Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!unisoft!bdt!david
From: david@bdt.UUCP (David Beckemeyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Micro RTX - questions was Re: Atari slanders Micro RTX and MT C-Shell
Message-ID: <4288@bdt.UUCP>
Date: 8 Aug 90 18:39:54 GMT
References: <4236@bdt.UUCP> <2070.26bd2888@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu>
Reply-To: david@bdt.UUCP (David Beckemeyer)
Organization: Beckemeyer Development Tools, Oakland, CA
Lines: 72

In article <2070.26bd2888@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu> kacovert@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu writes:
>Could you give us more information on Micro RTX.  I was under the 
>impression that programs had to be specifically written to run
>under Micro RTX.  Is this true?  From your post, it would seem
>that I'm mistaken.  
>
>In either case, what software is known to run under Micro RTX?

Most software just runs as is, and you don't have to do anything to it
to get it to run.  The list of programs that runs is so long I can't
list everything here, but here are some of the more commonly known titles
(off the top of my head):

GEM apps:
	Pagestream
	Calamus
	Touchup
	1st Word
	EZ Draw
	Opus
	Stalker
	Flash
	Just about any GEM app.

Utilities:
	arc
	zoo
	kermit
	Many well-behaved TOS apps.
	
Compilers etc:
	Mark Williams C
	Alcyon C
	Lazer C
	Sozobon C
	GNU GCC

Most what doesn't work are games and other programs that "take over"
the hardware and bypass the OS system calls.
	
Programs that want to use the extra system facilities (e.g. interprocess
communications, installable device drivers, or perhaps real-time
events), would need to be written specifially to use those RTX services
that they need.  These programs can be set up to even detect the
presense of RTX and work even with the system, in a "sub-set" fashion.

>Where can I get Micro RTX?  How much memory should I have to run
>Micro RTX properly?  Is it known whether Micro RTX will run on 
>a STacy?  How about the STe?  Or even the TT?  If it runs on the 
>TT, does it use the built in memory protection?

Micro RTX is available from ST binaries archive servers, Compuserv, GEnie
and the BDT BBS (415) 530-9682.  To run the basic RTX kernel you don't
need very much memory; it really depends on the size of your RTX apps.
The Micro RTX shareware distribution contains information that you should
find helpful.

I do have customers running Micro RTX on an STe.  There are minor problems,
mostly related to disk access that may or may not be related to Micro RTX.
I don't know for sure yet, since I only have one reported problem with one
STe customer. There are roughly 50 STe systems that I am personally aware
of running Micro RTX.  I have no idea how many STe users may be using the
Micro RTX kernel and I don't know about it.

The TT doesn't exist yet, and therefore Micro RTX doesn't run on it. If
the machine is ever released there are plans to develop a TT compatible
Micro RTX.  I don't have a TT and I do not know when (if) I will get one.
-- 
David Beckemeyer			| "Reckon the Ball's plumb open now,
Beckemeyer Development Tools		| and it's `swing partner'!"
P.O. Box 21575, Oakland, CA 94620	|    - Unnamed Cowboy, upon seeing
UUCP: {uunet,ucbvax}!unisoft!bdt!david 	|      heap many Indians approaching