Mail Archives: djgpp/1997/01/16/11:57:55
Firstly my apologies for my From: field. The url in my sig is my return
address. Cant get sendmail to put fake my real address, and I always
log in as root. (I know, just wait, one of these days...)
On Wed, 15 Jan 1997, Leath Muller wrote:
> > EMM386 contains a pre-emptive multitasker that allows multiple threads
> > within applications. This means that DJ's port of Lynx can have it's full
> > Unix functionality back as well as the possibility of taking NCSA Mosaic,
> > DJGPP and XlibEMU for a true dos based graphical browser with the same
> > multi-threading ability it has under Unix.
Cool, that will be interesting to see. Where can we get more information
about OpenDOS? I've been to http://www.caldera.com and seen a bit,
however I haven't seen anything about what you describe above. Could you
email me more info on it or some URLs? mailto:mharris AT sympatico DOT ca
> Question: If someone starts developing software that uses the OpenDOS
> EMM386 multi-tasking capabilities, what happens to everyone else who
> doesn't have OpenDOS? If an application is written specifically for
> OpenDOS, does that mean it won't run on normal DOS? What's the point
> of developing for it if normal DOS users can't use it?
Lets go back a bit. DOS 5.0 is the norm. DOS 6.0 was just released
a month ago. A new game comes out today that says it needs DOS 6.0.
Sound familiar? How about now? Win95 games are starting to come out.
I don't use 95. I would suspect that less than 50% of computers out
there use 95. Does that stop 95 games from coming out? If the game
is good, and enough games come out (or other useful software, lets not
just stick to games), then the new OS will gradually build a software base
and if people want to use that software, then they will have to use that
OS. OpenDOS is just a new DOS. I don't see it as any different than any
new DOS coming out in the past.
Whats even more is that it is FREE. If you cant run something because it
requires a piece of software that you don't have, that is FREE, then
you cant complain. If you really want to use that software then you will
acquire the free software.
Don't you think what I've said is fair?
> Don't get me wrong, this is _really_ cool, but what if I wrote a game
> like Quake using DJGPP and OpenDOS? Am I able to sell it? I would have
> to distribute OpenDOS with my game, so would I be able to distribute
Why would you have to distribute it? Does "Pitfall '95" include
Windows '95 on the CD? If I want to play it, I'm sure I will get '95
somehow. Also, if it is distributed like Linux, then you probably CAN
distribute OpenDOS with your game. I'm sure that Caldera wouldn't mind
very much. I mean if I write an awesome game that uses OpenDOS, then that
game could become popular. This will spread the word about OpenDOS. In
other words "free advertising". As long as the licenses are followed I
don't see any problems. (And I don't see any companies buying games
either.)
> it this way? Does OpenDOS run with normal DOS Ok? Can I have multiple
> DOS's the same way as I have DOS/95/NT/Linux? Do you have a URL for me
That is a very good question. I hope someone can answer it for us.
Hopefully we can multi boot multiple OS's with it like you say above, only
I'd put them in a different order. Linux, OpenDOS, DOS6.22, hmm... I
can't think of any other OS's. :o)
> even???? Sorry, but having DJGPP _and_ a multi-tasking DOS is just
> KEWL!!! *GRIN*
I hope that by *multitasking* that it doesn't just mean multitasking
programs, but multitasking like DESQview in that you can multitask
multiple programs, not just multitask different things in a single
program. I've always liked Desqview, but some of its screen routines, and
the way the mouse was handled were atrocious. If I could get my hands on
the sources for DV then there would be HELL to pay!!! (Some annoyances
include: cursor not staying in text boxes on DV forms, handling of Home,
end, pgup, pgdn in forms, DV colors suck, The DV pull down menu wasn't as
easily configurable as I'd like, etc... The mouse didn't work right, and
couldn't move text windows around easily. Basically I'd like to see
OpenDOS include a multitasker that is a TEXT version of Windows, only
without the crashes. Perhaps also with shell based job control. Wouldn't
that be cool? Or are we just gradually turning DOS into Linux? Hey,
Microsoft slowly turned DOS into Windows 95 right? So whats wrong with
what I suggest? :o)
> > Caldera feels that the Internet developer community has a lot to offer,
> > and they're looking forward to developing a good relationship with DOS
> > developers, especially the DJGPP crowd.
They've got me! If it is as good as I think it will be, then I'm sending
them the cash anyways just to support them. (And also to throw a brick at
Microslop).
> I would be happy to be involved... now, wheres that fork(); :)
Yah for sure.
> > The possibilties are enormous and I hope that you folks will grab OpenDOS
> > as soon as it hits the streets.
>
> Oh yeah, I will... ;)
Never mind! I want it NOW!!!!!!!!!! (Hope it runs in DOSemu too)
Mike A. Harris http://www3.sympatico.ca/mharris
My dynamic address: http://www3.sympatico.ca/mharris/ip-address.html
mailto:mharris AT sympatico DOT ca mailto:mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca
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