At 06:00 AM 7/23/2011, Walt Nagel wrote: >--- On Fri, 7/22/11, Ralf A. Quint <free...@gmx.net> wrote: > > as you folks all are abandoning DOS more or less > >The assumption appears to be that every DOS program ever written is >"DOS". This is a fallacy. DOS is just the kernel and command >processor; usually a few utilities are included to make the >'distribution' somewhat useful -- see e.g. the DOS 5.0 manual that >includes DOSSHELL and a few other utilities. I would define a >utility as a _small_ program that performs housekeeping functions or >supports larger applications. > >I, for one, support the inclusion of programs/applications (or links >to them) beyond the general category of "utility" when it meets the >group standards -- primarily: still supported, source code available >and a license that is compatible with the spirit of GPL. We cannot >provide and support everything ever written _for_ "DOS".
Nobody said anything about "providing everything". But if you go by your own "free lunch" definition above, what "applications" are out there, seriously? If the development of FreeDOS keeps sticking to it's original goal of providing a "complete, free, 100% MS-DOS compatible operating system" (http://www.freedos.org/freedos/about/), then the focus should be on exactly that. And then there isn't much to worry about "support everything ever written for DOS". That comes then automatically. IMHO, the prevailing mindset and the actions taken in the last few years are leading more and more away from this basic goal, either by taking shortcuts or ignoring some of "the old stuff". That includes ignoring old (but working) compilers, thinking of replacing command.com with 4DOS (instead of having it as an optional choice) or possibly not testing FAT16 stuff to introduce a possible regression in the latest kernel version (which I have not tested myself yet though) as "everyone's using FAT32 these days". And don't get me started on a mess like ChkDsk... :-( Ralf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Storage Efficiency Calculator This modeling tool is based on patent-pending intellectual property that has been used successfully in hundreds of IBM storage optimization engage- ments, worldwide. Store less, Store more with what you own, Move data to the right place. Try It Now! http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfnl/114/51427378/ _______________________________________________ Freedos-devel mailing list Freedos-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-devel
