Path: news1.icaen!news.uiowa.edu!iagnet.net!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!su-news-feed1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!newsgate.tandem.com!uunet!in5.uu.net!munnari.OZ.AU!news.mel.connect.com.au!minotaur.labyrinth.net.au!news.labyrinth.net.au!news.alphalink.com.au!not-for-mail From: "Lazy Bone" Newsgroups: alt.c64,comp.sys.amiga.emulations,comp.sys.amstrad.8bit,comp.sys.apple2,comp.sys.atari.8bit,comp.sys.cbm,comp.sys.m6809,comp.sys.msx,comp.sys.oric,comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.tandy Subject: Codename G-OS Date: 6 Oct 97 20:41:30 -0900 Organization: Badly Configured Clients, Inc. Lines: 141 Message-ID: <34394CFA.MD-0.198.zhulien@alphalink.com.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: ppp31-2-3.alphalink.com.au Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Newsreader: MicroDot-II/AmigaOS 0.198 Xref: news1.icaen comp.sys.amiga.emulations:59900 comp.sys.amstrad.8bit:8880 comp.sys.apple2:125655 comp.sys.atari.8bit:48879 comp.sys.cbm:77169 comp.sys.m6809:3317 comp.sys.msx:5012 comp.sys.oric:720 comp.sys.sinclair:46594 comp.sys.tandy:22126 Hi All, This is the first email to announce the start of a new international multiplatform 'commercial' project 'Codename G-OS'. Most of you are not currently on the official mailing list and those who are not will not get any more emails than this first one unless you contact me and tell me that you would like to be on the list. If you are a developer and are interested in being part of this project, please email me. Disclaimer ========== Nothing here is yet solid, but are ideas that will evolve with the project. Codename G-OS ============= Codename G-OS stands for Generic Operating System. It is the bringing together of many old and some new OS concepts in order to create a functional operating system for many typically incompatible computer systems. G-OS will be CPU independant, but give most of the full speed of each CPU - read on... Codename G-OS target platforms ============================== Initially G-OS will be targetted at computers that are currently considered redundant, or no longer manufactured. This will hopefully increase the userbase of G-OS to a reasonable size before targetting current more modern platforms. It will also encourage new comers to software development who both enjoy programming these old systems or wish to widen their audience for new computer applications. Initial target systems will be (not in any preferred order, but in order of programmer resources - this is where programmers are needed): Platform CPU Amstrad CPC Z80 Amstrad PCW Z80 Commodore 64/128 6502 CP/M based 8080/Z80 MSX based Z80 ZX Spectrum Z80 MSX (various) Z80 Later targets: Amiga 680x0 IBM Compatible 80x86 Yes, G-OS will be Commercial/Disclaimer (only an idea at this stage) ==================================================================== G-OS will be a commercial product. All people/companies (copyright holders) involved in its development will have the SAME EQUAL rights to the full G-OS source code AND runtime. Each copyright holder will be allowed to do ANYTHING they wish with the product with the exception of a few points below. They can give away, market or sell the G-OS source code/runtime at their own will. This will create competition and increase distribution channels. None of the developers/copyright holders one will ever be responsible or liable for any damages directly or indirectly due to the use or mis-use of this product - if sold, a disclaimer will be created to protect all involved. No one will be allowed to further develop and 'release' this OS in a way that will render some platforms incompatible unless the platform becomes non-supported because of lack of programming resources (ie: no access to an MSX programmer or computer will not prevent all other platforms from progressing). This will be considered a breach of contract liable to legal action. This will also control the compatibility between platforms and ensure that a standard IS followed. A board of developers will be created to make decisions - mostly they can be debated (hopefully quickly) and a majority rule situation will apply - but... The overall concept of the OS, being platform independant cannot be debated. Features ======== An initial feature list at this stage would be impossible to be fully accurate, but here are some ideas for possible and desireable features of G-OS. CPU independance (P-Code software with JIT (Just In Time) Compiler) Multitasking AND Singletasking (depends on available RAM/resources etc) GUI Commandline Shared libraries/device drivers JIT compiler embedded in the OS The feature list will no doubt grow. Implementation ============== Because G-OS will be multiplatform or 'platform independant', there are some key factors that will make G-OS unique in both the way it will function and they way it will be implemented. G-OS will have a HAL (Hardware abstraction layer) which will lie beneath (or in the middle) the OS. G-OS will be mostly coded in a generic P-Code that can be compiled to native code by the JIT compiler which will be an optional part of the HAL. Platforms which support the JIT compiler will benefit from huge speed improvements. The JIT compiler itself will be written partly in P-Code with ONLY the platform specific code generation routines written for each platform. This will make one compiler available to all supported platforms. Libraries and devices can be written in P-Code as can applications. The JIT compilier will have the option to compile to native code 'ONCE ONLY' or 'ON EVERY LOAD' of an application/library/device. About Me ======== My name is Julian Cassin, I live in Melbourne Australia and am director of a small computer company 'Computer Kingdom'. This project will be a commercial venture for 'Computer Kingdom' but initially a non profit one. ALL parties involved will benefit EQUALLY from - whether they are an individual OR a company. The more resources that can be put into this project, the better the outcome will be. If you like the idea of this project or have any constructive comments about it, please contact me - I would love to here from you. Regards Julian Cassin (Director - Computer Kingdom Pty Ltd)