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A3osX Multi-Tasking OS for Apple III [message #414244] Wed, 27 April 2022 22:08 Go to next message
D Finnigan is currently offline  D Finnigan
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Registered: October 2012
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Just saw this on Github:
https://github.com/A2osX/A3osX


Any remarks? :-)


-----------

A3osX

Introduction

A3osX is an operating, programming and execution environment for the Apple
/// and Apple ///+ computers. While layered atop of SOS, taking advantage of
all SOS block devices and MLI calls; A3osX is much more than an application
or command shell. Written in 6502 assembly for speed of execution and
efficient memory management; A3osX is a multitasking and yes multi-user
development environment bringing many of today's server operating system
features to our venerable vintage 8-bit systems.

The foundation of A3osX enabling its multi-user multitasking capabilities is
a reusable set of APIs and LIBs (written in Assembly) that all programs can
and do use which make them very lean and fast. For instance, there is one
network API that any program can call which in turn handles the I/O to
different brands of LAN cards via a set of drivers. In addition, multiple
programs can be using the network at the same time such as the TELNETD
server and the TELNET client. A key benefit is that code for each program is
smaller because the network API is doing a great deal of the work. With CORE
APIs like printf and LIBs such as Network loaded only once (much like a DLL
in Windows) memory is conserved, providing more resources to support your
A3osX programs.
Requirements

A3osX is designed to work on any Apple /// or Apple ///+ computer.
How You Can Help

The A3osX Team welcomes your help in making this the best operating
environment for the Apple ///! Specifically, the more users who can test the
most current RELEASE, CANDIDATE or STABLE media on their unique hardware and
report back their findings, the better A2osX becomes. In addition, comments
on, suggestions, or contributions to our documentation are greatly
appreciated. Lastly, A3osX would not be what it is without our great core
development team. We could certainly use more developers, especially in
Assembly (S-C Assembler familiar even better) to contribute new utilities,
applications and features for A3osX.
Re: A3osX Multi-Tasking OS for Apple III [message #414255 is a reply to message #414244] Thu, 28 April 2022 13:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
David Schmidt is currently offline  David Schmidt
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On 4/27/22 10:08 PM, D Finnigan wrote:
> Just saw this on Github:
> https://github.com/A2osX/A3osX
>
>
> Any remarks? :-)

That's remarkable. :-)

It's an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while... it
should be within the realm of possibility to port the A2osX kernel to
run on the ///, and of course it has the added advantage of being able
to bank 32k chunks of memory in and out. Obviously much of the
architecture is shared between hardware families, and a bunch is
different in a way that will be challenging to work through. Rémy
finally decided he'd humor me and think about it, so the repo was born.
The first task is just to get SOS source converted to the S-C
assembler, which is native to the A2osX project.
Re: A3osX Multi-Tasking OS for Apple III [message #414256 is a reply to message #414255] Thu, 28 April 2022 15:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
D Finnigan is currently offline  D Finnigan
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Registered: October 2012
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Senior Member
David Schmidt wrote:
> On 4/27/22 10:08 PM, D Finnigan wrote:
>> Just saw this on Github:
>> https://github.com/A2osX/A3osX
>>
>>
>> Any remarks? :-)
>
> That's remarkable. :-)
>
> It's an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while... it
> should be within the realm of possibility to port the A2osX kernel to
> run on the ///, and of course it has the added advantage of being able
> to bank 32k chunks of memory in and out.

What relation would this project have, if any, to Bob Consorti's BOS?
Re: A3osX Multi-Tasking OS for Apple III [message #414264 is a reply to message #414256] Thu, 28 April 2022 18:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Steven Hirsch is currently offline  Steven Hirsch
Messages: 798
Registered: October 2012
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Senior Member
On 4/28/22 15:32, D Finnigan wrote:
> David Schmidt wrote:
>> On 4/27/22 10:08 PM, D Finnigan wrote:
>>> Just saw this on Github:
>>> https://github.com/A2osX/A3osX
>>>
>>>
>>> Any remarks? :-)
>>
>> That's remarkable. :-)
>>
>> It's an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while... it
>> should be within the realm of possibility to port the A2osX kernel to
>> run on the ///, and of course it has the added advantage of being able
>> to bank 32k chunks of memory in and out.
>
> What relation would this project have, if any, to Bob Consorti's BOS?
>
>

For one, the source would be available. I have probably sent a dozen notes to
Bob over the years in an attempt at getting the code. He always seems
amenable, but never follows up.
Re: A3osX Multi-Tasking OS for Apple III [message #414289 is a reply to message #414264] Fri, 29 April 2022 09:07 Go to previous message
D Finnigan is currently offline  D Finnigan
Messages: 1154
Registered: October 2012
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Steven Hirsch wrote:
> On 4/28/22 15:32, D Finnigan wrote:
>> David Schmidt wrote:
>>> On 4/27/22 10:08 PM, D Finnigan wrote:
>>>> Just saw this on Github:
>>>> https://github.com/A2osX/A3osX
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Any remarks? :-)
>>>
>>> That's remarkable. :-)
>>>
>>> It's an idea that's been kicking around in my head for a while... it
>>> should be within the realm of possibility to port the A2osX kernel to
>>> run on the ///, and of course it has the added advantage of being able
>>> to bank 32k chunks of memory in and out.
>>
>> What relation would this project have, if any, to Bob Consorti's BOS?
>>
>>
>
> For one, the source would be available. I have probably sent a dozen
> notes
> to
> Bob over the years in an attempt at getting the code. He always seems
> amenable, but never follows up.
>

That's part of what I was wondering: would anything from BOS be incorporated
into a new Apple III operating system. As I recall, Consorti's development
was financed by the Apple III community back in the 90s.

--
]DF$
The New Apple II User's Guide:
https://macgui.com/newa2guide/
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