From: michael@gandalf.moria (Michael Haardt)
Subject: Re: Minix Sells Around the World! [and how]
Followup-To: comp.os.minix
Organization: An old and gray machine, somewhere in Moria.
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 92 16:24:33 +0100

In article <2924930111.0.p00014@psilink.com>, "Phil Kramer" <p00014@psilink.com> writes:
> Will MINIX work on SCSI or ESDI?
> There is no driver for SCSI or ESDI....

There is support for SCSI as upgrade, ESDI I don't know.

> Will MINIX boot from the hard drive?
> No, you always need the boot floppy....

You can use additional software to boot from HD, like with Linux.

> Can MINIX reside with DOS?
> No, MINIX and DOS files must be on different partitions...

Yes, like Linux.  

> What UNIX applications run with MINIX 1.5?
> None.

A lot, although 16 bit MINIX is restricted to smaller ones.

> Does MINIX support graphics in the C compiler
> (line drawing)?
> No.

Sorry to say so, but that is stupid.  a) You mean a library written in 
C, not a compiler.  b) You are probably not aware or mini-x for 386 MINIX
and MGR for 8086 and 80386 MINIX (I heard it runs on STs too).

> Is MDV included on the disk with the IBM version?
> No

Hm. I have no idea what MDV is ... :(

> Does MINIX have Lex and Yacc?
> Not in the distribution version.  There are versions on the net.

Ok.

> Does MINIX run X-Windows?
> No.

Ok.  Some people having X run on their private hacked versions means 
nothing, becase they are not available for others.

> Is there an NKS Tool Set?
> No.

Eeek, again I have no idea what that is ...

> Does MINIX have AWK?
> No...

It has bawk, which is a subset.  Some full PD awks are smaller than 64k,
so porting should be possible to 16 bit MINIX.  32 bit versions of 
course can run gawk.

> Does MINIX support floating point?
> No.

There are upgrades.

> Can you add a mail facility to MINIX?
> No.

Yes.

> Is MINIX compatible to SCO-ZENIX for UNIX? [!]
> No.

Ok.

> Are there multiple code segments and/or multiple data segments
> in C programs for MINIX 1.5?
> No...

No, one code and one data segment.  The segment size is dependent of the
hardware, multiple segments are just a hack to overcome braindamaged 
chips ...

> Is there a C-Debugger for MINIX 1.5?
> No.

Ok.  There is a assembler debugger however.

> When is the next version of MINIX due?
> 2-3 years. [!]

Oh :) You kow more than me ... or is it just a guess?! 

> Are there transparencies or other material available?
> No.

There is the MINIX book and source code.

Let me say a final word: Comparing MINIX 1.5 for XTs with Linux on a 386
isn't fair.  They are two different systems for two different purposes.
MINIX is a small experimental OS and IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THAT.  It is
not a real unix with all features.  Some people wrote upgrades until it
was close to that instead of writing a completely new system, because it
was fun working with MINIX and doing a patch is easier than writing a 
new full system (like Linus did).  MINIX on a 68k with MMU or on a 386, 
with most important diffs applied comes close to Linux, but it is hard 
work to build it.

In fact, it was close enough for Linus using it as development platform 
for Linux until Linux was a standalone system.

If I remember right, Andy once said that he is glad about Linux, because
it keeps the people away who want to force him making MINIX a less
experimental system.  I agree.  When MINIX 2.0 will be released, it will 
compare to Linux as MINIX 1.5 for XTs compares to v7.  You will have a 
small system which has much POSIX in it, and it will be wonderful to
play with it *because it is small*.  You are not going to need a 
workstation like machine and cry over a few thousand ruined files and 
how long backup and restore of 60 floppies needs, when you make a
small mistake in fs.

I am not going to say something about Coherent ... because neither 
comp.os.minix or comp.os.linux or even comp.os.coherent are groups for 
useless flame wars.

Michael
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix