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From: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.programmer
Subject: Re: Copper mystery
Message-ID: <46614@ut-emx.uucp>
Date: 3 Apr 91 15:07:09 GMT
References: <5343@mindlink.UUCP> <1991Apr2.005933.28315@menudo.uh.edu>
Sender: strick@ut-emx.uucp
Reply-To: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp)
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin
Lines: 37

In article <1991Apr2.005933.28315@menudo.uh.edu> honp9@menudo.uh.edu 
  (Jason L. Tibbitts III) writes:
>>> dillon@overload.Berkeley.CA.US writes:
>>> 
>>>     Actually, as per my previous message, all that is really necessary
>>>     is that you make your task the highest priority, period.
>>> 
>>>     I am happy to see that others have caught on to this excellent method.
>>>                                         -Matt

>I hate to do this, but what happens if your hard disk controller employs
>delayed writes?  (Some do.)  If you are the highest priority task and the
>OS returns control to you before a write occurs, then when does it happen?
>Probably the next time you WAIT(), but that might be a long time.

I'd say you have a much better chance of having that write occur at some 
later time than if the program you ran chewed up and spit out the OS. :)

Actually, since the program should only pop its priority up when it needs it
(likely not 100% of the time -- loading the next level/screen doesn't take
100% of the CPU or any fancy copper tricks, FrEx) the write would probably
occur later without complications.  

At least that way the user has the option of getting some work done between
chokeholds on the CPU.  If they aren't running anything else then they still
have the entire machine to devote to loading.

>Jason L. Tibbitts III  | Moderator: comp.sys.amiga.reviews
>"Blob Shop Programmers:| Send submissions to HONP9@menudo.uh.edu
> Because We're Bored!" | Check comp.sys.amiga.reviews for submissions
>Disclaimer: Opinions...| guide, disclaimers, etc.               Fnord.

-- 
       Greg Harp       |"How I wish, how I wish you were here.  We're just two
                       |lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year,
greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu|running over the same ground.  What have we found?
  s609@cs.utexas.edu   |The same old fears.  Wish you were here." - Pink Floyd