Newsgroups: comp.os.os9
Path: utzoo!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!bwdls61!pww
From: pww@bnr.ca (Peter Whittaker)
Subject: Re: what is the availability of os-9 software?
Message-ID: <1991Apr4.172950.27763@bwdls61.bnr.ca>
Keywords: OS9 OSK Q&A CoCo
Sender: usenet@bwdls61.bnr.ca (Use Net)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
References: <Apr.1.10.47.53.1991.277@pilot.njin.net> <79@sandv.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 1991 17:29:50 GMT

In article <79@sandv.UUCP> sysop@sandv.UUCP (System Operator Paul Jerkatis) writes:
>OS-9 is the "generic" term, which is usually used to refer to OS9/6809. OSK
>(OS9/68K) is the term used to refer to OS-9 for the 680x0 systems. OS-9000 is
>another flavor of OS-9 all together, which is for 80386 systems (and I
>believe it will run on 680x0 systems also) OS-9000 is written in C, wheras,
>OS9/6809 and OS9/68000 is written primarrily in assembler.
>

So if I understand correctly, these are all more or less the same operating
system, available as binary only, from a variety of vendors, for a variety
of prices?

Next set of questions:  
  - in the case of OS/9000, how similar is it to OS/9?
  - is it available in source form?  (i.e. could I buy source, 
    compile it under OS/9, then run it on my CoCo3, so that when I
    go to another machine, I will be able to retain all my favourite
    utilities).
  - is there an [online | hardcopy] document detailing the technical
    merits of OS/9, OS/9K, and OS/9000, as well as their similarities
    and differences?
  - on the issue of binary compatibility: is there any?  More specifically,
    are the compiled objects compatible, the linked objects compatible?
    Are the C languages used on the three platforms compatible (better
    yet, are they ANSI).

And an unrelated question, has anyone build the GNU/FSF software under
[OS/9 | OS/9K | OS/9000]?

Thanks,


--
Peter Whittaker      [~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~]   Open Systems Integration
pww@bnr.ca           [                          ]   Bell Northern Research 
Ph: +1 613 765 2064  [                          ]   P.O. Box 3511, Station C
FAX:+1 613 763 3283  [__________________________]   Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4H7
