Re: New GS OS?

[geoff@the-hermes.net (Geoff Weiss)]

>As long as we're talking about GS/OS enhancements, how about an upgrade to
>BASIC.SYSTEM...BASIC.SYS16.  I can live with Applesoft programs being
>limited to the same memory constraints as on a 48k machine even on my 5Mb
>GS, and I really don't need a SHR graphics interface...I can live with the
>standard complement of Applesoft outputs.  But it would sure be nice to

The Applesoft BASIC that is located in the ROM of every IIgs is hard coded
to only operate in BANK 0.  Since parts of GS/OS and the entire 16-bit
stack resides in this area, writing a 16-bit equivalent of BASIC.SYSTEM
is only a small fraction of the work needed.  The Applesoft interpretor
would have to be rewritten as well so it would operate in any bank in 
the GS.  Since Applesofrt is partly (wholly?) copyright by Microsoft,
I wonder if the hassle to release such a program would be worth it.

If this would be written to 100% Applesoft compatible, you would have
a program that requires 1 meg of memory just to run a 35k 
Applesoft BASIC program.  Just thinking about the irony...

Geoff
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