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From: jpn@teddy.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: caching programs
Message-ID: <3872@teddy.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 23-Mar-87 15:07:13 EST
Article-I.D.: teddy.3872
Posted: Mon Mar 23 15:07:13 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Apr-87 05:15:49 EST
References: <5133@shemp.ucla-cs.UCLA.EDU>
Reply-To: jpn@teddy.UUCP (John P. Nelson)
Distribution: world
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 18

>Does anyone have any comments on the following caching programs
> ...
>
>I find it amazing that MS-DOS does not do this itself.  Caching is
>such a basic technique, and in addition Lightning's relatively small
>size (9K) shows that such important functionality does not cost much
>(in terms of ram) to acquire.

MS-DOS DOES implement a crude form of caching.  When you put a line
"BUFFERS=32" in your config.sys file, you are telling MSDOS to cache
up to 32 disk buffers.  In fact, most cache programs indicate that
you should turn OFF MSDOS caching (buffering) for maximum efficiency
- you dont want to buffer twice!

Unfortunately, MSDOS's caching is implemented rather inefficiently,
and gives you very little control over the cache.  These two things
are what most cache programs provide (as well as the ability to use
LOTS of memory and/or expanded/extended memory).