From: paul@max.uk.mugnet.org (Paul Wood)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: MacMinix status from Joe.
Date: 7 Apr 92 19:53:47 GMT
Organization: the coffee table next to the easy chair

Joe Pickert writes:
> Ok, things fall into three major areas:
> 	1. Fixes
> 	2. Enhancements
> 	3. Keeping up with the IBMers.
Excellent - some news at last!

> Here are my plans on each.
>
> 1. Fixes. I am down to one or two problems that are not fixed with the
>    version on Plains, but only affect System 7 users anyway. These are
>    currently fixed, but haven't been released because I haven't
>    run System 7 enough to test them.
I wonder what these one or two problems are? I use System 7 with
almost no problems. (Just the occasional system hang, which are
very rare; and the occasional error message when using the serial
port, but serial i/o works anyway).

> 2. Enhancements. This is where I have been spending a majority of my MINIX
>    time lately. Here are the things I have been working on in no particular
>    order.
> 	a. System Configuration. Select system things like tty
> 	   fonts/size/wrap or serial line mode via user dialog rather
> 	   than recompile. Done.
Fine; but I can live with what I've got for now.

> 	b. System 7 stuff. update include/mac/*.h. Double
> 	   click on FS file via finder and have file system automount?
> 	   In progress.
Ditto.

> 	c. Networking. Would like to ftp to other macminix's on net.
> 	   Have made connection, but still buggy.
Sounds interesting.

> 	d. Change over to using vt100 connection tool rather than continue
> 	   with own console code. This automatically gives us things like
> 	   scrollback, cut & paste, etc. Has added bonus that apple
> 	   employees maintain code. Waiting till I finish System 7 interface.
Now that would be VERY nice. Actually Joe mentioned this in his
posting of a year ago.

> 	e. New Mac/OS interface. Build interface that allows minix user
> 	   programs to make mac/os calls but NOT directly like is currently
> 	   done. Instead, have kernel device modeled on current networking
> 	   that user programs connect to and use for windows etc. In progress,
> 	   but just barely.
That's an excellent improvement.

I wonder if it is best to wait a long time to get a major upgrade,
or would it be better to get all of the above piece-meal. Myself I
would prefer to get a series of upgrades; and implement them one-by-one.
Debugging is easier if the changes are kept small and specific. And past
experience tells me that this is the best way.

It also speeds up the process of getting improvements to MacMinix
out to the users, rather than waiting a long time (already more
than one year). I'm sure that MacMinix-ers are hungry for any
improvements.

> 3. Keeping up with IBMers. I have said this before but I will say it again.
>    I don't plan on anything here until 2.0.
Why?

Also is the work currently being done on STMinix useful for MacMinix?

>    Andy has sent me the disk
>    with the new ANSI compiler (needed for 2.0), and it runs fine.
How is it that Joe Pickert gets the compiler sent to him,
but a MacMinix version is not made generally available by Andy
Tanenbaum or whoever (as stated by Andy Tanenbaum in his recent
postings on this subject)?

>    I need to
>    send him a Mac compatible disk but I wanted to put the new
>    7.0 mac/include files on it so I haven't sent it back yet.
What are these files to do with the new compiler? I assume they
are for System 7 compatibility, and could be issued via this news
group.

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