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From: rb@ccivax.UUCP (rex ballard)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga,net.micro.atari,net.micro.mac,net.micro.68k
Subject: Re: A 'generic 68K OS' needed
Message-ID: <431@ccivax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 13:53:42 EST
Article-I.D.: ccivax.431
Posted: Tue Feb 25 13:53:42 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Mar-86 01:20:22 EST
References: <1270@caip.RUTGERS.EDU> <408@ccivax.UUCP> <170@ttidcc.UUCP>
Reply-To: rb@ccivax.UUCP (What's in a name ?)
Followup-To: net.micro.68k
Organization: CCI Telephony Systems Group,  Rochester NY
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Xref: watmath net.micro.amiga:2156 net.micro.atari:2918 net.micro.mac:4883 net.micro.68k:1522

Since I've been making a lot of noise on this subject, I thought I would
follow up with a different view.

For those in 68K who were just included, the question has been raised
as to the possibility of a "Standard OS" for the 68K machines such
as Amiga, Atari, and MacIntosh.  Unix and OS-9 have been proposed
and discussed at length in both net.micro.amiga and net.micro.atari.
Consensus thus far has been that Unix has expensive requirements
(MMU, Memory, and Hard disks) which would cause prohibitive pricing.
OS-9 is a "hot contender", but seems not to be well supported.  Since
the focus of this debate involves current and future small, graphics
oriented 68K machines, followups should be made to net.micro.68k.
Any and all systems should be discussed.

Ideal candidates should:
Be multi-tasking (True pre-emptive).
Include "Virtual Device Interface" for graphics devices.
Support a "generic graphics file" storage/transfer mechanism for allowing
	use between applications and machines.
Be portable to a number of machines (particularly Mac, Amiga, and ST)
  preferably using the "BIOS/XBIOS" or whatever low level drivers are
  currently in the machines ROM.  If it can run on a SUN or something
  big and powerful, so much the better.

Other factors:
Ease of use to both application programmers and end-users.
Hardware requirements (no MMU, small memory, floppy disks).
Expandability (adding drivers without re-linking, sharability of driver code).
Modularity (Runnable with or without graphics "Desk Top"...)
Language support.
Price.

To start, let's make it a "brainstorming session".
For a given OS, tell what is good about it, where the "missing pieces"
might be found, special features, third party support,etc..

Let's try to avoid shooting things down initially.