From: rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de (Oliver Rosenkranz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: DOS overview
Date: 26 Jan 1993 16:56:28 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Berlin, Germany
NNTP-Posting-Host: hombre.cs.tu-berlin.de
Keywords: DOS
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

			DOS overview

 by Oliver Rosenkranz

 Many Thanks to all the guys who supported me :








=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

DOS - Disk Operating System


No ATARI 8 bit computer (the original ones) have an operting system onboard
which is able to control/use a disk drive. This is because (a) ATARI computers
have be developed in the 1970s when diskette technology was expensive,
(b) such a DOS needs lots of memory which programs loaded by cassette can use,
(c) ATARI didn't want to waste ROM (ROM was expensive, too), (d) a ROM-
installed DOS would have set the standard of 1970s-software for the '80s and
'90s (with their further hardware developments).

So, ATARI decided to give the user a disk-based tool named DOS.
And because of this decision DOS 1.0 found its way to the ATARI community.
But this tool was full of bugs and was not very user-friendly.
So ATARI and others began to write new DOSses for the 8 bit and through the
years new disk drives and floppy speeders gave the ATARIans a desire for
better software to take full advantage of their hardware.

Now, in 1993 the number of different (?) DOS variants has been increased
in a way that the 'normal' user isn't able anymore to overview them.


I don't want to begin a never-ending discussion about the best or worst DOS
ever published. Every user has its special interests and hardware configura-
tions, needs other features and has his own requirements to a DOS.

I hope that I give YOU (whether you are an ATARI enthusiast or novice user)
a little help and/or guideline through this jungle of different programs.

It's a matter of fact that I can't neither own all the DOS versions ever pro-
duced for the 8 bit nor know all the features a every DOS offers.
So, if you're missing a DOS or even a fact here, don't flame me but send me
a mail (rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de) telling me about it. Write down all the details
you did't see here and I will write them down and add them to the list.

I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT IF THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE A HELP FOR OTHERS.
Thank you in advance.
--==rossi==--

Oliver Rosenkranz
rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

THE BASICS :
------------
Each Disk Operating System for the 400/800/800XL/600XL/1200XL/130XE (and others)
has to offer several basic functions to control a disk environment. If some/
a lot/all of those important features are absent, the program should better
be called other than DOS.
These functions are :

* to show (and maybe print) a disk directory
* to format/initialize a diskette
* to load a file into memory
* to save memory to a disk file
* to rename a file
* to lock/unlock a file
* to delete a file from disk
* to copy a file from a disk to a disk
* to copy a whole diskette
* to go to a memory address (to start a program)
* to write a executeable DOS to a diskette
* to go to a cartridge (BASIC for XL/XE)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Each DOS has special advantages/disadvantages.
For example :
A disk directory must not contain more than 64 (128) entries. So it's a
difference whether the DOS is only one file or two or maybe 15 files.
Many programmers use BASIC to write programs. But the more memory DOS uses
the less memory is free for BASIC programs.
Or...or...or...

So, here is a tabular in which some of the most important features are given
to you. Compare them with each other...

A (user interface)   - in which way does DOS communicate with the user
B (? FRE(0) )        - how much memory can be accessed under ATARI BASIC when
		       using a DOS
C (memory residence) - is the WHOLE DOS (i.e. DOS.SYS and DUP.SYS) still in
		       memory when you leave it (maybe to BASIC) and do you
		       have to reload it when you want to return to DOS ?
D (language)	     - many DOS variants are written by people thinking of
		       local interests
E (number of files)  - how many files do you have to put on a disk if you want
		       to load a complete DOS
F (number of sectors)- how many sectors are allocated by DOS
G (densities)	     - which disk densities are supported by DOS
				S - single density
				M - medium density
				D - double density
				Q - quad density
				O - other density
H (# of sectors DOS) - how many sectors do you have to reserve for DOS.SYS
I (# of sectors DUP) -  "   "    "   "  "   "   "   "   "   "   "  DUP.SYS
J (RESET)	     - is the WHOLE DOS still in memory when RESET has been
		       pressed ?

Name		 A	B	C   D		E   F    G     H    I    J

DOS 1.0		menu	28814	yes english	1   64   S     64   -    no
DOS 2.0		menu	32274	no  english	2   81   S     39   42   no
DOS 2.5		menu	32418	no  english/nl/ 2   79	 SM    37   42   no
				    german
DOS 3.0		menu	32274	yes english/	?   ?    O     ?    ?    no
				    german
DOS II+/D 4.3M	command	32085	yes english	1   37   SM    37   -    yes
DOS II+/D 6.1	command 31502	yes english	1   38   SMD   38   -    yes
Happy DOS 1050	menu	31176	yes english	2   71   SMD   37   34	 yes
DOS 2.5m	menu	32418	no  german	2   79   SM    37   42   no
Funny DOS 3.0	menu	32274	no  english	2   115  O     39   76   no
K-DOS		command	26956	yes english	9   151  S     81   -	 no
DOS XL 2.20	command 30990   yes english	?   ?    SMD   46   ?    yes
DOS XL 2.30	command	30990	yes english	19  628  SMD   46   59   yes
Top-DOS .2	menu	31758	yes english	2   106  SDQ   38   68	 choose
Top-DOS 1.5a	menu	32014	yes english	2   126  SDQ   37   89   choose
SpartaDOS 1.1	command	31502	yes english	4    ?   O     ?    ?    yes
SpartaDOS 3.2c	command	32654	yes english	3    ?   O     ?    ?    yes
MultiBoot XL4.0 menu	-	no  english	-    -   O     -    -    no
SmartDOS 6.1D	menu	31734	no  english	2    104 SD    34   70   choose
SmartDOS 8.2D	menu	32502	no  english	2    104 SD    34   70   choose
DOS 2.6f	menu	32274	no  english	2    115 S     39   76   no
DOS 2.9		menu	32274	no  english	2    115 O     39   76   no
OS/A+ V2.0/4DOS command	31630	yes english	1    44  S     44   -    yes
MyDOS 3.013	menu	32424	no  english	2    70  SD    28   42   yes
MyDOS 4.50d	menu	31781	no  english	2    89  SD    35   54   yes
XL-TOS 1.0	desktop	32418	no  english	5    493 SD    37   50   no
G.O.S. 1.3	desktop	32274	no  english/	5    228 S     37   168  no
				    german
MachDOS 2.6XL	menu	30222	no  english	3    94  SD    37   50   yes
BiboDOS 5.4RN	menu	31765	yes german	2    84  SMD   39   45   yes
BiboDOS 5.4RF	menu	31216   yes german	2    84  SMD   39   45   yes
BiboDOS 5.4RFXF menu	31569	yes german	2    84  SMDQ  39   45   yes
BiboDOS 5.5RF	menu	31901	yes german	2    84  SMD(Q)39   45   yes
ANTIC DOS 4.0	menu	39967?	no  english	2    ?   SMD   ?    48   no
1050 WS DOS 2.0	menu	23754	no  english	2    81  SD    39   42   no
Action! DOS	command	31758	yes english	1    38  S     38   -    yes
GEM-DOS		desktop -	no  english	7    216 S     39   -    no
DOS IIs		menu	32274	no  english	2    81  S     39   42   no
TurboDOS XE 2.0	command	31890	no  english/	2    73  SMDQ  33   40   yes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How man disk drives can be connected to your ATARI when using DOS :

Name		D1	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8    D9
DOS 1.0		*	*	*	*
DOS 2.0		*	*	*	*
DOS 2.5		*	*	*	*
DOS 2.5m	*	*	*	*
DOS 3.0		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
DOS 2.6f	*	*	*	*
DOS 2.9		*	*	*	*
Funny DOS 3.0	*	*	*	*
DOS II+/D 4.3M	*	*	*	*
DOS II+/D 6.1	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Happy DOS 1050	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
K-DOS		*	*	*	*
DOS XL 2.20	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
DOS XL 2.30	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Top-DOS .2	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Top-DOS 1.5a	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
SpartaDOS 1.1	???
SpartaDOS 3.2c	???
MultiBoot XL4.0	*
SmartDOS 6.1D	*	*	*	*
SmartDOS 8.2D	*	*	*	*
OS/A+ V2.0/4DOS	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*     *
MyDOS 3.013	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*     *
MyDOS 4.50d	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
XL-TOS 1.0	*	*
G.O.S. 1.3	*	*	*
MachDOS 2.6XL	*	*	*	*
BiboDOS (all)	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
ANTIC! DOS 4.0	???
1050 WS DOS 2.0	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*     *
Action! DOS	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*     *
GEM-DOS		*	*
DOS IIs		*	*	*	*
TurboDOS XE 2.0	*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But statistics isn't all....

Here are the features the DOS variants are standing for...


DOS 1.0			-devine device		-full of bugs

DOS 2.0			-standard		-not very user-friendly

DOS 2.5			-better than DOS 2.0 but not really user-friendly

DOS 3.0			-uses system files	-not kompatible to DOS 2.5
			-convert DOS 2 -Files	-online help
			-create your own commands

DOS 2.5m		-like DOS 2.5 but without the need to press RETURN
			 after the command letter

DOS II+/D 4.3M		-clear disk (delete files & new dir)
			-diskname
			-mini ml monitor (mem-dump,mem-change,show registers)
			-12KB RANdisk (build-in,M: $5000 - $7F00)

DOS II+/D 6.1		-like version 4.3M
			-other features ???

Happy DOS 1050		-1011 free sectors (1010 are normal)
			-revive file		-no RETURN after command

FunnyDOS 3.0		-931 free sectors	-drive speed test
			-radix convert (hex,dec)-check sectors
			-copy sectors
			(DOS 2.9 is like this one but with a black background)

DOS 2.6f		-like Funny DOS 3.0 but only 707 free sectors
			 (for ATARI 810 users)

K-DOS			-uses system files	-revive file
			-ml monitor (procede,examine,alter register)
			-boots system if RESET is pressed
			-kill			-UDC

DOS XL 2.20		-uses system files
			-other features ???

DOS XL 2.30		-uses system files
			-other features ???

Top-DOS .2		-undelete		-create your own commands
			-ml monitor (read,edit)	-bypass-cartridge (choosable)
			-set left margin	-Auto-RS232 (choosable)
			-system drive#		-number of buffers

Top-DOS 1.5a		-like version .2
			-choosable RAMdisk#
			-set time-out		-error list
			-online help		-number conversion

SpartaDOS 1.1		-diskname		-uses system files
			-sub-directories	-not compatible with DOS 2.5
			-different dir (name,bytes,date,time)
			-undelete		-system clock

SpartaDOS 3.2c		-like version 1.1	-extra date/time line
			-easy multifile copy	-various disk init formats
			-speed check		-sector copy

MultiBoot XL! 4.0	-not really a DOS but a disk/cassette-copy/load utility
			-not compatible with DOS 2.5
			-it options : write MB4.0, load boot prg cass/disk,
				      write boot prg cass/disk, copy file
				      rename file,sector copy,format disk
				      delete file

SmartDOS 6.1D		-copy sectors		-test sectors
(RANA-DOS)		-speed check		-easy to use

SmartDOS 8.2D		-like version 6.1D
			-less memory needed	-other features ???

OS/A+ V.2.00/4 DOS	-uses system files
			-other features ???

MyDOS 3.013		-drive configuration	-choose system drive#
			-directory name

XL-TOS 1.0		-uses windows,icons,pull-down-menues
			-no wrtieTOS,save file,copy file/disk, go address
			 feature

G.O.S. 1.3		-uses window/icons/pull-down-menues
			-sub-directories	-change colors
			-directory name		-disk name/drive name
			-print file		-edit file

MachDOS v2.6XL		-choose system drive#	-convert files

BiboDOS 5.4 RN		-good RAMdisk support	-easy to use
			-configuration (#of buffers, RAMdisk resident?,
			 RAMdisk?,keyboard buffer?)
			 -startup edit		-1011 free sectors
			 -undelete		-dir when number-key is pressed
			 -supports XF551

BiboDOS 5.4 RF		-like version 5.4RN	-supports several disk speeders

BiboDOS 5.4 RN/XF	-like version 5.4RN	-especially written for XF551
						 users

BiboDOS 5.5 RF		-like version 5.4RF	-BASIC on/off
			-clear disk		-show file
			-special configuration (repeat frequence,wait time)

ANTIC! DOS 4.0		???

1050 Warp Speed DOS 2.0	-like DOS 2.0		-supports warp speed

Action! DOS		-like OS/A+ DOS		-dir shows a line '# of files'

GEM-DOS			-uses windows,icons,pull-down-menues,icons for files
			-full of bugs

DOS IIs			-like DOS 2.0		-special copy routine

Turbo-DOS XE V2.0 HS	-short info about all commands (without disk access)
			-uses system files	-show/edit system variables
			-radix convert(hex,dez,ATASCII)
			-hexdump/edit		-BASIC on/off
			-recognizes automatically the density of the disk
			-look at load/start addresses/areas of files
			-get file checksum	-show files
			-clear dir		-give command chain to cartridge
			-write fileloaderDOS to disk (GAMEDOS)
			-batch files		-disk copy with density-mix
			-supports disk speeder	-complex but easy to use options						 for most commands
			-online help		-support for XF551

----------------------- without any guarantees --------------------------------

This list is incomplete. To make it more complete and help all users to
choose between DOS variants, please check out this list for failures or/and
lecks of information. If you find some facts I didn't pay attention for,
drop me a line via email (rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de) and I will update this list
and put your name to it, if the hint is new to me/the list.
Even if you have a new DOS or another DOS version you don't find on this list
gimme a description of it with all the facts you know about it which are impor-
tant for the list...

Thank you in advance
--==rossi==--
Oliver Rosenkranz
rossi@cs.tu-berlin.de