From: mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1997 09:12:58 -0500 (EST) Reply-To: mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca To: dg AT dcs DOT st-and DOT ac DOT uk cc: opendos AT mail DOT tacoma DOT net Subject: Re: [opendos] OpenDOS + Win95 w/FAT32? In-Reply-To: <28908.9702020153@dufftown.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk> Message-ID: Organization: Total disorganization. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-opendos AT mail DOT tacoma DOT net Precedence: bulk On Sun, 2 Feb 1997 dg AT dcs DOT st-and DOT ac DOT uk wrote: > [...] > >> Dunno whether it works as FAT32 is not here at the time. It will be released > >> with Windoze 96 (or whatever they call it) AFAIK. > > > >Actually, Win95 OEM Service Release 2 has FAT32 built in. > >(And no, it wouldn't work, at least not until someone adds FAT32 > >support....) > > If we're going to change operating system, can we at least change operating > system to a *decent* one, like MinixFS or Ext2FS? FAT32 is another gross hack > on top of VFAT which is a gross hack on top of FAT16 which is a gross hack on > top of FAT12 which wasn't a decent file system when it was *developed*, let > alone these days. It doesn't even have automatic defragmenting! > > If we used ext2, then not only do we get a fast, reliable file system, we get > long filenames, *real* user/group attributes, symbolic links, > autodefragmenting, and a/m/c timestamps. This has to be a good thing. Oh, man, STOP IT! I'm starting to froth at the mouth again! > FAT32 compatability is not an issue, considering that anyone who uses OpenDOS > will not be using Win95. So why not go for the technically superior solution? That is not necessarily true (that OpenDOS users wont be running '95), however FAT32 support will undoubtedly be added as well. I think that OpenDOS should progress in a NEW direction, by adding somehthing like ext2 support STANDARD. It may not work with old apps, but that is ok. The old apps will sit on FAT drives. This will change as more and more new programs come out. I like the IFS layer the best actually, so that any filesystem can be supported. These types of issues BELONG in the OS, not in user software. When I use Linux, I can use minix/extfs/ext2/xenix/msdos/VFAT/HPFS/and about 20 other filesystems and my programs don't know/care what FS I use. It would be nice to see DOS start heading in this direction. If OpenDOS *DOESN'T* head in this direction right now, then it will be too late. Sometimes portability must be given up to progress towards new technology. Look at '95 and NT. Even THEY cant run ALL DOS programs OR Win 3.1 programs. There had to be a little 'give' to progress the OS's. When the sources are released, the hacker community will make DOS into what is most wanted by the masses. I believe that it will be FANTASTIC. If the sources are kept shrouded up and not changed, then OD will surely DIE. Don't you agree? Anyone? Mike A. Harris | http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris Computer Consultant | My webpage has moved and my address has changed. My dynamic address: http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris/ip-address.html mailto:mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca Caldera sues Microsoft - Visit Caldera's website: www.caldera.com