[MiNT] Re[2]: MiNT and AtlanTOS / Coldfire Project

[George Crissman <strads@tmisnet.com>]

Hello Maurits,

MvdK> On Thu, 2 May 2002, George Crissman wrote:

>> Having the basic functions (kernel, environment,
>> tcp/ip stack) in ROM would make for quick booting
>> and great value to prospective owners as well as
>> providing a level of standardization for software
>> writers.

MvdK> It would also slow down development even further. :) Unless there's a very
MvdK> easy way to upgrade the rom (flash?).

Configuring the MiNT ROM as a semiconductor
hard drive (much like cartridge port c: and
implied cartridge ports d:, e:, f:, etc.)
would make use of the existing features of
TOS and would have no noticeable slowdown
effect.

On a 32-bit bus, the existing cartridge size
of 128Kbytes (on an 8-bit bus) would be
increased to 512Kbytes, which would be
plenty of space for the kernel, command line,
and (maybe) the tcp/ip stack.  All the rest
of MiNT could be loaded from a hard drive.

Using one-time-programmable ROMs for the
finished product (4 each at 128Kx8 US$2.70,
access time 70 nanoseconds)(see online info:
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/cat_609/75.pdf )
you could have the necessary basics of MiNT
in semiconductor ROM at cartridge port c:
for about US$10.40 -- and developers could
use ultraviolet erasable PROMs until the
project was finalized.

Having a known-good MiNT kernel & command-line
resident on all future TOS clones would make
life so much easier for those who choose to
install different flavors of unix-like OSes.

George Crissman
strads@tmisnet.com