wmb@MITCH.ENG.SUN.COM (01/03/91)
> I'd like to see a "written-in-FORTH" clone of the popular OS's > ( UNIX/MS-DOG/MACH/etc ) where from the prompt you could use standard > dir/ls/cat/etc commands but all of the flag optional command line > arguments would be available as WORDS! Who will buy it? This isn't a theoretical question; I have such a thing. One of my clients uses my Forthmacs system as the basis for a commercial medical imaging computer. The DOS-compatible filing system is written in Forth, and the usual set of file manipulation commands (DIR, ls, DEL, rm, etc) are available as Forth words. (I provide both DOS-style and Unix-style command names so people don't have to remember which system they are using at the particular time.) The only command interpreter is the Forth text interpreter. I have full rights to sell this operating system to anybody I want, but it would be folly to try to market it as a mass-market product. The computer industry has matured to the point where it takes many millions of dollars to promote a new operating system in the mass market. I am not alone in having such technology; people have been doing Forth-based operating systems for years. Mitch Bradley, wmb@Eng.Sun.COM
cwpjr@cbnewse.att.com (clyde.w.jr.phillips) (01/04/91)
In article <9101031536.AA12680@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, wmb@MITCH.ENG.SUN.COM writes: > > I'd like to see a "written-in-FORTH" clone of the popular OS's > > ( UNIX/MS-DOG/MACH/etc ) where from the prompt you could use standard > > dir/ls/cat/etc commands but all of the flag optional command line > > arguments would be available as WORDS! > > Who will buy it? > > This isn't a theoretical question; I have such a thing. One of my > clients uses my Forthmacs system as the basis for a commercial > medical imaging computer. The DOS-compatible filing system is written > in Forth, and the usual set of file manipulation commands (DIR, ls, > DEL, rm, etc) are available as Forth words. (I provide both DOS-style > and Unix-style command names so people don't have to remember which > system they are using at the particular time.) The only command > interpreter is the Forth text interpreter. > > I have full rights to sell this operating system to anybody I want, > but it would be folly to try to market it as a mass-market product. > The computer industry has matured to the point where it takes many > millions of dollars to promote a new operating system in the mass > market. > > I am not alone in having such technology; people have been doing > Forth-based operating systems for years. > > Mitch Bradley, wmb@Eng.Sun.COM The arguments of "who will buy" and "it would be folly ( for who? ) to try to market it" are valid for what you speak. I too have provided essentially a simular system to clinical medical labs. They did not spark a rush to use my system universally ( your's to huh! 8^) ). But I did not mean that type of a system... I mean essentially to parrallel the rise of RISC machines, where say unix is "king". But a unix written in a modified FORTH ( Workstation Forth ) that ran on FORTH engines. Each login could get a shell FORTH, etc Not just providing an equivalent 'ls'... Again who would buy one? Since I'd like to see it, and I 've bought most everthing else I like seeing.... 8^) --Clyde