dal@syntel.mn.org (Dale Schumacher) (11/28/89)
[mark@rpp386.cactus.org (Mark Lehmann) writes...] > I just ordered MINIX today. Got it through a Book Store called "BOOKSTOP" > which gives its members a 20% discount on products purchased there. > > Is MINIX really that bad. You make it sound like the worst kludge you > ever saw. I wanted MINIX for multiuser, multitasking? Does it really > destroy the hard drive? Is it compatible with the TOS file partitioning, > or am I stuck to MINIX only when I install it on my hard drive. I was > hoping to be able to use MINIX from one boot up and TOS from another > boot up. Of course not running both OP/SYS simultaneously. Minix has a few "design flaws" which limit it performance, notice I did not say limit it CAPABILITY, only its PERFORMANCE. I've been hacking on Minix for a while now working on improvements in this area. As with most *NIXes, it doesn't protect you from yourself, thus you can slip-up and trash lots of data if you do something you don't understand, or even if you do something that should be reasonable but hasn't been tried by the authors, if there's a bug hiding. There is a special program which allows Minix to read/write TOS filesystems, but not vice-versa, and the partitioning information is compatible. I have 106Mb divided into 5 TOS partitions and 3 Minix partitions. I run both OSes with a simple reboot to switch. > From being a UNIX administrator, I am use to re-compiling the kernel. > Is it really as tough as you say it is? If you're used to recompiling the kernel to make changes, you should be just fine. Most "end-users" aren't prepared to do this. > The second reason that I am purchasing MINIX is to learn how to write > operating systems. People have told me that MINIX is well supported. I think Minix is a very useful platform for learning about OS internals. Don't count on it being a shining example of the best way to do everything, but it does get the job done and there's a lot to be said for "working code" over "theoretically ideal designs". > Thanks for the previous comments and any comments that you wish to append > to this message. > > Mark Lehmann In summary, Minix is _NOT_ currently an end-user OS. It's for people who want to tinker with the OS, or the supporting tools, and who don't mind getting their hands dirty to make changes. It is reasonable well supported in the sense that there are a lot of very active users (and authors) in the comp.os.minix newsgroup who can be very helpful and there is a steady flow (or should I say FLOOD) of new hacks you can try from other people. It is _NOT_ supported in the way most end-user would expect. The publisher treats is basically like a book, and what kind of "support" is needed for a book? You get the idea... :-) \\ / Dale Schumacher 399 Beacon Ave. \\ / (alias: Dalnefre') St. Paul, MN 55104-3527 >< ...umn-cs!midgard.mn.org!syntel!dal United States of America / \\ "What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, / \\ which is the exact opposite." -Bertrand Russell