From: keltee AT attglobal DOT net (Kel Tyree)
Newsgroups: comp.realtime,comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.os.linux.embedded,comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: OS, tools selection
Date: 9 Aug 2002 14:19:50 -0700
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

I could use some good advice.

I am a newbie to SW development in the current PC environment, though
I do have a strong background with assembler (and machine code) in 
embedded applications, as well as some experience with QuickBasic and
(long ago) Fortran.  I have also taken courses in C, C++, and Java, 
though I don't have a lot of experience with them.

I am about to dive into a semi-embedded project (it would be nice 
if the system were available as a general purpose PC, though that is 
not absolutely necessary) that is focused on a legacy *ISA* data 
acquisition card.

The interface to the board is fairly straightforward, with a few 
mapped I/O ports and a single HW interrupt line.  The stickiest part 
is that about 1500 bytes must be transferred (to RAM from a fixed I/O 
address) at each interrupt (they're about 200 microseconds apart).

The rest of the application consists of a user interface (with a dozen 
or so buttons, a few dialog boxes, etc.), a little file handling, and
some event-response logic.

I was planning to attack this with Visual C++ (which I already have) 
and run it on Win2K.  I recently learned that W2K won't let me access 
the hardware directly -- that I'll have to write a device driver.  I 
have downloaded the DDK, but I have the impression that I either have 
to spend a great deal of time learning how to write and debug a device 
driver or spend a lot ($4K?) to get "turnkey" driver generator.

Since I have a good amount of learning to do anyway, it *could* make 
sense for me to change horses now -- before I get to the middle of 
the rapids.  Though I'm fairly happy with W2K (it is everything that
Microsoft claimed Win 95 would be), I am not an ardent MS supporter 
(would that make me an MS jock strap?) and do not relish a future that 
involves an ever-increasing Microsoft Tax (conveniently deducted from 
your paycheck?).  I understand that the successor to Win XP won't even 
boot unless it recognizes the chip implanted in your brain...

Does anyone have specific suggestions about an OS, development tools, 
and/or learning materials that would make this a not-too-unpleasant 
and not-too-expensive experience?  

Any alternative (to W2K) OS environment must run on fairly modern 
platforms (the latest mobos that have an ISA slot with the fastest 
compatible CPUs, a few hundred MB of RAM, a few hundred GB of HD 
capacity, etc.) and it must have plenty of drivers for modern 
conveniences like CD and DVD recorders and NICs.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Kel

REMOVEkelteeTHIS AT attglobal DOT net