ScuzzBlog: Diaries December 2021
Entry 11th December 2021: Post 1: The Music Librarian for the Amiga by ARK.
The Music Librarian for the Amiga by ARK.
I have spent the last few weeks backing up various disks for a
whole range of systems, which is something I often do this time
of the year, and in doing so I come across a rich and varied
collection of Amiga specific software. One such product is the
Music Librarian by Applied Research Kernel. The idea here being
to provide an intuitive data base that could catalogue music
collections providing full details on the musical content.
ARK were formed in 1986 and focussed on providing serious leisure
oriented software. They have produced software for Sinclair's QL
amongst most of the leading platforms of the day including the
Amiga.
Early programming seems to include work at Psion creating Cardfile,
Mailfile, Librarian and the Archivist. A more ambitious project
was undertaken with the Sinclair QL where they created a multi-file
multi-view, lazy screen editor word-processor in assembler.
The Music Librarian is actually an information management system
comprising programs, forms, databases and external files. It is
a little deceptive in that it is a little more intuitive than it
first appears. It also can perform a multitude of tasks that are
not immediately appreciated. I sense that the primary purpose of
the software was to stocktake in a working environment and update
stock numbers and report on availability. I had great fun trying
to get to the bottom of its capabilities. Quite fascinating.
The owner of the software appears to have been in regular contact
with the creators and received a number of updates. These updates
are included with the folder.
I sense that the creators were very keen on the development of
their ideas to the point of creating a commercially viable product.
I do not know if the Library was ever commercially promoted in any
national publications of the day. I do not recall any such adverts.
Well there you have it , The Music Library. For me it could be a
utility with much wider uses, such as in the field of architecture
where product searches are essential to the business. Companies
like the Barbour Index could have benefited greatly from this
database. Sadly all in the past now.
I did install the software on the Amiga and began taking some images
but chose instead to back up onto ZIP and ADF and then transfer to
the PC and took some cleaner snapshots with the emulator.
Just another example of the level of interest in the Amiga platform
in the day and the various products designed for use with the
computer.
The Music Librarian for the Amiga by ARK.
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