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From: darrell@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.os
Subject: Who needs files?
Message-ID: <2850@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU>
Date: Tue, 10-Mar-87 10:58:25 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.2850
Posted: Tue Mar 10 10:58:25 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Mar-87 00:48:25 EST
Sender: darrell@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU
Organization: DEC SWS, Landover, MD
Lines: 15
Approved: mod-os@sdcsvax.uucp

Some people call RAM "fast memory" and disk "slow memory" (and tape
"very slow memory").  With large address spaces and virtual memory, who
needs files?  Why not define all storage as extended memory structures
that may be loaded as needed.  I realize that this is the de facto
effect of paging systems, disk-caching, sparse addressing,
runtime-loadable modules and workspace-oriented environments...why not
make it de jure?

This model would be inappropriate for some environments, but many small
systems (32 bits && < 4Gbytes storage) would fit just fine.
Non-inflammatory comments please....
-- 
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Bob Bagwill			Are we not men?
UUCP: {decvax,seismo,cbosgd}!decuac!bagwill        INET: bagwill@decuac.DEC.COM