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clean dos extender executable format (Developers)

posted by DosWorld, 08.01.2023, 15:51
(edited by DosWorld on 08.01.2023, 16:31)

> One of the DOS extender executable formats, can't
> remember the name, but it allowed a 32-bit INT 21H
> to be called.
Many DOS-extenders allow it.

> So my question is - is there some room for compromise
> here? A clean 32-bit executable format.
>
> Not one that messes around creating 16-bit calls either.
> Any such thing must be external to the executable.
IMHO, available problem with executable/object formats.
Let me describe it.

obj/omf. Support 16/32 bit. But it too difficult. My main complaint: the authors of the documentation could not describe in simple words. Perhaps this is the problem of technical writers of the old days. They invented terms and logical constructions that can be greatly simplified. So, here is i meet a wall.

rdf. Support 16/32 bit. But here is no place for dll import. (available record for dll, but i am never meet usage example)

aout. Support 32 bit. I am dislike 16-bit (8-byte import/export names), lack of segmented memory model for 16-bit. Also, we have 2 type of aout: linux and bsd.

Also, in object formats, will be great have a "module initialization" and "module deinitialization" code blocks (like in pascal units).

pe/lx/le. Support 32 bit only. over 100500 fields (non relevant for DOS) which make linker (and loader) not so simple.

(i am doest not touch elf and obj/coff, but i don't think there's anything better there)

So... IMHO, all choices is bad. We live in legacy world. We need Hercules to clear these Augean stables.

So far, producing rdf => pe/hx (or mz/exe) looks the most promising, for me.
(i am don't care about win32 + dll import. It's more important not to lose the ability to link mz/exe).

---
Make DOS great again!

Carthago delenda est, Ceterum censeo Carthaginem delendam esse.

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