caf@omen.UUCP (05/12/87)
Xenix still isn't 100 per cent SVR2, but it's getting closer. F77, snobol, bs, a real inittab, and ditroff are still missing. The latest and greatest "386 Toolkit" appears fast and solid, as long as I don't hit Ctrl-X (avtivates kernel debugger). (I have since received patch instructions on how to change this.) Since much of the 80286 action has been with Xenix, Xenix has caught much of the flames that belong to the 286. The 386 version eliminates the 16 bit hassles. I look forward to a 32 bit ditroff! The latest 386 toolkit seems to run all previously compiled Xenix programs, including Pro-YAM and some compiled back in 1985. Net software compiled without too much fuss. The non SYSV of Xenix is much less of a problem than BSD dependencies in net.sources. The cc386 compiler has some annoying ANSI-isms which require minor tweeks in the source code. Most notably, static functions must be declared that way before use. There is a -Me switch to allow use of the old habits. Rnews, compress, and rn are now compiled 32 bits. Emacs compiles 32 bits, but has only been run from a serial port because of the ^X problem. Teco-32 has 69 BSD-isms, and doesn't compile. Site omen runs on a Computer Dynamics Micro 386, the active ingredient of which is an Intel motherboard goosed to 18 mHz. Ram is 2.5 MB, and the HD is a CDC Wren II, 72 MB. Five serial ports are used, one on the motherboard and four on a Kimtron Quartet. The Quartet is cheap and dumb, but works. Some numbers: 4263 Dhrystones (register), 3473 characters per second throughput with Pro-YAM uploading at 38400 bps (ZMODEM), siev compile/link 4.7 seconds, execute 10 loops in .53 seconds. Not too bad for about $6k that also runs DOS. No DOS merge yet. Because of 286 brain damage, Xenix has played second fiddle to Real Computers from Sun and DEC for too long. I shall defer on whether a 386 is a match for the 68020, but at least it has enough bits to play. Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX Author of Pro-YAM communications Tools for PCDOS and Unix ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf Omen Technology Inc "The High Reliability Software" 17505-V Northwest Sauvie Island Road Portland OR 97231 Voice: 503-621-3406 TeleGodzilla BBS: 621-3746 2400/1200 CIS:70007,2304 Genie:CAF Source:TCE022 omen Any ACU 1200 1-503-621-3746 se:--se: link ord: Giznoid in:--in: uucp omen!/usr/spool/uucppublic/FILES lists all uucp-able files, updated hourly