Re: A85: Ram OS-new OS for 85

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Re: A85: Ram OS-new OS for 85

Umm sound interesting but the whole idea of phatOS was to be a small
alternative shell. Making a shell like that run phatOS programs is a
nice
idea, but goes against the concept of PhatOS. Also have you any idea as
to
how one would multitask on the z80?. I know you could run an interrupt
but
with no way to read the PC (program counter, it points to the part of
the
program currently running) it would be impossible to switch tasks; plus
what about data storage? you'd need to have text_mem backed up somewhere
because every program would want to use it and would thus corrupt the
data
from the other programs. It doesn't sound to me like you are experienced
in z80 enough to overcome these problems.

   As with most new shell writters, you consider features over space.
Myself i don't belive in adding features that will never get used, the
idea of using many strings is nice, but that makes the shell alot bigger
for two reasons:
1> you have to program the main string to find all the other shell
strings
2> the location of the other strings is unknown ans as such you need to
use the JUMP_ and CALL_ functions wich waste space.

  As for adding compatiblity to your shell for PhatOS, PhatOS does not
use
any special rom_calls to mantain compatitbility between shells. It uses
the
standard zshell rom_call set, and relocation wich is well documented at
the
PhatOS HQ (http://missoula.bigsky.net/oxymoron/phat)

Mike Baker
mbm00@hotmail.com


__________________________________________________________________________
Get your free, Phat based OS at http://missoula.bigsky.net/oxymoron/phat



Matt Butch wrote:
> 
> I am currently developing a new OS for the TI-85: RAM OS.  Some of its
> features:
> 
> -Multitasking
> -Multithreading
> -Compatable with the following shells/OS's:Usgard, PhatOS, CShell, and
>    ZShell.
> -LCARS(Library Comuter Access and Retrieval System) format for OS,
>    or available Windows or MacOS -like style.
> -Greyscale 4(maybe later with 8) native-LCARS is displayed in Grey4
> -The Tiger Media Layer.  This is what runs all the screen routines.
> -Extensions/Control Panels
> 
> Now for some indepth info.
>  Multitasking- running more than one program at a time, with one prgm
> being displayed the rest running in the backround. All current and
> furture programs will be able to multitask
>  Multithreading- Running different parts, applets, or threads which are
> independant in a program at the same time.  Programs will have to take
> advantage of this, but it is very simple to set up.
>  Compatability- This will be handled by the Shell Compatability
> Enviroment.  All ROM calls of a shell/OS will be stored in a seperate
> string.  So if you never run any CShell programs, just get trash the
> CShell SCE file and save memory.  Same goes for the rest of the
> shell/OS's.
>  LCARS Interface-  I like the design of it, from Star Trek, so I decided
> use this as my interface.  There will be the option for a
> Windows/MacOS-like interface as well as a menu system similar to
> ZShell's.  Although, Programs can take advantage of the LCARS or Win/Mac
> interface. See the Tiger part for more info.
> Greyscale native- For now the LCARS and Win/Mac interface is displayed 4
> shades of grey, with 8 maybe in a later version or extension.
>  Tiger Media Layer(TML)- This is what handles all LCD funtions.  It only
> displayes the current program's screen.  It puts the other programs'
> screen in a buffer.  It supports standard pictures, ZCP, GCP, and a new
> format TGR-which is a movie format.
> Extensions/Control Panels- Like in the MacOS, extensions add other
> functions and features to the OS, and Control Panels are like extensions
> but are custimizable.  Note:  I'm not sure if I will have these.  I
> haven't decided yet, but I thought I put it in here anyway. Also they
> may or may not be called by this names, if anybody has any ideas about
> what they could be called e-mail me.
> 
> This is what is planned for it.  So far it is only 10% done.  I hope to
> have a beta out by the end of the month, hopefully sooner.  It won't be
> compatable with anything yet(except maybe ZShell.  I not sure if I will
> have compatabilty built in, no SCE file).  This will give a preview of
> it and give programmers time to learn it and start programming.  (Note:
> any prgms for RAM OS won't run on any other shell/OS.  In the future, I
> may port over the TML to the rest of the systems, since that is the only
> new feature in RAM OS.  But that won't happen untill I finish Ram OS.)
> 
> To the programmers of Usgard, PhatOS, and CShell: First, I want to make
> one thing clear: I am not trying to get everybody to use my OS.  I just
> want to provide an alternative for people who want to use programs from
> different shells/OS's on their calc.  So I would like you to either
> program a SCE for your shell/OS, or give me all the ROM calls that I
> would need to make one my self.  If you won't support it, I will have to
> clone it.
> 
> Thanks
> Matt Butch
> mjb25@hotmail.com
> "You'll Never Walk Alone!"-Melanie Jayne Chisholm aka Sporty Spice
> 
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