Re: [MiNT] New kernel features

[atari@bright.net (Lonny Pursell)]

On Sun, 5 Dec 1999 01:28:44 +0100, Guido Flohr wrote:

>Hi,
>
>no, I didn't fall into deep despair, I simply had too much other work.  I
>couldn't read my mails therefore.  I hope nobody minds if I give once more
>a "common reply".
>
>It seems that everybody has missed the most important point in my previous
>posting: I will withdraw both SIGPWR and the /kern filesystem.  You will
>not find it in future kernels unless you compile your own kernel and set
>an additional define.  No need to debate the implementation.  Nobody is
>forced to use it.

Sorry, to hear that.

>But I will make the init suite dependent on these features.  And they will
>also depend on the text interface of the /kern filesystem.  You have to
>understand that.  I have a certain schedule that I follow and the time
>that would be needed to rewrite a bunch of tools from scratch is not
>scheduled.  Besides, I apparently don't like the proposed alternatives and
>that should be enough.  If anybody doesn't like my approach, you are not
>forced to use it in any way.  Can I do more?
>
>If somebody really likes the idea of a SystemV compatible init suite but
>really hates my /kern filesystem: Fine, the sources will be free, modify
>them to grok with a /proc-only kernel without SIGPWR but don't expect me
>to do that.
>
>And if anybody wants to turn /kern into a loadable filesystem: Go ahead,
>good luck.  Parts of the functionality will not be available in that
>loadable module (unless you blow up the kernel again), but that's fine
>with me.  Only, this extra work is not on my schedule.
>
>Before you flame me for this lonesome decision: Once again there was no
>agreement and I had to decide some way.  I think everybody can live with
>this decision.
>
>If there is one thing I have learned from all that, it's this:  I think it
>is about time to really split up the kernel development into two different
>branches.  One, with minimal functionality, no features other than those
>that are strictly required to do multitasking and one which is oriented
>towards new developments in other operating systems.

I agree.

>As a matter of fact there are people that are very happy that MiNT offers
>a close-to-unix environment on machines that were manufactured years ago.
>They accept that hardware developpers mostly abandon them completely but
>they seemingly don't expect that software developpers come to a point
>someday where they say that it's getting ridiculous to support such
>machines.
>
>But unfortunately, if you expect that a MiNT system (not only the
>kernel, most resources are always eaten up by custom software) still runs
>on a 4 MB STE you also expect that the only benefit of better hardware is
>that you can run more applications at once and that they run faster.
>
>I have used a TT with 10 MB for years and I know what it is like to lack
>of resources.  But: I also always run a debug kernel which consumes about
>100 kB more disk space and probably about the same amount of extra RAM.
>It never came to my mind to even temporarily replace my kernel with a
>non-debug kernel because that never would have solved any such problem.
>
>However, if these little things really cause such big trouble I would
>prefer to make every new functionality available only as an optional
>feature.  I can try to write a somewhat more user-friendly build interface
>so that everybody is able to build a custom kernel.  Those people that
>don't have the resources to build their own kernel will probably be the
>same that generally oppose new features, natural selection ... ;-)

I have never compiled a kernal, but know I guess I will be forced to
cause some people wish to live in the past.

>Keeping up compatibility with m68000 machines might also offer some
>marketing opportunities.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a microprocessor
>controlled vacuum cleaner running MiNT soon. If you give it another meg of
>RAM you could even browse the cobwebs in your house and the world wide web
>at the very same time. ;-)

Well I think amiga will have already beat you to this idea, as the new
CEO was babbling on about amigaOS in house hold appliance already.  <hehe>

__________________________________________________________________
Atari Computer User: Lonny Pursell        E-Mail: atari@bright.net
WWW: http://www.bright.net/~atari/       IRC: lp @ #Atari @ IRCnet