Date: Sun, 23 Mar 1997 02:15:07 -0500 (EST) From: "Mike A. Harris" Reply-To: "Mike A. Harris" To: jamesl AT albany DOT net cc: opendos AT mail DOT tacoma DOT net Subject: Re: [opendos] Wishlist v2.0 In-Reply-To: <199703210323.WAA12124@keeper.albany.net> Message-ID: Organization: Total disorganization. MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Thu, 20 Mar 1997, James Lefavour wrote: > > how is this done? i don't know . but it would be nice. > > the spirit behind linux was that old hardware needn't be cast into the > > trash, ( i said the L word again ) > > but could be used with this operating system, Mind you the effort was only > > halfhearteed, as > > they left out older machines... > As I understand it, writing code that would have these "modes" would > unnecessarily "bloat" the finished product. While the source could > be set up to compile conditionally one way or the other, not all > users will be working from the source level (one must assume that > most pc-users will want nothing to do with source, once people really > start going after it). > > Therefore, to keep the executable smaller, one version would be > compiled for 386 or whatever, and one would be compiled for > 286 machines et c. Since 286 machines can't use 386 code, it would be > a waste of disk space to have a program on a 286 user's computer that > includes all the 386 instructions. It can be done, at startup the > program can determine the cpu type, etc. but the question is, just > because we can do a thing, does it necessarily follow that we must? > > That is why I believe that there will eventually be two versions, > even if they are compiled from the same source tree. Exactamundo! 2 SEPARATE versions of OD or it's utilities, etc... must exist. Mixing the 2 will only cause bloat, incompatibility, and much confusion. Suggested name for Opendos 32bit: OpenDOS 386 This way the 386 part of it is VERY obvious. Also, I think that it should be ONE source tree. Most of the code will only need simple conditional compilation to port. (Utils) A 32 bit kernel on the other hand might need to be completely separate. Also, 486, and Pentium specific compiles should be possible. What about a DEC Alpha 64 bit port? Anyone? :o) Mike A. Harris | http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris Computer Consultant | Coming soon: dynamic-IP-freedom... My dynamic address: http://blackwidow.saultc.on.ca/~mharris/ip-address.html mailto:mharris AT blackwidow DOT saultc DOT on DOT ca URL: Digital Equipment Corp. http://www.digital.com