Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!dali.cs.montana.edu!milton!unicorn!n8643084
From: n8643084@unicorn.WWU.EDU (owings matthew)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: details, details (some questions)
Message-ID: <1249@unicorn.WWU.EDU>
Date: 25 Jul 90 21:27:36 GMT
References: <GOW.90Jul25102024@sakari.mrceg>
Reply-To: n8643084@unicorn.WWU.EDU (owings matthew)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Western Washington Univ, Bellingham, WA
Lines: 28

In article <GOW.90Jul25102024@sakari.mrceg> gow@sakari.mrceg (Ed Gow) writes:
>I am considering buying an Amiga and I hope that some of you kind
>people will advise me about some down-and-dirty technical matters.
>
>1) How does the AmigaDOS scheduler work (specifically, what stops one
>task to allow another to execute)?
	I am not sure about it but I believe it works like this: The amiga's
kernel, Exec, keeps a circular queue of currently running tasks along with
their prioritites, and then gives each a certain amount of time based on its
priority.  Execution is not determined by the program itself; it is all done
with the o.s.  I am sure someone else can provide more detail (and correct my
mistakes?)

>2) Is the Zorro bus a good bus? Is the spec openly available for
>developing add-on hardware?
	Sorry, I don't know anything about this.

>3) What books are best to learn more about this kind of stuff and to
>understand the system calls?
	If you just want to learn more about it but not in the context of
a particular language I would suggest looking up old articles about the amiga.
Byte had some detailed articles on the amiga's operation when it was new.
If you want to know about the system calls then check out the manuals from
Addison Wesley: amiga Rom Kernel reference manual: libraries and devices,
Includes and AutoDocs, and Hardware reference manual.  They should be at
Software etc. or Walden books.

>------	Ed Gow 	------  uwm!mrsvr!gemed!sakari!gow  -----------