Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!nrl-cmf!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ut-sally!utah-cs!utah-gr!uplherc!sp7040!jsp
From: jsp@sp7040.UUCP (John Peters)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: Question + Threat = Answer
Message-ID: <294@sp7040.UUCP>
Date: 15 Mar 88 00:02:58 GMT
References: <207600002@trsvax> <207600004@trsvax>
Organization: Unisys, Salt Lake City, UT
Lines: 30

In article <207600004@trsvax>, johnm@trsvax.UUCP writes:
> 
> Apparently the rest of my question went right by you.  The remainder of it
> was a concern that if the two versions of Minix differed on this point (the
> size of the executables that they could create) that there could be a drastic
> split in the programs available for the two systems.  The ST version of Minix
> with its large executables can support a lot of programs that are a real
> porting nightmare otherwise.  If this is the kind of response we can expect
> then I would hope that the ST owners don't lose any sleep over not having 
> their programs run on the IBM Minix.

	This is indeed going to be a real problem.  However I can no answer
to the problem.  It really lies with the klude of 64k segments (yell at intel).
As for progrems I write on ST-Minix, we will have to wait and see.

	No on to the real discussion.  Who would be in charge of trying to keep
the two versions the same.  Here again I see no real answer.  The two machines
are going to diverse somewhat.  I'm sure that somebody out there has the
knowlege to write a compiler for PC-Minix that will generate large memory model
code for the 80286 and port minix to a true '286 version.  And as for the '386
port the problem should not exist.  I can forsee there being as many ports of
Minix as UNIX (every one has something different) however, they will (or should)
all still have the same feel on the command line interface and that is about
as good as it gets in this industry.

					--  Johnnie  --

My opinions are my own and usually mis-spelled.  I expect to get flamed but
realize that I will try to write code that is portable across Minix machines.
However I refuse to be limited because somebody else bought a machine that
I can't stand.  I'm of the opinion that segments are for worms.