From: archer@frmug.fr.mugnet.org (Vincent Archer)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: Is MINIX much better than LINUX?
Date: 19 Dec 92 16:20:27 GMT
Organization: Minix User Group France

In article <ARL.92Dec15210739@deathstar.cs.hut.fi> arl@cs.hut.fi (Ari Lemmke) writes:
>	Yet another Minix/Linux war? I still have "Linux is obsolete"
>	ast started. It's compressed 96k ;-) and really fun to read,
>	especially ast's false predicitions; newsgroup gets daily

While the prediction of doom have failed to appear, the fact remains that
ast's original assertion, "Linux is obsolete", is true and remains so:
Linux is based on an antiquated monolithic design.

Modern Unixes have been moving slowly to more an more modular design.
USL is looking into Chorus micro-kernel design for evolution, OSF will
pick Mach as a kernel base.

Of course, using antique software design doesn't mean that one cannot
do wonders with it. If you want an example of it, look at MsDog. The
worst design possible, cannot multitask, and yet is used by millions
around the world, and they even DO something with it.

Never forget: The success of a product depends on three things, in
decreasing order:
	- The needs it fulfills
	- The marketing that drives it
	- The design used for it

(Just as your career depends mostly on how well you relate to others in
 your job, and almost never on how well you DO the job)

>	I'd suggest starting with Linux. I've teached Minix
>	internals to students, and had to comment multiple
>	times 'eh, this is kludge' ;-)

Minix internals are not the cleanest of the examples. Point conceded.

>:   If your hardware doesn't run linux, linux simply isn't an option.
>
>	You wanted to say 'Linux is not the _only_ option'?
>	Or just 'do not use Linux'? (because it's free?)
                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What the hell are you implying. Linux is free. Come and install it on my
Atari ST. How what? You can't? You mean that Linux is not an option for
me... Awwww... (;-) for the humor impaired)

Face it. Not everybody in the world runs a PC w/386. You've got people
that have a 286. You've got atarists. You've got Mac addicts. Tell them
to buy a 386 to run Linux :-)

>	'Amoeba support' was not nicely done. Who needs it?
>	Future kludge programmers? ;-)

I never needed it. Dismissed.

>	I need my home computers 2 * 386 boxes, soon I'll
[have a]
>	third one. It's nice to have ethernet, tcp/ip, and
>	software to run, like ghostscript printing with
>	$60 DEC ln03+  laser. Prices for 386 boards start
>	from $75-150 (used) .. [with 2MB].

So buy, buy more. I thought that the whole point of Linux was that it was
free? I'll have to spend $150 to buy a 386 board. Ok. Then what?

I've never used a 386. I'll never use one, unless you put a gun on my head
(then I'll do everything you say. And shoot you in the back at the first
 occasion).

Linux is good and proper. But it failed in ONE area: It's a mono-platform
machine: It runs only on 386 and above PC-architecture computers. For
those who have one, either Linux or 836bsd is the way to go. But until
on of these is ported to the 68000 world (for mac, atari, amiga), then
some people will not use one.

>:   Now, if you only want to write programs using existing tools, you should
>:   look for Solaris 2.1 or SVR4 (maybe your university can get a site license,
>:   including machines at home), Linux or 386BSD (or BSDI), and finally
>:   Minix or Coherent.
>
>	Studying OS using Solaris? How you can get sources to it?

#define TIRED_LOOK_MODE
Notice what it said: 'if you only want to write programs using existing...'
If I want to do database and accounting, and get recommended Msdos/Windows
would you tell me that studying OS with Msdos is not good?
#endif

>	Can ScumOS be reliable? (must be a joke).

Depends on your needs.

>	[Corporation XYZ (name not mentioned) used to release binaries
>	if they barely compiled - internal information].

All corporations do.
-- 
	Vincent Archer			Email:	archer@frmug.fr.mugnet.org
Monday is an awful way to spend one seventh of your life.