Kaleidoscope - NeOS - A new system for opepatsionnaya Spektpuma

<b>Kaleidoscope</b> - NeOS - A new system for opepatsionnaya Spektpuma

(C) 1999 Megus / Brainwave ^ X-Project.
Music: BY Mr.Z / HWC



                 -= NeOS =

          new operating system

               for Spectrum



     The idea of creating an entirely new system for
Spectrum in the air for a long time. Perhaps many were taken 
for its creation, but little have the strength, patience, and 
maybe bring the knowledge a serious effort to end. In 1997, 
work began on the new OS Pavel Fedin, but later, to 
Unfortunately, disillusioned with the idea. However, he left a 
large number of specific theoretical developments, which later 
formed the basis of NeOS. Therefore, authored the concept of 
law NeOS Paul is Fedin, and the development of ideas and the 
implementation of all zadumok been engaged I, Roman Petrov 
(Megus / Brainwave ^ X-Project). 

     The decision to create a new OS for the Spectrum did not 
appear out of nowhere, to this as me, so and Pavel Fedin 
(hereinafter - just developers) prompted the following reasons: 

1. There are alternatives to TR-DOS (iS-DOS) conditions
  disc, since it was originally designed for

  machines with memory 48Kb. Also, there iS-DOS
  there exist some limitations that do not give this

  freedom of the programmer.


2. Currently, there are many models

  Spectrum memory over 128KB, but the management

  This memory in each machine is done by proper
  vennomu standard that is defined

  difficulties for the programmer.


3. Also there are many more peripheral
  theory, but in this region is not observed ka
  FIR either adopt the standard, because each

  developer seeks to make all their own way.


4. TR-DOS, in fact, not a full-fledged opera
  tion systems. In fact, it's just an emu
  correlator tape operations on a floppy disk.


5. Absence of an integrated file system (as in

  TR-DOS, and in iS-DOS) makes it difficult to use
  of external data carriers high-capacity

  (HDD, CD-ROM, etc.).



     There are other reasons, but those that have just been 
listed, are the most important. 

     All described problems are solved in NeOS.



     Here's a short list of those opportunities that
NeOS provides programmers and users:

* Supports up to 4MB of RAM (in theory - to

  1GB);
* Implemented a system of block allocation,

  that will facilitate the further implementation of the 
(pseudo) set   gozadachnosti;

* Implemented a system driver, which removes about
  lems of incompatibility of different peripherals;
* Implemented a system library functions;
* Ability to work with any external hard drive

  data;
* Full support for the system directories;
* Ability to work with files of any length (up to

  4G);
* Supports file names up to 16

  characters with a three-character extension;
* Implemented "transparent" support for various fi
  lovyh systems.



     Now, all this in more detail ...



     NeOS supports up to 4MB of RAM, with
that the programmer no problems
if operating under with this memory, because Work carried out 
by means of system functions NeOS, and the programmer does not 
have to worry about the support of all possible ways to 
implement the extended memory. For subsequent implementation of 
multitasking in NeOS was implemented memory management system: 
scaling in the allocation of paged memory. The size of 
allocated / freed block is a multiple of 1K. 

     To work with external devices (not
only with them) was implemented system drivers.
Driver in the memory are organized in a "chain":
at the beginning of each driver is a pointer to
next. Thus, the total number of drivers installed in the system 
is limited only by available memory. Each driver has its own 
name, by which the search is carried out. Drivers are divided 
into 2 types: resident and nonresident. For resident drivers 
are caused each interrupt, the non-resident - the driver, 
specifically calling program. 

     Each type has its own chain.
From the driver program can be invoked as follows
way: first, to find (open) driver
on his behalf, after which the probe and
page address with the number of functions in the register A.

     Because in the future we plan to implement multi-tasking 
system has been implemented libraries functions. At the moment 
this system is not particularly important. Organization of 
libraries in memory vendor drivers ("chain"), how to work with 
libraries are also similar. 

     Working with external data storage devices is carried out 
through two levels of drivers: disk device driver and the 
driver file systems (FS). When you work with files programmer 
must driver is FS, but he has, in turn,

uses a disk device driver. Thus providing support for any FS at 
any type of storage device. In NeOS implemented "transparent" 
support of various FS. This means that the system can be 
installed multiple drivers FS, and NeOS will work with any of 
them. When selected disk device is accessed

FS each driver to determine the membership drive FS. Once a 
driver is identified drive as "her", the driver becomes active

for the device, and further operations
Files on this CD will be produced by him. Therefore, there is 
no need to NeOS a copyist of type MS-DOS <-> TR-DOS, because 
system she can perform similar operations.


     As in any full-fledged DOS, in NeOS capacity to work with 
subdirectories, which because lacking in TR-DOS. Also, no NeOS

restrictions on the length of a file specific to TR-DOS
and iS-DOS, the maximum length of the file can NeOS
be equal to 4GB, which can not be considered restrictive.

     For the implementation of the elementary contact
user NeOS built the shell, allowing the team to perform basic 
system management, and simple disk operations. It is possible 
to combine a sequence of shell commands in a so-called batch

files (batch files), which represent a
ordinary text files. As possible
the built-shell is very modest, the possibility of installing 
an external interpreter. 

     The developers had originally decided that
system will be placed in ROM in the region occupied by 128 
BASIC. This will keep compatibility with virtually all existing 
software for Spectrum (this page ROMs used by a single program, 
the developers still have not found any one that would not work 
in the presence of ROM NeOS). In the ROM is the core of the 
system (Brainwave BIOS), the shell, as well as the most 
necessary drivers, without which the operation of the system is 
impossible. Because please all users with regard to selection 
of a standard set of drivers is not possible, it was decided to 
write an installer NeOS. With the installer, each user will be 
able to NeOS configure the system as he wants. He can choose 
the standard driver, the type of computer (for work with 
extended memory), color, language, system messages, keyboard, 
etc. The result of the installer is finished image ROM, which 
is already possible to "stitch up" in Rom. Should noted that 
NeOS does not work with ROM TR-DOS 5.03, for normal operation 
of the disk must NeOS 0 ROM TR-DOS, which has the ability to 
directly assume the drive controller status register (port VG93 
# 1F). It is recommended to use NeOS with TR-DOS 5.13, which 
will be attached to the system. 



     To date, the core of the system is completely
ready and passes active phase of beta testing, is parallel to 
the writing of software, without which the system can not 
exist, as well as to build a library of drivers. Because one 
group will not be able in the short term to ensure the system 
most needed software developers invite all interested to 
cooperate with the system. NeOS - it open source (freeware) 
product, however, for some money (it is not yet defined), 
anyone can become a registered user NeOS. Each registered user 
will receive from us a complete set of NeOS (installer, a 
library of drivers, basic software), complete documentation the 
programmer as a small books, and we undertake to inform such

users of the output of the most interesting software for
NeOS and assist in acquiring it.



          NeOS Commander. Appearance.

       Read more about it in the category show.



                 *



     In developing NeOS attended:


* Roman Petrov (Megus / BW ^ XPJ) - development of systems
  we write the kernel and most of the drivers;
* Pavel Fedin - development of the system;
* Andrei Mikheev (MAV / BW ^ XPJ) - Writing drive
  ditch, constructive criticism;
* Andrei Isayev - writing a driver FDD, construction
  tive criticism.


     Neposredstvnnogo participation in development have not 
accepted, but tips help, criticism and moral supported by:



* Roman Miliukov - author of the idea of an installer;
* Denis Dmitriev (Dismaster / XPJ) - Constructive

  criticism;
* Denis Sotchenko - constructive criticism, advice

  of memory organization and implementation of multitasking
  industries;
* Jarek Adamski - constructive criticism, helpful

  tips;
* Evgeny Malkov (Tim Kelly / KGS), Alexander Cormie
  tires, Yuri Voynalovich, all Brainwave, the whole X-Pro
  ject, Mihal Bukowski (YERZMYEY / H-Prog), ehokonfe
  Conference REAL.SPECCY - moral support.

How to contact me:

     424019, Russia, rep. Mari El, Yoshkar-Ola

     st. The festival, d. 77, kv. 13,

     Petrov Roman Sergeyevich.


Phone: (8362) 22-66-09, 14:00-22:00 (MSK).
FidoNet: 2:5052 / 7.37
ZXNet: 500:8362 / 1
E-mail: megus_bw@mail.ru



estivalnaya, d. 77, kv. 13,

     Petrov Roman Sergeyevich.


Phone: (8362) 22-66-09, 14:00-22:00 (MSK).
FidoNet: 2:5052 / 7.37
ZXNet: 500:8362 / 1
E-mail: megus_bw@mail.ru