panasonic HDC-HS300 review}}</ref> models are capable of recording native 1080p24 video.

== Playing back AVCHD video ==

Recorded AVCHD video can be played back in variety of ways:

* directly from a camcorder on a HDTV, through HDMI or component-video cable;
* burned onto writable Blu-ray disc, then played on a Blu-ray Disc player or on a [[PLAYSTATION 3|Playstation 3]] gaming console;
* recorded on a solid-state memory card (SDHC, Memory Stick), then played from many Blu-ray Disc players, on select [[Panasonic]] HDTV sets and on a PLAYSTATION 3 gaming console;
* burned onto DVD disc, then played from most Blu-ray Disc players;<ref name="BackingUpAVCHD">{{cite web|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/avchd_to_bluray.jsp|title=Backing up AVCHD video onto DVDs and playing them on a Blu-ray player}}</ref>
* on a computer, playing from the camcorder connected via USB as an external storage device (with requisite software such as media player with AVC decoder installed);
* on a computer, playing directly from recorded media using a DVD drive or a memory card reader (with requisite software such as media player with AVC decoder installed);

== Compatibility between brands ==

The implementation of H.264/AVC codec varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Canon and Panasonic camcorders use [email protected], up to the AVCHD format's maximum bitrate of 24 Mbit/s. To date, Sony camcorders have only used [email protected], at a maximum bitrate of 17 Mbit/s. The High-Profile mode of H264 is more difficult to create and playback than main-profile. Consequently, recordings made by one vendor's camcorder or editing software may be unplayable on another vendor's equipment, leading to a frustrating user experience.

== Compatibility with Blu-ray Disc players==

Before the AVCHD standard has been finalized, end users could master high definition content in Blu-ray format (BDMV) on either BD-R/BD-RE discs or regular DVD discs. At one point, the Blu-ray Disc Association was considering separating studio content and home-made content using different folders, namely BDMV for studios and HDMV or BDAV for home use. This idea did not seem to get a lot of traction.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-118220.html
|title=AVCHD compatibility testing |publisher=Doom9.com
|year=2006 |month=November }}</ref> Instead, AVCHD is being offered as the means of distributing amateur high definition video. Compared to Blu-ray format, AVCHD discs use DVD media, simpler menus, AVC encoding only and data rate capped at 18 Mbit/s.

Being creators of AVCHD, Sony and Panasonic are keen to support AVCHD discs in their Blu-ray players. In particular, [[Sony BDP-S1]], Sony BDP-S300, [[Panasonic DMP-BD10]], [[Panasonic DMP-BD30K|Panasonic DMP-BD30]], [[Panasonic DMP-BD35]] and the [[PLAYSTATION 3]] can play AVCHD discs. Other manufacturers do not provide reliable AVCHD support in their products. For example, Samsung removed support for both "BDMV on DVD" and "AVCHD on DVD" in a recent firmware release 2.3 for the [[Samsung BD-P1200|BD-P1200]] player.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13746816#post13746816
|title=Samsung BDP1200 discussion |publisher=avsforum.com |date=2008-04-28
|author="02fx4dude" }}</ref> The removed features were not added back in the subsequent firmware releases. Samsung's somewhat newer (July 2007) BD-P1400 player<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13370676#post5374
|title=Samsung BDP1400 Discussion Thread|publisher=avsforum.com |date=2008-03-13
|author="SRussell" }}</ref> is able to play back AVCHD content, at least as of firmware release 1.6.

==Hardware Products==
===Canon===
* HR10 (MiniDVD)
* 2007: [[Canon HG10|HG10]] (40 GB HDD)
* April 2008: [[Canon HF10|HF10]] (SDHC, built-in 16GB flash memory), [[Canon HF100|HF100]] (SDHC)
* September 2008: HF11 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HG20 (60GB HDD, SDHC), HG21 (120GB HDD, SDHC)
* January 2009: HF S10 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF S100 (SDHC), HF20 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF200 (SDHC)

===JVC===
* June 2008: GZ-HD10 (HDD, MicroSDHC), GZ-HD30/GZ-HD40(HDD, MicroSDHC card, dual AVCHD and [[MOD and TOD (video format)|TOD]] recording)
* January 2009: GZ-HD320 (120 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HD300 (60 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HM200 (dual SDHC)
* February 2009: GZ-X900 (SD/SDHC card)

===Panasonic===

* HDC-DX1 (MiniDVD), [[Panasonic HDC-SD1|HDC-SD1]] ([[Secure_Digital_Card#SDHC|SDHC]])
* HDC-SD3 (SDHC, available in Japan only)
* AG-HSC1U (SDHC, comes with portable 40 GB HDD storage)
* July 2007: HDC-SD5 (SDHC), HDC-SX5 (MiniDVD, SDHC){{Fact|date=August 2008}}
* HDC-SD7 (SDHC)
* January 2008: HDC-SD9 (SDHC), HDC-HS9 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=215166&modelNo=Content01052008070307494&surfModel=Content01052008070307494
|title=Panasonic unveils two new AVCHD camcorders with new face detection and intelligent shooting guide
|date=2008-01-06 |location=Las Negas, NV, USA |publisher=Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
}}</ref>
* April 2008: AG-HMC70 (SDHC)<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=226164&modelNo=Content02192008094929330&surfModel=Content02192008094929330
|title=Panasonic ships industry's first professional AVCHD shoulder-mount camcorder
|date=2008-02-13 |location=Secausus, NJ, USA
|publisher=Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
}}</ref>
* June 2008: HDC-SD100 (SDHC), HDC-HS100 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=260737&modelNo=Content06182008020838075&surfModel=Content06182008020838075
|title=Panasonic introduces two first AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system
|publisher=Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
|date=2008-06-18 |location=Secausus, NJ, USA
}}</ref>
* September 2008: AG-HMC150 (SDHC)<ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://studiodaily.com/main/news/9774.html
|date=2008-07-31
|title=Panasonic unveils pricing and ship date for the AG-HMC150 camcorder
|publisher=Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company
}}</ref>
* January 2009: HDC-HS300 (120 GB HDD), HDC-HS200 (80 GB HDD), HDC-TM300 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD200 (SDHC).
* April 2009 (expected availability) DMC-ZS3 (AVCHD Lite), DMC TS1 (AVCHD Lite)

===Sony===

* September 2006: HDR-UX1 (DVD), HDR-UX3/UX5 (DVD), HDR-UX7 (DVD)
* October 2006: [[Sony_camcorders#Sony_HDR-SR1|HDR-SR1]] (30 GB HDD)
* June 2007: HDR-SR5 (40 GB HDD), HDR-SR7 (60 GB HDD)
* July 2007: HDR-SR5C (100 GB HDD), HDR-SR8 (100 GB HDD)
* Summer 2007: [[Sony_camcorders#Sony_HDR_CX7|HDR-CX7]] (Memory Stick Duo)
* March 2008: HDR-SR10 (40GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR11 (60 GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR12 (120 GB HDD, Memory Stick)
* HDR-TG1/TG3 (Memory Stick Duo)
* August 2008: HDR-CX12 (Memory Stick Duo)

==Software==
===Converting===
* [[FFDshow]] is a free, Open Source collection of codecs, including AVCHD.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm
|title=FFDshow
|publisher=AfterDawn Ltd.}}</ref>
* Another product is [[CoreAVC]], a reasonably cheap and quick h.264 decoder for Windows, which can decode AVCHD as well as a variety of other h.264 formats.
* Nero Vision can convert AVCHD files to other formats such as MPEG-2 or AVI and can import them for use in video editing projects. Nero Vision can also export Sony's M2TS format to MPEG-4 files that can be viewed by Quicktime 7.
* There is a [[transcode]]r to convert AVCHD into P2, which is a format you can import into Avid's MXF file format. The transcoder was created by Main Concept and is distributed free of charge by Panasonic. Version 1.1 and earlier will convert AVCHD media from any camera, while version 1.2 and higher is locked to only work with AVCHD media created with Panasonic cameras.
* Latest version VAIO Editing Components that pre-loaded with Sony VAIO PCs can serve as a plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro 2 to support AVC-HD import/export and editing.
* DVDFlick is a free, Open Source Application for burning to DVD <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.dvdflick.net/
|title=DVD Flick
}}</ref>

===Editing===
The following video-editing software features support for the AVCHD format:
* [[Adobe_Premiere_Pro|Adobe Premiere Pro]] (from version CS4 onward; support not included in the trial version - activation must occur to gain AVCHD support)
* [[Adobe_Premiere_Elements|Adobe Premiere Elements]] (from version 7 onward)
* Apple's [[Final Cut Express|Final Cut Express 4]], [[Final Cut Pro|Final Cut Pro 6.0.1]], and [[iMovie|iMovie '08]] (iMovie is bundled with all new Apple computers, Final Cut Express and Pro are sold separately) do not support editing of AVCHD clips directly. Imported AVCHD clips are auto-converted into the Apple Intermediate Codec format, which requires more hard disk space (40GB per hour as opposed to 13.5GB per hour for Standard Definition DV) and a more powerful and up to date machine (Mac OS X 10.5 and an Intel Mac). Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 "logs and transfers" the footage from AVCHD to AppleProRes by default and also gives the option of converting to the Apple Intermediate Codec. It does not allow native transferfing of the *.m2ts clips nor directly editing them.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/Final_Cut_Express_4_User_Manual.pdf
|title=Final Cut Express 4 User Manual |format=PDF |publisher=Apple Inc. |year=2007 |location=Cupertino, CA, USA
}} Search for "AVCHD".</ref>
* Cyberlink Power Director 7
* [[Xpress Pro|Avid Xpress Pro]], [[Media Composer|Avid Media Composer]]
* Grass Valley's [[Edius]] 5.0
* Dayang's [[Montage Extreme]] [ME] 1.2
* [[Nero Burning ROM|Nero 7 Ultra Edition Enhanced]] and Nero 8 Ultra Edition are software suites which contains the AVCHD editor, found in Nero Vision. Also included in this suite is Nero Showtime, which plays AVCHD files natively. Edited video can also be burned to DVD discs in AVCHD format for playback on hardware players or in Blu-ray format.
* [[Pinnacle Studio|Pinnacle's Studio Plus 11, 12 and 12.1]]
* [[Sony Vegas|Sony Vegas 7.0e]]
* [[Sony Vegas|Vegas Pro 8]]
* [[Sony Vegas|Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 8]]
* [[Sony Vegas|Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9]]
* [[Kdenlive]] for Linux/BSD platforms

* Other developers have pledged their support but it may still take some time for the implementation.

See the [[comparison of video editing software]] for more information on these products.

===Open Source Codecs===
The following open source codecs can decode AVCHD files:
* ''ffdshow tryouts'', revision 1971 May 23 2008, will decode AVC (H.264) format video.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ffdshow-tryout.sourceforge.net/
|title=ffdshow tryouts: The Official Website
}}</ref>

==Specifications==

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="5" | Video
|-
! Video signal
| 1080/60i

1080/50i

1080/24p
| 720/60p

720/50p

720/24p
| 480/60i
| 576/50i
|-
!Frame size in pixels
| 1920×1080

1440×1080
| 1280 x 720
| 720×480
| 720×576
|-
!Frame aspect ratio
|colspan="2" | 16:9
|colspan="2" | 4:3, 16:9
|-
! Video Compression
|colspan="4" | [[H.264/MPEG-4 AVC|MPEG-4 AVC/H.264]] (Main Profile Level-4.0 or High Profile Level-4.1, depending on vendor)
|-
! Luminance sampling frequency
| 74.25 MHz

55.7 MHz
| 74.25 MHz
| 13.5 MHz
| 13.5 MHz
|-
! Chroma sampling format
|colspan="4" | [[Chroma subsampling#4:2:0|4:2:0]]
|-
! Quantization
|colspan="4" | 8 bits (both luminance and [[chrominance]])
|-
!colspan="5" | Audio
|-
! Compression
|colspan="2" | Dolby Digital ([[Dolby Digital|AC-3]])
|colspan="2" | Linear [[PCM]]
|-
! Compressed audio bitstream rate
|colspan="2" | 64 to 640 kbit/s
|colspan="2" | 1.5 Mbit/s (2 channels)
|-
! Audio mode
|colspan="2" | 1-5.1 channels
|colspan="2" | 1-7.1 channels
|-
!colspan="5" | System
|-
! Stream type
|colspan="4" | MPEG-2 [[Transport stream#Modifications of transport stream specification for random-access media (M2TS)|Transport stream]]
|-
! System data rate
|colspan="4" | up to 24 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to ''H264 High-Profile, Level 4.1'')

up to 17 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to ''H264 Main-Profile, Level 4.0'')

up to 18 Mbit/s for DVD media
|-
! File extension (generally)
|colspan="4" | mts (on camcorder), m2ts (after import to computer)
|-
! Media
|colspan="4" | 8 cm optical media (DVD)

SD/SDHC Memory Card

"Memory Stick"

Built-in hard-disk or flash Media
|}

==See also==
*[[Blu-ray Disc#AVCREC|AVCREC]]: a standard to allow recording AVC encoded, Blu-ray Disc compatible HD content on ordinary DVD discs.
*[[Comparison of video editing software]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.avchd-info.org/ AVCHD Official Consortium Web site]

{{Video storage formats}}

[[Category:Video codecs]]
[[Category:80 mm discs]]
[[Category:High-definition television]]
[[Category:Video storage]]

[[de:Advanced Video Codec High Definition]]
[[es:AVCHD]]
[[fr:AVCHD]]
[[ko:AVCHD]]
[[it:AVCHD]]
[[ja:AVCHD]]
[[no:AVCHD]]
[[pl:Advanced Video Codec High Definition]]
[[pt:AVCHD]]
[[ru:AVCHD]]
[[fi:AVCHD]]
[[sv:AVCHD]]
[[th:เอวีซีเอชดี]]
[[uk:Advanced Video Codec High Definition]]
[[zh:AVCHD]]

Amiga software

2009-01-20T03:24:50Z

Spellcoder: some work on music part (on trackers and the mod fileformat)

{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}
{{cleanup|date=March 2008}}

'''Amiga software''' covers a wide range of [[software]] for the [[Amiga]] computer, both productivity and [[Video game|games]], both commercial and hobbyist. The Amiga software market was particularly active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has since the period 1996/1999 dwindled into almost only a hobbyist scene.

During its lifetime, the number of applications made available for the Amiga was in excess of 2,000, with over 10,000 utilities{{ref num|Aminet_Statistics|1}} (these utilities are almost all collected into [[Aminet]] major repository). However, it was perceived as a games machine from outside its community of experienced and professional users. In fact, there were also more than 12,000 games available for Amiga{{ref num|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site|2}}{{ref num|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site|3}}{{ref num|Obligement_Amiga_Site|4}}

Some Amiga programs were ported to other platforms or inspired new programs still used today, such as those aimed at 3D rendering or audio creations, e.g. [[Lightwave]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]], whose development started for the Amiga platform only. The first multimedia word processors for Amiga, such as [[TextCraft]], [[Scribble!]], and [[Wordworth (word processor)|Wordworth]], were the first on the market to allow implement full-colour [[WYSIWYG]] (with other platforms still only implementing black and white previews) and even allowing the embedding of audio files.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Programs are still being developed for [[AmigaOS]] classic and [[AmigaOS 4]] and related operating systems, [[MorphOS]] and [[AROS]].

==Productivity software==
{{main|Amiga productivity software}}

The article splitted section covers: Graphics, Video, Design and CAD Software, Graphic Utilities; Vector Graphics programs and converters; Amiga based Word Processors; some Amiga advanced Text Editors, with programming facilities and features for basic formatting of huge text files, lists of programs, advanced script programs; Amiga Database and Spreadsheets; Science, Entertainment and Special use programs: Entertainment for kids and adults; Fractals, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence; Route Planning; Personal Organizer, Notebook, Diary software; Personal Budget, Home Banking, Accounts; Software for special purposes.

==Support and Maintenance Utilities==
{{main|Amiga support and maintenance software}}

The article splitted section covers: Commodities and Utilities; Hard Disk Partitioning; Diagnostic Tools; Vga Promoting Tools for ancient Amiga Software with TV resolution graphic screens; Game loaders for storing and autoloading from Hard Disks the original Amiga, autostarting non standard Floppy Disks; Disk Copiers; Backup and Recovery Tools, Archives and Compression Utilities; Command Line Interfaces and Text-Based Shells; Amiga graphical GUI interfaces with [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] paradigm; Amiga Advanced Graphics Systems; PostScript; TrueType Fonts, Color Fonts and Anim Fonts; Font Designer Software; Amiga Advanced Audio System; native, external, widely common used, and third party Filesystems; Datatypes; MultiView; MIME types; USB stacks; Firewire stacks (IEEE 1394); Printer Drivers; Video digitizers; Graphic Tablets; Scanner Drivers; Genlocks, Chroma-Key, signal video inverters; InfraRed Devices and remote controls; WiFi and Bluetooth Devices; Special devices.

==Music==
[Section to be developed]

Amiga [[Instant Music (software)|Instant Music]], [[Deluxe Music Construction Set|DMCS]] (DeLuxe Music) 1 and 2, [[Music-X]], [[TigerCub]], [[Synthia]], [[Dr. T's KCS]], [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Bars and Pipes]] (from [[Blue Ribbon Soundworks]], a firm which was bought from [[Microsoft]] and it is now part of its group. Bars and Pipes internal structure then inspired to create audio streaming data passing of [[DirectX]] libraries), AEGIS [[Audio Master]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], AEGIS [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]] (a.k.a. SFX), [[Audio Sculpture]], [[Audition 4]] from [[SunRize Industries]], [[SuperJAM!]], [[HD-Rec]], Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], [[RockBEAT]] [[drum machine]].

===Audio Digitizers Software===
Together with the well known [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]], [[Audition 4]], [[HD-Rec]], and Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], there were also lots of Amiga software to pilot digitzers such as [[GVP DSS8 Plus]] 8bit audio sampler/digitizer for Amiga, [[Sunrize]] [[Sunrize AD512|AD512]] and [[Sunrize AD516|AD516]] professional 12 and 16-bit DSP sound cards for the Amiga that included [[Studio-16]] as standard software, [[Soundstage Amiga Soundcard|Soundstage]] professional 20-bit DSP expansion sound card for the Amiga, [[Aura]] 12-bit sound sampler which is connected to the [[PC Card|PCMCIA]] port of Amiga A600 and Amiga A1200 models, and the [[Concierto]] 16-bit sound card optional module to be added to the Picasso IV graphic card, etcetera.

===Mod music file format===
Starting from 1987 with the release of [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], trackers became a new type of music programs which spawned the mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music. After [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]] many clones (which often were reverse engineered and improved) appeared, including [[Noisetracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[ProTracker]]. Also many deratives appeared, amongst which [[Octamed]] and [[Oktalizer]].

In those times (and mainly in the period from 1987/88 to 1994/95) when Amiga audio was far superior to any other platform, PC compatible systems begun to be equipped with 8 bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used on PC computers and were considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to the creation of the so-called [[MOD-scene]] which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Eventually the PC world evolved to 16 bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games such as [[Worms (computer game)|Worms]] supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.

Some trackers can use both sampled sounds and can synthesize sounds. [[AHX]] and [[Hively Tracker]] are special trackers in that they can't use samples, but can synthesize the sound created by Commodore 64 computers.

Some modern Amiga trackers are: [[Digibooster Pro]] and [[Hively Tracker]].

Development of popular Amiga tracker OctaMED SoundStudio was handed over to a third party several times but the first two parties failed to produce result. A third attempt at creating an update will be undertaken by the current developer of Bars 'n Pipes.

====mod format limitations====
Initially trackers (and the mod format) were limited to 4 channel, 8 bit audio (due to restrictions of the Amiga's soundchip) and 15 (and later 31) sampled instruments. By using software mixing some trackers archieved 6, 7 or 8 channel sound at the cost of CPU time and audio quality.
Modern trackers can handle 128+ channel, 16 bit audio quality and can often handle up to 256 instruments. Some even support software synthesizer plugins as instruments.

===Speech synthesis===
The original Amiga was launched with [[speech synthesis]] software, developed by [[Softvoice, Inc.]] [http://www.text2speech.com/#aboutsv] This could be broken into three main components: ''narrator.device'', which could enunciate [[phonemes]] expressed as [[Arpabet]], ''translator.library'' which could translate English text to American English phonemes, and the ''SPEAK:'' handler, which command-line users could redirect output to, to have it spoken.

In the original 1.x AmigaOS releases, a ''Say'' program demo was included with [[AmigaBASIC]] programming examples. From the 2.05 release on, ''narrator.device'' and ''translator.library'' were no longer present in the operating system but could still be used if copied over from older disks.

The speak handler was not just a curiosity, or a gorgeous demonstration of capabilities of Amiga. In fact, the word processor [[ProWrite]] since its version 3.2 was able to read an entire document using the speech synthesizer for the benefit of blind users.

==Programming==
Although a large amount of programming languages and compilers where available for the Amiga, most development on the Amiga was done using C and C++, 680x0 assembler and various Basic dialects.

Many games and software, especially in the early years of the Amiga were written to directly access the hardware instead of using the operating system for graphics and input. Especially games could archieve much more fast and smooth gameplay, but at the cost of compatibility with newer Amiga models.

===Cross platform libraries and programming facilities===

Several Cross platform libraries and facilities are available for Amiga:
* [[Magic User Interface|MUI]] and [[ReAction GUI|ReAction]] are Amiga standard [[Object Oriented]] systems for building graphical interfaces.
* [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] libraries are widely used in all modern Amiga systems such as [[AmigaOS 4]] and [[MorphOS]]
* [[Cairo (Graphics)|Cairo]] support is build in AmigaOS 4.1
* [[Anti-Grain Geometry]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=showfile&file=development/library/graphics/agg2sdk_gpl.lha]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/clib2/ CLib2] is a portable [[ISO]] '[[ANSI C|C]]' (1994) [[runtime library]] for the Amiga.
* Allegro has been ported to [[AmigaOS 4]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=search&tool=simple&f_fields=allegro].
* an Amiga port of [[wxWidgets]] is being worked on [http://sourceforge.net/projects/wxwidget-aos/ wxWidgets-AOS].

Amiga in all those years lacked of a complete [[Integrated development environment|IDE]] (Integrated Development Environment). This fact changed in 2005/2006 with the creation of [[Cubic IDE]], based on Amiga modular text editor [[GoldED (text editor)|GoldED]].

===Brief List of Languages available on Amiga===

Assemblers: [[ASM-One Macro Assembler]], [[Devpac Assembler]], SEKA Assembler

Basic dialects: [[Amiga Basic]] from Microsoft, [[ABasic]], [[AC Basic Compiler]], [[GFA Basic]], [[HiSoft Basic]], [[AMOS BASIC]], [[Blitz Basic]]

C-compilers: [[Aztec C]], [[DICE]] C, [[VBCC]], [[Lattice C]], [[SAS/C]], [[Storm C]], [[HiSoft C++]]

PASCAL: [[Amiga Pascal]], [[Kick-Pascal]], [[High Speed Pascal]], [[Free Pascal]]

other languages: [[JForth]], Amiga [[Logo (programming language)|Logo]], [[Oberon (programming language)|Oberon]], [[Perl]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], Amiga [[AmigaE|E]], [[FALSE]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[REBOL]], [[ARexx]], Amiga [[GNU C++]], Amiga Installer standard program is a [[LISP]] interpreter, [[Modula-2]].

===Descriptions of some Languages===
ABasic was developed by [[MetaComCo]] and was bundled with [[AmigaOS]] 1.0 and 1.1.

[[AmigaOS]] 1.2 and 1.3 came bundled with [[AmigaBASIC]] (and a complete manual), which other than also being a BASIC dialect, was not related to ABasic.
[[AmigaBASIC]] was the only programming language (and the only tool) made by [[Microsoft]] for the Amiga computer. It's best feature was the lack of numbering lines of code, which was the first attempt in 1985/1986 to create a new kind of approach in programming. Microsoft then added this feature to all its development language tools.
As AmigaBASIC was bundled with so many Amiga's it was one of the most common used language in the early years.

Because Commodore wanted to save money, an update was never made for AmigaBasic. Due to AmigaBasic's vast number of known bugs and limitations it was
immediately discarded by professional Amiga developers in favour of other programming languages such as GFA BASIC, Aztec C, Lattice C, and then AMOS.
These bugs and limitations included:
* crashes on newer processors and AmigaOS versions newer than 1.3 in regard to using subroutines (gosub) and sound
* the editor being writted for [[NTSC]] and so not using the full screen on [[PAL]] screens (a TV standard very common in [[Europe]])
* commercially released BASIC's provided better IDE's and better (faster) performance

SEKA assembler was a popular tool among game and demo programmers in the early years of the Amiga. Later Devpac and AsmOne became popular assemblers.
SEKA, DevPac and AsmOne all were [[Integrated development environment|IDE's]] and included editor, assembler, linker and debugger.

Devpac Assembler by [[HiSoft]] was a professional assembler program that became the de facto standard for assembly programming. It was also able to be used for [[Cross-platform]] development for any other Motorola 68k-based device, such as the Atari ST. It was common for programs to be jointly written for the Amiga and Atari using Devpac on the Amiga. However, since the Atari ST was closest to the "lowest common denominator" of the two machines, programs would be tested on and built primarily for the ST.

===Application Building Tools===
Some Amiga programs were not languages, but complete application tools. Among these we remember: [[CanDO]], [[Amiga Vision]], [[Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit]] also known as SEUCK, [[3D Construction Kit]], [[3D Construction Kit II]] and in some degree [[The Director]] (BASIC-like language aimed at multimedia, presentations and animations) and AMOS itself could be considered application building tools, more than simple programming languages (even if SEUCK was aimed at games, 3D Construction series, could handle also some sort of 3D [[VRML]]). Other tools that can build independent applications or "self loading projects" were [[Scala Multimedia]] and actually [[Hollywood Designer]].

[[CanDO]] was one the first application building tools, capable of create programs for Amiga that were totally independent (compiled or full binary). It is based on a visual interface, after the style of modern "[[visual programming]]" approach to programming which became famous with [[Visual C]] and [[Visual Basic]] from Microsoft. Although CanDO has nothing in common with Visual C and Visual Basic, it is a program mouse driven with an icon approach, and its internal programming is really like an interactive flow chart of functions, just like VISUAL programming tools from Microsoft.

Like CanDO on Amiga, there is Amiga Vision. It is a VISUAL "application building" tool made by Commodore itself in the times of the launch of Amiga A3000, and it was released for free to all those who bought an Amiga A3000.

The Vision is more than a language aimed at multimedia, all icon driven, and the flow chart of the functions was realized all graphically, on a page in which the user could arrange visually all the icons each one representing a program function. Vision saved files (projects) could not be used as pure binaries. From this point of view, the Amiga Vision "application building" tool was an interpreted language.

The AmigaBasic created by Microsoft, CanDO, and then Amiga Vision inspired Microsoft itself to an approach to Visual programming with their line of Visual programming languages, such as Visual Basic and others.

==Multimedia==
[Section to be developed]
*'''Movie Players:''' Amiga [[Frogger (movie player)|Frogger]] Player, [[MooVID]] player, [[mPlayer]], [[MysticView]], [[VLC]] (actually only for MorphOS).
*'''Internet Radio:''' [[AmiAMP]] (similar to [[WinAMP]]), [[Ami NetRadio]].
*'''Music:''' [[Kaya (software)|Kaya]] Player, [[Hippo Player]], [[CD Player]], [[PlayOGG]], [[HivelyPlay]], [[Play16]]
*'''Special players and music modules players:''' [[XMP]] Module player, [[ADPlay]] for [[AdLib]] modules
*'''[[Midi]] players:''' [[TiMidity]], [[DG Midi Player]]
*'''Image viewers:''' [[Multiview]], [[Showgirls (image viewer)|Showgirls]], [[SView5]], [[ImageMagick]] Open Source set of image utilities, [[MiniShowPicture]], [[PicShow]], [[SimpleView]]
*'''Image Cataloguers:''' [[PhotoAlbum]]
*'''Flash SWF file editing:''' [[SWFTools]] Open Source set of flash .swf files utilities
*'''Encoding video:''' Amiga [[3ivx]], Amiga [[FFmpeg]], [[Mpeg2Enc]], [[Mpeg2vidcodec]], [[Mencoder]]
*'''Encoding audio:''' Amiga [[LAME]], [[FLAC]]
*'''PowerPoint ".PPT" files:''' [[PointRider]]
*'''[[Adobe]] ".PDF" files:''' [[APDF]]
*'''Digital cameras:''' [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ Canon toolbox] for [[Canon (company)|Canon]] photocameras, [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/PtpDigCam-V2.2-AOS PtpDigCam], [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ SimpleCam], [http://www.qdev.de/?printversion=1&location=amiga/amicamedia AmiCaMedia], [http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~remuss/digicam.html DigiCam], [http://www.squix.de/CamControl/index.html CamControl], [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/Camedia Camedia], [[IOSUB Digicam Package]], [[VHI Studio]] from [http://www.iospirit.com IoSpirit Software]
*'''TV cards players:''' [[Amithlon TV]], [[Visionary (software)|Visionary]], [[AmiTV]] and [http://www.geit.de/deu_valiantvision.html VailantVision] that is an evolution of Amihlon TV.
*'''Java:''' It exists only old versions of [[Kaffe]] [[Java programming language|Java]], from Amiga [[Geek Gadgets]] project. It worked under [[X11]] graphical engine but without [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]], or with very pre-release alpha versions of abstraction windows toolkits. Other ports such as [[AmJay]], [http://www.nordicglobal.com/daytona.html Daytona], [[Moca (JVM)|MOca]] and [[Merapi]] were dismissed before reaching a working status. Actually there is [[Jamiga]] and Amiga Java [[CACAO]] being developed. Amiga web browsers use their internal version of [[Javascript]], that loads Javascript code of web pages, but obviously can't load real Java applets.

====Drivers for Multimedia Devices and Special Input Functions====

*'''Multimedia Keyboards''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_mmkeyboard.html MMKeyboard]
*'''Hand-write recognition''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_meridian.html Meridian]. Meridian is a program that performs [[Handwriting recognition]] input function using a [[stylus]] like those equipping any [[tablet computer]], emulating the stylus by mouse.

=====Software for people suffering of diseases and limitations in movements=====
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html JakeBoard] input software and hardware system emulating keyboard and mouse to be used by persons with physical limitations and/or problems of movements. Software and hardware schemes are actually freely downloadable at [[BlackBeltSystems]] Amiga Software page on their [http://www.blackbeltsystems.com/ site].
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html Talkboard] similar to jakeboard, is a speech-generation system for persons with severe handicaps of movements and being dumb. It is also freely downloadable.

===CD Filesystem===
[[AsimCDFS]], [[AmiCDROM]], [[CDVDFS]], [[Allegro CDFS]], [[CacheCDFS]]

===CD and DVD Burning Programs===
[[BurnIt!]], [[Frying Pan (software)|Frying Pan]], [[MakeCD]], [[AmiDVD]], [[DVDRecord]], [[DVDAuthor]]

MakeCD is the first Amiga program to support [[Optical disc recording modes#CD Disc-At-Once|DAO]], (Disk At Once). Frying Pan is the first Amiga program capable to create [[DVD]]s. Now both FryingPAN and BurnIt! are capable to handle DVD.

====Disk Images and ISO files Management====
*[[ISO-o-Matic]] software is an Amiga CD Image converting software and supports: [[b5i]], [[Disk_image#.BIN|bin]], [[cdi]], [[.img#.IMG|img]] (normal/[[CloneCD]]), [[Disk image|mdf]] ([[Alcohol 120%]]), [[NRG (file format)|nrg]] ([[Nero Burning ROM]]), [[pdi]] and [[MagicISO|uif]].
*[[ISOMount]] mounts CD ISOs, PC floppy disk images and Amiga diskimages. Supports: Amiga (ADF) 880KB ether OFS and FFS), MS-DOS (IMG) from 360KB up to 2.88MB (Fat12), Atari ST 800KB (Fat12), MAC GS (file image of Mac has no extensions) 800KB (MFM encoded), CD (ISO) - every size, including floppy specific.
*[[MountVirtual]] and [[DiskImage]] programs for AmigaOS and MorphOS that mount CD ISO images as standard Amiga devices. Supports CD ISO images and Amiga diskimages such as ADF, DMS, IFS. MountVirtual requires DiskImage.
*[[VirtualCD]] uses ISOs and CD-Images as virtual drives
*[[mkisofs]] and [[Amkisofs]] are Amiga portings of MaKeISOFileSystem

(A complete list of Amiga ISO managements and converters is available on Aminet official Amiga repository)

===Data Streaming===

Most famous used Data streaming control program into Amiga it is [[Reggae]] for MorphOS system.

==Internet and communications==
{{main|Amiga Internet and communications software}}

This section splitted article covers: Modem software, Direct Connect, BBS managing, Fidonet, Packet Radio; Prestel, Videotel, Videotex, Minitel; Teletext, Televideo, Viewdata; FAX, Answering Machine and Voice Mail; ISDN; Networking and Ethernet protocols; World Wide Web (TCP/IP Stacks, Browsers, E-mail programs, Newsreaders, Internet Radio, Proxy server support programs, PPP, Telnet, Podcasting, Amiga RSS Feed, Distributed Net, Google Services, Amiga Instant Messaging and Chat, FTP and FTP Server, Weather casting news, Webcam supporting, Clock Synchronization, SMS Short Messages, Web development & HTTP Server, Peer2Peer, VCast (Online VCR), Youtube, Flash player, Monitoring webpages, Remote Desktop, SSL, SSH, etcetera.); Communication Protocols.

==Various Utilities==
''[[AmiDOCK]]'' is an Amiga utility that creates Application Launching Docks on the desktop. Amiga users begun to appreciate the Docking station at the age of the [[NeXT]] computer, and then due to [[Acorn Archimedes]] [[Risc OS]] docking station. Archimedes computers were popular in [[Great Britain]] because they were adopted in Schools of all grades. Young Amiga users (there were one 1,500,000 Amigas in United Kingdom) spotted docks on Archimedes at school and asked for it on Amiga also. Various docking stations were born as 3rd party hobby utilities and then officially integrated in AmigaOS classic since version 3.9.

''[[Directory Opus]]'' was a file utility program. When this software was released, the popular Amiga magazines proclaimed that it was the most important software ever released for the Amiga and "should be built into the operating system". Directory Opus went on to create a "replacement OS" for Workbench which overlaid itself upon the system.
It started as a file manager, and then became a complete GUI replacement for AmigaOS alternative to official Workbench.

Much shareware and free software was written for the Amiga and could be obtained via the [[Fred Fish]] disk series or from the [[Aminet]] software archive.

Because the custom chipset shares RAM (and therefore the memory bus) with the CPU, the CPU's throughput increases measurably if the display is disabled. Some processor-intensive software, such as 3D renderers, would disable the display during calculation in order to gain speed.

==Emulation==
{{main|Emulation on the Amiga}}

During the years, Amiga was able to emulate other platforms or game machines, or to run directly a vast range of other Operating Systems than AmigaOS. Noteworthy are:

[[Medusa (emulator)|Medusa]] ([[Atari ST]] emulator), [[Fusion (emulator)|Fusion]] ([[Macintosh]] Emulator), [[AMax]] and [[AMax II]], (Macintosh), [[GO64]] (Commodore [[C64]] emulator), [[Transformer (emulator)|Transformer]] and [[PCTask]] (it was an [[Intel]] 8088 emulator, all software based, capable to emulate Intel pc based platforms ranging from [[PC XT]] 4,7 and 7 MHz on Amiga500, up to [[80486]] running at maximum of 14MHz on A4000 and other accelerated Amigas), [[A64 (emulator)|A64 Package]] (C64), [[Amiga BBC Emulator]] [[Acorn BBC]] emulator, [[Atari ST Emulator]] (AtariST), [[Hatari]] (Atari ST and STE), [[Basilisk II]] (Macintosh) classic, [[Frodo (emulator)|Frodo]] (C64), [[PSXE]] (Sony [[Playstation]]), [http://members.shaw.ca/realstar/hugo/hugoindex.html Hu-Go!] ([[PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-16]]), [[FunnyMu]] ([[Creativision]], [[Funvision]], [[Wizzard]]), [[AmiArcadia]] ([[Arcadia 2001]], [[Interton VC 4000]], [[TVGC]]), etcetera.

[[VICE]] emulator it is modular based and capable to emulate all [[8-bit]] machines made by Commodore: C64 (a patch of VICE it is capable to emulate also [[C64 Direct-to-TV|C64dtv]], [[Commodore 128|C128]],[[Commodore PET|PET]] including [[Commodore CBM-II|CBM II version]] (but excluding "non-standard" features of SuperPET 9000), [[Commodore Plus/4|Plus4]],[[Commodore VIC-20|VIC-20]], etcetera.

==Games==
{{main|Amiga games}}
Games were an obvious application for the Amiga hardware, and thousands of games were produced. It was common for games to be produced for multiple formats in the days of the Amiga. For example, a game might be produced simultaneously for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and so on. Since the Amiga hardware was the most advanced of all, the games were usually developed on an Amiga, and the Amiga version would be the "gold standard" of the bunch.

==Demos==
{{main|Amiga demos}}
The Amiga was a focal point for the "[[Demoscene|demo scene]]". The Amiga thrived on [[public domain]], [[freeware]] and other not-for-profit development. The demo scene spearheaded development in multimedia programming techniques for the Amiga, such that it was ''de rigueur'' for the latest visual tricks, soundtrackers and 3D algorithms from the demo scene to end up being used in computer game development.

==Piracy==
Because the [[Amiga]] was one of the first game-oriented computers to feature a built-in floppy disk drive, which allowed for easy copying, it was also the scene of much [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]]. Many of the arguments pertaining to software piracy, [[intellectual property]] rights in software, the [[open source|open-source movement]], and so on, were well-developed in the Amiga scene by the early 1990s. It was not unusual for a demo group to be openly involved in software piracy.

Several anti-piracy measures were introduced during the Amiga's reign. One was the practise of distributing software on disks that contained secret "keys" on high-numbered tracks, which were officially unused. The Amiga disk drive officially only read tracks 0-79 from a double-density disk, but in reality it could easily read tracks 80 through 82. Official disk-imaging software would ignore these tracks, so that a duplicate of a boxed disk would not contain the key and the software would not work. A similar technique involved writing to sectors of the disk that would not normally be used. However, special copy software called "nibble" copiers appeared, which could exactly reproduce any disk an Amiga could read.

Publishers therefore turned to other methods. [[Dongle|Hardware dongle]]s were occasionally used for high-end software. Some software manufacturers would force a user to type a word from a particular page number and line number of the manual, meaning that successfully pirating software included [[photocopy]]ing a large quantity of text. Sometimes the text from which the key was chosen was designed so that photocopiers would produce illegible copies, meaning that pirates had to retype or handwrite the text, or else give up.

These and other schemes lead to pirates "[[Software cracking|cracking]]" software by altering a copy of the code bypassing the copy protection completely. There was not a protection scheme that was not eventually broken. One almost exception was the scheme on the Amiga version of [[Dragon's Lair]] which became the ''holy grail'' of crackers Worldwide. Eventually it was released in a modified format that circumvented the copy protection.

Piracy has been cited as a reason for the death of the Amiga, however, piracy was just as prolific on other platforms. For example many games for the [[ZX Spectrum]] could be copied using nothing more than an ordinary cassette recorder, leading to a massive culture of playground game trading - that machine however lived a long and fruitful life nonetheless. The same happened with C64 again with cassettes, or with PC software copied on floppy disks by organized piracy, or finally, in more recent ages, it happened with [[Playstation]] I and the enormous success it had due to the diffusion of pirated CD games even diffused as [[ISO image]]s on early pirate sites on internet together with PC software. There was a vast amount of Amiga software available in the marketplace and Commodore's mis-marketing of the machine is well documented as the reason for its own demise.

=="Decrunching"==
[[Image:Amiga decrunching.png|thumb|A single frame of a typical decrunching screen.]]
The Amiga's [[floppy disk drive]] allowed 880 kilobytes on a single disk, which was comparable to the memory of most Amigas (usually 512 kilobytes, often 1 megabyte). In order to increase the yield, the Amiga was one of the first computers to feature the widespread use of [[data compression|compression/decompression]] techniques. Also, the disk drive had a slow transfer rate, such that using processor-based decompression could actually lead to faster loading times than loading uncompressed data from disk. Early implementations of decompression code would write rapidly varying values to a [[video display register]], causing the screen's [[scanline]]s to break into multiple segments of colourful noise, which would become finer as the decrunching neared the end. This effect was [[psychedelic]], very easy to implement, so it stuck; it was pioneered on the [[Commodore 64]]. The use of "decrunching" became so ubiquitous that the effect was a standard. The effect was commonly seen in pirated games or [[Amiga demos|demos]].

'''Reference notes:'''

#{{note|Aminet_Statistics}}[http://aminet.net/tree Aminet tree], [http://aminet.net/statistics Aminet Statistics]
#{{note|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site}}[http://whdload.de/download.html Amiga WHDload site] download section reports that this program supports actually 1991 games (and it is far from creating a complete list of all Amiga games).
#{{note|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site}}[http://www.lemonamiga.com/ Lemon Amiga] (a program that adds [[MAME]]like interface to [[WinUAE]] Amiga emulator) reports in its statistics window section 3453 known Amiga games.
#{{note|Obligement_Amiga_Site}}[http://obligement.free.fr/articles/listejeuxamiga.php Obligement France] reported in [[january]] [[2009]] a list of 13,528 known Amiga Games, as divided in 12,416 original games, 953 games extensions or data disks for original games, 125 level editors or game editors for existing games, 34 loaders to let Amiga run some games created on other platforms.

==External links==
*[http://netzreport.googlepages.com/downloading_amiga_games_legally.html List of websites where Amiga game software can be downloaded legally and free of charge].
*[http://www.aminet.net Aminet] biggest repository of all public domain software for the Amiga Platform.
*[http://amiga.sourceforge.net/ Amiga SourceForge] Home of various programs such as: LAME and FLAC encoders, SWF Tools, Image Magick, Amiga 7-Zip, cURL, Anubis, OpenSSH, unRAR, WGet, PlayOGG and many other Amiga portings.
*[http://obligement.free.fr/liens.php Obligement page of Amiga Links] French site of the Amiga Online Magazine "Obligement".
*[http://amigareview.amiga.sk/software Amiga Review] Slovak site of all software for Amiga reviewed online.
*[http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/index.htm Chronology of Amiga starting from 1982] Site maintained by private user [[Ken Polsson]].
*[http://corp.intercom.it/~amigaws/ListaSW.html Productivity software for Amiga] Italian site of all important Productivity software, and maintained by Amiga user [[Massimo Tantignone]].
*[http://www.amiworld.it/programmi/listaprog.html AmiWorld list of Amiga software] Italian site reporting a list of all known productivity programs for Amiga.
*[http://www.novadesign.com/exoops/modules/freecontent/ NovaDesign Graphics Software for Amiga] ImageFX Studio & Aladdin 4D
*[http://www.classicamiga.com/component/option,com_jreviews/Itemid,172/ The classicamiga Software Directory] An Amiga directory project aiming to catalogue all known Amiga software.

{{AmigaOS}}

[[Category:Amiga software|*Amiga software]]
[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Lists of software]]

HiSoft Systems

2009-01-07T20:16:03Z

Spellcoder: fixed a link

'''Hisoft Systems''' was a software company based in the UK, creators of a range of programming tools for microcomputers in 1980s and 1990s. Their first products were Pascal and Assembler implementations for the NASCOM 1 and 2 kit-based computers, followed by Pascal and C for [[ZX Spectrum]] computers, as well as a [[BASIC]] compiler for this platform and a C compiler for CP/M. While compilers for the Spectrum were typical products for this platform, with integrated editor, compiler and runtime environment fitting in RAM together with program's source, the C compiler for CP/M was typical for this [[operating system]], batch operated, with separate compilation and linking stages.

Their most well-known products were the Devpac assembler IDE environments (earlier known as GenST and GenAm for the Atari ST and Amiga, respectively). The Devpac IDE was a full editor/assembler/debugger environment written entirely in 68k assembler and was a favourite tool among programmers on the Atari GEM platform.

HiSoft also sold HiSoft BASIC, Aztec C, Personal Pascal and FTL Modula-2.

The Business was created in 1980 and was based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire before relocating to the village of Greenfield in the same county.

In November 2001, HiSoft's staff were employed by Maxon Computer Limited, the UK arm of Maxon Computer GmbH. <ref>Maxon Computer GmbH, press release, November 8, 2001 [http://www.maxon.net/pages/dyn_files/dyn_htx/htx/149/00149_00149.html]</ref>

The HiSoft company today appears to be in a state of limbo, as their main page gives very little information. David Link, the founder and owner, ran a Café in the village of [[Emsworth]] for a year until July 2007.
<ref>Emsworth Café [http://www.emsworthcafe.co.uk/]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Software industry in China]]
*[[China Software Industry Association]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.hisoft.co.uk HiSoft Systems]
* [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=^HiSoft$&model=spectrum World of Spectrum HiSoft archive]

{{DEFAULTSORT:HiSoft}}
[[Category:ZX Spectrum]]
[[Category:Home computer software companies]]

Amiga software

2009-01-07T03:26:36Z

Spellcoder: 'cross platform libraries' list changed to bulleted list, some words linked to other wikipedia articles, fix in programming language list

{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}
{{cleanup|date=March 2008}}

'''Amiga software''' covers a wide range of [[software]] for the [[Amiga]] computer, both productivity and [[Video game|games]], both commercial and hobbyist. The Amiga software market was particularly active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has since the period 1996/1999 dwindled into almost only a hobbyist scene.

During its lifetime, the number of applications made available for the Amiga was in excess of 2,000, with over 10,000 utilities{{ref num|Aminet_Statistics|1}} (these utilities are almost all collected into [[Aminet]] major repository). However, it was perceived as a games machine from outside its community of experienced and professional users. In fact, there were also more than 3,000 games available for Amiga{{ref num|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site|2}}{{ref num|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site|3}}.

Some Amiga programs were ported to other platforms or inspired new programs still used today, such as those aimed at 3D rendering or audio creations, e.g. [[Lightwave]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]], whose development started for the Amiga platform only. The first multimedia word processors for Amiga, such as [[TextCraft]], [[Scribble!]], and [[Wordworth (word processor)|Wordworth]], were the first on the market to allow implement full-colour [[WYSIWYG]] (with other platforms still only implementing black and white previews) and even allowing the embedding of audio files.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Programs are still being developed for [[AmigaOS]] classic and [[AmigaOS 4]] and related operating systems, [[MorphOS]] and [[AROS]].

==Productivity software==
{{main|Amiga productivity software}}

The article splitted section covers: Graphics, Video, Design and CAD Software, Graphic Utilities; Vector Graphics programs and converters; Amiga based Word Processors; some Amiga advanced Text Editors, with programming facilities and features for basic formatting of huge text files, lists of programs, advanced script programs; Amiga Database and Spreadsheets; Science, Entertainment and Special use programs: Entertainment for kids and adults; Fractals, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence; Route Planning; Personal Organizer, Notebook, Diary software; Personal Budget, Home Banking, Accounts; Software for special purposes.

==Support and Maintenance Utilities==
{{main|Amiga support and maintenance software}}

The article splitted section covers: Commodities and Utilities; Hard Disk Partitioning; Diagnostic Tools; Vga Promoting Tools for ancient Amiga Software with TV resolution graphic screens; Game loaders for storing and autoloading from Hard Disks the original Amiga, autostarting non standard Floppy Disks; Disk Copiers; Backup and Recovery Tools, Archives and Compression Utilities; Command Line Interfaces and Text-Based Shells; Amiga graphical GUI interfaces with [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] paradigm; Amiga Advanced Graphics Systems; PostScript; TrueType Fonts, Color Fonts and Anim Fonts; Font Designer Software; Amiga Advanced Audio System; native, external, widely common used, and third party Filesystems; Datatypes; MultiView; MIME types; USB stacks; Firewire stacks (IEEE 1394); Printer Drivers; Video digitizers; Graphic Tablets; Scanner Drivers; Genlocks, Chroma-Key, signal video inverters; InfraRed Devices and remote controls; WiFi and Bluetooth Devices; Special devices.

==Music==
[Section to be developed]

Amiga [[Instant Music (software)|Instant Music]], [[Deluxe Music Construction Set|DMCS]] (DeLuxe Music) 1 and 2, [[Music-X]], [[TigerCub]], [[Synthia]], [[Dr. T's KCS]], [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Bars and Pipes]] (from [[Blue Ribbon Soundworks]], a firm which was bought from [[Microsoft]] and it is now part of its group. Bars and Pipes internal structure then inspired to create audio streaming data passing of [[DirectX]] libraries), AEGIS [[Audio Master]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], AEGIS [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]] (a.k.a. SFX), [[Audio Sculpture]], [[Audition 4]] from [[SunRize Industries]], [[SuperJAM!]], [[HD-Rec]], Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], [[RockBEAT]] [[drum machine]]. Amiga was worldwide famous for its [[.MOD]] files, that are for years a standard of reference for the computer music. These files started at 8bit audio quality, and are now available also at 16bit audio quality. Recent releases can deal with unlimited audio tracks. The programs that creates these files are called [[Trackers]]. We remember some: [[Ultimate Soundtracker]], Noisetracker, [[ProTracker]] [[Octamed]], [[Oktalyzer]], [[Delitracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[AHX]], [[Digibooster Pro]] and in the recent times [[Hively Tracker]] that is available for all Amiga platforms.

===Audio Digitizers Software===
Together with the well known [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]], [[Audition 4]], [[HD-Rec]], and Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], there were also lots of Amiga software to pilot digitzers such as [[GVP DSS8 Plus]] 8bit audio sampler/digitizer for Amiga, [[Sunrize]] [[Sunrize AD512|AD512]] and [[Sunrize AD516|AD516]] professional 12 and 16-bit DSP sound cards for the Amiga that included [[Studio-16]] as standard software, [[Soundstage Amiga Soundcard|Soundstage]] professional 20-bit DSP expansion sound card for the Amiga, [[Aura]] 12-bit sound sampler which is connected to the [[PC Card|PCMCIA]] port of Amiga A600 and Amiga A1200 models, and the [[Concierto]] 16-bit sound card optional module to be added to the Picasso IV graphic card, etcetera.

===Mod music file format===
Starting from 1987 with the release of a new generation of music programs like [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], [[Noisetracker]], [[ProTracker]] and others such as [[Octamed]] and [[Oktalizer]] Amiga was enhanced with the creation of mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music.

In those times (and mainly in the period from 1987/88 to 1994/95) when Amiga audio was far superior than any other platform, PC compatible systems begun to be equipped with 8 bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used in any PC computer and considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to creation of the so-called [[MOD-scene]] which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Later the PC world eventually evolved to 16 bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games such as [[Worms (computer game)|Worms]] supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.

===Speech synthesis===
The original Amiga was launched with [[speech synthesis]] software, developed by [[Softvoice, Inc.]] [http://www.text2speech.com/#aboutsv] This could be broken into three main components: ''narrator.device'', which could enunciate [[phonemes]] expressed as [[Arpabet]], ''translator.library'' which could translate English text to American English phonemes, and the ''SPEAK:'' handler, which command-line users could redirect output to, to have it spoken.

In the original 1.x AmigaOS releases, a ''Say'' program demo was included with [[AmigaBASIC]] programming examples. From the 2.05 release on, ''narrator.device'' and ''translator.library'' were no longer present in the operating system but could still be used if copied over from older disks.

The speak handler was not just a curiosity, or a gorgeous demonstration of capabilities of Amiga. In fact, the word processor [[ProWrite]] since its version 3.2 was able to read an entire document using the speech synthesizer for the benefit of blind users.

==Programming==
Although a large amount of programming languages and compilers where available for the Amiga, most development on the Amiga was done using C and C++, 680x0 assembler and various Basic dialects.

Many games and software, especially in the early years of the Amiga were written to directly access the hardware instead of using the operating system for graphics and input. Especially games could archieve much more fast and smooth gameplay, but at the cost of compatibility with newer Amiga models.

===Cross platform libraries and programming facilities===

Several Cross platform libraries and facilities are available for Amiga:
* [[Magic User Interface|MUI]] and [[ReAction GUI|ReAction]] are Amiga standard [[Object Oriented]] systems for building graphical interfaces.
* [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] libraries are widely used in all modern Amiga systems such as [[AmigaOS 4]] and [[MorphOS]]
* [[Cairo (Graphics)|Cairo]] support is build in AmigaOS 4.1
* [[Anti-Grain Geometry]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=showfile&file=development/library/graphics/agg2sdk_gpl.lha]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/clib2/ CLib2] is a portable [[ISO]] '[[ANSI C|C]]' (1994) [[runtime library]] for the Amiga.
* Allegro has been ported to [[AmigaOS 4]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=search&tool=simple&f_fields=allegro].
* an Amiga port of [[wxWidgets]] is being worked on [http://sourceforge.net/projects/wxwidget-aos/ wxWidgets-AOS].

Amiga in all those years lacked of a complete [[Integrated development environment|IDE]] (Integrated Development Environment). This fact changed in 2005/2006 with the creation of [[Cubic IDE]], based on Amiga modular text editor [[GoldED (text editor)|GoldED]].

===Brief List of Languages available on Amiga===

Assemblers: [[ASM-One Macro Assembler]], [[Devpac Assembler]], SEKA Assembler

Basic dialects: [[Amiga Basic]] from Microsoft, [[ABasic]], [[AC Basic Compiler]], [[GFA Basic]], [[HiSoft Basic]], [[AMOS BASIC]], [[Blitz Basic]]

C-compilers: [[Aztec C]], [[DICE]] C, [[VBCC]], [[Lattice C]], [[SAS/C]], [[Storm C]], [[HiSoft C++]]

PASCAL: [[Amiga Pascal]], [[Kick-Pascal]], [[High Speed Pascal]], [[Free Pascal]]

other languages: [[JForth]], Amiga [[Logo (programming language)|Logo]], [[Oberon (programming language)|Oberon]], [[Perl]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], Amiga [[AmigaE|E]], [[FALSE]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[REBOL]], [[ARexx]], Amiga [[GNU C++]], Amiga Installer standard program is a [[LISP]] interpreter, [[Modula-2]].

===Descriptions of some Languages===
ABasic was developed by [[MetaComCo]] and was bundled with [[AmigaOS]] 1.0 and 1.1.

[[AmigaOS]] 1.2 and 1.3 came bundled with [[AmigaBASIC]] (and a complete manual), which other than also being a BASIC dialect, was not related to ABasic.
[[AmigaBASIC]] was the only programming language (and the only tool) made by [[Microsoft]] for the Amiga computer. It's best feature was the lack of numbering lines of code, which was the first attempt in 1985/1986 to create a new kind of approach in programming. Microsoft then added this feature to all its development language tools.
As AmigaBASIC was bundled with so many Amiga's it was one of the most common used language in the early years.

Because Commodore wanted to save money, an update was never made for AmigaBasic. Due to AmigaBasic's vast number of known bugs and limitations it was
immediately discarded by professional Amiga developers in favour of other programming languages such as GFA BASIC, Aztec C, Lattice C, and then AMOS.
These bugs and limitations included:
* crashes on newer processors and AmigaOS versions newer than 1.3 in regard to using subroutines (gosub) and sound
* the editor being writted for [[NTSC]] and so not using the full screen on [[PAL]] screens (a TV standard very common in [[Europe]])
* commercially released BASIC's provided better IDE's and better (faster) performance

SEKA assembler was a popular tool among game and demo programmers in the early years of the Amiga. Later Devpac and AsmOne became popular assemblers.
SEKA, DevPac and AsmOne all were [[Integrated development environment|IDE's]] and included editor, assembler, linker and debugger.

Devpac Assembler by [[HiSoft]] was a professional assembler program that became the de facto standard for assembly programming. It was also able to be used for [[Cross-platform]] development for any other Motorola 68k-based device, such as the Atari ST. It was common for programs to be jointly written for the Amiga and Atari using Devpac on the Amiga. However, since the Atari ST was closest to the "lowest common denominator" of the two machines, programs would be tested on and built primarily for the ST.

===Application Building Tools===
Some Amiga programs were not languages, but complete application tools. Among these we remember: [[CanDO]], [[Amiga Vision]], [[Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit]] also known as SEUCK, [[3D Construction Kit]], [[3D Construction Kit II]] and in some degree [[The Director]] (BASIC-like language aimed at multimedia, presentations and animations) and AMOS itself could be considered application building tools, more than simple programming languages (even if SEUCK was aimed at games, 3D Construction series, could handle also some sort of 3D [[VRML]]). Other tools that can build independent applications or "self loading projects" were [[Scala Multimedia]] and actually [[Hollywood Designer]].

[[CanDO]] was one the first application building tools, capable of create programs for Amiga that were totally independent (compiled or full binary). It is based on a visual interface, after the style of modern "[[visual programming]]" approach to programming which became famous with [[Visual C]] and [[Visual Basic]] from Microsoft. Although CanDO has nothing in common with Visual C and Visual Basic, it is a program mouse driven with an icon approach, and its internal programming is really like an interactive flow chart of functions, just like VISUAL programming tools from Microsoft.

Like CanDO on Amiga, there is Amiga Vision. It is a VISUAL "application building" tool made by Commodore itself in the times of the launch of Amiga A3000, and it was released for free to all those who bought an Amiga A3000.

The Vision is more than a language aimed at multimedia, all icon driven, and the flow chart of the functions was realized all graphically, on a page in which the user could arrange visually all the icons each one representing a program function. Vision saved files (projects) could not be used as pure binaries. From this point of view, the Amiga Vision "application building" tool was an interpreted language.

The AmigaBasic created by Microsoft, CanDO, and then Amiga Vision inspired Microsoft itself to an approach to Visual programming with their line of Visual programming languages, such as Visual Basic and others.

==Multimedia==
[Section to be developed]
*'''Movie Players:''' Amiga [[Frogger (movie player)|Frogger]] Player, [[MooVID]] player, [[mPlayer]], [[MysticView]], [[VLC]] (actually only for MorphOS).
*'''Internet Radio:''' [[AmiAMP]] (similar to [[WinAMP]]), [[Ami NetRadio]].
*'''Music:''' [[Kaya (software)|Kaya]] Player, [[Hippo Player]], [[CD Player]], [[PlayOGG]], [[HivelyPlay]], [[Play16]]
*'''Special players and music modules players:''' [[XMP]] Module player, [[ADPlay]] for [[AdLib]] modules
*'''[[Midi]] players:''' [[TiMidity]], [[DG Midi Player]]
*'''Image viewers:''' [[Multiview]], [[Showgirls (image viewer)|Showgirls]], [[SView5]], [[ImageMagick]] Open Source set of image utilities, [[MiniShowPicture]], [[PicShow]], [[SimpleView]]
*'''Image Cataloguers:''' [[PhotoAlbum]]
*'''Flash SWF file editing:''' [[SWFTools]] Open Source set of flash .swf files utilities
*'''Encoding video:''' Amiga [[3ivx]], Amiga [[FFmpeg]], [[Mpeg2Enc]], [[Mpeg2vidcodec]], [[Mencoder]]
*'''Encoding audio:''' Amiga [[LAME]], [[FLAC]]
*'''PowerPoint ".PPT" files:''' [[PointRider]]
*'''[[Adobe]] ".PDF" files:''' [[APDF]]
*'''Digital cameras:''' [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ Canon toolbox] for [[Canon (company)|Canon]] photocameras, [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/PtpDigCam-V2.2-AOS PtpDigCam], [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ SimpleCam], [http://www.qdev.de/?printversion=1&location=amiga/amicamedia AmiCaMedia], [http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~remuss/digicam.html DigiCam], [http://www.squix.de/CamControl/index.html CamControl], [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/Camedia Camedia], [[IOSUB Digicam Package]], [[VHI Studio]] from [http://www.iospirit.com IoSpirit Software]
*'''TV cards players:''' [[Amithlon TV]], [[Visionary (software)|Visionary]], [[AmiTV]] and [http://www.geit.de/deu_valiantvision.html VailantVision] that is an evolution of Amihlon TV.
*'''Java:''' It exists only old versions of [[Kaffe]] [[Java programming language|Java]], from Amiga [[Geek Gadgets]] project. It worked under [[X11]] graphical engine but without [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]], or with very pre-release alpha versions of abstraction windows toolkits. Other ports such as [[AmJay]], [http://www.nordicglobal.com/daytona.html Daytona], [[Moca (JVM)|MOca]] and [[Merapi]] were dismissed before reaching a working status. Actually there is [[Jamiga]] and Amiga Java [[CACAO]] being developed. Amiga web browsers use their internal version of [[Javascript]], that loads Javascript code of web pages, but obviously can't load real Java applets.

====Drivers for Multimedia Devices and Special Input Functions====

*'''Multimedia Keyboards''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_mmkeyboard.html MMKeyboard]
*'''Hand-write recognition''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_meridian.html Meridian]. Meridian is a program that performs [[Handwriting recognition]] input function using a [[stylus]] like those equipping any [[tablet computer]], emulating the stylus by mouse.

=====Software for people suffering of diseases and limitations in movements=====
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html JakeBoard] input software and hardware system emulating keyboard and mouse to be used by persons with physical limitations and/or problems of movements. Software and hardware schemes are actually freely downloadable at [[BlackBeltSystems]] Amiga Software page on their [http://www.blackbeltsystems.com/ site].
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html Talkboard] similar to jakeboard, is a speech-generation system for persons with severe handicaps of movements and being dumb. It is also freely downloadable.

===CD Filesystem===
[[AsimCDFS]], [[AmiCDROM]], [[CDVDFS]], [[Allegro CDFS]], [[CacheCDFS]]

===CD and DVD Burning Programs===
[[BurnIt!]], [[Frying Pan (software)|Frying Pan]], [[MakeCD]], [[AmiDVD]], [[DVDRecord]], [[DVDAuthor]]

MakeCD is the first Amiga program to support [[Optical disc recording modes#CD Disc-At-Once|DAO]], (Disk At Once). Frying Pan is the first Amiga program capable to create [[DVD]]s. Now both FryingPAN and BurnIt! are capable to handle DVD.

====Disk Images and ISO files Management====
*[[ISO-o-Matic]] software is an Amiga CD Image converting software and supports: [[b5i]], [[Disk_image#.BIN|bin]], [[cdi]], [[.img#.IMG|img]] (normal/[[CloneCD]]), [[Disk image|mdf]] ([[Alcohol 120%]]), [[NRG (file format)|nrg]] ([[Nero Burning ROM]]), [[pdi]] and [[MagicISO|uif]].
*[[ISOMount]] mounts CD ISOs, PC floppy disk images and Amiga diskimages. Supports: Amiga (ADF) 880KB ether OFS and FFS), MS-DOS (IMG) from 360KB up to 2.88MB (Fat12), Atari ST 800KB (Fat12), MAC GS (file image of Mac has no extensions) 800KB (MFM encoded), CD (ISO) - every size, including floppy specific.
*[[MountVirtual]] and [[DiskImage]] programs for AmigaOS and MorphOS that mount CD ISO images as standard Amiga devices. Supports CD ISO images and Amiga diskimages such as ADF, DMS, IFS. MountVirtual requires DiskImage.
*[[VirtualCD]] uses ISOs and CD-Images as virtual drives
*[[mkisofs]] and [[Amkisofs]] are Amiga portings of MaKeISOFileSystem

(A complete list of Amiga ISO managements and converters is available on Aminet official Amiga repository)

===Data Streaming===

Most famous used Data streaming control program into Amiga it is [[Reggae]] for MorphOS system.

==Internet and communications==
{{main|Amiga Internet and communications software}}

This section splitted article covers: Modem software, Direct Connect, BBS managing, Fidonet, Packet Radio; Prestel, Videotel, Videotex, Minitel; Teletext, Televideo, Viewdata; FAX, Answering Machine and Voice Mail; ISDN; Networking and Ethernet protocols; World Wide Web (TCP/IP Stacks, Browsers, E-mail programs, Newsreaders, Internet Radio, Proxy server support programs, PPP, Telnet, Podcasting, Amiga RSS Feed, Distributed Net, Google Services, Amiga Instant Messaging and Chat, FTP and FTP Server, Weather casting news, Webcam supporting, Clock Synchronization, SMS Short Messages, Web development & HTTP Server, Peer2Peer, VCast (Online VCR), Youtube, Flash player, Monitoring webpages, Remote Desktop, SSL, SSH, etcetera.); Communication Protocols.

==Various Utilities==
''[[AmiDOCK]]'' is an Amiga utility that creates Application Launching Docks on the desktop. Amiga users begun to appreciate the Docking station at the age of the [[NeXT]] computer, and then due to [[Acorn Archimedes]] [[Risc OS]] docking station. Archimedes computers were popular in [[Great Britain]] because they were adopted in Schools of all grades. Young Amiga users (there were one 1,500,000 Amigas in United Kingdom) spotted docks on Archimedes at school and asked for it on Amiga also. Various docking stations were born as 3rd party hobby utilities and then officially integrated in AmigaOS classic since version 3.9.

''[[Directory Opus]]'' was a file utility program. When this software was released, the popular Amiga magazines proclaimed that it was the most important software ever released for the Amiga and "should be built into the operating system". Directory Opus went on to create a "replacement OS" for Workbench which overlaid itself upon the system.
It started as a file manager, and then became a complete GUI replacement for AmigaOS alternative to official Workbench.

Much shareware and free software was written for the Amiga and could be obtained via the [[Fred Fish]] disk series or from the [[Aminet]] software archive.

Because the custom chipset shares RAM (and therefore the memory bus) with the CPU, the CPU's throughput increases measurably if the display is disabled. Some processor-intensive software, such as 3D renderers, would disable the display during calculation in order to gain speed.

==Emulation==
{{main|Emulation on the Amiga}}

During the years, Amiga was able to emulate other platforms or game machines, or to run directly a vast range of other Operating Systems than AmigaOS. Noteworthy are:

[[Medusa (emulator)|Medusa]] ([[Atari ST]] emulator), [[Fusion (emulator)|Fusion]] ([[Macintosh]] Emulator), [[AMax]] and [[AMax II]], (Macintosh), [[GO64]] (Commodore [[C64]] emulator), [[Transformer (emulator)|Transformer]] and [[PCTask]] (it was an [[Intel]] 8088 emulator, all software based, capable to emulate Intel pc based platforms ranging from [[PC XT]] 4,7 and 7 MHz on Amiga500, up to [[80486]] running at maximum of 14MHz on A4000 and other accelerated Amigas), [[A64 (emulator)|A64 Package]] (C64), [[Amiga BBC Emulator]] [[Acorn BBC]] emulator, [[Atari ST Emulator]] (AtariST), [[Hatari]] (Atari ST and STE), [[Basilisk II]] (Macintosh) classic, [[Frodo (emulator)|Frodo]] (C64), [[PSXE]] (Sony [[Playstation]]), [http://members.shaw.ca/realstar/hugo/hugoindex.html Hu-Go!] ([[PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-16]]), [[FunnyMu]] ([[Creativision]], [[Funvision]], [[Wizzard]]), [[AmiArcadia]] ([[Arcadia 2001]], [[Interton VC 4000]], [[TVGC]]), etcetera.

[[VICE]] emulator it is modular based and capable to emulate all [[8-bit]] machines made by Commodore: C64 (a patch of VICE it is capable to emulate also [[C64 Direct-to-TV|C64dtv]], [[Commodore 128|C128]],[[Commodore PET|PET]] including [[Commodore CBM-II|CBM II version]] (but excluding "non-standard" features of SuperPET 9000), [[Commodore Plus/4|Plus4]],[[Commodore VIC-20|VIC-20]], etcetera.

==Games==
{{main|Amiga games}}
Games were an obvious application for the Amiga hardware, and thousands of games were produced. It was common for games to be produced for multiple formats in the days of the Amiga. For example, a game might be produced simultaneously for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and so on. Since the Amiga hardware was the most advanced of all, the games were usually developed on an Amiga, and the Amiga version would be the "gold standard" of the bunch.

==Demos==
{{main|Amiga demos}}
The Amiga was a focal point for the "[[Demoscene|demo scene]]". The Amiga thrived on [[public domain]], [[freeware]] and other not-for-profit development. The demo scene spearheaded development in multimedia programming techniques for the Amiga, such that it was ''de rigueur'' for the latest visual tricks, soundtrackers and 3D algorithms from the demo scene to end up being used in computer game development.

==Piracy==
Because the [[Amiga]] was one of the first game-oriented computers to feature a built-in floppy disk drive, which allowed for easy copying, it was also the scene of much [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]]. Many of the arguments pertaining to software piracy, [[intellectual property]] rights in software, the [[open source|open-source movement]], and so on, were well-developed in the Amiga scene by the early 1990s. It was not unusual for a demo group to be openly involved in software piracy.

Several anti-piracy measures were introduced during the Amiga's reign. One was the practise of distributing software on disks that contained secret "keys" on high-numbered tracks, which were officially unused. The Amiga disk drive officially only read tracks 0-79 from a double-density disk, but in reality it could easily read tracks 80 through 82. Official disk-imaging software would ignore these tracks, so that a duplicate of a boxed disk would not contain the key and the software would not work. A similar technique involved writing to sectors of the disk that would not normally be used. However, special copy software called "nibble" copiers appeared, which could exactly reproduce any disk an Amiga could read.

Publishers therefore turned to other methods. [[Dongle|Hardware dongle]]s were occasionally used for high-end software. Some software manufacturers would force a user to type a word from a particular page number and line number of the manual, meaning that successfully pirating software included [[photocopy]]ing a large quantity of text. Sometimes the text from which the key was chosen was designed so that photocopiers would produce illegible copies, meaning that pirates had to retype or handwrite the text, or else give up.

These and other schemes lead to pirates "[[Software cracking|cracking]]" software by altering a copy of the code bypassing the copy protection completely. There was not a protection scheme that was not eventually broken. One almost exception was the scheme on the Amiga version of [[Dragon's Lair]] which became the ''holy grail'' of crackers Worldwide. Eventually it was released in a modified format that circumvented the copy protection.

Piracy has been cited as a reason for the death of the Amiga, however, piracy was just as prolific on other platforms. For example many games for the [[ZX Spectrum]] could be copied using nothing more than an ordinary cassette recorder, leading to a massive culture of playground game trading - that machine however lived a long and fruitful life nonetheless. The same happened with C64 again with cassettes, or with PC software copied on floppy disks by organized piracy, or finally, in more recent ages, it happened with [[Playstation]] I and the enormous success it had due to the diffusion of pirated CD games even diffused as [[ISO image]]s on early pirate sites on internet together with PC software. There was a vast amount of Amiga software available in the marketplace and Commodore's mis-marketing of the machine is well documented as the reason for its own demise.

=="Decrunching"==
[[Image:Amiga decrunching.png|thumb|A single frame of a typical decrunching screen.]]
The Amiga's [[floppy disk drive]] allowed 880 kilobytes on a single disk, which was comparable to the memory of most Amigas (usually 512 kilobytes, often 1 megabyte). In order to increase the yield, the Amiga was one of the first computers to feature the widespread use of [[data compression|compression/decompression]] techniques. Also, the disk drive had a slow transfer rate, such that using processor-based decompression could actually lead to faster loading times than loading uncompressed data from disk. Early implementations of decompression code would write rapidly varying values to a [[video display register]], causing the screen's [[scanline]]s to break into multiple segments of colourful noise, which would become finer as the decrunching neared the end. This effect was [[psychedelic]], very easy to implement, so it stuck; it was pioneered on the [[Commodore 64]]. The use of "decrunching" became so ubiquitous that the effect was a standard. The effect was commonly seen in pirated games or [[Amiga demos|demos]].

'''Reference notes:'''

#{{note|Aminet_Statistics}}[http://aminet.net/tree Aminet tree], [http://aminet.net/statistics Aminet Statistics]
#{{note|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site}}[http://whdload.de/download.html Amiga WHDload site] download section reports that this program supports actually 1991 games (and it is far from creating a complete list of all Amiga games).
#{{note|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site}}[http://www.lemonamiga.com/ Lemon Amiga] (a program that adds [[MAME]]like interface to [[WinUAE]] Amiga emulator) reports in its statistics window section 3453 known Amiga games.

==External links==
*[http://netzreport.googlepages.com/downloading_amiga_games_legally.html List of websites where Amiga game software can be downloaded legally and free of charge].
*[http://www.aminet.net Aminet] biggest repository of all public domain software for the Amiga Platform.
*[http://amiga.sourceforge.net/ Amiga SourceForge] Home of various programs such as: LAME and FLAC encoders, SWF Tools, Image Magick, Amiga 7-Zip, cURL, Anubis, OpenSSH, unRAR, WGet, PlayOGG and many other Amiga portings.
*[http://obligement.free.fr/liens.php Obligement page of Amiga Links] French site of the Amiga Online Magazine "Obligement".
*[http://amigareview.amiga.sk/software Amiga Review] Slovak site of all software for Amiga reviewed online.
*[http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/index.htm Chronology of Amiga starting from 1982] Site maintained by private user [[Ken Polsson]].
*[http://corp.intercom.it/~amigaws/ListaSW.html Productivity software for Amiga] Italian site of all important Productivity software, and maintained by Amiga user [[Massimo Tantignone]].
*[http://www.amiworld.it/programmi/listaprog.html AmiWorld list of Amiga software] Italian site reporting a list of all known productivity programs for Amiga.
*[http://www.novadesign.com/exoops/modules/freecontent/ NovaDesign Graphics Software for Amiga] ImageFX Studio & Aladdin 4D
*[http://www.classicamiga.com/component/option,com_jreviews/Itemid,172/ The classicamiga Software Directory] An Amiga directory project aiming to catalogue all known Amiga software.

{{AmigaOS}}

[[Category:Amiga software|*Amiga software]]
[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Lists of software]]

Amiga software

2009-01-06T22:10:25Z

Spellcoder: fixed/improved 'descriptions of some languages' (mostly info on ABasic and AmigaBasic, popular assemblers)

{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}
{{cleanup|date=March 2008}}

'''Amiga software''' covers a wide range of [[software]] for the [[Amiga]] computer, both productivity and [[Video game|games]], both commercial and hobbyist. The Amiga software market was particularly active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has since the period 1996/1999 dwindled into almost only a hobbyist scene.

During its lifetime, the number of applications made available for the Amiga was in excess of 2,000, with over 10,000 utilities{{ref num|Aminet_Statistics|1}} (these utilities are almost all collected into [[Aminet]] major repository). However, it was perceived as a games machine from outside its community of experienced and professional users. In fact, there were also more than 3,000 games available for Amiga{{ref num|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site|2}}{{ref num|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site|3}}.

Some Amiga programs were ported to other platforms or inspired new programs still used today, such as those aimed at 3D rendering or audio creations, e.g. [[Lightwave]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]], whose development started for the Amiga platform only. The first multimedia word processors for Amiga, such as [[TextCraft]], [[Scribble!]], and [[Wordworth (word processor)|Wordworth]], were the first on the market to allow implement full-colour [[WYSIWYG]] (with other platforms still only implementing black and white previews) and even allowing the embedding of audio files.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Programs are still being developed for [[AmigaOS]] classic and [[AmigaOS 4]] and related operating systems, [[MorphOS]] and [[AROS]].

==Productivity software==
{{main|Amiga productivity software}}

The article splitted section covers: Graphics, Video, Design and CAD Software, Graphic Utilities; Vector Graphics programs and converters; Amiga based Word Processors; some Amiga advanced Text Editors, with programming facilities and features for basic formatting of huge text files, lists of programs, advanced script programs; Amiga Database and Spreadsheets; Science, Entertainment and Special use programs: Entertainment for kids and adults; Fractals, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence; Route Planning; Personal Organizer, Notebook, Diary software; Personal Budget, Home Banking, Accounts; Software for special purposes.

==Support and Maintenance Utilities==
{{main|Amiga support and maintenance software}}

The article splitted section covers: Commodities and Utilities; Hard Disk Partitioning; Diagnostic Tools; Vga Promoting Tools for ancient Amiga Software with TV resolution graphic screens; Game loaders for storing and autoloading from Hard Disks the original Amiga, autostarting non standard Floppy Disks; Disk Copiers; Backup and Recovery Tools, Archives and Compression Utilities; Command Line Interfaces and Text-Based Shells; Amiga graphical GUI interfaces with [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] paradigm; Amiga Advanced Graphics Systems; PostScript; TrueType Fonts, Color Fonts and Anim Fonts; Font Designer Software; Amiga Advanced Audio System; native, external, widely common used, and third party Filesystems; Datatypes; MultiView; MIME types; USB stacks; Firewire stacks (IEEE 1394); Printer Drivers; Video digitizers; Graphic Tablets; Scanner Drivers; Genlocks, Chroma-Key, signal video inverters; InfraRed Devices and remote controls; WiFi and Bluetooth Devices; Special devices.

==Music==
[Section to be developed]

Amiga [[Instant Music (software)|Instant Music]], [[Deluxe Music Construction Set|DMCS]] (DeLuxe Music) 1 and 2, [[Music-X]], [[TigerCub]], [[Synthia]], [[Dr. T's KCS]], [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Bars and Pipes]] (from [[Blue Ribbon Soundworks]], a firm which was bought from [[Microsoft]] and it is now part of its group. Bars and Pipes internal structure then inspired to create audio streaming data passing of [[DirectX]] libraries), AEGIS [[Audio Master]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], AEGIS [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]] (a.k.a. SFX), [[Audio Sculpture]], [[Audition 4]] from [[SunRize Industries]], [[SuperJAM!]], [[HD-Rec]], Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], [[RockBEAT]] [[drum machine]]. Amiga was worldwide famous for its [[.MOD]] files, that are for years a standard of reference for the computer music. These files started at 8bit audio quality, and are now available also at 16bit audio quality. Recent releases can deal with unlimited audio tracks. The programs that creates these files are called [[Trackers]]. We remember some: [[Ultimate Soundtracker]], Noisetracker, [[ProTracker]] [[Octamed]], [[Oktalyzer]], [[Delitracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[AHX]], [[Digibooster Pro]] and in the recent times [[Hively Tracker]] that is available for all Amiga platforms.

===Audio Digitizers Software===
Together with the well known [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]], [[Audition 4]], [[HD-Rec]], and Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], there were also lots of Amiga software to pilot digitzers such as [[GVP DSS8 Plus]] 8bit audio sampler/digitizer for Amiga, [[Sunrize]] [[Sunrize AD512|AD512]] and [[Sunrize AD516|AD516]] professional 12 and 16-bit DSP sound cards for the Amiga that included [[Studio-16]] as standard software, [[Soundstage Amiga Soundcard|Soundstage]] professional 20-bit DSP expansion sound card for the Amiga, [[Aura]] 12-bit sound sampler which is connected to the [[PC Card|PCMCIA]] port of Amiga A600 and Amiga A1200 models, and the [[Concierto]] 16-bit sound card optional module to be added to the Picasso IV graphic card, etcetera.

===Mod music file format===
Starting from 1987 with the release of a new generation of music programs like [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], [[Noisetracker]], [[ProTracker]] and others such as [[Octamed]] and [[Oktalizer]] Amiga was enhanced with the creation of mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music.

In those times (and mainly in the period from 1987/88 to 1994/95) when Amiga audio was far superior than any other platform, PC compatible systems begun to be equipped with 8 bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used in any PC computer and considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to creation of the so-called [[MOD-scene]] which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Later the PC world eventually evolved to 16 bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games such as [[Worms (computer game)|Worms]] supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.

===Speech synthesis===
The original Amiga was launched with [[speech synthesis]] software, developed by [[Softvoice, Inc.]] [http://www.text2speech.com/#aboutsv] This could be broken into three main components: ''narrator.device'', which could enunciate [[phonemes]] expressed as [[Arpabet]], ''translator.library'' which could translate English text to American English phonemes, and the ''SPEAK:'' handler, which command-line users could redirect output to, to have it spoken.

In the original 1.x AmigaOS releases, a ''Say'' program demo was included with [[AmigaBASIC]] programming examples. From the 2.05 release on, ''narrator.device'' and ''translator.library'' were no longer present in the operating system but could still be used if copied over from older disks.

The speak handler was not just a curiosity, or a gorgeous demonstration of capabilities of Amiga. In fact, the word processor [[ProWrite]] since its version 3.2 was able to read an entire document using the speech synthesizer for the benefit of blind users.

==Programming==
Although a large amount of programming languages and compilers where available for the Amiga, most development on the Amiga was done using C and C++, 680x0 assembler and various Basic dialects.

Many games and software, especially in the early years of the Amiga were written to directly access the hardware instead of using the operating system for graphics and input. Especially games could archieve much more fast and smooth gameplay, but at the cost of compatibility with newer Amiga models.

===Cross platform libraries and programming facilities===

Several Cross platform libraries and facilities are available for Amiga. The Amiga porting of [[wxWidgets]] is [http://sourceforge.net/projects/wxwidget-aos/ wxWidgets-AOS]. [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] libraries are widely used in all modern Amiga systems such as [[AmigaOS 4]]. and MorphOS. [[Cairo (Graphics)|Cairo]] vector libraries and [[Anti-Grain Geometry]] libraries are also available on Amiga. [[Magic User Interface|MUI]] and [[ReAction GUI|ReAction]] are Amiga standard [[Object Oriented]] systems for building graphical interfaces. [http://sourceforge.net/projects/clib2/ CLib2] is a portable [[ISO]] '[[ANSI C|C]]' (1994) [[runtime library]] for the Amiga. Allegro has been ported to [[AmigaOS 4]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=search&tool=simple&f_fields=allegro].

Amiga in all those years lacked of a complete [[Integrated development environment|IDE]] (Integrated Development Environment). This fact changed in 2005/2006 with the creation of [[Cubic IDE]], based on Amiga modular text editor [[GoldED (text editor)|GoldED]].

===Brief List of Languages available on Amiga===

Assemblers: [[ASM-One Macro Assembler]], [[High Speed Pascal]], [[HiSoft C++]], [[HiSoft Basic]], [[Devpac Assembler]]

Basic dialects: [[Amiga Basic]] from Microsoft, [[ABasic]], [[AC Basic Compiler]], [[GFA Basic]], [[AMOS BASIC]], [[Blitz Basic]]

C-compilers: [[Aztec C]], [[DICE]] C, [[VBCC]], [[Lattice C]], [[SAS/C]], [[Storm C]] (StormC3)

various other languages: [[Kick-Pascal]], [[JForth]], Amiga [[Logo (programming language)|Logo]], [[Amiga Pascal]], [[Oberon (programming language)|Oberon]], [[Perl]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], Amiga [[AmigaE|E]], [[FALSE]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[REBOL]], [[ARexx]], Amiga [[GNU C++]], Amiga Installer standard program is a [[LISP]] interpreter, [[Free Pascal]], [[Modula-2]].

===Descriptions of some Languages===
ABasic was developed by [[MetaComCo]] and was bundled with [[AmigaOS]] 1.0 and 1.1.

[[AmigaOS]] 1.2 and 1.3 came bundled with [[AmigaBASIC]] (and a complete manual), which other than also being a BASIC dialect, was not related to ABasic.
[[AmigaBASIC]] was the only programming language (and the only tool) made by [[Microsoft]] for the Amiga computer. It's best feature was the lack of numbering lines of code, which was the first attempt in 1985/1986 to create a new kind of approach in programming. Microsoft then added this feature to all its development language tools.
As AmigaBASIC was bundled with so many Amiga's it was one of the most common used language in the early years.

Because Commodore wanted to save money, an update was never made for AmigaBasic. Due to AmigaBasic's vast number of known bugs and limitations it was
immediately discarded by professional Amiga developers in favour of other programming languages such as GFA BASIC, Aztec C, Lattice C, and then AMOS.
These bugs and limitations included:
* crashes on newer processors and AmigaOS versions newer than 1.3 in regard to using subroutines (gosub) and sound
* the editor being writted for [[NTSC]] and so not using the full screen on [[PAL]] screens (a TV standard very common in [[Europe]])
* commercially released BASIC's provided better IDE's and better (faster) performance

SEKA assembler was a popular tool among game and demo programmers in the early years of the Amiga. Later Devpac and AsmOne became popular assemblers.
SEKA, DevPac and AsmOne all were [[Integrated development environment|IDE's]] and included editor, assembler, linker and debugger.

Devpac Assembler by [[HiSoft]] was a professional assembler program that became the de facto standard for assembly programming. It was also able to be used for [[Cross-platform]] development for any other Motorola 68k-based device, such as the Atari ST. It was common for programs to be jointly written for the Amiga and Atari using Devpac on the Amiga. However, since the Atari ST was closest to the "lowest common denominator" of the two machines, programs would be tested on and built primarily for the ST.

===Application Building Tools===
Some Amiga programs were not languages, but complete application tools. Among these we remember: [[CanDO]], [[Amiga Vision]], [[Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit]] also known as SEUCK, [[3D Construction Kit]], [[3D Construction Kit II]] and in some degree [[The Director]] (BASIC-like language aimed at multimedia, presentations and animations) and AMOS itself could be considered application building tools, more than simple programming languages (even if SEUCK was aimed at games, 3D Construction series, could handle also some sort of 3D [[VRML]]). Other tools that can build independent applications or "self loading projects" were [[Scala Multimedia]] and actually [[Hollywood Designer]].

[[CanDO]] was one the first application building tools, capable of create programs for Amiga that were totally independent (compiled or full binary). It is based on a visual interface, after the style of modern "[[visual programming]]" approach to programming which became famous with [[Visual C]] and [[Visual Basic]] from Microsoft. Although CanDO has nothing in common with Visual C and Visual Basic, it is a program mouse driven with an icon approach, and its internal programming is really like an interactive flow chart of functions, just like VISUAL programming tools from Microsoft.

Like CanDO on Amiga, there is Amiga Vision. It is a VISUAL "application building" tool made by Commodore itself in the times of the launch of Amiga A3000, and it was released for free to all those who bought an Amiga A3000.

The Vision is more than a language aimed at multimedia, all icon driven, and the flow chart of the functions was realized all graphically, on a page in which the user could arrange visually all the icons each one representing a program function. Vision saved files (projects) could not be used as pure binaries. From this point of view, the Amiga Vision "application building" tool was an interpreted language.

The AmigaBasic created by Microsoft, CanDO, and then Amiga Vision inspired Microsoft itself to an approach to Visual programming with their line of Visual programming languages, such as Visual Basic and others.

==Multimedia==
[Section to be developed]
*'''Movie Players:''' Amiga [[Frogger (movie player)|Frogger]] Player, [[MooVID]] player, [[mPlayer]], [[MysticView]], [[VLC]] (actually only for MorphOS).
*'''Internet Radio:''' [[AmiAMP]] (similar to [[WinAMP]]), [[Ami NetRadio]].
*'''Music:''' [[Kaya (software)|Kaya]] Player, [[Hippo Player]], [[CD Player]], [[PlayOGG]], [[HivelyPlay]], [[Play16]]
*'''Special players and music modules players:''' [[XMP]] Module player, [[ADPlay]] for [[AdLib]] modules
*'''[[Midi]] players:''' [[TiMidity]], [[DG Midi Player]]
*'''Image viewers:''' [[Multiview]], [[Showgirls (image viewer)|Showgirls]], [[SView5]], [[ImageMagick]] Open Source set of image utilities, [[MiniShowPicture]], [[PicShow]], [[SimpleView]]
*'''Image Cataloguers:''' [[PhotoAlbum]]
*'''Flash SWF file editing:''' [[SWFTools]] Open Source set of flash .swf files utilities
*'''Encoding video:''' Amiga [[3ivx]], Amiga [[FFmpeg]], [[Mpeg2Enc]], [[Mpeg2vidcodec]], [[Mencoder]]
*'''Encoding audio:''' Amiga [[LAME]], [[FLAC]]
*'''PowerPoint ".PPT" files:''' [[PointRider]]
*'''[[Adobe]] ".PDF" files:''' [[APDF]]
*'''Digital cameras:''' [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ Canon toolbox] for [[Canon (company)|Canon]] photocameras, [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/PtpDigCam-V2.2-AOS PtpDigCam], [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ SimpleCam], [http://www.qdev.de/?printversion=1&location=amiga/amicamedia AmiCaMedia], [http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~remuss/digicam.html DigiCam], [http://www.squix.de/CamControl/index.html CamControl], [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/Camedia Camedia], [[IOSUB Digicam Package]], [[VHI Studio]] from [http://www.iospirit.com IoSpirit Software]
*'''TV cards players:''' [[Amithlon TV]], [[Visionary (software)|Visionary]], [[AmiTV]] and [http://www.geit.de/deu_valiantvision.html VailantVision] that is an evolution of Amihlon TV.
*'''Java:''' It exists only old versions of [[Kaffe]] [[Java programming language|Java]], from Amiga [[Geek Gadgets]] project. It worked under [[X11]] graphical engine but without [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]], or with very pre-release alpha versions of abstraction windows toolkits. Other ports such as [[AmJay]], [http://www.nordicglobal.com/daytona.html Daytona], [[Moca (JVM)|MOca]] and [[Merapi]] were dismissed before reaching a working status. Actually there is [[Jamiga]] and Amiga Java [[CACAO]] being developed. Amiga web browsers use their internal version of [[Javascript]], that loads Javascript code of web pages, but obviously can't load real Java applets.

====Drivers for Multimedia Devices and Special Input Functions====

*'''Multimedia Keyboards''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_mmkeyboard.html MMKeyboard]
*'''Hand-write recognition''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_meridian.html Meridian]. Meridian is a program that performs [[Handwriting recognition]] input function using a [[stylus]] like those equipping any [[tablet computer]], emulating the stylus by mouse.

=====Software for people suffering of diseases and limitations in movements=====
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html JakeBoard] input software and hardware system emulating keyboard and mouse to be used by persons with physical limitations and/or problems of movements. Software and hardware schemes are actually freely downloadable at [[BlackBeltSystems]] Amiga Software page on their [http://www.blackbeltsystems.com/ site].
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html Talkboard] similar to jakeboard, is a speech-generation system for persons with severe handicaps of movements and being dumb. It is also freely downloadable.

===CD Filesystem===
[[AsimCDFS]], [[AmiCDROM]], [[CDVDFS]], [[Allegro CDFS]], [[CacheCDFS]]

===CD and DVD Burning Programs===
[[BurnIt!]], [[Frying Pan (software)|Frying Pan]], [[MakeCD]], [[AmiDVD]], [[DVDRecord]], [[DVDAuthor]]

MakeCD is the first Amiga program to support [[Optical disc recording modes#CD Disc-At-Once|DAO]], (Disk At Once). Frying Pan is the first Amiga program capable to create [[DVD]]s. Now both FryingPAN and BurnIt! are capable to handle DVD.

====Disk Images and ISO files Management====
*[[ISO-o-Matic]] software is an Amiga CD Image converting software and supports: [[b5i]], [[Disk_image#.BIN|bin]], [[cdi]], [[.img#.IMG|img]] (normal/[[CloneCD]]), [[Disk image|mdf]] ([[Alcohol 120%]]), [[NRG (file format)|nrg]] ([[Nero Burning ROM]]), [[pdi]] and [[MagicISO|uif]].
*[[ISOMount]] mounts CD ISOs, PC floppy disk images and Amiga diskimages. Supports: Amiga (ADF) 880KB ether OFS and FFS), MS-DOS (IMG) from 360KB up to 2.88MB (Fat12), Atari ST 800KB (Fat12), MAC GS (file image of Mac has no extensions) 800KB (MFM encoded), CD (ISO) - every size, including floppy specific.
*[[MountVirtual]] and [[DiskImage]] programs for AmigaOS and MorphOS that mount CD ISO images as standard Amiga devices. Supports CD ISO images and Amiga diskimages such as ADF, DMS, IFS. MountVirtual requires DiskImage.
*[[VirtualCD]] uses ISOs and CD-Images as virtual drives
*[[mkisofs]] and [[Amkisofs]] are Amiga portings of MaKeISOFileSystem

(A complete list of Amiga ISO managements and converters is available on Aminet official Amiga repository)

===Data Streaming===

Most famous used Data streaming control program into Amiga it is [[Reggae]] for MorphOS system.

==Internet and communications==
{{main|Amiga Internet and communications software}}

This section splitted article covers: Modem software, Direct Connect, BBS managing, Fidonet, Packet Radio; Prestel, Videotel, Videotex, Minitel; Teletext, Televideo, Viewdata; FAX, Answering Machine and Voice Mail; ISDN; Networking and Ethernet protocols; World Wide Web (TCP/IP Stacks, Browsers, E-mail programs, Newsreaders, Internet Radio, Proxy server support programs, PPP, Telnet, Podcasting, Amiga RSS Feed, Distributed Net, Google Services, Amiga Instant Messaging and Chat, FTP and FTP Server, Weather casting news, Webcam supporting, Clock Synchronization, SMS Short Messages, Web development & HTTP Server, Peer2Peer, VCast (Online VCR), Youtube, Flash player, Monitoring webpages, Remote Desktop, SSL, SSH, etcetera.); Communication Protocols.

==Various Utilities==
''[[AmiDOCK]]'' is an Amiga utility that creates Application Launching Docks on the desktop. Amiga users begun to appreciate the Docking station at the age of the [[NeXT]] computer, and then due to [[Acorn Archimedes]] [[Risc OS]] docking station. Archimedes computers were popular in [[Great Britain]] because they were adopted in Schools of all grades. Young Amiga users (there were one 1,500,000 Amigas in United Kingdom) spotted docks on Archimedes at school and asked for it on Amiga also. Various docking stations were born as 3rd party hobby utilities and then officially integrated in AmigaOS classic since version 3.9.

''[[Directory Opus]]'' was a file utility program. When this software was released, the popular Amiga magazines proclaimed that it was the most important software ever released for the Amiga and "should be built into the operating system". Directory Opus went on to create a "replacement OS" for Workbench which overlaid itself upon the system.
It started as a file manager, and then became a complete GUI replacement for AmigaOS alternative to official Workbench.

Much shareware and free software was written for the Amiga and could be obtained via the [[Fred Fish]] disk series or from the [[Aminet]] software archive.

Because the custom chipset shares RAM (and therefore the memory bus) with the CPU, the CPU's throughput increases measurably if the display is disabled. Some processor-intensive software, such as 3D renderers, would disable the display during calculation in order to gain speed.

==Emulation==
{{main|Emulation on the Amiga}}

During the years, Amiga was able to emulate other platforms or game machines, or to run directly a vast range of other Operating Systems than AmigaOS. Noteworthy are:

[[Medusa (emulator)|Medusa]] ([[Atari ST]] emulator), [[Fusion (emulator)|Fusion]] ([[Macintosh]] Emulator), [[AMax]] and [[AMax II]], (Macintosh), [[GO64]] (Commodore [[C64]] emulator), [[Transformer (emulator)|Transformer]] and [[PCTask]] (it was an [[Intel]] 8088 emulator, all software based, capable to emulate Intel pc based platforms ranging from [[PC XT]] 4,7 and 7 MHz on Amiga500, up to [[80486]] running at maximum of 14MHz on A4000 and other accelerated Amigas), [[A64 (emulator)|A64 Package]] (C64), [[Amiga BBC Emulator]] [[Acorn BBC]] emulator, [[Atari ST Emulator]] (AtariST), [[Hatari]] (Atari ST and STE), [[Basilisk II]] (Macintosh) classic, [[Frodo (emulator)|Frodo]] (C64), [[PSXE]] (Sony [[Playstation]]), [http://members.shaw.ca/realstar/hugo/hugoindex.html Hu-Go!] ([[PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-16]]), [[FunnyMu]] ([[Creativision]], [[Funvision]], [[Wizzard]]), [[AmiArcadia]] ([[Arcadia 2001]], [[Interton VC 4000]], [[TVGC]]), etcetera.

[[VICE]] emulator it is modular based and capable to emulate all [[8-bit]] machines made by Commodore: C64 (a patch of VICE it is capable to emulate also [[C64 Direct-to-TV|C64dtv]], [[Commodore 128|C128]],[[Commodore PET|PET]] including [[Commodore CBM-II|CBM II version]] (but excluding "non-standard" features of SuperPET 9000), [[Commodore Plus/4|Plus4]],[[Commodore VIC-20|VIC-20]], etcetera.

==Games==
{{main|Amiga games}}
Games were an obvious application for the Amiga hardware, and thousands of games were produced. It was common for games to be produced for multiple formats in the days of the Amiga. For example, a game might be produced simultaneously for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and so on. Since the Amiga hardware was the most advanced of all, the games were usually developed on an Amiga, and the Amiga version would be the "gold standard" of the bunch.

==Demos==
{{main|Amiga demos}}
The Amiga was a focal point for the "[[Demoscene|demo scene]]". The Amiga thrived on [[public domain]], [[freeware]] and other not-for-profit development. The demo scene spearheaded development in multimedia programming techniques for the Amiga, such that it was ''de rigueur'' for the latest visual tricks, soundtrackers and 3D algorithms from the demo scene to end up being used in computer game development.

==Piracy==
Because the [[Amiga]] was one of the first game-oriented computers to feature a built-in floppy disk drive, which allowed for easy copying, it was also the scene of much [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]]. Many of the arguments pertaining to software piracy, [[intellectual property]] rights in software, the [[open source|open-source movement]], and so on, were well-developed in the Amiga scene by the early 1990s. It was not unusual for a demo group to be openly involved in software piracy.

Several anti-piracy measures were introduced during the Amiga's reign. One was the practise of distributing software on disks that contained secret "keys" on high-numbered tracks, which were officially unused. The Amiga disk drive officially only read tracks 0-79 from a double-density disk, but in reality it could easily read tracks 80 through 82. Official disk-imaging software would ignore these tracks, so that a duplicate of a boxed disk would not contain the key and the software would not work. A similar technique involved writing to sectors of the disk that would not normally be used. However, special copy software called "nibble" copiers appeared, which could exactly reproduce any disk an Amiga could read.

Publishers therefore turned to other methods. [[Dongle|Hardware dongle]]s were occasionally used for high-end software. Some software manufacturers would force a user to type a word from a particular page number and line number of the manual, meaning that successfully pirating software included [[photocopy]]ing a large quantity of text. Sometimes the text from which the key was chosen was designed so that photocopiers would produce illegible copies, meaning that pirates had to retype or handwrite the text, or else give up.

These and other schemes lead to pirates "[[Software cracking|cracking]]" software by altering a copy of the code bypassing the copy protection completely. There was not a protection scheme that was not eventually broken. One almost exception was the scheme on the Amiga version of [[Dragon's Lair]] which became the ''holy grail'' of crackers Worldwide. Eventually it was released in a modified format that circumvented the copy protection.

Piracy has been cited as a reason for the death of the Amiga, however, piracy was just as prolific on other platforms. For example many games for the [[ZX Spectrum]] could be copied using nothing more than an ordinary cassette recorder, leading to a massive culture of playground game trading - that machine however lived a long and fruitful life nonetheless. The same happened with C64 again with cassettes, or with PC software copied on floppy disks by organized piracy, or finally, in more recent ages, it happened with [[Playstation]] I and the enormous success it had due to the diffusion of pirated CD games even diffused as [[ISO image]]s on early pirate sites on internet together with PC software. There was a vast amount of Amiga software available in the marketplace and Commodore's mis-marketing of the machine is well documented as the reason for its own demise.

=="Decrunching"==
[[Image:Amiga decrunching.png|thumb|A single frame of a typical decrunching screen.]]
The Amiga's [[floppy disk drive]] allowed 880 kilobytes on a single disk, which was comparable to the memory of most Amigas (usually 512 kilobytes, often 1 megabyte). In order to increase the yield, the Amiga was one of the first computers to feature the widespread use of [[data compression|compression/decompression]] techniques. Also, the disk drive had a slow transfer rate, such that using processor-based decompression could actually lead to faster loading times than loading uncompressed data from disk. Early implementations of decompression code would write rapidly varying values to a [[video display register]], causing the screen's [[scanline]]s to break into multiple segments of colourful noise, which would become finer as the decrunching neared the end. This effect was [[psychedelic]], very easy to implement, so it stuck; it was pioneered on the [[Commodore 64]]. The use of "decrunching" became so ubiquitous that the effect was a standard. The effect was commonly seen in pirated games or [[Amiga demos|demos]].

'''Reference notes:'''

#{{note|Aminet_Statistics}}[http://aminet.net/tree Aminet tree], [http://aminet.net/statistics Aminet Statistics]
#{{note|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site}}[http://whdload.de/download.html Amiga WHDload site] download section reports that this program supports actually 1991 games (and it is far from creating a complete list of all Amiga games).
#{{note|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site}}[http://www.lemonamiga.com/ Lemon Amiga] (a program that adds [[MAME]]like interface to [[WinUAE]] Amiga emulator) reports in its statistics window section 3453 known Amiga games.

==External links==
*[http://netzreport.googlepages.com/downloading_amiga_games_legally.html List of websites where Amiga game software can be downloaded legally and free of charge].
*[http://www.aminet.net Aminet] biggest repository of all public domain software for the Amiga Platform.
*[http://amiga.sourceforge.net/ Amiga SourceForge] Home of various programs such as: LAME and FLAC encoders, SWF Tools, Image Magick, Amiga 7-Zip, cURL, Anubis, OpenSSH, unRAR, WGet, PlayOGG and many other Amiga portings.
*[http://obligement.free.fr/liens.php Obligement page of Amiga Links] French site of the Amiga Online Magazine "Obligement".
*[http://amigareview.amiga.sk/software Amiga Review] Slovak site of all software for Amiga reviewed online.
*[http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/index.htm Chronology of Amiga starting from 1982] Site maintained by private user [[Ken Polsson]].
*[http://corp.intercom.it/~amigaws/ListaSW.html Productivity software for Amiga] Italian site of all important Productivity software, and maintained by Amiga user [[Massimo Tantignone]].
*[http://www.amiworld.it/programmi/listaprog.html AmiWorld list of Amiga software] Italian site reporting a list of all known productivity programs for Amiga.
*[http://www.novadesign.com/exoops/modules/freecontent/ NovaDesign Graphics Software for Amiga] ImageFX Studio & Aladdin 4D
*[http://www.classicamiga.com/component/option,com_jreviews/Itemid,172/ The classicamiga Software Directory] An Amiga directory project aiming to catalogue all known Amiga software.

{{AmigaOS}}

[[Category:Amiga software|*Amiga software]]
[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Lists of software]]

User:Spellcoder

2009-01-05T21:43:16Z

Spellcoder:

Hello, I'm from the Netherlands and I'm into web-development (design and coding), photography, cats and Amiga computers.

Some other misc info on me:
* in 2007 I've recieved my 'Bachelor of Art and Technology' (from Hogeschool Enschede/Netherlands)
* I work for a company which created webapplications using it's own framework and scripting language
* I maintain a WIKI on programming on Amiga computers since 2007 (http://amigacoding.com)

My personal website: [http://www.spellcoder.nl Spellcoder's Hideout] (not up to date)

Amiga software

2009-01-05T21:36:39Z

Spellcoder: editting parts on programming and divided summary of languages into assemblers,basic,c,various

{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}
{{cleanup|date=March 2008}}

'''Amiga software''' covers a wide range of [[software]] for the [[Amiga]] computer, both productivity and [[Video game|games]], both commercial and hobbyist. The Amiga software market was particularly active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has since the period 1996/1999 dwindled into almost only a hobbyist scene.

During its lifetime, the number of applications made available for the Amiga was in excess of 2,000, with over 10,000 utilities{{ref num|Aminet_Statistics|1}} (these utilities are almost all collected into [[Aminet]] major repository). However, it was perceived as a games machine from outside its community of experienced and professional users. In fact, there were also more than 3,000 games available for Amiga{{ref num|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site|2}}{{ref num|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site|3}}.

Some Amiga programs were ported to other platforms or inspired new programs still used today, such as those aimed at 3D rendering or audio creations, e.g. [[Lightwave]] and [[Blender (software)|Blender]], whose development started for the Amiga platform only. The first multimedia word processors for Amiga, such as [[TextCraft]], [[Scribble!]], and [[Wordworth (word processor)|Wordworth]], were the first on the market to allow implement full-colour [[WYSIWYG]] (with other platforms still only implementing black and white previews) and even allowing the embedding of audio files.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

Programs are still being developed for [[AmigaOS]] classic and [[AmigaOS 4]] and related operating systems, [[MorphOS]] and [[AROS]].

==Productivity software==
{{main|Amiga productivity software}}

The article splitted section covers: Graphics, Video, Design and CAD Software, Graphic Utilities; Vector Graphics programs and converters; Amiga based Word Processors; some Amiga advanced Text Editors, with programming facilities and features for basic formatting of huge text files, lists of programs, advanced script programs; Amiga Database and Spreadsheets; Science, Entertainment and Special use programs: Entertainment for kids and adults; Fractals, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence; Route Planning; Personal Organizer, Notebook, Diary software; Personal Budget, Home Banking, Accounts; Software for special purposes.

==Support and Maintenance Utilities==
{{main|Amiga support and maintenance software}}

The article splitted section covers: Commodities and Utilities; Hard Disk Partitioning; Diagnostic Tools; Vga Promoting Tools for ancient Amiga Software with TV resolution graphic screens; Game loaders for storing and autoloading from Hard Disks the original Amiga, autostarting non standard Floppy Disks; Disk Copiers; Backup and Recovery Tools, Archives and Compression Utilities; Command Line Interfaces and Text-Based Shells; Amiga graphical GUI interfaces with [[WIMP (computing)|WIMP]] paradigm; Amiga Advanced Graphics Systems; PostScript; TrueType Fonts, Color Fonts and Anim Fonts; Font Designer Software; Amiga Advanced Audio System; native, external, widely common used, and third party Filesystems; Datatypes; MultiView; MIME types; USB stacks; Firewire stacks (IEEE 1394); Printer Drivers; Video digitizers; Graphic Tablets; Scanner Drivers; Genlocks, Chroma-Key, signal video inverters; InfraRed Devices and remote controls; WiFi and Bluetooth Devices; Special devices.

==Music==
[Section to be developed]

Amiga [[Instant Music (software)|Instant Music]], [[Deluxe Music Construction Set|DMCS]] (DeLuxe Music) 1 and 2, [[Music-X]], [[TigerCub]], [[Synthia]], [[Dr. T's KCS]], [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Bars and Pipes]] (from [[Blue Ribbon Soundworks]], a firm which was bought from [[Microsoft]] and it is now part of its group. Bars and Pipes internal structure then inspired to create audio streaming data passing of [[DirectX]] libraries), AEGIS [[Audio Master]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], AEGIS [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]] (a.k.a. SFX), [[Audio Sculpture]], [[Audition 4]] from [[SunRize Industries]], [[SuperJAM!]], [[HD-Rec]], Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], [[RockBEAT]] [[drum machine]]. Amiga was worldwide famous for its [[.MOD]] files, that are for years a standard of reference for the computer music. These files started at 8bit audio quality, and are now available also at 16bit audio quality. Recent releases can deal with unlimited audio tracks. The programs that creates these files are called [[Trackers]]. We remember some: [[Ultimate Soundtracker]], Noisetracker, [[ProTracker]] [[Octamed]], [[Oktalyzer]], [[Delitracker]], [[Startrekker]], [[AHX]], [[Digibooster Pro]] and in the recent times [[Hively Tracker]] that is available for all Amiga platforms.

===Audio Digitizers Software===
Together with the well known [[Dr. T's Midi Recording Studio]], [[Pro Sound Designer]], [[Sonix]], [[SoundFX]], [[Audition 4]], [[HD-Rec]], and Amiga [[Audio Evolution]], there were also lots of Amiga software to pilot digitzers such as [[GVP DSS8 Plus]] 8bit audio sampler/digitizer for Amiga, [[Sunrize]] [[Sunrize AD512|AD512]] and [[Sunrize AD516|AD516]] professional 12 and 16-bit DSP sound cards for the Amiga that included [[Studio-16]] as standard software, [[Soundstage Amiga Soundcard|Soundstage]] professional 20-bit DSP expansion sound card for the Amiga, [[Aura]] 12-bit sound sampler which is connected to the [[PC Card|PCMCIA]] port of Amiga A600 and Amiga A1200 models, and the [[Concierto]] 16-bit sound card optional module to be added to the Picasso IV graphic card, etcetera.

===Mod music file format===
Starting from 1987 with the release of a new generation of music programs like [[Ultimate Soundtracker|Soundtracker]], [[Noisetracker]], [[ProTracker]] and others such as [[Octamed]] and [[Oktalizer]] Amiga was enhanced with the creation of mod ([[Module file|module]]) audio file standard. The Mod audio standard is considered the audio format that started it all in the world of computer music.

In those times (and mainly in the period from 1987/88 to 1994/95) when Amiga audio was far superior than any other platform, PC compatible systems begun to be equipped with 8 bit audio cards inserted into 16 bit ISA bus slots. Soundtracker Module files were used in any PC computer and considered the only serious 8bit audio standard for creating music. The worldwide usage of these programs led to creation of the so-called [[MOD-scene]] which was considered part of the [[Demoscene]]. Later the PC world eventually evolved to 16 bit audio cards, and Mod files were slowly abandoned. Various Amiga and PC games such as [[Worms (computer game)|Worms]] supported Mod as their internal standard for generating music and audio effects.

===Speech synthesis===
The original Amiga was launched with [[speech synthesis]] software, developed by [[Softvoice, Inc.]] [http://www.text2speech.com/#aboutsv] This could be broken into three main components: ''narrator.device'', which could enunciate [[phonemes]] expressed as [[Arpabet]], ''translator.library'' which could translate English text to American English phonemes, and the ''SPEAK:'' handler, which command-line users could redirect output to, to have it spoken.

In the original 1.x AmigaOS releases, a ''Say'' program demo was included with [[AmigaBASIC]] programming examples. From the 2.05 release on, ''narrator.device'' and ''translator.library'' were no longer present in the operating system but could still be used if copied over from older disks.

The speak handler was not just a curiosity, or a gorgeous demonstration of capabilities of Amiga. In fact, the word processor [[ProWrite]] since its version 3.2 was able to read an entire document using the speech synthesizer for the benefit of blind users.

==Programming==
Although a large amount of programming languages and compilers where available for the Amiga, most development on the Amiga was done using C and C++, 680x0 assembler and various Basic dialects.

Many games and software, especially in the early years of the Amiga were written to directly access the hardware instead of using the operating system for graphics and input. Especially games could archieve much more fast and smooth gameplay, but at the cost of compatibility with newer Amiga models.

===Cross platform libraries and programming facilities===

Several Cross platform libraries and facilities are available for Amiga. The Amiga porting of [[wxWidgets]] is [http://sourceforge.net/projects/wxwidget-aos/ wxWidgets-AOS]. [[Simple DirectMedia Layer|SDL]] libraries are widely used in all modern Amiga systems such as [[AmigaOS 4]]. and MorphOS. [[Cairo (Graphics)|Cairo]] vector libraries and [[Anti-Grain Geometry]] libraries are also available on Amiga. [[Magic User Interface|MUI]] and [[ReAction GUI|ReAction]] are Amiga standard [[Object Oriented]] systems for building graphical interfaces. [http://sourceforge.net/projects/clib2/ CLib2] is a portable [[ISO]] '[[ANSI C|C]]' (1994) [[runtime library]] for the Amiga. Allegro has been ported to [[AmigaOS 4]] [http://os4depot.net/index.php?function=search&tool=simple&f_fields=allegro].

Amiga in all those years lacked of a complete [[Integrated development environment|IDE]] (Integrated Development Environment). This fact changed in 2005/2006 with the creation of [[Cubic IDE]], based on Amiga modular text editor [[GoldED (text editor)|GoldED]].

===Brief List of Languages available on Amiga===

Assemblers: [[ASM-One Macro Assembler]], [[High Speed Pascal]], [[HiSoft C++]], [[HiSoft Basic]], [[Devpac Assembler]]

Basic dialects: [[Amiga Basic]] from Microsoft, [[ABasic]], [[AC Basic Compiler]], [[GFA Basic]], [[AMOS BASIC]] (derived from [[STOS BASIC programming language|STOS]]), [[Blitz Basic]]

C-compilers: [[Aztec C]], [[DICE]] C, [[VBCC]], [[Lattice C]], [[SAS/C]], [[Storm C]] (StormC3)

various other languages: [[Kick-Pascal]], [[JForth]], Amiga [[Logo (programming language)|Logo]], [[Amiga Pascal]], [[Oberon (programming language)|Oberon]], [[Perl]], [[Ruby (programming language)|Ruby]], Amiga [[AmigaE|E]], [[FALSE]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]], [[REBOL]], [[ARexx]], Amiga [[GNU C++]], Amiga Installer standard program is a [[LISP]] interpreter, [[Free Pascal]], [[Modula-2]], etc.

===Descriptions of some Languages===
AmigaBasic (not to be confused with ABasic, which was a 3rd party Basic for the Amiga) was the only programming language (and the only tool) made by Microsoft for the Amiga computer. Its best feature was the lack of numbering lines of code, which was the first attempt in 1985/1986 to create a new kind of approach in programming. Microsoft then added this feature to all its development language tools.

Amiga Basic was released for free with any Amiga, it has its own disk, a complete manual, and a vast number of example demos.

As being released for free with any Amiga it was the most common used language on Amiga, and legions of developers learned to program with AmigaBasic.

Because Commodore wanted to save money, there was never made an AmigaBasic update, and due to AmigaBasic's vast number of known bugs and limitations (it could handle only [[NTSC]] resolution screens and not [[PAL]] screens common in [[Europe]] TV standard), for the fact it couldn't be used with profit on VGA resolution screens, and finally due to the fact it was generally badly written and caused many machine hang-ups, it was immediately discarded by professional Amiga developers in favour of other programming languages such as GFA BASIC, Aztec C, Lattice C, and then AMOS.

Devpac Assembler was a professional assembler program that became the de facto standard for assembly programming. It was also able to be used to program for any other Motorola 68k-based device, such as the Atari ST. It was common for programs to be jointly written for the Amiga and Atari using Devpac on the Amiga. However, since the Atari ST was closest to the "lowest common denominator" of the two machines, programs would be tested on and built primarily for the ST.

===Application Building Tools===
Some Amiga programs were not languages, but complete application tools. Among these we remember: [[CanDO]], [[Amiga Vision]], [[Shoot'Em-Up Construction Kit]] also known as SEUCK, [[3D Construction Kit]], [[3D Construction Kit II]] and in some degree [[The Director]] (BASIC-like language aimed at multimedia, presentations and animations) and AMOS itself could be considered application building tools, more than simple programming languages (even if SEUCK was aimed at games, 3D Construction series, could handle also some sort of 3D [[VRML]]). Other tools that can build independent applications or "self loading projects" were [[Scala Multimedia]] and actually [[Hollywood Designer]].

[[CanDO]] was one the first application building tools, capable of create programs for Amiga that were totally independent (compiled or full binary). It is based on a visual interface, after the style of modern "[[visual programming]]" approach to programming which became famous with [[Visual C]] and [[Visual Basic]] from Microsoft. Although CanDO has nothing in common with Visual C and Visual Basic, it is a program mouse driven with an icon approach, and its internal programming is really like an interactive flow chart of functions, just like VISUAL programming tools from Microsoft.

Like CanDO on Amiga, there is Amiga Vision. It is a VISUAL "application building" tool made by Commodore itself in the times of the launch of Amiga A3000, and it was released for free to all those who bought an Amiga A3000.

The Vision is more than a language aimed at multimedia, all icon driven, and the flow chart of the functions was realized all graphically, on a page in which the user could arrange visually all the icons each one representing a program function. Vision saved files (projects) could not be used as pure binaries. From this point of view, the Amiga Vision "application building" tool was an interpreted language.

The AmigaBasic created by Microsoft, CanDO, and then Amiga Vision inspired Microsoft itself to an approach to Visual programming with their line of Visual programming languages, such as Visual Basic and others.

==Multimedia==
[Section to be developed]
*'''Movie Players:''' Amiga [[Frogger (movie player)|Frogger]] Player, [[MooVID]] player, [[mPlayer]], [[MysticView]], [[VLC]] (actually only for MorphOS).
*'''Internet Radio:''' [[AmiAMP]] (similar to [[WinAMP]]), [[Ami NetRadio]].
*'''Music:''' [[Kaya (software)|Kaya]] Player, [[Hippo Player]], [[CD Player]], [[PlayOGG]], [[HivelyPlay]], [[Play16]]
*'''Special players and music modules players:''' [[XMP]] Module player, [[ADPlay]] for [[AdLib]] modules
*'''[[Midi]] players:''' [[TiMidity]], [[DG Midi Player]]
*'''Image viewers:''' [[Multiview]], [[Showgirls (image viewer)|Showgirls]], [[SView5]], [[ImageMagick]] Open Source set of image utilities, [[MiniShowPicture]], [[PicShow]], [[SimpleView]]
*'''Image Cataloguers:''' [[PhotoAlbum]]
*'''Flash SWF file editing:''' [[SWFTools]] Open Source set of flash .swf files utilities
*'''Encoding video:''' Amiga [[3ivx]], Amiga [[FFmpeg]], [[Mpeg2Enc]], [[Mpeg2vidcodec]], [[Mencoder]]
*'''Encoding audio:''' Amiga [[LAME]], [[FLAC]]
*'''PowerPoint ".PPT" files:''' [[PointRider]]
*'''[[Adobe]] ".PDF" files:''' [[APDF]]
*'''Digital cameras:''' [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ Canon toolbox] for [[Canon (company)|Canon]] photocameras, [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/PtpDigCam-V2.2-AOS PtpDigCam], [http://natmeg.stamey.at/ SimpleCam], [http://www.qdev.de/?printversion=1&location=amiga/amicamedia AmiCaMedia], [http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~remuss/digicam.html DigiCam], [http://www.squix.de/CamControl/index.html CamControl], [http://aminet.net/package/comm/misc/Camedia Camedia], [[IOSUB Digicam Package]], [[VHI Studio]] from [http://www.iospirit.com IoSpirit Software]
*'''TV cards players:''' [[Amithlon TV]], [[Visionary (software)|Visionary]], [[AmiTV]] and [http://www.geit.de/deu_valiantvision.html VailantVision] that is an evolution of Amihlon TV.
*'''Java:''' It exists only old versions of [[Kaffe]] [[Java programming language|Java]], from Amiga [[Geek Gadgets]] project. It worked under [[X11]] graphical engine but without [[Abstract Window Toolkit|AWT]], or with very pre-release alpha versions of abstraction windows toolkits. Other ports such as [[AmJay]], [http://www.nordicglobal.com/daytona.html Daytona], [[Moca (JVM)|MOca]] and [[Merapi]] were dismissed before reaching a working status. Actually there is [[Jamiga]] and Amiga Java [[CACAO]] being developed. Amiga web browsers use their internal version of [[Javascript]], that loads Javascript code of web pages, but obviously can't load real Java applets.

====Drivers for Multimedia Devices and Special Input Functions====

*'''Multimedia Keyboards''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_mmkeyboard.html MMKeyboard]
*'''Hand-write recognition''' [http://www.geit.de/deu_meridian.html Meridian]. Meridian is a program that performs [[Handwriting recognition]] input function using a [[stylus]] like those equipping any [[tablet computer]], emulating the stylus by mouse.

=====Software for people suffering of diseases and limitations in movements=====
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html JakeBoard] input software and hardware system emulating keyboard and mouse to be used by persons with physical limitations and/or problems of movements. Software and hardware schemes are actually freely downloadable at [[BlackBeltSystems]] Amiga Software page on their [http://www.blackbeltsystems.com/ site].
*[http://www.datapipe-blackbeltsystems.com/amiga.html Talkboard] similar to jakeboard, is a speech-generation system for persons with severe handicaps of movements and being dumb. It is also freely downloadable.

===CD Filesystem===
[[AsimCDFS]], [[AmiCDROM]], [[CDVDFS]], [[Allegro CDFS]], [[CacheCDFS]]

===CD and DVD Burning Programs===
[[BurnIt!]], [[Frying Pan (software)|Frying Pan]], [[MakeCD]], [[AmiDVD]], [[DVDRecord]], [[DVDAuthor]]

MakeCD is the first Amiga program to support [[Optical disc recording modes#CD Disc-At-Once|DAO]], (Disk At Once). Frying Pan is the first Amiga program capable to create [[DVD]]s. Now both FryingPAN and BurnIt! are capable to handle DVD.

====Disk Images and ISO files Management====
*[[ISO-o-Matic]] software is an Amiga CD Image converting software and supports: [[b5i]], [[Disk_image#.BIN|bin]], [[cdi]], [[.img#.IMG|img]] (normal/[[CloneCD]]), [[Disk image|mdf]] ([[Alcohol 120%]]), [[NRG (file format)|nrg]] ([[Nero Burning ROM]]), [[pdi]] and [[MagicISO|uif]].
*[[ISOMount]] mounts CD ISOs, PC floppy disk images and Amiga diskimages. Supports: Amiga (ADF) 880KB ether OFS and FFS), MS-DOS (IMG) from 360KB up to 2.88MB (Fat12), Atari ST 800KB (Fat12), MAC GS (file image of Mac has no extensions) 800KB (MFM encoded), CD (ISO) - every size, including floppy specific.
*[[MountVirtual]] and [[DiskImage]] programs for AmigaOS and MorphOS that mount CD ISO images as standard Amiga devices. Supports CD ISO images and Amiga diskimages such as ADF, DMS, IFS. MountVirtual requires DiskImage.
*[[VirtualCD]] uses ISOs and CD-Images as virtual drives
*[[mkisofs]] and [[Amkisofs]] are Amiga portings of MaKeISOFileSystem

(A complete list of Amiga ISO managements and converters is available on Aminet official Amiga repository)

===Data Streaming===

Most famous used Data streaming control program into Amiga it is [[Reggae]] for MorphOS system.

==Internet and communications==
{{main|Amiga Internet and communications software}}

This section splitted article covers: Modem software, Direct Connect, BBS managing, Fidonet, Packet Radio; Prestel, Videotel, Videotex, Minitel; Teletext, Televideo, Viewdata; FAX, Answering Machine and Voice Mail; ISDN; Networking and Ethernet protocols; World Wide Web (TCP/IP Stacks, Browsers, E-mail programs, Newsreaders, Internet Radio, Proxy server support programs, PPP, Telnet, Podcasting, Amiga RSS Feed, Distributed Net, Google Services, Amiga Instant Messaging and Chat, FTP and FTP Server, Weather casting news, Webcam supporting, Clock Synchronization, SMS Short Messages, Web development & HTTP Server, Peer2Peer, VCast (Online VCR), Youtube, Flash player, Monitoring webpages, Remote Desktop, SSL, SSH, etcetera.); Communication Protocols.

==Various Utilities==
''[[AmiDOCK]]'' is an Amiga utility that creates Application Launching Docks on the desktop. Amiga users begun to appreciate the Docking station at the age of the [[NeXT]] computer, and then due to [[Acorn Archimedes]] [[Risc OS]] docking station. Archimedes computers were popular in [[Great Britain]] because they were adopted in Schools of all grades. Young Amiga users (there were one 1,500,000 Amigas in United Kingdom) spotted docks on Archimedes at school and asked for it on Amiga also. Various docking stations were born as 3rd party hobby utilities and then officially integrated in AmigaOS classic since version 3.9.

''[[Directory Opus]]'' was a file utility program. When this software was released, the popular Amiga magazines proclaimed that it was the most important software ever released for the Amiga and "should be built into the operating system". Directory Opus went on to create a "replacement OS" for Workbench which overlaid itself upon the system.
It started as a file manager, and then became a complete GUI replacement for AmigaOS alternative to official Workbench.

Much shareware and free software was written for the Amiga and could be obtained via the [[Fred Fish]] disk series or from the [[Aminet]] software archive.

Because the custom chipset shares RAM (and therefore the memory bus) with the CPU, the CPU's throughput increases measurably if the display is disabled. Some processor-intensive software, such as 3D renderers, would disable the display during calculation in order to gain speed.

==Emulation==
{{main|Emulation on the Amiga}}

During the years, Amiga was able to emulate other platforms or game machines, or to run directly a vast range of other Operating Systems than AmigaOS. Noteworthy are:

[[Medusa (emulator)|Medusa]] ([[Atari ST]] emulator), [[Fusion (emulator)|Fusion]] ([[Macintosh]] Emulator), [[AMax]] and [[AMax II]], (Macintosh), [[GO64]] (Commodore [[C64]] emulator), [[Transformer (emulator)|Transformer]] and [[PCTask]] (it was an [[Intel]] 8088 emulator, all software based, capable to emulate Intel pc based platforms ranging from [[PC XT]] 4,7 and 7 MHz on Amiga500, up to [[80486]] running at maximum of 14MHz on A4000 and other accelerated Amigas), [[A64 (emulator)|A64 Package]] (C64), [[Amiga BBC Emulator]] [[Acorn BBC]] emulator, [[Atari ST Emulator]] (AtariST), [[Hatari]] (Atari ST and STE), [[Basilisk II]] (Macintosh) classic, [[Frodo (emulator)|Frodo]] (C64), [[PSXE]] (Sony [[Playstation]]), [http://members.shaw.ca/realstar/hugo/hugoindex.html Hu-Go!] ([[PC Engine]], [[TurboGrafx-16]]), [[FunnyMu]] ([[Creativision]], [[Funvision]], [[Wizzard]]), [[AmiArcadia]] ([[Arcadia 2001]], [[Interton VC 4000]], [[TVGC]]), etcetera.

[[VICE]] emulator it is modular based and capable to emulate all [[8-bit]] machines made by Commodore: C64 (a patch of VICE it is capable to emulate also [[C64 Direct-to-TV|C64dtv]], [[Commodore 128|C128]],[[Commodore PET|PET]] including [[Commodore CBM-II|CBM II version]] (but excluding "non-standard" features of SuperPET 9000), [[Commodore Plus/4|Plus4]],[[Commodore VIC-20|VIC-20]], etcetera.

==Games==
{{main|Amiga games}}
Games were an obvious application for the Amiga hardware, and thousands of games were produced. It was common for games to be produced for multiple formats in the days of the Amiga. For example, a game might be produced simultaneously for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and so on. Since the Amiga hardware was the most advanced of all, the games were usually developed on an Amiga, and the Amiga version would be the "gold standard" of the bunch.

==Demos==
{{main|Amiga demos}}
The Amiga was a focal point for the "[[Demoscene|demo scene]]". The Amiga thrived on [[public domain]], [[freeware]] and other not-for-profit development. The demo scene spearheaded development in multimedia programming techniques for the Amiga, such that it was ''de rigueur'' for the latest visual tricks, soundtrackers and 3D algorithms from the demo scene to end up being used in computer game development.

==Piracy==
Because the [[Amiga]] was one of the first game-oriented computers to feature a built-in floppy disk drive, which allowed for easy copying, it was also the scene of much [[Copyright infringement of software|software piracy]]. Many of the arguments pertaining to software piracy, [[intellectual property]] rights in software, the [[open source|open-source movement]], and so on, were well-developed in the Amiga scene by the early 1990s. It was not unusual for a demo group to be openly involved in software piracy.

Several anti-piracy measures were introduced during the Amiga's reign. One was the practise of distributing software on disks that contained secret "keys" on high-numbered tracks, which were officially unused. The Amiga disk drive officially only read tracks 0-79 from a double-density disk, but in reality it could easily read tracks 80 through 82. Official disk-imaging software would ignore these tracks, so that a duplicate of a boxed disk would not contain the key and the software would not work. A similar technique involved writing to sectors of the disk that would not normally be used. However, special copy software called "nibble" copiers appeared, which could exactly reproduce any disk an Amiga could read.

Publishers therefore turned to other methods. [[Dongle|Hardware dongle]]s were occasionally used for high-end software. Some software manufacturers would force a user to type a word from a particular page number and line number of the manual, meaning that successfully pirating software included [[photocopy]]ing a large quantity of text. Sometimes the text from which the key was chosen was designed so that photocopiers would produce illegible copies, meaning that pirates had to retype or handwrite the text, or else give up.

These and other schemes lead to pirates "[[Software cracking|cracking]]" software by altering a copy of the code bypassing the copy protection completely. There was not a protection scheme that was not eventually broken. One almost exception was the scheme on the Amiga version of [[Dragon's Lair]] which became the ''holy grail'' of crackers Worldwide. Eventually it was released in a modified format that circumvented the copy protection.

Piracy has been cited as a reason for the death of the Amiga, however, piracy was just as prolific on other platforms. For example many games for the [[ZX Spectrum]] could be copied using nothing more than an ordinary cassette recorder, leading to a massive culture of playground game trading - that machine however lived a long and fruitful life nonetheless. The same happened with C64 again with cassettes, or with PC software copied on floppy disks by organized piracy, or finally, in more recent ages, it happened with [[Playstation]] I and the enormous success it had due to the diffusion of pirated CD games even diffused as [[ISO image]]s on early pirate sites on internet together with PC software. There was a vast amount of Amiga software available in the marketplace and Commodore's mis-marketing of the machine is well documented as the reason for its own demise.

=="Decrunching"==
[[Image:Amiga decrunching.png|thumb|A single frame of a typical decrunching screen.]]
The Amiga's [[floppy disk drive]] allowed 880 kilobytes on a single disk, which was comparable to the memory of most Amigas (usually 512 kilobytes, often 1 megabyte). In order to increase the yield, the Amiga was one of the first computers to feature the widespread use of [[data compression|compression/decompression]] techniques. Also, the disk drive had a slow transfer rate, such that using processor-based decompression could actually lead to faster loading times than loading uncompressed data from disk. Early implementations of decompression code would write rapidly varying values to a [[video display register]], causing the screen's [[scanline]]s to break into multiple segments of colourful noise, which would become finer as the decrunching neared the end. This effect was [[psychedelic]], very easy to implement, so it stuck; it was pioneered on the [[Commodore 64]]. The use of "decrunching" became so ubiquitous that the effect was a standard. The effect was commonly seen in pirated games or [[Amiga demos|demos]].

'''Reference notes:'''

#{{note|Aminet_Statistics}}[http://aminet.net/tree Aminet tree], [http://aminet.net/statistics Aminet Statistics]
#{{note|Amiga_WHDLoad_Site}}[http://whdload.de/download.html Amiga WHDload site] download section reports that this program supports actually 1991 games (and it is far from creating a complete list of all Amiga games).
#{{note|Amiga_LemonAmiga_Site}}[http://www.lemonamiga.com/ Lemon Amiga] (a program that adds [[MAME]]like interface to [[WinUAE]] Amiga emulator) reports in its statistics window section 3453 known Amiga games.

==External links==
*[http://netzreport.googlepages.com/downloading_amiga_games_legally.html List of websites where Amiga game software can be downloaded legally and free of charge].
*[http://www.aminet.net Aminet] biggest repository of all public domain software for the Amiga Platform.
*[http://amiga.sourceforge.net/ Amiga SourceForge] Home of various programs such as: LAME and FLAC encoders, SWF Tools, Image Magick, Amiga 7-Zip, cURL, Anubis, OpenSSH, unRAR, WGet, PlayOGG and many other Amiga portings.
*[http://obligement.free.fr/liens.php Obligement page of Amiga Links] French site of the Amiga Online Magazine "Obligement".
*[http://amigareview.amiga.sk/software Amiga Review] Slovak site of all software for Amiga reviewed online.
*[http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/index.htm Chronology of Amiga starting from 1982] Site maintained by private user [[Ken Polsson]].
*[http://corp.intercom.it/~amigaws/ListaSW.html Productivity software for Amiga] Italian site of all important Productivity software, and maintained by Amiga user [[Massimo Tantignone]].
*[http://www.amiworld.it/programmi/listaprog.html AmiWorld list of Amiga software] Italian site reporting a list of all known productivity programs for Amiga.
*[http://www.novadesign.com/exoops/modules/freecontent/ NovaDesign Graphics Software for Amiga] ImageFX Studio & Aladdin 4D
*[http://www.classicamiga.com/component/option,com_jreviews/Itemid,172/ The classicamiga Software Directory] An Amiga directory project aiming to catalogue all known Amiga software.

{{AmigaOS}}

[[Category:Amiga software|*Amiga software]]
[[Category:Amiga]]
[[Category:Lists of software]]

List of multinational festivals and holidays

2008-12-15T20:14:04Z

Spellcoder: under fictional added 'Feast of Winter Veil'

{{Worldwide}}
This is an incomplete list of festivals and holidays that take place during the [[winter]] in the [[northern hemisphere]], especially those commemorating the [[winter holiday season|season]]. Many festivals of light take place in this period since the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere is the [[Winter Solstice]].

Holidays are listed in chronological order under each heading.

== Buddhist ==
* '''[[Bodhi Day]]''': [[December 8]] - Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Guatama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

== Celtic ==
* '''[[Samhain]]''': [[November 1]] - first day of winter in the Celtic calendar (and Celtic New Year's Day)
* '''[[Winter solstice#Mean Geimrech (Celtic)|Winter Solstice]]''': [[December 21]]-[[December 22]] - midwinter
* '''[[Imbolc]]''': [[February 1]] - first day of spring in the Celtic calendar

== Chinese ==
*'''[[Dōngzhì Festival|Dong zhi]]''': [[Winter solstice]]
*'''Signature of the [[Constitution of the Republic of China]]''' ([[Republic of China|Taiwan]]): [[December 25]] - a secular national holiday, which due to its date is celebrated in some respects like Christmas
*'''[[Chinese New Year]]''': (late [[January]] - early [[February]]) - considered the end of winter in the traditional Chinese calendar

==Christian==
*'''[[Advent]]''': four weeks prior to Christmas.
*'''[[Saint Nicholas]]' Day''': [[December 6]]
*'''[[Christmas Eve]]''': [[December 24]]
*'''[[Christmas]]''': [[December 25]] - Due to a fourth century arrangement to offset the pagan Roman Saturnalia festival, the birth of Jesus is celebrated on December 25..
*'''[[Twelve Days of Christmas|12 Days of Christmas]]''': [[December 25]] through [[January 6]]
*'''[[Saint Stephen]]'s Day''': [[December 26]]
*'''[[Saint John the Evangelist]]'s Day''': [[December 27]]
*'''[[Holy Innocents]]' Day''': [[December 28]]
*'''[[Sylvester I|Saint Sylvester]]'s Day''': [[December 31]]
*'''[[Watch Night]]''': [[December 31]]
*'''[[Feast of the Circumcision]]''': [[January 1]]
*'''[[Feast of Fools]]''': [[January 1]]
*'''[[Saint Basil]]'s Day''': [[January 1]] (Christian Orthodox) In Greece, traditionally he is the [[Father Christmas]] figure.
*'''[[Twelfth Night (holiday)|Twelfth Night]]''': Epiphany Eve: [[January 5]]
*'''[[Epiphany (feast)|Epiphany]]''': [[January 6]]: the arrival of the [[Three Magi]].
*'''[[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Apoststolc]] [[Christmas]]''': [[January 6]]
*'''[[Eastern Orthodox]] [[Christmas]]''': according to the [[Julian Calendar]], [[January 7]]
*'''[[Candlemas]]''': [[February 2]]
*'''[[St. Valentine's Day]]''': [[February 14]]

==Germanic==
*'''[[Winter solstice#Modranicht, Modresnach (Anglo-Saxon, Germanic)|Modranect]]''': or Mothers' Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.
*'''[[Yule]]''': the Germanic winter solstice festival

==Hindu==
* '''[[Navratri]]''':Nine-day celebration worshipping female divinity, in October or November. Culminates in [[Dussehra]].
* '''[[Diwali]]''':Known as the Festival of Lights, this Hindu holiday celebrates the victory of good over evil. The five-day festival is marked by ceremonies, fireworks and sweets. Women dress up and decorate their hands with henna tattoos for the melas, or fairs. Many different myths are associated with Diwali, one of which celebrates the return of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile and his defeat of the demon Ravana.
* '''[[Bhaubeej]]'''

==Jewish==
*'''[[Hanukkah]]''': Starting on 25 [[Kislev]] ([[Hebrew Calendar|Hebrew]]) or various dates in November or December ([[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]]) - eight day festival commemorating the miracle of the oil after the desecration of the Temple by [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]] and his defeat in 165 BCE.
*'''[[Tu Bishvat]]''': New Year of the Trees occurring on the 15th of [[Shevat]], January or February.
*'''[[Purim]]''': Occurring on 14th or 15th day of Adar, late February to March, commemorating the miraculous deliverance and victory of the Jews of the Persian Empire in the events recorded in the [[Book of Esther]]

==Muslim==
*'''[[Eid ul-Adha]]''': Starting on the 10th of [[Dhul Hijja]], a four day holiday commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
:'''''NOTE:''' The Islamic calendar is based on the moon and this festival moves with respect to the solar year. It is, however, falling in the winter in the first decade of the present [21st] Century of the common era.''

==Pagan and Neo-Pagan==
*'''[[Samhain]]''': [[November 1]] - first day of winter in the Celtic calendar (and Celtic New Year's Day)
*'''[[Yule]]''': (Winter Solstice) - Germanic and Egyptian Pagan festival of the rebirth of the Sun
*'''[[Imbolc]]''': (Oimelc) ([[February 1]] or [[February 2|2]]), but traditionally the evening of ([[January 31]])<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/wicimbolc.htm Imbolc: one of the eight Wiccan sabbats (seasonal days of celebration)]</ref>
*'''[[Winter Solstice]]''': ([[December 21]]) - [[New Age]] festival

==Persian==
*'''[[Sadeh]]''': A mid-winter feast to honor fire and to "defeat the forces of darkness, frost and cold".
*'''[[Yalda]]''': The turning point, [[Winter Solstice]] (December 21). End of the longest night of the year (Darkness), and beginning of growing of the days (Lights). A celebration of Good over Evil.
*'''[[Chahar Shanbeh Suri]]''': Festival of Fire, Last Wednesday of the Iranian Calendar year. It marks the importance of the light over the darkness, and arrival of spring and revival of nature.

==Polynesian==
*'''[[Matariki]]''': ([[Māori]] New Year, usually early June) - Rising of the [[Pleiades]] star cluster before dawn.

==Roman==
*'''[[Saturnalia]]''': the Roman winter soltice festival
*'''[[Festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun]]''': late Roman Empire - [[December 25]]
*'''[[Lupercalia]]''', the Roman end-of-winter festival - [[February 15]]

==Secular==
*'''[[Winterval]]''': Secular name for winter festivities coined by [[Birmingham]] City Council to encompass all holidays being recognized from October to January
*'''[[Sydney Winter Festival]]''': Winter Festival recreates the magic of traditional European winter celebrations, including a variety of culinary delights, and first class entertainment on an expansive outdoor screen. From August 1-10th 2008
*'''[[Zamenhof Day]]''': ([[December 15]]) - Birthday of [[Ludwig Zamenhof]], inventor of [[Esperanto]]; holiday reunion for Esperantists
*'''[[Winter Solstice]], [[Yule]]''': ([[December 21]] or [[December 22]]) (Late June weekend in [[Australia]]) - Celebration of the Winter [[Solstice]].
*'''[[HumanLight]]''': ([[December 23]]) - Humanist holiday originated by the New Jersey Humanist Network
*'''[[Chrismukkah]]''': Slang term for the amalgam of Christmas and Hanukkah celebrated by religiously mixed families and couples
*'''[[Yule]]tide''': ([[December 25]]) - Classic and modern, respectively, terms for the social and federal December 25th holiday
*'''[[Boxing Day]]''': ([[December 26]]) - Gift-giving day after Christmas.
*'''[[Kwanzaa]]''': ([[December 26]] - [[January 1]]) - [[Pan-Africanism|Pan-African]] festival
*'''[[Yulefest]], [[Midwinter Christmas]]''' (around late June or July) - Australian New Zealand winter 'Christmas/Yuletide'
*'''[[New Year's Eve]]''': ([[December 31]]) - Last day of the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian year]]
*'''[[Hogmanay]]''': (Night of [[December 31]] - Before dawn of [[January 1]]) - Scottish New Years Eve Celebration
*'''[[New Year's Day]]''': ([[January 1]]) - First day of the Gregorian year
*'''[[Burns Night]]''': ([[January 25]]) - Birthday of [[Robert Burns]]
*'''[[Groundhog Day]]''': ([[February 2]])
*'''[[Quebec City Winter Carnival]]''': (February) - Annual celebration of winter.
*'''[[Fur Rondy]]''': (Late February and early March]) - Winter celebration in [[Anchorage, Alaska]]
*'''[[Festival du Voyageur]]''': February winter celebration of the fur trade in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]].

==Slavic==
*[[Karachun]] - the ancient Slavs polytheistic winter solstice festival

==Fictional==
*'''[[Festivus]]''': [[December 23]] - quirky holiday invented on the television show [[Seinfeld]]
*'''Festival of the Bells''': Midwinter celebration in ''[[Fraggle Rock]]'', also mentioned in ''[[A Muppet Family Christmas]]''.
*'''[[Decemberween]]''': [[December 25]] - A holiday in the [[Homestar Runner]] universe, occurring 55 days after [[Halloween]].
*'''[[Discworld (world)#Hogswatchnight|Hogswatchnight]]''': [[Discworld calendar|December 32]] - New Year's Eve/Christmas in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' novels (plays on Hogmanay, Watch Night, and "hogwash")
* '''Winterfair''': from the [[Vorkosigan Saga]] of [[Lois McMaster Bujold]]; a Barrayarran cultural holiday
*'''[[Chrismukkah]]''': the modern-day merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas and Judaism's Hanukkah.
*'''[[Chrismahanukwanzakah]]''': the modern-day merging of the holidays of Christianity's Christmas, Judaism's Hanukkah, and the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa.
*'''Hedgehog Day''': [[February 2]] - supposed archaic European version of Groundhog Day, dating back to Roman times.
*'''Wintersday''': The annual winter holiday in the MMORPG [[Guild Wars]]. This holiday is based on Christmas and Yule and one can get neat hats.
*'''Starlight Celebration''': The annual winter holiday based on Christmas/Yule/winter solstice in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI (aka [[FFXI]]). Players can collect various holiday equipment, Mog house furnishings, fireworks, and food.
*'''[[Shoe]] Giving''': - quirky holiday famously invented on the show [[Hyperdrive (TV series)]]
*'''Freezingman''': - [[January 11]]- A [[Burning Man]] inspired event held in Colorado as a Winter Arts and Music Festival http://www.coloradofreezingman.com http://tribes.tribe.net/freezingman
*'''Couch Burning''': June 21 ([[Southern hemisphere]] [[Winter Solstice]]) - A couch is burnt on a bonfire on the 21st of June, inspired by the Burning Man festival and conducted by [http://www.couchsurfing.com CouchSurfers].
*'''Noob Day''': December 26 - The day following Christmas when all the people who received online games as gifts go online for the first time and are killed off or mocked by veterans.
*'''Feast of Winter Veil''': December 15 to January 2 - holiday in the MMORPG [[World of Warcraft]]. This holiday is based on Christmas. Cities are decorated with christmas lights and a tree with presents. Also special quests, items and snowballs are available. It features 'Greatfather Winter' which is modeled after [Santa Claus]. [http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/basics/events/winterveil/] [http://www.wowwiki.com/Feast_of_Winter_Veil]

== See also ==
* [[Christmas worldwide]]
* [[Winter solstice]]

{{portalpar|Holidays|Snowflake icon.gif}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Winter holidays| List of winter festivals]]
[[Category:winter festivals| ]]
[[Category:Holiday lists]]

Mac gaming

2008-10-07T07:51:56Z

Spellcoder: added the missing engine name and linked it to the relevant wikipedia article

'''Mac gaming''' refers to use of [[computer games]] on [[Macintosh]] [[home computer]]s. In the 1990s, [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] computers did not attract the same level of [[video game]] development as [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] computers due to the high popularity of Windows and, for 3D gaming, Microsoft's [[DirectX]] technology. In recent years, the introduction of [[Mac OS X]] and support for [[Intel]] processors has eased porting of many games, including 3D ones through use of [[OpenGL]]. Virtualization technology and [[BootCamp]] also permit the use of Windows and its games on Macintosh computers. Today, a number of popular games run natively on Mac OS X, though many require the use of Windows.

==Early game development on the Mac==
Prior to the release of the [[Mac 128|first Macintosh]] computer some of the marketing executives at Apple were concerned that including a game in the finished [[operating system]] would aggravate the impression that the [[graphical user interface]] made the Mac toy-like.<ref name="Hertzfeld"/> More critically, the limited amount of [[RAM]] in the original Macintosh meant that fitting a game into the operating system would be very difficult.<ref name="Hertzfeld"/> Eventually, [[Andy Hertzfeld]] created a [[Desk Accessory|desk accessory]] called ''Puzzle'' that occupied only 600 [[byte]]s of memory. This was deemed small enough to be safely included in the operating system, and it shipped with the Mac when released in 1984.<ref name="Hertzfeld">Andy Hertzfeld (2004). ''Revolution in the Valley'', O'Reilly. ISBN 0-5960-0719-1</ref> ''Puzzle'' would remain a part of the Mac OS for the next ten years, until being replaced in 1994 with ''Jigsaw'', a [[jigsaw puzzle]] game included as part of [[System 7 (Macintosh)|Mac OS 7.5]].

Subsequent game development on the Macintosh included titles such as ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]'' (1986) and ''[[SimCity]]'' (1988), though mostly games for the Mac were developed alongside those for other platforms. A notable exception was ''[[Myst]]'' (1993), developed on the Mac (in part using [[HyperCard]]) and only afterwards [[Porting|port]]ed to Windows.<ref name="Myst">CSE/ISE 364 Lectures & Recitations (2007). [http://xsrv.mm.cs.sunysb.edu:16080/364/historyofMM/historyofMM.html A Brief History of Hypertext, Authoring, and Multimedia], Centre for Visual Computing, Stony Brook, State University of New York</ref>

==Pippin==
The [[Apple Pippin]] (also known as the '''Bandai Pippin''') was a multimedia player based on the [[Power Mac]] that ran a cut-down version of the Mac OS designed, among other things, to play games. Sold between 1996 and 1998 in [[Japan]] and the [[United States]], it was not a commercial success, with fewer than 42,000 units sold and fewer than a thousand games and software applications supported.<ref name="Linzmayer">Owen Linzmayer (2004). ''Apple Confidential 2.0'', No Starch Press. ISBN 1-5932-7010-0</ref>

==Porting from Windows==
===In-house porting===
Only a few companies have developed or continue to develop games for both the Mac and Windows platforms. Notable examples of these are [[TransGaming]], [[Aspyr]], [[Big Fish Games]], [[Blizzard Entertainment]], [[Brøderbund]], [[Linden Lab]], and [[Microsoft]]. In many ways this is an ideal situation: those creating the Mac version have direct access to the original [[programmer]]s in case any questions or concerns arise about the [[source code]]. It also increases the likelihood that the Mac and Windows versions of a game will launch concurrently or nearly so, as many obstacles inherent in the third-party porting process are avoided. Another benefit of in-house porting, if carried out simultaneously with game development, is that the company can release [[hybrid disc]]s, easing game distribution and largely eliminating the [[#The shelf space problem|shelf space problem]].

Among the Mac versions of popular Windows games that were developed in-house are ''[[Diablo (video game)|Diablo]]'', ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]'', ''[[Second Life]]'', ''[[Stubbs the Zombie]]'', and ''[[World of Warcraft]]''.

===Third-party porting===
Most high-budget games that come to the Macintosh are originally created for Microsoft Windows and ported to the Mac operating system by one of a relatively small number of ''porting houses''. Among the most notable of these are [[Aspyr]], [[Feral Interactive]], [[MacSoft Games]], [[Red Marble Games]], and [[MacPlay]]. A critical factor for the financial viability of these porting houses is the number of copies of the game sold; a "successful" title may sell only 50,000 units.<ref name="Hesseldahl"> Arik Hesseldahl (2006). [Apple Needs to Get Its Game On http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060531_384873.htm], Business Week</ref>

The [[Licensing (strategic alliance)|licensing deal]] between the original game developer and the porting house may be a flat one-time payment, a percentage of the profits from the Mac game's sale, or both.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} While this license gives the porting house access to artwork and source code, it does not normally cover [[middleware]] such as third-party game engines.<ref name="Cohen">Peter Cohen (2006). [http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/gameroom/2006/03/middleware/index.php Middleware messing up Mac game development], Macworld</ref> Modifying the source code to the Macintosh platform may be difficult as code for games is often highly optimized for the Windows operating system and [[Intel]]-compatible processors. The latter presented an obstacle in previous years when the Macintosh platform utilized [[PowerPC]] processors due to the difference in [[endianness]] between the two types of processors, but as today's Macintosh computers employ Intel processors as well, the obstacle has been mitigated somewhat. One example of common work for a porting house is converting graphics instructions targeted for [[Microsoft]]'s [[DirectX]] graphics [[Library (computer science)|library]] to instructions for the [[OpenGL]] library; DirectX is favored by most Windows game developers, but is incompatible with the Macintosh.

Due to the time involved in licensing and porting the product, Macintosh versions of games ported by third-party companies are usually released anywhere from three months to more than a year after their Windows-based counterparts. For example, the Windows version of ''[[Civilization IV]]'' was released on October 25, 2005, but Mac gamers had to wait eight months until June 30, 2006 for the release of the Mac version.

====Valve Corporation====
An 2007 interview with [[Valve Corporation]]'s (''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'', ''[[Counter-Strike]]'', ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' and the [[Source engine]]) [[Gabe Newell]] included the question of why his company was keeping their games and gaming technology "a strictly Windows project".<ref name="newell2007">{{cite web|url=http://games.kikizo.com/features/gabenewell_valve_iv_sep07_p1.asp|title=Gabe Newell Valve Interview - Orange Box|date=[[2007-09-28]]|accessdate=2007-10-02}}</ref> Newell answered:

{{cquote|We tried to have a conversation with Apple for several years, and they never seemed to... well, we have this pattern with Apple, where we meet with them, people there go "wow, gaming is incredibly important, we should do something with gaming". And then we'll say, "OK, here are three things you could do to make that better", and then they say OK, and then we never see them again. And then a year later, a new group of people show up, who apparently have no idea that the last group of people were there, and never follow though on anything. So, they seem to think that they want to do gaming, but there's never any follow through on any of the things they say they're going to do. That makes it hard to be excited about doing games for their platforms.}}

====TransGaming's Cider====
[[TransGaming Technologies]] has developed a product called Cider which is the industry's leading Mac Portability Engine. Cider's engine enables publishers and developers to target Mac OS X. It shares much of the same core technology as TransGaming's Linux Portability Engine, Cedega. Electronic Arts announced their return to the Mac, publishing various titles simultaneously on both PCs and Macs, using Cider. Several other leading developers and publishers are also part of Cider's client list.

==The middleware problem==
A particular problem for companies attempting to port Windows games to the Macintosh is licensing [[Game engine#Middleware|middleware]]. Middleware is [[off-the-shelf]] software that handles certain aspects of games, making it easier for game creators to develop games in return for paying the middleware developer a licensing fee. However, since the license the Mac porting house obtains from the game creator does not normally include rights to use the middleware as well, the Mac porting company must either license the middleware separately or attempt to find an alternative.<ref name="Cohen">Peter Cohen (2006). [http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/gameroom/2006/03/middleware/index.php Middleware messing up Mac game development], Macworld</ref> Examples of middleware include the [[Havok (software)|Havok]] physics engine and the [[GameSpy]] [[Online game|internet-based multiplayer gaming]] client.

Because of the smaller market, companies developing games for the Mac usually seek a lower licensing fee than Windows developers. When the middleware company refuses such terms porting that particular Windows game to the Mac may be uneconomical and engineering a viable alternative within the available budget impossible.<ref name="Cohen">Peter Cohen (2006). [http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/gameroom/2006/03/middleware/index.php Middleware messing up Mac game development], Macworld</ref> This means that some very popular games which use the [[Source_engine|Source engine]], including ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' and ''[[Far Cry]]'', have not yet been ported to the Macintosh and most likely never will be.

In other cases workaround solutions may be found. In the case of GameSpy, one workaround is to limit Mac gamers to play against each other but not with users playing the Windows version.<ref name="Cohen">Peter Cohen (2006). [http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/gameroom/2006/03/middleware/index.php Middleware messing up Mac game development], Macworld</ref> However, in some cases, GameSpy has been [[Reverse engineering|reverse-engineered]] and implemented into the Mac game, so that it is able to network seamlessly with the PC version of the game.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}

==Boot Camp==
In [[April 2006]] Apple released a [[Development stage#Beta|beta]] version of [[Boot Camp (software)|Boot Camp]], a product which allows Intel-based Macintoshes to [[Booting|boot]] directly into [[Windows XP]] or [[Windows Vista]]. The reaction from Mac game developers and software journalists to the introduction of Boot Camp has been mixed, ranging from assuming the Mac will be dead as a platform for game development to cautious optimism that Mac owners will continue to play games within Mac OS rather than by rebooting to Windows.<ref name="Monks"> Neale Monks (2006). [http://www.mymac.com/showarticle.php?do=something&id=1454 Has BootCamp squished gaming on the Mac?] MyMac.com</ref><ref name="Deniz">Tuncer Deniz (2006). [http://insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ArticleID=13177 Developers React To Apple's Boot Camp] Inside Mac Games</ref> Since Boot Camp only allows the computer run ''either'' Mac OS X ''or'' Windows but ''not both'' at the same time, to play a Windows game a Mac user will have to [[Soft reboot|reboot]] their Mac from OS X to Windows each time a Windows game is played.<ref name="bootcamp">Apple Inc. (2007). [http://www.apple.com/bootcamp/ Apple - Boot Camp]</ref> The number of Mac ports of Windows games released in 2006 was never likely to be very great, despite the steadily increasing number of Mac users.<ref name="cohen2">Peter Cohen (2006). [http://www.macworld.com/2006/12/firstlooks/gamesfl/index.php Mac games: What to look for in 2007] Macworld</ref>

==Emulation and virtualization==
Over the years there have been a number of [[Emulation|emulators]] for the Macintosh that allowed it to run [[MS-DOS]] or [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] software, most notably [[RealPC]], [[SoftPC]], [[SoftWindows]], and [[Virtual PC]]. Although more or less adequate for business applications, these programs have tended to deliver poor performance when used for running games, particularly where high-end technologies like DirectX were involved.<ref name="Monks2">Neale Monks (2004). [http://www.applelust.com/reviews/archives/virtualpc61/ Review: Virtual PC 6.1 for Mac], AppleLust.com</ref>

Since the introduction of the Intel processor into the Macintosh platform, Windows [[virtualization]] software such as [[Parallels Desktop for Mac]] and [[VMware Fusion]] have been seen as more promising solutions for running Windows software on the Mac operating system.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} In some ways they are better solutions than Boot Camp, as they do not require rebooting the machine. VMware Fusion's public beta 2 supports hardware-accelerated [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] which utilize the [[DirectX]] library up to version 9.<ref>[http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/features.html#c25453 VMWare.com]</ref> Parallels Desktop for Mac version 3.0 has announced support for GPU acceleration, allowing Mac Users to play Windows-based games.<ref name="IMG interview">[http://www.insidemacgames.com/features/view.php?ID=486 Inside Mac Games Interviews Parallels] Inside Mac Games</ref>

Another application is [[CodeWeavers]]' [[CrossOver]] products, which use a compatibility layer to translate Windows' application instructions to the native Macintosh operating system. CrossOver is built from the [[open source]] [[Wine (software)|Wine]] project and adds a graphical frontend to the process of installing and running the Windows applications through Wine. It is a similar approach that [[TransGaming Technologies|TransGaming]] uses to run Windows games on the Mac OS. CodeWeavers is an active supporter of Wine and routinely shares programming code and patches back to the project.

==Original Mac games==
Although currently most big-name Mac games are ports, this has not always been the case. Perhaps the most popular game which was originally developed for the Macintosh was 1993's ''[[Myst]]'', by [[Cyan Worlds|Cyan]]. It was ported to Windows the next year, and Cyan's later games were released simultaneously for both platforms with the exception of ''[[Uru: Ages Beyond Myst]]'', which was Windows-only until a Mac-compatible re-release (currently in [[Software release life cycle#Beta|beta]]) by [[GameTap]] in 2007, with the help of TransGaming's Cider virtualization software.

Another popular Mac game was the ''[[Marathon (computer game series)|Marathon]]'' series of [[first-person shooter]]s. These games were released in the wake of the popular ''[[DOOM]]'', which defined the first-person shooter genre, but contained many innovations new or uncommon in similar games from the time, such as weapons with two functions, and the ability for the player to look and fire up and down, swim through liquids, fight alongside allied characters, and wield two weapons at once. [[Bungie Studios]] would port the second in the series, ''[[Marathon 2: Durandal]]'', to the Windows platform, where it met with some success. They also ported their post-Marathon games ''[[Myth (computer game)|Myth]]'' and ''[[Oni (video game)|Oni]]'' to Windows. At the 1999 [[Macworld Conference & Expo]] in [[New York]], Bungie showed a demonstration of a new game entitled ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo]]'', to be released for the Mac the next year; before this happened, Bungie was purchased by Microsoft. ''Halo'' was released exclusively for the [[Xbox]] video game console in 2001. The Macintosh and Windows versions of the game did not arrive until late 2003, almost four and a half years after its original announcement at Macworld. Today, there are many companies both large and small creating original games for the Macintosh; however, following a trend in the industry, these tend to be lower-budget [[casual game|"casual" games]] with simple graphics that are easy to pick up and play in short bursts, as opposed to high-budget "hardcore" games that are more graphically intensive and require large investments in time to play and master.

During [[WWDC]] 2007, [[Electronic Arts]] announced they would start producing games to the Macintosh.<ref>[http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/wwdc07 WWDC 2007 keynote of the announcement]</ref> Like GameTap, EA's games will use TransGaming's Cider. The "gap" between the Windows release and the Mac one will still be significantly shorter than usual.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}

==The shelf space problem==
One problem afflicting both porting houses and original Mac game developers is that of "[[shelf space]]", how much space a retail store allocates to stocking Mac games. Already, due to its small market share, Macintosh software as a whole will receive very little if any shelf space in most major computer retail stores. Within that space, [[retailer]]s will usually be reluctant to stock relatively inexpensive games which may or may not sell well instead of high-cost, guaranteed high-selling products such as [[Microsoft Office]] and [[Adobe Photoshop]]. Due to this, almost all smaller Mac game companies release their products using a [[shareware]] business model, either exclusively or in addition to a more traditional retail "boxed" version. All porting houses and larger game companies have stuck to the traditional model, but the recent rise in the [[digital download]] model may lead to some companies eventually releasing games as paid downloads in a model similar to [[Valve Corporation]]'s [[Steam (content delivery)|Steam]] service. [[Virtual Programming]] was one of the few porting companies to offer commercial games via digital download, although with the launch of [[Deliver2Mac]] in early 2006 other companies are beginning to move towards digital distribution. Aside from getting around the shelf space problem, shareware and digital download models also provide a larger percentage of profit to the company, as the [[wholesaler]] middleman is avoided and costs (and turnaround times) involved in [[media replication]] are eliminated. The latest player is [[TransGaming Technologies]]' GameTreeOnline.com which was launched March 2008 with a focus to offer the Mac gaming community digital downloads of major published Mac titles.

==External links==
* [http://www.apple.com/games/ Apple - Games]
===Notable current porting houses=== 

*[[Aspyr]] – [http://www.aspyr.com/ Official Site]
*[[Electronic Arts]] - [http://ea.com/ Official Site]
*[[Feral Interactive]] – [http://www.feralinteractive.com/ Official Site]
*[[MacSoft Games]] – [http://www.macsoftgames.com/ Official Site]
*[[MacPlay]] – [http://www.macplay.com/ Official Site]
*[[Red Marble Games]] - [http://www.redmarblegames.com/ Official Site]
*[[Robosoft Technologies]] - [http://www.robosoftin.com/ Official Site]
*[[TransGaming Technologies]] - [http://www.transgaming.com/ Official Site]

===Notable current original game developers=== 
*[[Ambrosia Software]] – [http://www.ambrosiasw.com Official Site]
*[[Freeverse Software]] – [http://www.freeverse.com Official Site]
*[[Pangea Software]] – [http://www.pangeasoft.net/ Official Site]
*[[Spiderweb Software]] – [http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com Official Site]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==



*{{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Computer_Platforms/Macintosh/}}

[[Category:Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Mac OS X games]]
[[Category:Video game development]]

STOS BASIC

2008-06-27T08:55:40Z

Spellcoder: fixed link to sourcecode for STOS and AMOS

[[Image:STOS_BASIC_loading_screen.png|frame|right|The STOS BASIC loading screen]]
'''STOS BASIC''' is a dialect of the [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] [[programming language]] implemented on the [[Atari ST]] computer. STOS BASIC was originally developed by ''[[Jawx]]'' by [[François Lionet]] and [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]] and published by [[Mandarin Software]] (now known as [[Europress Software]]).

''STOS Basic'' was a version of [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] that was designed for creating games, but the set of powerful high-level graphics and sound commands it offered made it suitable for developing multimedia-intense software without any knowledge of the internals of the [[Atari ST]].

==History==
Although the first version of ''STOS'' to be released in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] (version 2.3) was released in late 1988 by [[Mandarin Software]], an earlier version had been released earlier in [[France]].

Version 2.3 was bundled with three complete games (''Orbit'', ''Zoltar'' and ''Bullet Train''), and many accessories and utilities (such as sprite and music editors). A [[compiler]] was soon released that enabled the user to compile the ''STOS Basic'' program into an executable file that ran a lot faster because it was [[compiler|compiled]] rather than [[interpreter (computer software)|interpreted]]. In order to be compatible with the compiler, STOS needed to be upgraded to version 2.4 (which came with the compiler). STOS 2.4 also fixed a few bugs and had faster floating point mathematics code, but the floating point numbers had a smaller range.

STOS 2.5 was released to make STOS run on Atari STEs with TOS 1.06 (1.6), and then STOS 2.6 was needed to make STOS run on Atari STEs with TOS 1.62. STOS 2.7 was a compiler-only upgrade that made programs with the STOS tracker extension (used to play MOD music) compile.

There was a 3rd-party hack called STOS 2.07 designed to make ''STOS'' run on even more TOS versions, and behave on the [[Atari Falcon]].

==Extensions==
It was possible to extend the functionality of ''STOS'' by adding extensions which added more commands to the language and increased the functionality. The first such extension to be released was ''STOS Maestro'' which added the ability to play sampled sounds. ''STOS Maestro plus'' was ''STOS Maestro'' bundled with a sound-sampler cartridge. Other extensions included ''TOME'', ''STOS 3D'', ''STE extension'', ''Misty'', ''The Missing Link'', ''Control extension'', ''Extra'' and ''Ninja Tracker''. These extensions kept ''STOS'' alive for many years after its release.

==Criticisms==
While giving programmers the ability to rapidly create a game without knowing the internals, ''STOS'' was criticised for being slow (especially when intensively using the non-high-level commands), and for not allowing the user to program in a structured manner.

==Other platforms==
In 1990, [[AMOS BASIC]] was released for the [[Amiga]]. It was originally meant to shortly follow the release of ''STOS'' on the [[Atari ST]] (''Mandarin Software'' were notorious for having huge delays in their release-schedule and announcing vapourware). [[AMOS BASIC|AMOS]] was released about two years after the [[United Kingdom|UK]] release of ''STOS''. But this turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the [[Amiga]] community thanks to the extra development time. Not only did [[AMOS BASIC|AMOS]] take advantage of the extra [[Amiga]] hardware and have more commands than ''STOS'', but the style of [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] was completely different - it had no line-numbers, and there were many [[structured programming]] constructs (at one time, the ''STOS Club Newsletter'' published a program that allowed the reader to program ''STOS'' using that style). While it was often possible to directly convert ''STOS BASIC'' programs that did not heavily rely on extensions to [[AMOS BASIC]], the reverse was not usually true.

A [[PC compatible|PC]] version called ''PCOS'' was once mentioned, but that never materialised. Instead, the publishers [[Mandarin Software]] renamed themselves [[Europress Software]]. One of the developers in [[Jawx]], [[Francois Lionet]], was later to form [[Clickteam]] with [[Yves Lamoureux]] and went on to release the [[Klik]] (click) series of games-creation tools (which were dissimilar to ''STOS'' as they use a primarily mouse-driven interface without the need for traditional code). [[Klik & Play]], [[The Games Factory]], [[Multimedia Fusion]] and [[Multimedia Fusion 2]] have been released in this series.

==External links==
=== General ===
*[http://stos.atari.st/ STOS Time Tunnel] - A site dedicated to STOS.

===Publishers===
*[http://clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 Clickteam STOS and AMOS page] - Source code for STOS and AMOS (68000 ASM).

===Patches===
*[http://www.btinternet.com/~AnthonyJ/Atari/stos/genfixer.html Generic STOS fixer] - Use this to fix compiled STOS programs so that they run on a greater number of TOS versions.
*[http://www.btinternet.com/~AnthonyJ/Atari/stos/basic207.html STOS Basic 2.07] - Use this to patch a version of ''STOS'' to version 2.07. It makes the compiled programs compatible with more TOS versions and hardware. It even makes ''STOS'' work properly on the [[Atari Falcon]]

===Resources===
*[http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/copyright/249/stos_ref/stoscont.htm The Complete STOS Reference]
*[http://www.btinternet.com/~AnthonyJ/Atari/stos/index.html Anthony Jacques' STOS related programs] - A collection of STOS programs and extensions.
*[http://3430.free.fr/atari_st/texts/stos.htm MINI DOC POUR LE STOS BASIC (Atari)] - A small documentation of STOS's most simple commands (in French).
*http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/Programming/Stos/ - Index of the Atari Archive ''STOS'' section

===Nostalgia===
*[http://www.lynn3686.freeserve.co.uk/stoswizcoders.html STOS Wiz-Coders]
*[http://www.xbattlestation.com/forgottencreations/ Forgotten Creations] by Simon Hazelgrove

===Developers who develop software developed with STOS===
*[http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/cache/369/serious.html Serious Software]
*[http://www.stosser.co.uk/index.php Stosser Software]
*[http://software.wackonet.net Wacko Software]

[[Category:Atari ST software]]
[[Category:BASIC programming language family]]
[[Category:Game creation software]]

[[de:STOS BASIC]]
[[fr:STOS BASIC]]
[[sv:STOS BASIC]]

AMOS (programming language)

2008-04-16T09:57:44Z

Spellcoder: removed Steve the Zib because I could find only one reference to it (not the game itself), added Valhalla to list, because it's well known, has a wikipedia entry and lots of info on internet about it.

{{Infobox programming language
| name = AMOS
| logo =
| paradigm = [[Imperative programming|Imperative]]
| year = 1990
| designer =
| developer = [[François Lionet]] and [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]
| latest_release_version =
| latest_release_date =
| latest_test_version =
| latest_test_date =
| typing = Static
| implementations =
| dialects = AMOS, Easy AMOS, AMOS Professional
| influenced_by = [[STOS BASIC]]
| influenced =
| operating_system = [[AmigaOS]]
| license = [[BSD license|BSD style license]]
| website = [http://www.clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 AMOS and STOS]
}}

'''AMOS BASIC''' is a dialect of the [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] [[programming language]] implemented on the [[Amiga]] computer. AMOS BASIC was published by [[Europress Software]] and originally written by [[François Lionet]] with [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]. It is a descendant of [[STOS BASIC]] for the [[Atari ST]]. AMOS BASIC was first produced in [[1990]].

AMOS competed on the Amiga platform with Acid Software's [[Blitz BASIC]]. Both BASICs differed from other dialects on different platforms, in that they allowed the easy creation of fairly demanding multimedia software, with full structured code and many high-level functions to load images, animations, sounds and display them in various ways.

The original AMOS version was [[interpreter (computer software)|interpreted]] which, whilst working fine, suffered from performance problems. Later, an AMOS [[compiler]] was developed, that reduced this problem.

After the original version of AMOS, Europress released two other versions: '''Easy AMOS''', a simpler version for beginners, and '''AMOS Professional''', a more advanced version with added features, such as a better [[Integrated Development Environment|IDE]], [[ARexx]] support, a new [[user interface|UI]] sublanguage and new flow control constructs. Neither of these new versions was significantly more popular than the original AMOS.

AMOS was mostly used to make [[video game]]s (platformers and graphical adventures) and educational software.

The language was mildly successful within the Amiga community. Its ease of use made it especially attractive to beginners.

Perhaps AMOS BASIC's biggest disadvantage was its incompatibility with the Amiga's [[AmigaOS|operating system]] functions and interfaces. Instead, AMOS BASIC controlled the computer directly, which caused programs written in it to have a non-standard user interface, and also caused compatibility problems with newer versions of the operating system.

Today the language has declined in popularity along with the Amiga computer for which it was written. Despite this, a small community of enthusiasts are still using it. The [[source code]] to AMOS has since been released under a [[BSD license|BSD style license]] by [[Clickteam]] - a company that includes the original programmer.

==Software using AMOS BASIC==
* [[ABase]]
* [[Flight of the Amazon Queen]]
* [[Scorched Tanks]]
* [[Spectrapaint]]
* games by [[Vulcan Software]], amongst which the [[Valhalla: Before the War|Valhalla]] trilogy

==See also==
*[http://alvyn.sourceforge.net/ Alvyn Basic] — An attempt to recreate an [[open source]] [[multiplatform]] [[BASIC (programming language)|BASIC]] [[interpreter (computing)|interpreter]], syntax-compatible with AMOS Professional.
*[http://sdlbasic.sourceforge.net/ sdlBasic] — a multiplatform Basic interpreter, multiplaform and open-source, using SDL libraries, very inspired from AMOS.

==External links==
*[http://www.clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 Source code for AMOS and STOS (68000 ASM)]
*[http://amos.pspuae.com/ The AMOS Factory] (An AMOS support/community site)
*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/mattathias/ Mattathias BASIC] (Open source AMOS compiler, early alpha)
*[http://www.amigacoding.com Amigacoding website] (contains indepth info and references for AMOS)

[[Category:BASIC programming language family]]
[[Category:Game creation software]]
[[Category:Amiga software]]

[[bs:AMOS BASIC]]
[[de:AMOS BASIC]]
[[fr:AMOS BASIC]]
[[hr:AMOS BASIC]]
[[ms:Bahasa pengaturcaraan Amos]]
[[pl:Amos (język programowania)]]
[[fi:AMOS (ohjelmointikieli)]]
[[sv:AMOS (programspråk)]]

AMOS (programming language)

2008-03-04T21:00:53Z

Spellcoder: added link to site with indepth info on AMOS

{{Infobox programming language
| name = AMOS
| logo =
| paradigm = [[Imperative programming|Imperative]]
| year = 1990
| designer =
| developer = [[François Lionet]] and [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]
| latest_release_version =
| latest_release_date =
| latest_test_version =
| latest_test_date =
| typing = Static
| implementations =
| dialects = AMOS, Easy AMOS, AMOS Professional
| influenced_by = [[STOS BASIC]]
| influenced =
| operating_system = [[AmigaOS]]
| license = [[BSD license|BSD style license]]
| website = [http://www.clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 AMOS and STOS]
}}

'''AMOS BASIC''' is a dialect of the [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] [[programming language]] implemented on the [[Amiga]] computer. AMOS BASIC was published by [[Europress Software]] and originally written by [[François Lionet]] with [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]. It is a descendant of [[STOS BASIC]] for the [[Atari ST]]. AMOS BASIC was first produced in [[1990]].

AMOS competed on the Amiga platform with Acid Software's [[Blitz BASIC]]. Both BASICs differed from other dialects on different platforms, in that they allowed the easy creation of fairly demanding multimedia software, with full structured code and many high-level functions to load images, animations, sounds and display them in various ways.

The original AMOS version was [[interpreter (computer software)|interpreted]] which, whilst working fine, suffered from performance problems. Later, an AMOS [[compiler]] was developed, that reduced this problem.

After the original version of AMOS, Europress released two other versions: '''Easy AMOS''', a simpler version for beginners, and '''AMOS Professional''', a more advanced version with added features, such as a better [[Integrated Development Environment|IDE]], [[ARexx]] support, a new [[user interface|UI]] sublanguage and new flow control constructs. Neither of these new versions was significantly more popular than the original AMOS.

AMOS was mostly used to make [[video game]]s (platformers and graphical adventures) and educational software.

The language was mildly successful within the Amiga community. Its ease of use made it especially attractive to beginners.

Perhaps AMOS BASIC's biggest disadvantage was its incompatibility with the Amiga's [[AmigaOS|operating system]] functions and interfaces. Instead, AMOS BASIC controlled the computer directly, which caused programs written in it to have a non-standard user interface, and also caused compatibility problems with newer versions of the operating system.

Today the language has declined in popularity along with the Amiga computer for which it was written. Despite this, a small community of enthusiasts are still using it. The [[source code]] to AMOS has since been released under a [[BSD license|BSD style license]] by [[Clickteam]] - a company that includes the original programmer.

==Software using AMOS BASIC==
* [[ABase]]
* [[Flight of the Amazon Queen]]
* [[Scorched Tanks]]
* [[Spectrapaint]]

==See also==
*[http://alvyn.sourceforge.net/ Alvyn Basic] — An attempt to recreate an [[open source]] [[multiplatform]] [[BASIC (programming language)|BASIC]] [[interpreter (computing)|interpreter]], syntax-compatible with AMOS Professional.
*[http://sdlbasic.sourceforge.net/ sdlBasic] — a multiplatform Basic interpreter, multiplaform and open-source, using SDL libraries, very inspired from AMOS.

==External links==
*[http://www.clickteam.com/eng/downloadcenter.php?i=58 Source code for AMOS and STOS (68000 ASM)]
*[http://amos.pspuae.com/ The AMOS Factory] (An AMOS support/community site)
*[http://sourceforge.net/projects/mattathias/ Mattathias BASIC] (Open source AMOS compiler, early alpha)
*[http://www.amigacoding.com Amigacoding website] (contains indepth info and references for AMOS)

[[Category:BASIC programming language family]]
[[Category:Game creation software]]
[[Category:Amiga software]]

[[bs:AMOS BASIC]]
[[de:AMOS BASIC]]
[[fr:AMOS BASIC]]
[[hr:AMOS BASIC]]
[[ms:Bahasa pengaturcaraan Amos]]
[[pl:Amos (język programowania)]]
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[[sv:AMOS (programspråk)]]

François Lionet

2008-03-04T20:45:42Z

Spellcoder: fixed typo's and linked platform to Platform (computing)

'''François Lionet''' is a [[French people|French]] programmer, best known for having written [[STOS BASIC]] on the [[Atari ST]] and [[AMOS BASIC]] on the [[Amiga]] (along with [[Constantin Sotiropoulos]]). He has also written several games on these [[Platform_(computing)|platforms]].

In 1994, he founded [[Clickteam]] with [[Yves Lamoureux]], producing the [[Klik]] series of games-creation tools, including [[Multimedia Fusion]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lionet, François}}
[[Category:Amiga people]]
[[Category:French computer programmers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

{{compu-bio-stub}}

User:Spellcoder

2007-07-03T08:20:52Z

Spellcoder: ←Created page with 'Hello, I live in the Netherlands and I'm into web-development (design and coding), photography, cats and Amiga computers. Study/work: *Art & Technology student at...'

Hello, I live in the Netherlands and I'm into web-development (design and coding), photography, cats and Amiga computers.

Study/work:
*Art & Technology student at Hogeschool Enschede
*Employee at the Online Learning Environment of the University Twente

For more information visit: [http://www.spellcoder.nl Spellcoder's Hideout]

Talk:CSS

2007-07-03T08:18:22Z

Spellcoder: suggestion to add css3.info to external links

{{Wikipedia:WikiProject CSS/WP}}
{{facfailed}}

==could use some work==

This article could use some work. In particular, the bits about HTML compared with CSS seem out-of-place (or at the very least, need to be in a separate section). Also, if we're going to try to list all the capabilities provided by CSS1 (and CSS2 and CSS3, eventually), this article is going to be huge, and basically a reproduction of the w3c specs. Not very encyclopedic. The discussion of problems with browsers adhering to the spec could stand to have its own section, as well. The diagram showing box properties seems unnecessary, especially since it serves only to illustrate the width bug in MSIE. As it stands, the article reads more like a rudimentary how-to than an article about what CSS is.

Off the cuff, I think the following sections would help divide up the article nicely and make it more encyclopedic:

* 1) Overview of what CSS does. Not too specific; some nice generalizations about how CSS enables presentation/content separation, flexibility and customizability, better accessibility, etc.
* 2) Origins, history, development of CSS, how stylesheets were originally envisioned by [[Tim Berners-Lee]] in about 1994, '''and how they progressed over time to become a standard
* 3) Some mention of the difficulties in getting the standards widely accepted and used in practice, and particularly in getting browsers to implement them.

-- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 17:47 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I agree that the article needs restructuring and enhancement. I would like to see as a fourth point and fith point
'''
* 4) Generalized description how the versions CSS1, CSS2 and CSS3 differ
* 5) Some examples - use in HTML and XML (and other languages / systemes?)'''

The box diagram could go under point 3. Actually that bug (or misinterpretation of the standard) on a very basic issue by the major browser manufacturer prevents the use of many CSS features. From a web author point of view the issue is very important; basically it is a go-no-go criteria if you want to have a consistent look across all platforms.

--[[User:Hirzel|Hirzel]] 18:38 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)

True, but it can be [http://tantek.com/CSS/Examples/boxmodelhack.html hacked] by taking advantage of another MSIE bug :-) I think this issue is pretty minor, though, and doesn't deserve more than a mention here. We could devote volumes to all the things that are broken in various versions of MSIE, and even more to the bugs, mis-implementations, misinterpretations, and just plain unavoidable differences between browsers that make consistent presentation impossible.

Your (4) and (5) points above look good, but I think we should try to keep examples to a minimum, especially since the specification does those quite well already.

-- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 18:55 2 Jul 2003 (UTC)'''

----

I've written a draft of (1), (2), and part of (3). "Difficulty with Adoption" onwards needs quite a bit of refactoring; it may also be good to throw in a (very) simple example towards the beginning, in order to show what a CSS document looks like. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 01:57 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

: Thank you for that you have done so far. I like it! --[[User:Hirzel|Hirzel]] 09:08 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Heh. I spent too long editing and got logged out. 24.210.223.22 was me. I've refactored the rest and touched up the existing stuff. Could use a little more in the way of distinction between CSS1/2/3, and the whole thing probably needs some touch-up work; part (5) is not yet written. It's starting to shape up, though :-) -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 12:57 3 Jul 2003 (UTC)
----

So, what was wrong with this link? http://www.visiomode.com/docs/

:Beats me. It's (IMHO) better-formatted and easier to read than the W3C docs, so I put it back in. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 20:29, 9 May 2004 (UTC)

:Had to take it off - I read the license carelessly. After that I didn't get a permission to distribute it when I was enlightened and asked for it.

==divisor versus division==

Re: divisor versus division: As far as I know, "div" stands for neither (the HTML spec does not elaborate on its intended meaning); it is simply a block-level container, so calling it a "division" isn't really accurate anyhow. I am not very comfortable with much of the "Common Pitfalls" section anyhow. Most of it seems to focus on what can go wrong when one doesn't understand how to use CSS appropriately, but to me that is hardly a pitfall of the language itself. The "undocumented and forgotten class name" thing is wholly unrelated to CSS itself, and instead is more an instance of bad programming practice. I, for one, would be in favor of severely trimming this section. I'll likely do it myself unless there are some objections. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 01:21, 10 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Wapcaplet wrote "I think this issue (the MSIE box problem) is pretty minor, though, and doesn't deserve more than a mention here". Mate, I can't believe you wrote that! It is ''the'' major issue standing in the way of a standards-based Internet that uses modern, portable, flexible CSS instead of the unreadable spagetti code of nested tables within tables and all that other bandwidth-hogging crap. No-one who has ever tried to code a non-trivial amount of CSS-based cross-browser HTML would say that. Sorry to be so blunt, but if you watch people trying to learn CSS and see how confused and despondent they get when they run into incomprehensible and bizare stuff like the Tantek hack (a thing that you can't code decent pages without) you'll see what I mean. It is a major ''major'' barrier to progress. [[User:Tannin|Tannin]] 10:05, 10 Jun 2004 (UTC)

:I can't be sure, since it was a long time ago that I wrote that, but I think what I meant is that in relation to discussing CSS, the issue is minor. MSIE mis-implementing CSS (even in such a significant way) does not contribute a large piece of data to discussion of the CSS language. In the history of Microsoft mis-implementing things in its software, it's probably one of thousands, but certainly one with major impact.

:I totally agree that the bug is a major impediment to progress, but I don't think it is any more an impediment to the adoption of CSS than the uneasiness and resistance to change that the average table-taught web designer felt with its (CSS) introduction. I find it hard to believe that any experienced web designer would be surprised or despondent at the Tantek hack; browser workarounds have been a significant part of HTML authoring since forever, and to me the amount of spaghetti CSS created by the Tantek hack is tiny in comparison with the spaghetti HTML that we had before CSS. MSIE's mis-implementation does not affect the inherent usefulness of CSS; just the short-term practicality of it. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 21:45, 10 Jun 2004 (UTC)

== Trimming the pitfalls ==

As per my comment above, I've finally decided to slice out a few chunks of the "Common pitfalls" section. Here's why:

* Paragraph "Another problem are unspecified, undocumented, and often forgotten class-names..." Many programmers choose inappropriate class names, do not document properly, and so on; this is wholly irrelevant to discussing CSS. Wikilinks to words like [[footer]], [[footnote]], [[explanation]] are just silly. Other issues mentioned in this para. are already covered elsewhere in the article.
* Paragraph "Complexity of HTML is another possible problem..." Again, programmers who choose to descend into spaghettification do so at their own peril; this has nothing to do with the merits, flaws, or common pitfalls of CSS. We don't need to list all the ways that a programmer might misuse CSS.
* Paragraph "Yet another pitfall is ... so-called CSS hacks..." This is already covered elsewhere. The necessity of hacks with certain software is a ubiquity in the programming world; refer to my comment above re: MSIE for elaboration on why I don't think it's of paramount importance to understanding CSS.
* Paragraph "Lastly there is a tendency of CSS designers to mistake the layout easily to be achieved with the layout a reader might prefer..." I have no idea what this paragraph is trying to get at. Good design isn't easy? Easy design is bad? I don't think a discussion of design sensibilities has much to do with understanding CSS either.

The two paragraphs that now remain may be questionable as well, but I think they belong for the following reasons:

* Paragraph "CSS may at times be misused..." emphasizes the broader fact that CSS has many features that may be overlooked by developers accustomed to HTML-only design, and I think more succinctly covers the issue of possible spaghetti code and maintenance issues better than any of the removed paragraphs did.
* Paragraph "CSS shares some [[pitfall]]s common with [[programming language]]s..." could be trimmed further, but I think it summarizes well the problem of class/variable naming.

Objections or comments? -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 19:40, 17 Oct 2004 (UTC)

* I don't think that generic programming language problems belong in here. Programming language pages, such as ones of Pascal, Java or Scheme, do not appear to list "user could provide a stupid variable name" as a frequent kind of problem. I don't think CSS is affected by poor class name choice any more than Java or Scheme is. I killed that beast and replaced it with something that actually tries to list *actual* shortcomings of CSS. Should we add lack of element reordering in there, or that's too close to stepping on toes of XSLT? [24.80.239.218]

== Computer language ==

I restored the bit in the intro that CSS is a [[computer language]]. A computer language need not be a programming language. I think this makes for a better definition, since "style sheet mechanism" is broad, and does not tell us about what CSS ''is''; CSS is primarily a language. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 17:20, 20 Nov 2004 (UTC)

== External Links ==

ummm... too long?
- [[User:Wikiacc|Frank]] 00:09, 22 Nov 2004 (UTC)

* Yes. I've culled some of them. I removed links to two German pages (since this is the English Wikipedia; it would make more sense for the German article to link to them); another link was to a very short example on generating a menu with CSS; another was a generalized web-design link-collection, not CSS-specific; another was a 3-year-old article on how to design without tables; another was a link to two short scripts. The remaining ones seem fairly useful and relevant, though I didn't look at them in much detail. -- [[User:Wapcaplet|Wapcaplet]] 01:37, 22 Nov 2004 (UTC)

* Well somebody needed to do it... a lot shorter now, you did a great job. - [[User:Wikiacc|Frank]] 21:13, 22 Nov 2004 (UTC)

** I cleaned it up a little bit too. I deleted the documentation section. The entire section was made of W3C links. Another link above that section goes straight too the Wikipedia W3C page. I also got rid of the less important Tanfa links, and summed them up in the home page and Hack link. Again, I shortened the number of links going to Sitepoint.com/books. I also added CSS Vault and got rid of some others. If needed please revert --[[User:Zeerus|Zeerus]] 17:03, Apr 6, 2005 (UTC)

I just reverted the removal of external links... I don't thnk the list was ''that'' long and included many useful/relevant resources. --[[User:213.33.24.245|213.33.24.245]] 05:13, 13 Jun 2005 (UTC)

:Please read [[Wikipedia:External links]]. --[[User:Weyes|W]]([[User talk:Weyes|t]]) 14:11, 2005 Jun 13 (UTC)

I want to suggest the CSS section of my website located at [http://www.landofcode.com/view/css/ http://www.landofcode.com/view/css/] for the external links section. It's relatively new, but has alot of information. The information is up to date and the content is well written.

=== CSS Editors section/list? ===

I am curious as to why there seems to be no section here or elsewhere in WP (that I've found anyway) of '''CSS development tools or editors'''. Quite a few tools exist, and most would definitely fit better under such a list than under places like [[HTML Editor]] since they are CSS-centric, and may in fact not offer HTML editing. Others like [[TopStyle]] offer both. '''Thoughts?''' If it is worth doing, should it go as a section here or as a separate page? --[[User:Jwilkinson|jwilkinson]] 23:38, 20 September 2006 (UTC)

=== Link Proposal 1 ===
I've created a free online application that allows a user to format a CSS document by simply pasting their CSS into a textbox, selecting preferences, and clicking a button.

No password or download is required; the user may simply paste right into this webpage: http://www.lonniebest.com/FormatCSS

There are several purposes for a tool such as this, but one use is "CSS Decompression". For example, if a developer didn't have their personal tool kit handy, and wanted to evaluate a style sheet that looked like this : http://stc.msn.com/br/ushp/css/1/IE7.cs

They could paste this style sheet into the tool, and conform the layout around their own whitespace preferences.

Though CSS formatting is ignored by browsers, it is a topic of interest to human beings who view and edit CSS by hand. Because this resource is for "human beings", and because the topic of formatting "Exists", an encyclopedic resource would be incomplete without mentioning the most common formatting preferences. Additionally, it would be helpful to provide an external link to a versatile tool that prevents a great deal of manual work for those who want to make a style sheet cater to their own preferences.

This tool is free and available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I believe it is a worthy candidate for the external link section.

Respectfully,

Lonnie Best 1/13/2006

* AGAINST - While I do believe that your intent is sincere and you are not trying to earn quick money on it, this tool is not worth mention simply because formatting modification is not vital. There are thousands of such "lukewarm interesting" CSS pages on the web, and including them in link section would be pure insanity. What goes into links section should be more along the lines of "indispensable". [[User:70.79.41.244|70.79.41.244]] 07:41, 14 January 2006 (UTC)

=== External beginners guide? ===
I read that if you wanted to be sure not to upset people by adding your external link you should ask first. That's what I'm doing. I'm written a [http://friendlybit.com/css/beginners-guide-to-css-and-standards/ beginners guide to CSS] that has gotten a good response from my visitors and people I've shown it to. It's aimed at complete beginners and therefor skips everything that isn't essential. Is it ok if I add it? --[[User:Emil Stenström|Emil Stenström]] 19:11, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

=== Suggested Link ===
May I suggest this link?

[http://www.w3schools.com/css/ www.w3schools.com/css]

=== New CSS Tutorial ===

Please consider this CSS tutorial:

http://www.html.net/tutorials/css/introduction.asp

It will get you started with CSS in just a few minutes. It is easy to understand and will teach you all the sophisticated techniques.

Regards,

Andreas Astrup, HTML.net

I'll take the liberty to add the tutorial to the list. I very much hope the tutorial will stay. But will look forward to all comments.

Regards, Andreas Astrup, HTML.net --[[User:194.255.144.229|194.255.144.229]] 08:14, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

=== Link Suggestion: Aural CSS ===

I've been compiling all the information I can find on (the very limited) [http://www.dotjay.co.uk/tests/css/aural-speech/ support for aural CSS properties] on my site. Anyone think it would be a useful addition? --[[User:Dotjay|Dotjay]] 13:32, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

=== CSS Tutorial ===

Before the cleanup (very welcomed!) we use to have a link to the CSS tutorial on HTML.net:

[http://www.html.net/tutorials/css/introduction.asp/ Learn CSS]

I would like to add that link again. Any comments on that?

Regards,

Andreas Astrup, HTML.net

:If I were just learning CSS, and I came across this page, I'd probably consider adding it. It is comparable if not better than some of the w3cschools page tutorials and a little more aimed at the novice than the current 'comprehensive" CSS' external link tutorial. Note: I won't its say more accurate; Lession 8 could be better worded about how the span tag acts (display:inline) Seeing some of the other tutorials out there makes me think this link might be "wikipedia worthy". But I've only had a cursory overview of it.

:I tried adding it. Now I understand why you put the slash into the link here on the Talk page. Apparently the link is blacklisted. I'm not sure why. (and frankly I'm not even sure how unless I'm not looking at the whole blacklist) Even though this action is a touch spammy, its relatively good spam IMHO. Now I'm curious. [[User:Root4(one)|Root4(one)]] 06:43, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

:: I did not know that! What does it mean to be blacklisted? How can I see why and by whom? And most importantly how can can I get off the blacklist. It is very strange because we use to have a link to the tutorial.
:: Anyway, thanks for your comments on lesson 8. I'll look at it.
:: Regards, Andreas Astrup, HTML.net —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/194.255.144.229|194.255.144.229]] ([[User talk:194.255.144.229|talk]]) 08:31, 13 December 2006 (UTC).

:::Nevermind. It turns out a link (read www.squidoo.com) already in the ''External links'' section was blacklisted, and rightly so. As I had never encountered that error before, I had wrongly assumed it was my addition. However it looks like if I do add your NOW I may get into an revision war with [[User:Rufous| Rufous]] given his [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cascading_Style_Sheets&diff=94072737&oldid=93986584 recent comments].

:::I'm not sure I agree with his edits, but again I'd have to review the removed links. I'll wait and see what's up. [[User:Root4(one)|Root4(one)]] 16:15, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

::::Hi Root4(one). I'm not one to get into reversion wars. :) If you feel like adding HTML.net to the links I won't complain. [[User:Rufous|Rufous]] 21:56, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

::::: Glad I am not coursing any wars :-) The link has been added.
::::: Thanks, Andreas Astrup, HTML.net —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/194.255.144.229|194.255.144.229]] ([[User talk:194.255.144.229|talk]]) 08:36, 14 December 2006 (UTC).

:By the way, I think the first sign that the external links are going south again is when somebody starts adding subheadings to the section. Let's try to guard against that. [[User:Rufous|Rufous]] 17:01, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

=== Link to CSS Reference ===
I found an excellent [http://www.culturedcode.com/css/reference.html CSS reference]. It has every thinkable CSS attribute explained and is still very easy to navigate (via the keyboard arrows). What do you think, should we include this in the external links section?--[[User:85.180.23.229|85.180.23.229]] 00:32, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

=== Link to CSS3.info ===
[http://www.css3.info/ CSS3.info] is a very versatile website about CSS3:
* it tells about the status of CSS3
* it gives examples of the new properties and selectors
* it allows you to test your browser to see which CSS3 selecters it supports
* it links to articles and interviews related to CSS3. all of these are sorted in categories.
The website has a very clear layout and is written in very easy to understand wordings.
I think this link would be a great addition to the external links on the [[Cascading_Style_Sheets|Cascading Style Sheets]] page.
[[User:Spellcoder|Spellcoder]] 08:18, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

== CSS Experiments ==

It seems to me that recently web designers are starting to add sections to their site dedicated to documenting all their experiments with CSS. Examples include:
*[http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/css/edge/ cs/edge|]
*[http://phoenity.com/newtedge/ Newt Edge]
*[http://moronicbajebus.com/playground/cssplay/ CSS Play]
*[http://www.literarymoose.info/=/css.xhtml CSS Destroy]
*[http://markschenk.com/cssexp/ CSS Experiments]
*[http://www.virtuelvis.com/archives/gallery/ Virtuelvis Gallery]

I'm going to add a section about it, but I want it to be edited by someone with more experience or even removed entirely if it's not apropriate.
--[[User:Wranga|Wranga]] 10:46, 23 Nov 2004 (UTC)

== Recent deletions ==
Hoary wrote:
''It's poor practice either to set the size of P (other than in particular CLASSes or IDs) or (other perhaps than for pages) to use point sizes''

Dear Hoary

In what sense are these 'poor practice'? Do you mean from an accessibility point of view, for the visually impaired? Do you mean from the point of view of maintenance of a large web site with many stylesheets? I think it would have been more helpful if you had ''explained'' the problems that these practices will lead us into rather than just deleting them as 'poor practice'. Is this your opinion only, or do you have some evidence that these are bad practices in CSS? (I'm not getting at you, I'd like to know :-) --[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 09:21, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)

:Nigelj, yes, I suppose I should have explained here: somehow I mustered the energy to make the change but not enough to explain it fully, instead, making rude noises in the edit summary (and as you saw, I've been politely rapped over the knuckles today for other, worse examples of the same bad behavior).

:Well, let's turn to your question. I meant that either (i) using point sizes (for screen, or all media) or (ii) setting the size of the lettering as a whole was poor practice from the point of view of accessibility. (It has nothing to do with maintenance.) I didn't mean that it should never be done, but I did mean that people should think thrice before doing it -- or perhaps to put it in a different way they shouldn't rush to think of CSS as a gee-whiz energy-saving 21st-century way of implementing all the bad old things they'd previously been doing with the dreaded FONT tag.

:Clearly a lot of pages present a lot of text, which, it's assumed, people will read or at least skimread through. Let's put Lynx and the like aside: with every combination of computer, video card, monitor, OS and mainstream browser, we can set our preferred sizes for this. I set mine; you set yours; each of us is his own best judge of the best setting. Yes, with Mozilla, Konqueror and perhaps other browsers we can adjust this with Ctrl-plus-or-minus, but we shouldn't have to. And of course we can have stylesheets on the receiving end: perhaps you and I do, but Joe Bloggs and Josephine Blow can't be expected to know about this. By all means put legalese in small lettering and warnings of deadlines in large lettering, but you'd better have a very good reason before changing the lot . . . which is not merely my personal opinion but also the principle expounded in [http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20020819.html Let Users Control Font Size] and elsewhere.

:When you do want to specify sizes, how should you do it? In the article I've just cited, Nielsen says: ''Do not use absolute font sizes in your style sheets. Code font sizes in relative terms, typically using percentages such as 120% for big text and 90% for small text.'' Good. But then he continues in a way that surprises me: ''Make your default font size reasonably big (at least 10 point) so that very few users have to resort to manual overrides.'' As I've explained, I see no reason why the default font size should be specified at all. And if it is specified, I don't see that point sizes are a good way to do it. As John Pozadzides and Liam Quinn say in the [http://htmlhelp.com/reference/css/all-properties.html#font-size section on font-size in their excellent CSS1 Properties page], ''Absolute lengths (using units like pt and in) should be used sparingly due to their weakness in adapting to different browsing environments'' -- 10pt on the monitor I'm staring at now may be quite different from 10pt on the one you're staring at.

:All in all I shouldn't have said "poor practice" but rather something like "often undesirable". These aren't rules; they're principles -- principles that ''I'' subscribe to, at least. If we're giving examples, I think it's better to keep them uncontroversial unless we have a good reason not to.

:I hope I've made the reasons for my changes clear, and perhaps even persuasive. But feel free to get at me. (Or simply revert, of course!) [[User:Hoary|Hoary]] 12:56, 2005 Jan 6 (UTC)

::Thanks for that, Hoary. Very interesting. Maybe, one day, one of us or someone else will have the time and the energy to put some or all of that onto the page. --[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 13:42, 6 Jan 2005 (UTC)

:::Thanks for the kind words, Nigelj, but I don't think that this would be a good idea.

:::For one thing, to judge by the number of sites written by apparently knowledgable people, there's a sizable minority (perhaps even a majority) who seem to think that people's default settings are too big and must be made smaller. Well, possibly. It could be said that so many fonts reduce the font size that people must keep it big in order that it will still be legible when reduced. The more I think of this, the sillier it seems, and I'm not sure that I could write it up with a NPOV. Anyway, it would require space.

:::Again, Wikipedia isn't supposed to be a howto compendium. I believe that there's a Wikisomethingelse for that -- and anyway there are plenty of other excellent howtos available, some of them linked from this very article.

:::Obviously if there's something I've said that seems particularly worthwhile, anybody is free to stick it in. -- [[User:Hoary|Hoary]] 01:53, 2005 Jan 7 (UTC)

== CSS with PHP ==

I think something should be added about using CSS with PHP. From what I know, you can control styles for PHP based chat rooms, forums etc. directly in the PHP document. If you use another CSS style sheet it supposedly messes up formatting for the PHP script. I am not a PHP user, so I will not add this. However, I am very experienced in CSS. If anyone can, please add something on this. --[[User:Zeerus|Zeerus]] 17:06, Apr 6, 2005 (UTC)

:That's often a result of poor separation of content and presentation; though you can preprocess CSS with PHP and include stylesheets conditionally with the program logic. Are you thinking of something more elegant than those old hacks? [[User:B0at|b0at]] 22:55, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)

::No, that's what I was thinking. I wouldn't really consider them hacks, because the CSS and PHP don't require any special tweaking or anything. I'll talk to my company's PHP developer to see what he knows about it. He's the one that originally brought the subject up. Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll get back to you on that last part. --[[User:Zeerus|Zeerus]] 18:01, Apr 7, 2005 (UTC)

:I don't quite understand what you're getting at here, but I don't think you entirely understand what PHP is. PHP is a scripting language regularly used to generate content such as HTML pages and CSS on a server before it is sent to the client (in simple terms). By the exact same theory, you could use ASP or even a client-side scripting language such as Javascript to generate a CSS page. If you use inline styles in your PHP-generated HTML (like in any HTML), linking another CSS style sheet may cause undesired effects. AFAIK, PHP has no special feature in this regard that separates it from any other server-side scripting language. If I'm off the mark, I apologise. - [[User:Rushyo|Rushyo]] 21:01, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

==Safari "full" CSS2 support?==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cascading_Style_Sheets&diff=0&oldid=13502720 This] got to be a joke. Does it support paged media? @font-face? Aural (though deprecated in CSS2.1 and replaced with vocal module in CSS3)? P.S. Update [[comparison of layout engines (CSS)]] if someone know the details. --[[User:Minghong|minghong]] 09:48, 10 May 2005 (UTC)

:It's a mistake, innacurate but not without basis in fact. Safari was the first browser to pass the [http://webstandards.org/act/acid2/test.html Acid2 test] that the Web Standards Project put together. [http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/28/1215227&from=rss Slashdot story]. It doesn't test full CSS2 compliance, but it's an important benchmark. The controversy over KHTML's collaboration with Safari's code is way more complex than the edit made it out to be. Dave Hyatt (Safari developer) blogged the last few changes that needed to be made to Safari (specifically, to a component in Safari) to get it to pass Acid2) [http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/hyatt/ here]. (Well, scroll back to mid-April and you'll see the beginning of it.) [[User:Grendelkhan|grendel]]|[[User_talk:Grendelkhan|khan]] 21:21, 2005 May 10 (UTC)

::As far as I know, the Acid2 patches are not applied to Safari 2.0/1.3. So it is rather meaningless to mention it yet. --[[User:Minghong|minghong]] 11:29, 13 May 2005 (UTC)

==Introductory statement to the subject for non-web-inner-workings-literate newbies?==
Can someone provide a very clear sentence or two near the beginning for those non-web programming savvy people like me? Granted, the article does state that the essence of CSS is that it allows both web readers and writers to style pages their own way, but when I was completely new to the subject, I had a hard time with the syntax and would have benefited from a stripped down example. I did eventually find it in the many, many CSS tutorials on the web, but it would be nice if this article could use the [[inverted pyramid]] article style of newspapers to state the gist of the subject clearly in the first line or two. Thanks. [[User:Spalding|Spalding]] 16:45, May 29, 2005 (UTC)

:Let me try this on for size, proposed to add at the end of the introduction. "A CSS statement consists of a selector that selects an HTML element to work on, and an action that specifies what to do to it after it finds it, much like an [[Control flow#Choice|IF statement]] in any computer programming language. [[User:Spalding|Spalding]] 19:22, Jun 20, 2005 (UTC)
::The trouble is - and I know it's a bit technical to say so - that CSS is a ''declarative'' language and so comparisons with [[control flow]] and <code>if</code> statements is probably more confusing than helpful as a introduction for newbies - who might end up becoming experts one day if we don't muddle the foundations of their understanding. How about, "Each CSS selector applies aspects of style to some part of an HTML or XML document. In a visual rendering these may set the element's font, colour, layout etc. Because HTML and XML describe hierachically structured information, one selector may apply to large or small parts of a whole document." ? --[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 21:17, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)
:::I think the last sentence of my suggestion is definitely optional. --[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 21:19, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)
::::That sounds pretty good to me, Nigelj - thanks! Do you want to add it in? [[User:Spalding|Spalding]] 00:59, Jun 21, 2005 (UTC)

== W3C spec documents are fundamental references ==

Once again the fundamental W3C documents that define CSS and how to use it correctly have been removed from the '''References''' section, this time by [[user:Rufous]] on the basis of "duplicate links and redundancy". I fail to see how we can leave these out of the References section of such an article; that leaves us with a crib-sheet and a cheat-sheet on some private web sites as our primary references!

This is a level of dumbing-down that I don't think is acceptable for an encyclopedia, but I dont want to get into a personal edit-war over it.

Here are the links I put in a short time ago (for reference ;-):

*[http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS/ Cascading Style Sheets] W3C CSS Home page
*[http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS1 Cascading Style Sheets, level 1] W3C Recommendation 17 Dec 1996, revised 11 Jan 1999
*[http://www.w3.org/TR/CSS21/ Cascading Style Sheets, level 2 revision 1] W3C CSS 2.1 Specification - Working Draft

--[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 20:20, 2 October 2005 (UTC)

:[[Cascading_Style_Sheets#References]]? ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 00:16, 3 October 2005 (UTC)

== Pseudo element notation ==
Shouldn't we be using the '::' notation for pseudo elements instead of ':'? CSS3 Selectors module says that only pseudoelements defined in CSS2(.1) can take the ':' notation and should be referred to using '::' - all new pseudo elements must use '::'. CSS2 and CSS3 Selectors are both candidate recommendation level so I don't see any reason to use the old style. [[User:Robin Whittleton|Robin Whittleton]] 13:09, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

:None of the new pseudo-elements are mentioned on this page yet that I'm aware of — which is fine, since support is just about nonexistent and ''CSS3 Selectors'' is a candidate recommendation (not, as you said, the same status as CSS2, which is a full recommendation). It would be premature, I think. ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 22:01, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

::Indeed. While textual [http://www.yourhtmlsource.com/stylesheets/advancedselectors.html pseudo elements] like ::first-line are somewhat supported, it would be needless to add this to the article at present. Eventually a full [[CSS Selector]]s page will be written, and the info can go there. [[User:Rufous|Rufous]] 22:38, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

I'll refer you to Hixie's blog where [http://ln.hixie.ch/?start=1111107793&count=1 he explains] that the old 'REC' level is equivalent to today's 'CR'. Actually, since that entry 2.1 has dropped back to Working Draft anyway. Regardless of this, it makes sense to differentiate pseudoelements and pseudoclasses, and a different syntax points that out to newcomers to CSS. [[User:Robin Whittleton|Robin Whittleton]] 23:10, 26 October 2005 (UTC)

:The old REC level may be equivalent to today's CR, but that means there's a new REC level (as other things of the same approximate age as ''CSS3 Selectors'' are marked REC). Even with that aside: Hixie does not run the W3C (or manage the official naming of specs, either, apparently), ''CSS3 Selectors'' is not a REC, the most popular browsers in the world do not support the new pseudo-elements yet, and as the spec itself says, usage of a single colon is fine for the existing CSS1 & 2 pseudo-elements. ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 00:44, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

== Move from CSS to XCSS ==
The step is done from DTD the XSD. Is now the next logical step to move to a XML based style sheet
language?

See discussion on: [http://css-discuss.incutio.com/?page=CssVsXcss CssVsXcss]

==Idea for the lead paragraphs==

I think the first lead paragraph does a good job of laying out specifically what CSS does, but I think the first sentence of the Overview ("CSS is used by both the authors and readers of [[web page]]s to define [[color]]s, [[Typeface|font]]s, [[layout]], and other aspects of document presentation.") should be moved into the lead to help punch up the lead as a whole. The reason I don't just do this is that I'm not sure how to rework the beginning of the Overview. The lead currently only mentions that CSS can be used for presentation once and doesn't really mention what that entails. I just don't think the lead currently fits [[WP:LS]] --[[User:Rballou|Rballou]] 22:11, 14 August 2006 (UTC)

== wcss? ==

what is wcss? [[User:Mathiastck|Mathiastck]] 01:10, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

:[[WP:RD]] ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 18:06, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

:I think it is WAP CSS. I don't know for a fact though. --[[User:Rballou|Rballou]] 19:19, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

== divitis/classitis? ==

articles about divitis and classitis were removed with intention to be merged with css article. So far there's noting about it here.

== EL Cleanup ==

It's time to do some housekeeping of this article's external links section. As [[WP:SPAMHOLE]] mentions, "When the external links section is broken down into subsections, you know something is seriously wrong". I've started by removing a link that has been admittedly spammed here (see [http://www.joostdevalk.nl/blog/developing-link-bait-2-using-wikipedia/]). --[[User:AbsolutDan|AbsolutDan]] [[User talk:AbsolutDan|(talk)]] 12:52, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

:I'm about to do a major culling of external links as what's here is outrageous - over 60 links with the vast majority repetitive and unencyclopaedic. I'm suggesting we start again and scrutinise every new link before its added. No doubt they'll be howls from the website owners, but I'd like to hear a justification for each before its added. Read [[WP:EL]] and remember that this is an encyclopaedia and not a Google replacement - there's no justification for lists of links to tutorials and tools in an encyclopaedia. -- [[User talk:Moondyne|Moondyne]] 14:56, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

== Reply to EL Cleanup ==

I had added a link to cssmate[http://cssmate.com/] which is a free online CSS editor. It is intended to give people an easy and instant practical experience with CSS. Maybe you'll call me the first howling site owner but I partially disagree with your statement “there's no justification for lists of links to tutorials and tools in an encyclopedia”. I use an encyclopedia for a brief introduction to the topic and use the references and external links to acquire more detailed information. So I do expect links to tutorials and - especially in case of web technologies – to online tools where applicable. Compared to thousands of matches for “css tutorial” and “css tool” I get in search engines 60 commented links appear of value to me. As the “External links” section is the very last it doesn’t matter to much how long it is. As long as the content of the sites matches the description people can decide themselves to use them. 
What do you think? 
[[User talk:SESchreiber|SESchreiber]] 21:01, 22 October 2006 (GMT)

*You have my sympathies. However, I hope you can appreciate the perceived [[appearance of impropriety]] on this matter. The [[burden of proof]] is on you. --Cheers, [[User talk:Folajimi|Folajimi (leave a note)]] 22:07, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

*External links are supposed to be used ''sparingly''. In a case such as we have here, where a topic is so broad that it could have many relevant (and even arguably useful) links, we prefer to link to a single directory (such as [[DMOZ]]), which could then list numerous other sites for a reader to follow. I have just done this. --[[User:AbsolutDan|AbsolutDan]] [[User talk:AbsolutDan|(talk)]] 21:40, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

*The DMOZ directory is an excellent resource where acredited editors review links to go into the directory. Substandard links are not accepted and good links are categorized by people experienced in the field. This is surely a good thing for the end user and we should foster its growth. Your link may be a useful website, but plonking it here only only invites others to do the same and that damages Wikipedia in a real way. — [[User talk:Moondyne|Moondyne]] 02:06, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for your comments. I agree that a deep link to the DMOZ category is a better solution (my site is listed there). In addition I suggest adding deep links to social book marking sites like http://del.icio.us/popular/css[http://del.icio.us/popular/css] or http://del.icio.us/search/?fr=del_icio_us&p=css&type=all[http://del.icio.us/search/?fr=del_icio_us&p=css&type=all] (my site won’t be found there). This would help less experienced users to find additional resources by popularity (not only by expertise like in DMOZ). Limiting the external links section to the DMOZ categories and a view other link collections could be a clear standard, keep the section small and still provide the users with the information. 
[[User talk:SESchreiber|SESchreiber]] 07:23, 23 October 2006 (GMT)

== References, Further reading, External links ==

What is the criteria to list [http://www.w3.org/Style/LieBos2e/history/ Cascading Style Sheets, designing for the Web] under external links and not under further reading? 
Why is [http://www.w3.org/Style/CSS CSS home page at W3C] listed under references and under external links? 
Why are references numbered and the other link sections are bulleted? 
--[[User:SESchreiber|SESchreiber]] 06:30, 23 October 2006 (UTC)

== Import vs. link ref ==

What's the difference between the two? The article just states that they are equivalent, but on [http://alpha-geek.com/2004/01/18/how_to_load_external_css_stylesheets], I found:

Many people use both. The reason is that linking one style sheet and then importing the next does two things:

1) Import integrates the stylesheet into the prvious stylesheet, so that they do not override each other if they both cover the same elements.

2) adding the link first prevents the page from first loading a non-CSS layout of the webpage first, then loading the CSS-layout. Works especially well in IE... at least, that is what several of the websites are saying out there
Posted by Sean on April 11, 2005 06:51 PM

[[User:70.111.218.254|70.111.218.254]] 04:27, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

:⇾[[WP:RD]] ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 19:22, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

== Default Lays on myspace ==

how do you make default layouts????

:⇾[[WP:RD]] ¦ [[User:Reisio|Reisio]] 09:39, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

perhaps you mean custom layouts? i recommend http://hyalineskies.com/2006/06/the-web-designers-guide-to-myspace/ [[User:67.49.238.136|67.49.238.136]] 04:17, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

== Difficulty with Adoption of CSS ==
The article says "it is widely accepted that IE has the worst..."

I happen to disagree with that statement. Also, the release of IE 7 has likely eliminated the author's worries. It's difficult to say, however, exactly what those concerns are since no specifics were given. Is this just another example of fashionable Microsoft bashing? —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/68.4.70.65|68.4.70.65]] ([[User talk:68.4.70.65|talk]]) 09:28, 25 February 2007 (UTC).

==links colors==
Is there anyway to use this color/font changing system to change the colors of the links on wikipedia? it would be quite useful in the case of my userpage, where blue isn't reflected so good. ''' [[User:Scrumshus|sc]][[Wikipedia:WikiProject Alternative music|r]][[User:Scrumshus|umshus]] '''[[User_Talk:Scrumshus|Talk to me]] 23:29, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

== [[Cascading Style Sheets#Further reading|"Further reading"]] ==

I'm unclear as to why we need links to authors' web sites if we have ISBN links. In most cases, this is just to promotional material. Yes, I know the sites also have errata and sample code, but it seems folks can get plenty of that by using the dmoz.org link in the external links section.
* http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/css
* http://www.aw-bc.com/catalog/academic/product/0,1144,0321193121,00.html
* http://www.ericmeyeroncss.com
* http://more.ericmeyeroncss.com
* http://www.simplebits.com/publications/solutions
* http://css24.com
* http://www.zeldman.com/dwws
* http://www.csskarma.com/

Before I just started hacking away, I though I'd raise the issue here first. --[[User:A. B.|A. B.]] [[User talk:A. B.|(talk)]] 20:51, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

== Hidden .swf in article? ==

Some type of hidden .swf spam? I reverted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cascading_Style_Sheets&diff=100787669&oldid=100786743 —The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[User:ThreeDee912|ThreeDee912]] ([[User talk:ThreeDee912|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/ThreeDee912|contribs]]) 02:40, 15 January 2007 (UTC).

== What is a personal CSS? ==

There was a mention of this [[Help:Watching pages|here,]] but this main CSS article doesn't mention how personal CSSes relate to Wikipedia. It would be cool if someone in the know could help. [[User:Kennard2|Kennard2]] 09:07, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

: There is no such thing, but they probably mean user stylesheets. They are stylesheets the user can install in their browser to overrule author stylesheets (author stylesheets are those in webpages). [[User:Carewolf|Carewolf]] 09:54, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

::Compicated. [[User:Kennard2|Kennard2]] 03:31, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

== http://dfinitive.com ==
Should this be added to external links [http://dfinitive.com/category/css CSS category]? It is a comprehensive list of the best CSS websites, blogs, etc.{{unsigned|Stokelake}}
:Looks new and untested. It's unclear who maintains the list or whether it will be well maintained. <s>You also seem to have mass added the dfinitive site to a lot of articles (which is [[WP:SPAM#How not to be a spammer|spamming]]</s> Mass added and spam accusations are hyperbole on my part, I'm sorry, and I take this back) - So no. It doesn't look like a good addition. -- [[User_Talk:SiobhanHansa|Siobhan Hansa]] 18:54, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

== Spam links to http://december.com removed ==

[[User:Yurik]] has [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cascading_Style_Sheets&curid=164013&diff=131047945&oldid=131045303 recently] made changes to all the code examples in this article, which on the face of it look quite nice. On the other hand, in doing so s/he has also magically created dozens of hyperlinks to a web site at http://december.com.

I propose that, whether or not that was the main purpose of the colour-scheming, it should be reverted asap, and so have done so. If it were possible to have the coloured syntax highlighting without the commercial spam, then I'd be happy with it. Equally, if the links were to the relevant articles with WP, or even to the non-commercial international standards pages at http://w3.org. --[[User:Nigelj|Nigelj]] 17:57, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

: Hi. Being a dev of mediawiki, i obviously did not want any spam links :). This is an unneeded feature of the syntax highlighting plugin, and we should address it for the entire wiki, rather than removing it here. Once the main plugin settings are fixed, all such links will disappear. In the mean time, i will put it back as its visual benefits clearly outweigh the almost invisible junk links that will be soon removed. --[[User:Yurik|Yurik]] 18:19, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

: Bug entered at http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=9955. --[[User:Yurik|Yurik]] 18:37, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

== Justify ==

Please, add to CSS-file "Justify" for the all texts. You must to see not have to think.)) A Wiki isn't place of text-garbages. We can to do nice for the readers.

== Column (typography) ==

Would anyone be interested in expanding and sourcing content for [[Column (typography)]], specifically the section on web layout? Thanks for your consideration.-[[User:Andrew c|Andrew c]] 00:15, 16 June 2007 (UTC)