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definitions again (Developers)

posted by kerravon, Ligao, Free World North, 20.03.2024, 09:39

> > 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:
I don't think it's that 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)
Ok. So Windows is DOS.

> 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).
And PDOS/386 is now Linux (not Unix).

> This makes them hard to compare. Apples and oranges.
Not really. Once you switch to source compatibility,
C90 programs work anywhere. So everything is everything.

So you may as well not bother talking about that.

Or am I missing something?

> 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.
Ok, that's fine. First - the concept of a 32-bit DOS
does in fact exist. It's not a contradiction in terms,
at least by your definition. And secondly, you are
confirming that it doesn't exist, rather than saying
that Windows is 32-bit MSDOS. Or DOS extenders are.
Those things are important to know.

And then we can guess at what Microsoft would have
created had they so desired.

And then imagine compatibility with that.

So PDOS/386 is a valid clone of 32-bit MSDOS.

It doesn't run 16-bit MSDOS programs, but it
doesn't need to. It's enough to support the
theoretical 32-bit MSDOS API.

BFN. Paul.

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