Spectrofon #02 31 января 1994

IS-DOS

From the world of bat - "We do not need such an order" discussion on the topic: "IS-DOS: the problem Development.

       From the world of bat



   Today we offer you
attention the story of our special correspondent in Moscow
B. Ananyina in which the author shares his thoughts on
the adaptation of game programs to the operating system
IS-DOS. This article, we open a debate on "is-DOS:
development issues. "


   We invite all interested parties to comment on this issue. 
After operating system is-DOS, it may become

those "tractor", which can not
just breathe new life into
the brainchild of Clive Sinclair, but to pull out this unique 
home PC to new heights.


   Try to imagine

that our apparatchiks will take

for the release of a new generation

Spectrum-compatible computers
ditch, which is-DOS will be up
shita "in Rom. What would happen

now we can only assume
flashing. Maybe then there will be

ridiculous attempts of other

programmers to deal with adaptation
tion of programs written in

TR-DOSe, the system is-DOS.

VG Ananin.


  We do not need this "order".


   In the January issue of deep
respected by all sinkleristami
Journal ZX-REVIEW published an article some of Michael Golovin 
from Moscow under the name "Matching Game Software Systems 
TR-DOS TO PROFESSIONAL SYSTEM iS-DOS ". In this article

author describes two possible
ways to make your games run from iS-DOS. And, apparently, 
everything is fine: So a man wants to practice in alteration of 
software - so please! But beneath all these entertainment is 
brought profound, even You can say, "philosophical"

concept, which is so desirable to answer that and I'll try to 
do. 

   To begin with, so as not to be unsubstantiated, let me cite 
one full paragraph from the above article, from which it will 
dance: 


  "Many people may ask:" Why do we need all this mess? We
and TR-DOS bad play and work. "This question can be
to answer it. iS-DOS - mnogokatalogovaya file system and
Each toy can have its
catalog and store their official files. They will never be 
mixed, as is often is a TR-DOS. And we must choose

for yourself which is better: a lot of discs
alone in the TR-DOS, the other in the iS-DOS
or all of the disks under the same system. It is necessary to 
restore order. " 

                  (End quote)



   And now try to lead
some of the arguments against such activities, who are coming
come to mind.


   Firstly, I want to say
a few words about the alleged pile of disks in the system 
iS-DOS, which will struggle and get entangled in conflict with 
the discs TR-DOS. Semi-annual and sufficient

close contact with the system
iS-DOS (not only mine, but many of my friends) shows
that 95 out of 100 cases from all
iS-DOS user works
only a text editor and
print texts. Text
Editor-in iS-DOS really
good, there could not be taken away and not
add. Although it should be noted that the most good at it
machines with more memory ob'emom
48 and even 128 KB.

   That's when it becomes possible to reset all system
and text files on the electronic
drive, allowing you to not wait
in the performance of each operation,
when the drive heads "crawl" on the disk and loads the 
appropriate subroutine. 


   The rest of the program, released under the iS-DOS, do not 
use so popular either

because of its specificity, or
due to some shortcomings. Thus,
when working with the program print
graphics files is problematic print screen average size in 
grayscale graphics and a decent quality (all very 
"zachernyaetsya" at As to the printer EPSON). Yes and no

everyone has a printer, but in general, then not really need it 
- print pictures.




   Business Calendar Jump
Well enjoy the very business people, and they tend to have
IBM. To fill data
own filing quickly bored (there is a sad experience).
Programs scrolling advertising
rollers and a resident of music playback on AY-3-8910/12
have very questionable value. Forth, at least at first glance, 
(the final resume until the issue is too early) is very limited 
scope most iS-DOS. As for "warehouse"

"Shop" and "Finance" to judge
I do not presume the absence of specific work practices with 
these programs.




   Thus, from the above that all iS-DOS near the
diligent user fit, maximum, in one box
Floppy and about any heap
There can be no question. For most podavlyayushego enough
have a basic disk, and working
working copy, there is still formatter. IS-DOS system remains
thing "in itself" and there is no need to shove it all
else, no matter how official sellers like iS-DOS.


   Now try to imagine
himself that "the process has begun and the game began to 
appear, adapted iS-DOS. Assume that You isklyuitelno honest 
user and only use software, purchased from legitimate 
distributors (meaning iS-DOS). 


   To start the game you will need:
 a) Insert a bootable floppy disk
and download the iS-DOS;
 b) Remove the boot floppy and
insert a floppy disk with the game. Consider it;
 c) Enter the subdirectory with your desired game and run game.


   Very convenient, is not it?
Of course, part b) can be omitted, if occasionally fly
proprietary formatters (You do
extremely honest user), calculated on the final
number formatting and do
all floppy boot. This,
Of course, very well for the official distributors of iS-DOS,
but not very profitable for you.



   And generally not very clear
Why wait until the boot
iS-DOS, so that later, when loading the game, clear the 
computer memory of iS-DOS. After all the genius in the computer 
SINCLAIR simplicity, in particular that

TR-DOS does not need to download. There are very short boot-s,
that will allow you to have to run the game while at the user's 
hard-nosed iS-DOS just boot the system.


   Ask any man, who recently joined with SINCLAIRa on
IBM PC or AMIGA, that he
not like a new car and he
probably answer that it just infuriates long and hard wait for 
booting the system after each reset the computer. Why us to 
reproduce this flaw in their cars? 

   Consider one more dubious advantage Storage
Game format iS-DOS, namely,
storing each game has its own directory. After all, according to
M. Golovin in TR-DOS "utility
files to toys often mixed up. "Well, I do not know, for me that 
is not so often, though I have the order

two thousand gaming software
(More precisely, I do not recall
similar cases). But those who
tortured, such files are creeping and knotted, to remind you 
that there is a very simple way

"Stuff" the whole game in one
BASIC-file. This option is available
virtually any user,
description of its very small size and, hopefully, will soon be
published in the journal spectrophone.


   Thus, if you customize your game above
way, no more files
not be mixed and directory of your
disk will have a very elegant look.

   I hope that all of the above, I did not insult and do not
offended. At least, I did not set out such
problem. I was not going well
conduct any anti-advertising system iS-DOS. In fact,
editor of iS-DOS - it is
really good
program, made at the highest level. Anyone who has worked
in it, will never want to
work or in any public TLW
other editors. But we should not
bring a good idea to senility.


   And then you can remember
that there is a CP / M for ATM-Turbo
CP / DOS for the PROFI and begin to remake the game under this 
system. 

   Those who are familiar with the most
powerful music editor
A. Sendetsky "ASM" for AY-3
-8910/12 Surely know that
latest version of its use
its own DOS, created by
by the author of ASM for some
unclear objectives. Well, let's
and this DOS zapihnem all our
game. Yes, I almost forgot! After
by iS-DOS, you can work with
Disk MS-DOS! Feel flight
fantasy? Imagine
both fall down your buddies when you, as if by chance,
throw them: "My computer is running in MS-DOSe. What a kick! 
What a powerful standardization of your Floppies!



   And you can completely ignore the fact that running game 
will need to: Insert CD with iS-DOS, run iS-DOS,

enter a mode for MS-DOS -
disks, remove the disk from iS-DOS,
insert a disk with MS-DOS, assume
it, find the appropriate directory, run the game, (the end
program).


   Still, let's not
do your own little Tower of Babel. Let
All games will be in TR-DOS. And
what does a system designed to work, can
have for the games. You can still understand
the presence of a built-in "Tetris" in order to be able to
5 minutes to distract from the work and
rest, but no more ("Tetris"
By the way, well it will look
in its own window).



   And for those whose hands are itching to
work in assembly language, I would like to
advised not to "crack" and
to alter someone else's, but to create
something of their own. Believe me, much
greater respect is always a
Let the clumsy, but it is "self-made" program with its
thoughts than beautiful, but it is certainly odd job, cobbled 
together by pulling and linking pieces of

from other people's programs.



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