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From: jwhitman@ALMSA-1.ARPA@caip.RUTGERS.EDU
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: Memory Management and AmigaBASIC
Message-ID: <1241@caip.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 13:55:22 EST
Article-I.D.: caip.1241
Posted: Mon Feb 10 13:55:22 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 20:14:19 EST
Sender: daemon@caip.RUTGERS.EDU
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
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From: Jerry Whitman <jwhitman@ALMSA-1.ARPA>


1.	Glad to see that I am not the only one with *dumb* questions.  We are 
relatively new AMIGA owners at the home owner/user level.  As yet we have not 
been able to acquire the necessary tech manuals so these questions may seem
trivial to those who have access to them.

2.	Additional handicap - We have only 256k.  Obviously 512 is needed to
utilize much of the potential of the AMIGA and we will upgrade as budget 
permits.

3.	The first problem encountered is with AmigaBASIC (MicroSoft V1.1) and
its memory management.  Opening Basic by double ckicking it from the Extras
disk yields two messages in the immediate window. 1 - 40xxx bytes storage
available to system, and 2 - 14xxx bytes available to Basic.  Using the clear
command I can re-allocate the 14k between the Basic Data and the Basic Stack.
However I do not find any way to re-allocate more of the 40k to Basic.  Am I
missisng something fundamental here??

4.	The second problem stems from trying to cure the first.  I edited the
Startup-Sequence to preclude loading of Workbench, leaving the system under
DOS.  My hope was that without Workbench, Basic would grab a major portion of
the additional unused core.  Trying to load Basic directly under DOS resulted
in much thrashing that culminated in the dreaded *Red Box* with the message
OUT OF HEAP SPACE -PRESS LEFT MOUSE BUTTON TO CONTINUE.  This promptly returned
to DOS.  When Workbench is loaded and a CLI window opened I can load Basic just
fine, albeit it has only 13k of system storage available.  What does Workbench
do th manage the HEAP allocation and how can I duplicate it or get around it??

5.	Can someone clarify the use of the terms STACK, HEAP, and PILE?  Every
time I think I understand the distinctions I read something that un-clarifies
it for me.

6.	if any of these problems are the result of my stupidity don't feel too
bad about pointing it out.  I have not seen evidence of many faint-hearted
members on this BB.

7.	Reply to JWHITMAN@ALMSA-1.ARPA.

			Thanks for your indulgence.....
			Jerry