Subj : FileMgr
To   : Bob Jones
From : Maurice Kinal
Date : Sat Nov 01 2003 05:54 pm

Hey Bob!

Nov 01 16:14 03, Bob Jones wrote to Maurice Kinal:

 BJ> First thing is to get a port of Maximus running.  I have some ideas 
 BJ> concerning what you are getting at per multi user -- DOS vs 
 BJ> multi-tasking OS stance, but those ideas would probably be a major 
 BJ> rewrite of code for the current maximus design.....  And not going to 
 BJ> happen short term.  Now maybe a Max version 4 with a different style 
 BJ> / concept of administration might be the trick...

On the surface this sounds good but a simple port of DOS based source to a 
completely different OS is no more trivial then a port of Unix based source to 
DOS.  It would be nice if it were simple but it isn't.  Some stuff, such as 
math, can be ported quite readily given a common definition of shorts, floats, 
etc. but when it comes to communications based software the differences rear 
their ugly heads immediately.  Where there is favourable portation is only 
where hardware, such as the PC itself, is the same.  Once we start considering 
compatibility issues with things like Sparcs, for instance, then we quickly run 
into humumgous problems.  Somewhere a line needs to be drawn and if a Unixie 
enviroment is the consideration then multiusage is most definetly a prime 
consideration.  If all we're after is to appease the DOS and OS/2 players then 
the arguement becomes what compiler the source requires to be compatible with 
and whether or not the source as is, or with whatever modifications, can indeed 
be successfully compiled on those platforms, unless of course the issue is 
whether gcc on Linux is to be employed to compile for those platforms.

 BJ> Concerning GCC, it has ports to OS/2 (EMX) and to Win32 platforms, 

Sort of.  gcc claims no compatibility to OS/2 but does recommend emx as a 
viable alternative.

 BJ> so, depending on how the code is written, Unix / Linix / *BSD and 

Less problems there given common tools and the fact that they are all multiuser 
enviroments.

 BJ> OS/2 and Win32 platforms can be supported from the same code -- 
 BJ> assuming some guidelines and design ideas are followed.

Yes and no.  Something will have to go and I get the feeling it will be 
multiusage in favour of OS/2 and DOS compatibility.  Personally I don't count 
Winxx as a seperate OS from DOS although DOS people might argue that.

 BJ> If compiling under and for OS/2 and/or Win32 targets, Open Watcom is 
 BJ> another free C compiler.

On those enviroments.

 BJ> Current OS/2 support compilers 
 BJ> include ports of GCC (EMX) and Open Watcom, both of which are "free" 
 BJ> software....]

But that isn't the prime consideration or at least not here it isn't.

Life is good,
Maurice

--- Msged/LNX 6.1.1
 * Origin: LMBrain Pointy System (1:153/401.1)

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