Mail Archives: opendos/1997/02/06/19:52:44
Once upon a time (on 5 Feb 97 at 14:35) mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on. said:
> > > Just one provision: Make it an IFS, rather than fixed in, so you can
> > To make things clear: by saing IFS do we refer to the way the driver is
> > installed or rather to the M$ standard of drivers?
>
> When I say IFS, I mean that ANY program can access
> files/directories on the disk regardless of the underlying FS
> through a single API interface. A name mangler will be present
> on the old DOS 8.3 interface to allow legacy apps to use files on
> the new FS's.
OK. So we refer to the *idea* not to *implementation*.
> MOUNT <device> <mountpoint> <switches>
>
> Where <device> is the partition name, I don't know what syntax
> would be appropriate in DOS for this, but I'm sure that either
> one allready exists, or will be created. A possibility is to use
> the UNIX syntax - the "/dev/" part ie: HDA3:, SDA4:
Or both. Again, it's easy to implement.
> <mountpoint> is where you want the drive to appear, either a
> drive letter "F:" or a directory "C:\MNT", and <switches> would
> decide HOW to mount it, as well as what type, ie:
>
> /T=ext2 or /TYPE=HPFS or whatever, and /RO (read only) /RW (read
> write), etc...
>
> Very flexible if you ask me.
Don't have to - it's clear ;-))
> An OLD application would get mangled names from the new FS's (for
> files that don't allready fit in 8.3 format) and unmangled names
> that DO fit in unmangled format. ALSO, it will be GREAT to have
> CASE SENSITIVITY in DOS FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
But a true one!
> A NEW application could either use the old interface and stick
> with 8.3, or could use the NEW interface and use or create LFN's
> symlinks, hardlinks, whatever, for file handling. I'm getting
> excited just talking about it!!!!! I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!
Get a cup of coffe and in July we'll see... ;-((
> >From a compiler perspective, which API should be used in apps?
> Well, to make the API transparent, the C lib would use code which
> would check for the existence of the IFSAPI, and if present for a
> drive, use it, if not, it would fall back to the 8.3 format.
Just like in DJGPP with LFNs.
> That way a program need not even be concerned what API is being
> used. If a user is prompted for a filename, and they enter
> "VeryLong Filename with spaces" and the current DIR/DRIVE or
> whatever isn't under the IFSAPI, then an error "Invalid filename"
> will just be reported back like any legacy app would do. *IF*
> the current DIR/DRIVE *IS* an IFS drive, then the save would work
> ok. (Although I discourage using spaces in filenames as they are
> a big PAIN!!!!!! Also, the "!" is even a BIGGER pain!! )
Agreed - no spaces should be used. It's a sick idea IMHO.
> > > IFS=C:\OpenDOS\FAT.IFS
> > Or just a mount/umout utility to do that.
>
> Yes, who wants to edit config.sys and reboot to add a new FS.
> Don't forget, that adding a FS doesn't mean adding a
> PHYSICAL DRIVE to the system. Networked drives (NFS) could be
> being added.
>
> MOUNT/UNMOUNT seems the way to go.
fstab file in /etc will do the rest. And some util to add/remove file systems
for boot-up mounting using point-and-shoot technique with an automagical
detection of the file system type.
> > With DPMS it is possible to write a driver that'll work entirely in PMode
> > and will reside in the XMS - is that all right with you? ;-)
>
> Yep, sounds good to me!
NWCACHE works that way.
> > That's a must! I can't imagine any other way to do that. If we add the
> > support, let's make it better than M$ did, am I right?
>
> DEFINATELY!!! Also, I think that the MS VFAT/LFN's should be
> available under the NEW IFSAPI as well. Lets not treat ANY FS
> any different.
It has to be as many programs (including DJGPP, which will be patched later,
of course) use the API and there's no reason to change that. Just let us be
better that M$ by supporting all that they support and much more!
> > When you use the GUI you're still in DOS anyway...
>
> Yah, '95 is a hack and a crock. Lets make OD go in a NEW
> direction and make it really powerful!
What about a graphical kernel/server, sort of the QNX Photon (one of the
most powerfull products IMHO)?
_____________________________________________________________
The more I see, the more I hear, the more I find fewer
answers. I close my mind, I shut it out but you know it's
getting harder to calm down, to reason out, to come to terms
with what it's all about! I'm uptight, can't sleep at night
I can't pretend everything's alright! My ideals, my sanity
they seem to be deserting me but to stand up and fight I know
we have six million reasons!
(http://ananke.amu.edu.pl/~grendel) -------------------------
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