a cure for the common code...

CodeHead Technologies Logo

A TRIBUTE TO A SOFTWARE COMPANY ONCE WELL-KNOWN TO THOUSANDS OF ATARI COMPUTER USERS

With the demise of Atari Computers, few people still remember or have ever heard of CodeHead Technologies. Sadly, few people even know that Atari ever made computers at all! I've put together this web page as a shrine dedicated to preserving the memory of CodeHead Technologies and the CodeHeads who made it work.

At this date (Saturday, December 28, 1996), I've assembled only one historical document which chronicles CodeHead from its birth until 1991. I hope to expand upon this as my schedule permits. If you have anything to contribute which might be of interest to those who pass through, please send me E-Mail at: biz@skybluemusic.com.

You can see what I'm up to these days by browsing the Sky Blue Music Website. Thanks for visiting.

Here's a link to another CodeHead page created by Lyford Rome. Thanks Lyford!

Sincerely,
John Eidsvoog, CodeHead


THE STORY OF CODEHEAD SOFTWARE

(Written June 6, 1991)

CodeHead Software was created in August of 1988 by Charles F. Johnson and John Eidsvoog, two programmers who were fed up with dealing with Atari's GDOS. They decided to rewrite GDOS in assembly language to get rid of the system slowdown that it caused and at the same time add some more new features. The program that evolved along with a desk accessory to allow loading of ASSIGN files became G+Plus, after first being called GDOS_LF (GDOS Liberation Front), ADOS, and G-Wiz. They agreed on the company name of CodeHead Software and the CodeHeads emerged.

Within a month, CodeHead Software released their second product, MultiDesk which will load up to 32 accessories at any time. CodeHead Software quickly gained a reputation for releasing bullet-proof, bug-free, assembly language software for the Atari ST that extends the limitations of the operating system. In the Spring of 1989, they released HotWire and MIDIMAX, and in June the long awaited CodeHead Utilities.

Before CodeHead Software was formed, both Charles and John had made their livings as professional musicians. Although both are quite accomplished musicians, they have never actually sat down and played music together. Maybe some day they'll get around to that.

Charles F. Johnson grew up in Hawaii, and is now living in Los Angeles. For most of his life, he's been a professional musician, playing guitar with an assortment of famous and near-famous artists, like George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Al Jarreau, Pages, Airto Moreira, and his own band, Catzeye. In 1985, he was in a full-length concert video with Al Jarreau called "Live in London," filmed at Wembley Stadium. He now does occasional studio sessions in LA when he can pull himself away from his Atari ST.

Charles' computer addiction began with the Atari 8-bit computers, writing software in 6502 assembly language. It was a natural step to move up to the ST series and learn 68000 assembly language. The name Charles F. Johnson is now known to Atari enthusiasts the world over for his ST programming contributions, including ArcShell, Desk Manager, Macro Mouse, Little Green Selector, Art Gallery, Font Tricks, and DeskSwitch as well as numerous software reviews in major ST magazines.

John Eidsvoog began his programming career with the Apple II computer, another 6502-based machine for which he wrote a film composer's timing program called Film Music Tool Kit. After switching to the Atari ST, John wrote two MIDI programs for Hybrid Arts -- GenPatch ST and HybriSwitch. Many ST MIDI users know him from his famous digitized picture complete with winking eye in the GenPatch Info dialog box.

John's musical background began with a music major from Augsburg College in Minneapolis followed by a Master's degree in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 1972. In the ensuing years he played piano with many bands and singers including Vaughn Monroe, Sammy Kaye, Bob Crosby, Ray and Bob Eberle, Ray McKinley and the Modernaires, Les Elgart, Tommy Dorsey Band, and the Glenn Miller Band (on baritone sax!). After moving to Los Angeles in 1976, John began doing studio sessions on piano and an array of synthesizers, playing on such TV and film scores as Dallas, Hill Street Blues, MacGyver, Knot's Landing, Simon & Simon, A-Team, Moonlighting, Twilight Zone, Popeye, Fatso, Fatal Vision and World War III. He played and composed for the John Davidson TV Talk Show and was musical director for Andy Gibb with whom he toured worldwide and made TV appearances. John also has a handful of published choir and bell choir compositions.

Maybe it was inevitable that John and Charles would get together. They have a combination of meticulous care regarding the stability of their software linked with a creative inhibition that inspires unique ideas and features not found in other software. CodeHead Software is optimistic about Atari's future and is dedicated to continued support of their existing software together with development of new and exciting products.