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From: leisner.wbst139@xerox.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: OS research (opinions wanted)
Message-ID: <45530@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 22 Feb 91 20:15:21 GMT
Sender: mmdf@ee.udel.edu
Lines: 43


Yeah, a multi-threaded file system would be most useful.

If I have some time (later) and a machine to use, I'll do it if no one else
does.

[I haven't done anything with Minix since I got 1.1 up and running in x286
protected mode.  x286 is a nightmare -- x386 is much better].

What's our opinions on OS research?

I read Ken Thompson did away with different OSes and people are basically
repartitioning/rewriting Unix (Sun is going to C++, Minix, Mach, etc).

Any reason to go to a language other than C?  The C stuff works, I've been
doing object-orientated stuff in C for years.  C++ may be useful (to compile
GNU troff and stuff).  I'm not sure there is a need for it.  I haven't seen
anything on a machine that can't be done in C (in fact, C++ translates into C).

Language research seems to have basically stopped (except in some pockets).
Everyone has a silver bullet (ADA is the DoD silver bullet -- I've seen ADA
compilers [which don't work anywhere near as well as gcc]) and form complicated
and confusing software systems.

I'd like to see Minix given away (with Prentice-Hall selling media for those
who want it).  Software is going to be free -- there's too much quality stuff
around.
Once everyone knows where to find this good stuff, software houses will fold
since they don't serve a useful societal purpose (except to restrict rights and
make money).

I think the GNU people pretty much have things about right.

Any comments and questions, feel free to ask/post.

Opinions wanted.

marty
(Knowledge is useful in the Information Age)
(I hate slow, non-intuitive non-creative computer systems)
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