Date:	Wed, 20 Dec 2000 11:03:29 +0200 (IST)
From:	Eli Zaretskii <eliz AT is DOT elta DOT co DOT il>
X-Sender:	eliz AT is
To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject:	Re: To those of you who use NT/2000, we salute you
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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On Tue, 19 Dec 2000, dragonsong wrote:

> now I'm wondering if DJGPP's working around Windows

DJGPP doesn't work around Windows--it is not possible (although at
times I wish it would).  Everything a DJGPP program does on Windows
goes through legitimate Windows code: functions of Int 31h go through
the Windows' own built-in DPMI server, which is used by the Windows
kernel as well; file I/O goes through Windows' protected-mode Int 21h
dispatch code, where file-oriented Win32 API calls wind up as well;
etc.

> has other advantages - such as access to ring 0, maybe...?

That, too, is a feature that Windows programs can have: many VxDs use
that feature to run at Ring 0.

> Or is it
> just the benefit of being able to run 32-bit code in a native DOS (16-bit)
> environment? And having access to a free gcc for an MS OS...

I think that, for users, the single most important benefit is the
ability to have access to sources of all the development tools, from
the ground up, including the standard C library, and the ability to
discuss that freely on a public forum, combined with the level of user
support that MS software users can only dream about (even after they
shell out significant amounts of money to buy such a support).

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