Re: New GS OS?

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

In article <1996Oct7.105654@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>,
 <smtrimbl@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> wrote:
>Eh, I don't want to get into the flamefest, but on the recent
>thread about a new OS for the GS, Ihave to disagree... I *do*
>think it'd be nice to have a sytem update, and I think it could
>extend the GS' usefulness considerably.  Furthermore, IMHO,

I will not disagree with this statement, but there is only so much
that two people can do.  Have you looked at the credits for all the
programmers who put together System 6.0 and earlier.  There were
litterally teams of programmers working on it.  If the future of the
operating system has boiled down to only two non-Apple employed
programmers, give them some slack.  If they had 40 more programmers
also doing development work, then publicly releases would be a real
issue.

>its great BD is still working on software for this platform, and
>they should be commended for even contemplating a 6.0.2 revision.

They don't get as much gratitude as they deserve.

>As far as what features the new OS would have to make it more 
>System 7ish, that aren't available via init, I also have to disagree & 
>say that there are a number of things I'd love to have on my 
>OS, not the least of which is the obvious:
>-multitasking.
>Yeah, there is MultiGS, and I heard about a MultiFinderGS that 
>was being developed in France some years back... anyone know about 
>this?

Seven Hills sells The Manager which is what came of this product.

This multitasking environment is great for what it can do, but don't expect
it to work with alot of older software.  There is no way the GS can have
multitasking capability and work with all of older software.  There are
programs being developed today that don't work with The Manager.

Multitasking is not a real option for the future of the GS/OS.  Too many
people use older software and wouldn't upgrade their software to make
it work.  Developers wouldn't spend time revamping their software since
there won't be any sales.  It is a chicken and the egg issue.

>-ability to view content of nested directories

I like this idea.  It wouldn't be too hard to implement as long as the
source code for the Finder is complete.

>-Improved HFS.FST

I don't know if Brutal Deluxe is up to the challenge of figuring out what
is causing the directory/file corruption.  Others have expressed interest
in tracking this down.  Someone who has time and an excellent understanding
of B+ trees should be able to figure out what is wrong.  I went through
my computer science curriculum without learning how the B+ tree structure
really works.

>I think this improvement is obvious.  while we're at it, what about 
>Read/Write capabilities added to the DOS & MSDOS FSTs?  And 5.25
>disk support for the MSDOS FST?  (While I'm dreaming, what about
>HD 5.25 support for *any* Apple II format...

Doesn't the MS-DOS support 5.25" disks on the Blue Disk controller? Apple
5.25" drives can not access MFM encoded disks so I hope you weren't
assuming you could use the Apple 5.25" drive for IBM 5.25" disks.

>-Folder size automatically computed
>It would be nice to see the size of folders displayed in the menu along
>with apps with out Icon info *and* calculating... Yeah, you'd really need 
>to accelerate to 8-10 MHz for this feature, I know... 

I have a 9 MHz Zip and I would *hate* for automatic folder calculation
to take place on my *:system:fonts folder.  Getting the folder calculation
from "Get Info" is good enough for the few times I need it.  If the
standard IIgs was 20 Mhz, then I would say that auto-computed folder
sizes would be nice addition.  The standard IIgs is still 2.8 MHz so
any system enhancements are still bound by this limitation.

>-ability to puts apps in the apple menu.
>This is picky, especially since the are inits that allow you to put 
>aliass in the Finder Extras... but....

The Mac allows for applications in the desk accessories because it can
multitask applications.  Since GS/OS isn't a multitasking environment this
seems useless.  Why can't you put aliases on your desktop?  That is what
my friend does.  I like using the Extras menu in the Finder.

If you want the ability to launch programs from within a program, Seven
Hills sells TransProg III which can do that.

Geoff
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