Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!rpi!pawl!shadow From: shadow@pawl.rpi.edu (Deven T. Corzine) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech Subject: Re: Minix, Unix on the Amiga, and flames on AmigaDOS braindamage... Message-ID: Date: 6 Aug 89 07:11:26 GMT References: <1610@uw-entropy.ms.washington.edu> <195@VAX1.CC.UAKRON.EDU> <517@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu> Sender: usenet@rpi.edu Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY Lines: 59 In-reply-to: lofaso@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu's message of 4 Aug 89 13:33:23 GMT On 4 Aug 89 13:33:23 GMT, lofaso@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Bernie Lofaso) said: Bernie> I think there are some strong arguments that the Amiga Bernie> operating system with some PD (or perhaps non-PD) utilities is Bernie> as good or better environment to work in as compared to a unix Bernie> OS run on the amiga. Now, why need that be? How about a Unix-like system built on top of Exec, but not AmigaDOS, that can coexist with AmigaDOS? [C-A's Amix can't.] Bernie> But that is not the level that most users would deal with the Bernie> system. No, but it will carry an effect to the level that most users DO deal with... Bernie> Printer set-up is a good example. Ever deal with printcap Bernie> entries? Yuch-pui! A Unix system built on Exec could use the Exec printer.device instead of a printcap entry... Bernie> Being able to drop in a new driver in some directory as on the Bernie> Amiga is much easier and usually gives better results. Having Bernie> a single set of printer controls commands (from programmers Bernie> prospective) is one of the features I was considering when I Bernie> said AmigaDos has a more elegant design than Unix systems. Harder to create new drivers, though. Bernie> Dynamically loadable (and sharable) libraries - new feature - Bernie> recognize the Amiga counterpart? Certainly, and that's a place where the Amiga _Exec_ operating system is superior to Unix. Bernie> True, there are some awkward "features" in the OS, but the Bernie> overall design is (my opinion of course) very elegant. I completely agree that Exec is elegant, well-designed, and basically excellent all around. It's AmigaDOS I dislike. Bernie> But when all arguments are considered, I have created a better Bernie> programming environment on my Amiga than I have on my Unix Bernie> system at work and sacrificed nothing as far as deviating from Bernie> Amiga "norms". Ah, but if you have Unix and AmigaDOS running concurrently, you have the best of both worlds available to you. Deven -- Deven T. Corzine Internet: deven@rpi.edu, shadow@pawl.rpi.edu Snail: 2214 12th Street, Troy, NY 12180 Phone: (518) 271-0750 Bitnet: deven@rpitsmts, userfxb6@rpitsmts UUCP: uunet!rpi!deven Simple things should be simple and complex things should be possible.