Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 16:00:18 -0800 (PST)
From: Gene Buckle <geneb AT web DOT wa DOT net>
To: Leath Muller <leathm AT gbrmpa DOT gov DOT au>
cc: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: OpenDOS to be released next week!
In-Reply-To: <32DC2FA4.7833@gbrmpa.gov.au>
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.3.93.970114155121.18064D-100000@web.wa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

> 
> Question: If someone starts developing software that uses the OpenDOS
> EMM386 multi-tasking capabilities, what happens to everyone else who
> doesn't have OpenDOS? If an application is written specifically for
> OpenDOS, does that mean it won't run on normal DOS? What's the point
> of developing for it if normal DOS users can't use it?
> 

My understanding is that EMM386 should work properly under MS/PC DOS.  I
don't know about MSDOS 7.  Test it and find out. ;)  

OpenDOS is 100% compatible with MS-DOS up to 6.22.  There is no LFN
support, but I imagine that is planned or already being worked on.

> Don't get me wrong, this is _really_ cool, but what if I wrote a game
> like Quake using DJGPP and OpenDOS? Am I able to sell it? I would have
> to distribute OpenDOS with my game, so would I be able to distribute
> it this way? Does OpenDOS run with normal DOS Ok? Can I have multiple
> DOS's the same way as I have DOS/95/NT/Linux? Do you have a URL for me
> even????  Sorry, but having DJGPP _and_ a multi-tasking DOS is just
> KEWL!!! *GRIN*
>  

If you were to use features of OpenDOS (eg. EMM386) they would probably
have to be included with the release.  I belive Caldera has a very
developer friendly licensing policy with reguard to commercial ventures.


> I would be happy to be involved... now, wheres that fork(); :)
>  

Hmmm.  Doesn't exist yet.  Write it! ;)

g.