Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Path: utzoo!utdoe!david
From: david@doe.utoronto.ca (David Megginson)
Subject: Re: Multitasking
Message-ID: <1991Feb21.200021.5449@doe.utoronto.ca>
Reply-To: david@doe.utoronto.ca (David Megginson)
Organization: Dictionary of Old English Project, University of Toronto
Date: Thu, 21 Feb 1991 20:00:21 GMT


In <torrance.667114685@elaine24.stanford.edu>, Mark Torrance writes:
> I have noticed problems with crashing when running multiple programs
> under MiNT.  I wondered whether anyone has compiled a good list of
> which programs work and which don't under MiNT.
> 
As far as I know, the main reason that programs crash under MiNT is that
they are buggy. If a program is running alone, there is often a lot
of extra memory in the computer, so if a program writes to the wrong
memory accidentally, it does no damage and the bug goes undetected.
When you are running a lot of programs together, there is not usually
as much empty memory, so a buggy program is more likely to do something
REALLY nasty, like overwriting someone else's .text segment (sure death).

This is a problem with the M68000 chip (which doesn't have memory
protection) and with the programs involved, but in no way reflects
badly on MiNT. You might find the same problem if you run a lot of
auto-folder programs and desk accessories, then run a program in the
remaining memory.


David






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/  David Megginson                      david@doe.utoronto.ca          /
/  Centre for Medieval Studies          meggin@vm.epas.utoronto.ca     /
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