Re: [MiNT] Patch for xaloader.prg

[Peter Persson <pep.fishmoose@gmail.com>]

On 2 mar 2010, at 08.32, Jo Even Skarstein wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Patrice Mandin" <mandin.patrice@orange.fr>
> Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 10:25 PM
> To: "Peter Persson" <pep.fishmoose@gmail.com>
> Cc: "mint Mailing-List" <mint@fishpool.com>
> Subject: Re: [MiNT] Patch for xaloader.prg
> 
>> While you are at it, couldn't you do the same for the MiNT kernel:
>> A small loader to put in auto folder, to run (and/or manually select)
>> the kernel dependent of current cpu, would be also useful when switching
>> between 030 and 060.
> 
> Also known as a "boot manager" ;-) I've been using Superboot and XBoot since 1990 or so, it's one of the most useful tools I have. A open source boot manager would be great, but it should be able to do more than selecting kernels. To be useful, it must have all the functionality of current boot managers, otherwise it would be just another thing to slow down booting.

The mintloader isn't intended to replace the bootloader, nor did I intend for it to be used with one. Its sole purpose is to load the right kernel binary, so that people can switch CPUs (in the case of CT60) or use the same harddrive on multiple systems (I sometimes do this too).

Ofcourse - this stuff may be redundant if you use a boot loader. But personally I hate boot loaders,and I think the whole idea of copying and renaming binaries is nothing but awkward.

-- PeP