mwm@VIOLET.BERKELEY.EDU (Mike Meyer, don't have strength to leave) (12/03/86)
MS-DOS PAPERS PROPOSAL - NOV 19, 1986
The Waite Group, a San Francisco based computer book developer, is looking for
contributing authors for a new book on MS-DOS, titled MS-DOS PAPERS. We are
posting this message here today because many UNIX users have contact with
MS-DOS and use it frequently.
The MS-DOS PAPERS will be a collection of learning tutorials, much like Waite
Group's UNIX PAPERS (in progress). MS-DOS PAPERS will provide insightful
information on the MS-DOS operating system, revealing the more hidden and
obscure truths about MS-DOS in an interesting, easy to read Waite Group format.
It's contributed nature allows us to include subjects that might not support a
separate book, as well as subjects that are on the cutting edge of MS-DOS
technology. The audience level is intermediate to advanced business people,
programmers and anyone who wants the most up to date information about this
popular operating system. Examples are given in both MS-C and MASM.
The book consists of three types of contributions:
o TUTORIALS on topics that have never been adequately discussed in the
literature. These include inside BIOS, tips and undocumented secrets, stay
resident programming, advanced MASM, debugging as well as new concepts arising
in MS-DOS such as MS-DOS 5.0, MS-DOS and CD-ROMs, etc.
o ISSUE PAPERS by experts in a particular area of MS-DOS. These discuss
controversy, the future of, etc.
o CASE HISTORY PAPERS which tell the bottom line about real MS-DOS machines,
software tools, etc.
THE MS-DOS PAPERS OUTLINE
The following topics are our suggestions for essays. If you find any of these
appealing, let us know. We will send you a more detailed proposal, our author
terms letter and our style guide. If you have other suggestions, we'd like to
hear them.
Mitchell Waite
Development Editor
BIX: mwaite
Well: mitch
usenet: {lll-lcc, hplabs, glacier}!well!mitch
GEnie: MITCHW
BIOS
INSIDE BIOS AND CHOP SUEY ROMS
Here we go inside IBM BIOS and reveal how its routines work, how it is
structured, what the weaknesses and strengths are, and more. Also inside
information on "Chop Suey" ROM clones.
APPLICATIONS
TERMINATE AND STAY RESIDENT (TSR) PROGRAMMING
One of the most interesting form of programs for the IBM PC are called stay
resident programs. They stay in memory all the time and can be activated or
deactivated from the keyboard. This section shows how they are programmed
through a simple example.
LANGUAGES
ADVANCED ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING WITH MICROSOFT MASM 4.0
This section will show how to use the more advanced features of the MASM
assembler, including bit records, structures, include files, the C/assembly
language interface and more.
ADVANCED C PROGRAMMING WITH MICROSOFT C 4.0
This section will show how to use the more advanced features of the Microsoft C
Compiler, version 4.0.
DEBUGGING
DEBUGING IN MS-DOS
This section will show how to debug under MS-DOS using Link MAPs and MASM 4.0's
Symdeb, next using MS-DOS's DEBUG utility and finally using advanced hardware
debugging aids like Periscope.
HARDWARE
MS-DOS and the EGA
This chapter shows how to program the EGA board using C and assembler,
including the 16 color 640 x 350 mode, tricks for reading bit planes, locking
pixels, and using the special EGA registers. May also include interfacing to
the Hercules board, a popular printer and a plotter.
SECRETS
MS-DOS UNDOCUMENTED FEATURES
A collection of ideas, tips, tricks, secrets, and little know features of
MS-DOS that can be exploited by the programmer.
BIG PICTURE
WHAT IS WRONG WITH MS-DOS - WHAT IS RIGHT WITH MS-DOS
Sprinkled throughout the MS-DOS PAPERS are little one, two and three paragraph
quotes from our authors about the good and the bad of MS-DOS.
BENCHMARKS AND MS-DOS
This chapter shows you how to understand what MS-DOS benchmarks mean. Several
of the most popular MS-DOS supermicros and micros are compared using different
benchmarks.
SECURITY UNDER MS-DOS
What can be done to protect MS-DOS sensitive data and what are the weaknesses
of networks and multi-tasking operating systems.
NETWORKING MS-DOS
What is MS-NET and the redirector from Microsoft? What is the direction for
MS-DOS networking?
SHORT TERM FUTURE
MS-D0S AND THE CD-ROM
This covers the High Sierra standard from Philips and the way Microsoft intends
to implement the CD-ROM reader into MS-DOS.
MS-DOS 5.0
What is MS-DOS 5.0, how does it differ from DOS 3.0 and 4.0, what are the
commands, and what does the programmer face is found in this chapter.
LONG TERM FUTURE
THE FUTURE OF MS-DOS
What is the future of MS-DOS on the new 80386 based computes and beyond to 64
terabyte virtual machines? What is the path of MS-DOS after MS-DOS 5.0 comes
out? What about the 3M machines being built by NeXT, Atari and Apple? Will
these machines offer MS-DOS and if so how? Is MS-DOS going to die because it is
so old fashion and must be kluged to work on the more powerful microprocessors?
If Windows is the future who needs DIR and COPY?
ABOUT THE WAITE GROUP
The Waite Group has produced over 70 computer titles over the last 10 years,
and is known for its high quality titles on MS-DOS, C and UNIX. Waite Group's
notable MS-DOS title includes: MS-DOS Bible, Discovering MS-DOS, MS-DOS
Developer's Guide, Understanding MS-DOS and Tricks of the MS-DOS Masters.
The Waite Group, Inc.
3220 Sacramento Street
San Francisco CA 94115
(415) 929-7088
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