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Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:55 +0100
From: nico roosnek <nico AT roosnek DOT nl>
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Status of DJGPP
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Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

themouse wrote:
>>> We're not adding new features, unless someone volunteers to do so.
>>>       
>> Volunteers are rare, and I'm personally not good enough.   :-/
>>     
> Niether am I yet. Lots of the links to the information I need to do
> dos programming are dead.
> Anyone have any good links, pdfs text documents on dos programming?
>
>   
>> FreeDOS-32 kinda stagnated, but it compiles with DJGPP (and was
>> intended to at least run DJGPP apps). Somebody starting that up again
>> or polishing it up would be nice. Allegro is another project that
>> could be revived (although that's worse because they've dropped DOS
>> support since 4.2.2 or so). MAME is another one (ever since 0.100).
>> Actually, it seems lots of DOS projects are just abandoned for no good
>> reason. I don't personally understand that since DOS + DJGPP can still
>> do plenty of useful things.
>>     
>
>
> Is there a way to consolidate the code and hunt for new qualified
> talent.
> Perhaps a new site which can host all the dos projects that have been
> abandoned.
> and the software and source code for what we can get.
> If we build it they will come?? :P I have my own web hosting company
> and could host
> a website.
>
> I have been looking at Allegro, is the source code available? Is this
> the only graphics library.
> Are there any OpenGL libraries that can be used.
>
>   
>> Well, with x86-64 already having been around for five years, and RAM
>> steadily increasing (2 GB or more seems to be default amount in new
>> computers ... slowly creeping towards the dreaded 4 GB limit), that
>> won't help us (as you already know). Even Windows' NTVDM being buggy /
>> very limited cripples peoples' interest in DJGPP. Sad but true.
>> Thankfully, FreeDOS and DOSBox and DOSEMU and QEMU etc. exist, but
>> that apparently isn't enough to get more people interested. (FreeDOS
>> in particular could use a lot more volunteers.)
>>     
> I would love to do some work with this, but even though I have been a
> programmer for 13 years
> I still no nothing about lower (OS and hardware) level development.
> Assembly language? Not a clue.
> I was thinking a good desktop though would start me down that path. :)
> I am sure I am going to
> run into issues that require fixes. easier to learn thing when I have
> a direct problem to solve. :)
>
>   
>> Actually, there are several GUIs already for DJGPP, so it shouldn't be
>> hard finding examples or inspiration. Good luck! Don't try to do too
>> much at first (or you'll get overwhelmed), but do keep the dream alive!
>>     
> Most of them too have stagnated. I was thinking though that a new one
> based on xwindows
> would revive dos a little. Not a complete rewrite of all of x and a
> window manager.
> but maybe a simpler one that is still compliant.
>
> I work on another project for a game engine but DOS has a special
> place in my hear.
> Ever since I got my first 286 and changed my command prompt to Master
> What Is Thy Bidding>
>
>   
Although DJGPP is very fine. The old QuickC or WatcomC is even easier to 
program DOS.