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definitions again (Developers)

posted by marcov, 19.03.2024, 20:11

> So I have previously discussed what the definition of "DOS" is - ie if
> Microsoft had produced a 32-bit version of MSDOS - does that even have a
> meaning?
IMHO it is very simple:

Dos and windows: mostly based on binary compatibility. Can run EXEs (within limits) of compatible versions. (many 32-bit win9x apps still run 20 years later, we lost 16-bit only due to the 32->64-bit move)

Unix: attempted binary compatibility with IBCS, but that failed to take on outside some major clients. So basically only source based applications only (often with manual modifications due to slightly incompatible headers). Much narrower bandwidth of even that source compatibility through the years, specially if you consider that only out of the box (without manual changes).

This makes them hard to compare. Apples and oranges.

Anyway, if there were a Microsoft 32-bit Dos, I would assume compatibles could run its binary applications and vice versa, analogous to Dos or Windows.

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