gerph RISC OS Allocation Service
Overview
RISC OS maintains a central registry for resources that must not clash between software authors. The allocation service is run by RISC OS Open.
- Allocation email address:
allocate@riscosopen.org - Preferred method: Use the
!Allocatedesktop application to create a structured request file, then attach it to an email. Since!Allocatecannot be run in the RISC OS Build environment, a toolriscos-allocatecan be used which allows an allocation file to be constructed, which can be sent by email. - Alternative method: If requested, or the
riscos-allocatetool is not available, you should send an email directly describing the resources needed. - When to allocate: Before publicly releasing any software that uses the resource.
Response time: RISC OS Open aim to respond within 5 working days.
Important: The allocations service can be slow or unresponsive. If no reply has been received after one week, resend — forward the original email with a brief note explaining it is a resend.
What allocation does NOT cover: The service does not check for trademark, copyright, patent, or other IPR issues. That remains the requester's responsibility.
Step-by-Step Process
1. Identify what needs registering
If invoked with a project in context, examine the project to determine what allocations are needed:
- Check the CMHG file (
cmhg/*) for the module title, SWI chunk base, and error base - Check the source files for any
*Commands, service calls, system variables, or filetypes - Check
VersionNumorMakefile,fe1for the project name if not otherwise clear
If invoked without project context, ask the user:
- What software or resource needs registering?
- Which type(s) of allocation are required? (Use the table below.)
- Is a specific value already in use that should be formalised, or is a fresh allocation needed?
- Is there any documentation (e.g., a URL) describing the interface?
2. Ask how to deliver the email
Ask the user: "Would you like the email written to a text file, or displayed on screen?"
- File: write to
allocate-request.txtin the current directory (or a name the user prefers) - Screen: display the full email text in the conversation
3. Gather sender details
Ask for, or read from context:
- The user's full name
- The user's email address
For the allocation tool, this information is required. The full developer address, etc is not required, but may be useful.
These are needed for the From: header and the closing signature.
4. Compose the email
Structure the email as plain text:
To: allocate@riscosopen.org
From: <Full Name> <<email address>>
Subject: <brief description of the allocation request>
<Body>
--
<Full Name>
Binary allocation file construction
If the user wants a structured Allocate request file, create a YAML description
for riscos-allocate first, then convert it to the native ,fb0 request file.
Keep the YAML as the editable source form and generate the binary file from it.
The YAML always contains:
SchemaVersionFormatVersionDeveloperRegistrations
The Developer mapping should contain the requestor details. Unknown details
may be left as null. The Registrations sequence contains one mapping per
allocation request.
Minimal example for a simple module-name reservation:
SchemaVersion: 1
FormatVersion: 1.00
Developer:
Name: Example Developer
Company: null
DeveloperNumber: null
Address1: null
Address2: null
Address3: null
Address4: null
Phone: null
Fax: null
Email: example@example.invalid
Registrations:
- Reservation:
Type: ModName
Text: ExampleModule
Example for a module which needs a module name, SWI chunk, error block, and a star command:
SchemaVersion: 1
FormatVersion: 1.00
Developer:
Name: Example Developer
Company: Example Software
DeveloperNumber: null
Address1: null
Address2: null
Address3: null
Address4: null
Phone: null
Fax: null
Email: example@example.invalid
Registrations:
- Reservation:
Type: ModName
Text: ExampleModule
- SWIChunk:
Prefix: ExampleModule
Description: SWIs for the ExampleModule module
- ErrorBlock:
Description: Error numbers for the ExampleModule module
- Reservation:
Type: StarComm
Text: ExampleStatus
For filetype allocations, attachments may be embedded in the YAML as text or
base64, or referred to by sibling filenames using the detached-file form that
riscos-allocate --extract-files produces.
Convert the YAML to a binary Allocate request with:
riscos-allocate --create request.yaml -o request,fb0
Attach the resulting ,fb0 file to the email. Also include the plain-text
request in the body so that the allocation team can understand the request
without opening the attachment.
Keep both the YAML file and the generated binary file for the user unless they explicitly ask for a transient output.
Not all details fit naturally in the Allocate file format. If any important context, rationale, or constraints are not represented in the binary request, state them explicitly in the plain-text email body.
Plain text construction
When building the email as text, construct the mail like this:
Subject line: Keep it short and factual. Describe what is being requested. Examples:
Module registration: ExampleModuleFiletype allocation for YAMLSWI chunk request: ExampleRendererSystem variable allocation: Sys$Example
Body: Be clear and direct. State what is being requested and why. For each item, use the terminology from the table of allocation types below. If a specific value is already in use, state it. If any value will do, say so.
Example body for a module:
I would like to register the following allocations for a new module:
Module name: ExampleModule
SWI chunk (64 SWIs) and name prefix: ExampleModule
Error block (256 errors): required
*Commands provided:
ExampleCmd
ExampleStatus
Documentation: https://example.org/prm/examplemodule.html
Example body for a filetype:
I would like to allocate a filetype for YAML files. YAML is a human-readable
data serialisation format. JSON is allocated as &975 and XML as &980; a similar
&fxx range would be appropriate.
If a filetype has already been allocated, please let me know the number.
NEVER suggest numbers for SWI bases, error numbers or services. These will always be allocated from a pool.
5. Deliver and inform
After producing the email, tell the user:
- Send to:
allocate@riscosopen.org - Expected response: within 5 working days
- If no response after one week: resend the email by forwarding the original with a brief note at the top, such as: "Resending this request as I have not received a reply."
Resending
When composing a resend, forward the original message and add a short note:
To: allocate@riscosopen.org
From: <Full Name> <<email address>>
Subject: <original subject> (resend)
Resending this request as I have not received a reply.
<any corrections or updates since the original, if applicable>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
<original email in full>
Complete Table of Allocatable Resources
The following is taken from the official RISC OS Open allocation page
(https://www.riscosopen.org/content/allocate). The !Allocate request type column shows
the terminology used by the !Allocate application; use the same terms in the email where
relevant.
| Allocation | !Allocate request type | Restrictions on name | Case-sensitive? | Included with allocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Message_DeviceClaim device number | Devices | — | Yes | — |
| DrawFile object type | Draws object block | — | Yes | — |
| DrawFile tagged object type | Draws tag block | — | Yes | — |
| Error block (256 errors) | Error block | — | Yes | — |
| Filetype | Filetype | ≤ 8 chars | No | File$Type_XXX, Alias$LoadTypeXXX, Alias$PrintTypeXXX, Alias$@RunType_XXX, Wimp sprites file_XXX, small_XXX |
| Filing system number and name | Filing system | — | No | Block of 256 error numbers |
| Wimp message block (64 messages) | Messages | — | Yes | — |
| Expansion card ID | Podule | — | Yes | — |
| Application or shared resource directory | Reservation (AppName) | unlimited; first 9 chars must be unique | No | AppName$*, Wimp sprites !AppName, sm!AppName, ic_AppName, Choices:AppName |
| File in Devices:$ | Reservation (DeviceFS) | — | No | — |
| System variable | Reservation (EnvVar) | must include at least one $ |
No | — |
| Font name | Reservation (FontName) | — | No | — |
| Module name | Reservation (ModName) | — | No | ModName$*, $.Resources.ModName, BootFirmware:ModName |
| Directory in ResourceFS | Reservation (ResourceFS) | — | No | — |
| Directory in Wimp$ScrapDir | Reservation (ScrapDir) | — | No | — |
| Star command | Reservation (StarComm) | — | No | — |
| Utility name | Reservation (Transient) | — | No | — |
| Sprite name in Wimp sprite pool | Reservation (WimpSprite) | ≤ 12 chars | No | — |
| Service call block (64 service calls) | Service block | — | Yes | — |
| SWI chunk (64 SWIs) and name prefix | SWI chunk | — | Yes | Wimp message numbers in same range |
| Toolbox gadget type number | SWI chunk | — | Yes | Toolbox events in same range |
| Toolbox object class number | SWI chunk | — | Yes | Toolbox events in same range |
| Buffer | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| CMOS RAM byte | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Econet port number | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Ethernet driver suffix | (email only) | 1-char exhausted; keep short | No | — |
| Environment handler | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Event | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
Filing system option (*Opt) |
(email only) | — | No | — |
| Freeway type number | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Keyboard type (KeyV) | (email only) | — | No | — |
| Monitor type | (email only) | — | No | — |
| Pointer type (PointerV) | (email only) | — | No | — |
| Printer driver | (email only) | typically 2 chars | No | — |
| Printer dumper | (email only) | typically 2 chars | No | — |
| Printer type number | (email only) | — | No | — |
| Reason codes to vectors (including vectored SWIs) | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Service calls and SWIs in system range (0–&FF) | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Territory, country, alphabet, keyboard | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| UpCall block (256 UpCalls) | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Vector | (email only) | — | Yes | — |
| Wireless driver suffix | (email only) | 1–2 chars preferred; keep short | No | — |
Resources without a !Allocate request type must be requested by email only, describing
the resource in plain terms.
Notes on Common Patterns
Typical module requiring SWIs
Most modules need:
- Module name (
Reservation (ModName)) - SWI chunk and name prefix (
SWI chunk) - Error block (
Error block) - Any
*Commands(Reservation (StarComm)for each)
Module without SWIs
A module that only provides commands and claims a service call may only need:
- Module name
- Error block (if it raises errors)
- Star command names
Filetype
State the format name, what it contains, and any relationship to existing types. Ask whether a filetype is already allocated before requesting a new one.
System variable
State the full variable name (must contain $), the format of its value, when it is set,
and who sets it.