Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!gatech!ncsuvx!mikes From: mikes@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu (Michael Steele) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: Multitasking & the IIgs Keywords: Multitasking, IIgs Message-ID: <2750@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu> Date: 4 Apr 89 21:36:17 GMT References: <9294@claris.com> Reply-To: mikes@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu (Michael Steele) Organization: /etc/organization Lines: 37 In article <9294@claris.com> wombat@claris.com (Scott Lindsey) writes: >Recently, there has been a bit of talk about multitasking on an Apple, and >even Unix. While it might be possible to create from scratch such an >environment, literally a Unix-type OS, making one that is compatible with >existing software is next to impossible. > I don't advocate writing a OS from scratch. I would like to port MINIX to the GS. I've got an old MINIX Operating Systems book and I've looked at the code...although I'm not really knowledgable of some of the low level GS stuff, the code looked portable. First I would like to get a REAL unix shell running and then address the problems of multitasking. Most of MINIX is written in C and there are only a few pages of assembler to convert, most of it consists of memory moves, etc. All of the low level disk routines could be replaced by GS/OS calls. If we could get the OS to launch S16 files and EXE files much like ORCA/M I don't see the big deal in writting a shell. Now multitasking is a different matter. If MINIX will run on a 8086 based machine it should run on the GS! The Toolbox Memory Management will take care of memory problems for "good" programs. GS/OS and the 65816 have capabilities to do multitasking. Since the machine is only going to be used by one person, no big deal if crashes once or twice. The only thing I don't want to implement is virtual memory...you'll just have to have 2 meg of memory to multitask Appleworks GS with anything else. (ahhh too bad :-). The availability of MINIX, it's continued support, and free price make it and excellent package to port!!!! After all if can run on an IBM it should blaze on a GS...right?!?!? :-) Michael Steele mikes@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu If you are interested in this project or have ideas/input send me EMAIL!! -- Michael Steele mikes@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu mikes@ncsuctix.ncsuvx.ncsu.edu netoprms@ncsuvm.bitnet