Xref: utzoo comp.os.misc:881 comp.sys.ibm.pc:27867
Path: utzoo!mnetor!frank
From: frank@mnetor.UUCP (Frank Kolnick)
Newsgroups: comp.os.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: QNX anyone?
Keywords: QNX PC
Message-ID: <4982@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: 25 Apr 89 13:46:45 GMT
References: <208@eds1.UUCP>
Reply-To: frank@mnetor.UUCP (Frank Kolnick)
Distribution: na
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 34

In article <208@eds1.UUCP> jdm1@eds1.UUCP (Jon McCown) writes:
>I just acquired a qnx system and am interested in discussing same with
>other qnx users.  Especially curious about experiences with application
>development (caveats etc).

I've been a QNX consultant for a while and have just finished a book
about the o/s (to be published next week). I can sum up by saying it's
a very well designed real-time, distributed o/s, founded on the
concept of message-passing for inter-task communication. I like it
a lot, and find it highly suitable to real-time applications
(although I imagine it would also do well in non-industrial
environments). It's certainly more difficult to learn, and the documentation
is very good but terse. Beats the pants off OS/2, in speed, size
and capabilities. Probably the main caveat is to not get carried away
with messages. Most people seem to have difficulty designing 
truly parallel applications, esp. across networks.

BTW, Quantum's support for QNX is exceptional. Not only good voice
support, but also a BBS for users. You can discuss issues with other
developpers *and* the designers of the o/s, and can often download
fixes to the o/s and utilities within days of reporting a problem.
Quantum is also commited and to developing QNX, with regard to POSIX,
windows, etc. Obviously I'm biased (as a satisfied user), but I think
QNX is worth a look for any serious real-time application. (There
are some really *big* users out there and, I believe, about 75,000
systems installed world-wide.)

Anything else you'd like to know?


-- 
Frank Kolnick,
consulting for, and therefore expressing opinions independent of, Computer X
UUCP: {allegra, linus}!utzoo!mnetor!frank