Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!swbatl!jburnes
From: jburnes@swbatl.sbc.com (Jim Burnes - 235-0709)
Subject: Re: 8-bit death
Message-ID: <1991Apr30.005533.11903@swbatl.sbc.com>
Organization: Southwestern Bell
References: <1991Apr28.203012.2793@kessner.denver.co.us>
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 91 00:55:33 GMT

Ok guys!

Let me be the first to propose that MSDOS is not an operating system
at all.  It is a very much souped up basic i/o system with a unix-like
file system kludged onto it.  (ohh....wait ...its not really a unix
file system...they went and changed the path delimiter to a backslash..
how clever! ..big 8-) )

Seriously.  Lets get our semantics in order here.  Operating systems
are more based on resource allocation for their classifications.  
CPUs are more based upon both their internal logic width and their
addressable memory size.  Let me also say that the 8086 is not
properly a full 16bit CPU.  Its more like a hopped up 8085 with 
wider arithmetic instructions.  See any 16bitx16bit multiplies in
there? I don't think so.  (i might be wrong here)  Worst of all
is its unbelievably brain damaged addressing scheme.  OK!  I know
you're out there...somebody who want to explain why INTEL did it
that way.  Well...stop right there....its fucked up! OK?  8-)

Phew...(as he wipes the spittle from his mouth)...ahem...anyway
back to MSDOS.  I've programmed UNIX, AmigaDOS and MSDOS and 
(drum roll please) CP/M right to the metal.  I can tell you even
MDSOS 3.3 has the same damn internal data structures as CP/M.
The ones that are new to the later versions of MSDOS are different
of course.

I've programmed low level BIOS functions/DOS functions/dissasembled
and single-stepped through AMIBIOS so I can tell you how thoroughly
screwed up MSDOS is.  (used SOFTICE for single stepping ....get it!)

PS: For fun sometime, try writing any type of real-time control system
that runs under MessyDos.  Try writing an interrupt driven device
driver sometime.  Go ahead I dare you.

OK..nuf hubris here.

I say MSDOS is a 8/16bit segmented architecture OS with extensions
that let it run in 386 virtual machine environment.  Eeewwww!

(Now to return all you hackers to your Zen-Meditative-Harmonic-
Balance-with-the-machine lets mention some nice OS's)

AmigaDos (except for some slow file system access and lack of protected
memory)

PLAN-9

Amoeba

QNX

(even 4.3 Reno BSD)

MINIX386/68k

Sprite

(There...now don't you feel better)

MSDOS...just say No!

(thankyou Mrs. Bush)

J. Burnes



-- 
------------------------------------------+-----------------------------
Jim Burnes - System Engineer              ! When the world is
SouthWestern Bell Advanced Technology Labs! running down...
Internet: jburnes@swbatl.swbell.com       ! Make the best of what's