Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!nrl-cmf!cmcl2!brl-adm!umd5!mimsy!jds
From: jds@mimsy.UUCP (James DaSilva)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: minix reference manual?
Message-ID: <11070@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: 15 Apr 88 00:03:54 GMT
References: <38605RON@PSUVM>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 42
Reply-To:


In article <38605RON@PSUVM> RON@PSUVM.BITNET writes:
>I just received the second edition of K&R's C text from P-H. In the
>back of the book is a C/Unix order form, which lists a "MINIX for the
>IBM PC/XT/AT Reference Manual" ISBN-013-584400-2 at $34.50. Does anyone
>know anything about this book? Does it include material which is not
>in the O.S. text?

No.  Or at least, not that I could tell.  It seems to contain the Minix
specific portions of the original Book.  It hasn't been updated.  For example
it contains the same source listing as the book, that of Minix 1.0, and
only gives the man pages for the 1.0-1.1 commands.
 
This is the same manual that comes in the 3-ring binder version of Minix 1.2.
 
Given that these manuals are not up-to-date, I think that the best thing for
people to do is to by The Book and The Software (v1.2).  While it is true
that The Manual is cheaper than The Book, there is a lot of good information
in The Book that makes it worthwhile.
 
I can't see a good reason for ANYONE to buy The Binder, since it is just
The Manual + The Software in a big, awkward non-standard sized binder.

I would love to see the evolution of two different Minix versions.
"Educational Minix" could remain true to the version in the book, except for
bug fixes, and could be made even cheaper.  This version would satisfy
Tanenbaum's wish that Minix not depart from the architecture described in
The Book.

"OS Hacker's Minix" could evolve farther in the direction of efficiency,
functionality, and being able to support a serial driver :-).  This version
could be the version sold with The Binder, and an updated manual printed on a
laser printer would be of sufficient quality, and insertsto the manual could be
easily shipped when upgrading.

I think this version would better suit the market that Prentice Hall
is going after when they promote Minix as an alternative operating system.

					- Jaime

----------------------------------------------------------------------
usenet:   uunet!mimsy!jds 				James da Silva
internet: jds@mimsy.umd.edu
      "Stand on each other's shoulders, not on each other's toes."