Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!necntc!encore!paradis From: paradis@encore.UUCP (Jim Paradis) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: MINIX -- why? Message-ID: <1573@encore.UUCP> Date: Thu, 30-Apr-87 15:23:42 EDT Article-I.D.: encore.1573 Posted: Thu Apr 30 15:23:42 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 2-May-87 11:21:29 EDT References: <2055@uwmcsd1.UUCP> Reply-To: paradis@encore.UUCP (Jim Paradis) Distribution: all Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Marlboro, MA Lines: 96 Summary: Because it's better than PCNX! In article <2055@uwmcsd1.UUCP> cmaag@csd4.milw.wisc.edu.UUCP (Christopher N Maag) writes: >I hope that no one takes this article as a flame to MINX. I have just become >aware of this product recently, and I have a few questions about it. THIS article may or may not be construed as a flame to PCNX. It's sure full of complaints. Read on. > > What is the big deal about MINX? It seems to me that a product such >as this one is not real exciting. There are many "UNIX-like" operating systems >available that are reasonably priced. For instance, I use a product called >PCNX by a company called Wendin. I DID use Wendin's PCNX (Got it back when they called it PCUNIX... AT&T must've sent a nastygram to Wendin shortly thereafter). I tried it out about 3 times before giving up in disgust. >It retails for $99, and although it doesn't include a C compilier (as I gather >MINX does), it does have a lot of benefits that MINIX doesn't have. For $99 you get the kernel binaries and the utility sources. It'll cost you ANOTHER $99 for the kernel sources. Their advertising is not clear on this. And, as you can see, for about $125 you get MINIX with FULL SOURCES (except the C compiler) a C compiler, an editor, and a useful set of utilities. In addition, the design documentation of MINIX is infinitely more complete than the slender binders offered with PCNX! >One of these is the ability to run most of the MS-DOS software that you may have. >It will run almost all of the "well-behaved" programs, such as the compiliers you >are already using. An awful lot of DOS software is quite "ill-behaved", so this feature is useless. There were quite a few programs (even well-behaved ones) that I couldn't get to work under PCNX. Among those was my Microsoft C compiler! >It runs on top of DOS, which means that if you have a hard-disk that runs under >DOS, it will talk to PCNX. (No more patching the kernal to get your hard-disk >to work). I will give credit where it's due... the fact that it can come out of the box and run on top of DOS is definitely an advantage... (Of course, it doesn't run COMPLETELY on top of dos... it still requires a hardware-compatible PC to run on). >Of course, the disadvantage of this is that you don't get quite the same >directory security that you get with UNIX. Put it another way... since it runs on top of DOS, you get ALL the disadvantages of the DOS filesystem (no links, restricted filename syntax, poor handling of concurrent access...) >You get the source code to the programs But not the kernel >they also include a decent manual on all of the system services. "System service" is VMS terminology -- and this is the main reason why PCNX is a poor UNIX lookalike. The entire system architecture and system call structure is patterned after VMS, with a UNIX-like interface grafted on top. Translating the VMS protocols to UNIX (e.g. translating pipes to mailboxes) wastes valuable CPU cycles -- something a PC/XT cannot spare! MINIX was designed from the ground up to be as UNIX-compatible as possible. > This product is available bug-free today. (Actually, it's been around ^^^^^^^^HAH!!! >for about a year now) The company that wrote it provides excellent support. >I guess I don't really understand what all the fuss is about with MINIX. No software product is bug-free, and the documentation provided with PCNX and the Operating System Toolbox is terribly insufficient for helping find and fix them. Andy's "Book" is EXCELLENT in this regard! > The second question is where can I read a detailed description of MINIX, >without reading "The Book". Does anyone have a copy of a press release or >something? As far as I know, the only "press release" for MINIX was the one distributed electronically on Usenet in December of 1986. If you REALLY want to know about MINIX, find a copy of "The Book" and read it. The second-best way is to read as much of comp.os.minix as you have access to. If you want, I'll email you a copy of the "press release" and the early messages about MINIX... > Finally, is there a different version of MINIX for each different >microprocessor? (E.g. a 808n version vs. a 80286 version vs. a 80386 version.) At present, no. However, some enterprising soul is certain to come up with a version that supports the advanced features of the advanced chips. That's the beauty of the way MINIX is distributed... it INVITES creativity and experimentation. In fact, it starts to feel just like the early days of UNIX, when licensing fees were cheap and hackery was encouraged. >By the way, I don't work for Wendin. I'm just a satisfied user. And I'm a highly dissatisfied (former) user of PCNX. If anyone out there in net-land really wants to try PCNX, I'll be glad to sell you my copy real cheap!