peters@ti-csl.UUCP (03/21/87)
Sorry for the repost. I fear my last posting got munged... We're looking into developing code for a PC (AT clone of some sort) to make it a network connected "smart terminal". What I've heard described is kind of a cross between BLT (5620) capabilities and X (from what little I know about X). Goodies would include: - The ability to download code from the host (a Unix system of some sort) across the network - Windows, color, bit map graphics, mouse, etc - Enough intelligence in the MS-DOS applications to handle routine dealings with humans and give concise commands across the network to the host. X seems a good place to start for window management, etc. Because MS-DOS isn't multi-tasking, we'll have all of those problems to deal with--if something happens involving two or more windows, it's up to our code to remember to update them all. I'm no expert on X, so I'm wondering: - Has anyone worked with X on MS-DOS? - Is there some basic structural 'feature' of X that won't work on MS-DOS? - In general, are we going to have LOTS of problems? Any input is appreciated. Please respond by E-mail. I don't follow these boards too closely. I will be happy to post summaries if there is interest. -- Patrick Peters UUCP: ut-sally!im4u!ti-csl!tifsie!pat Texas Instruments sun!texsun!ti-csl!tifsie!pat PO Box 655012 M/S 3635 uiucdcs!convex!smu!tifsie!pat Dallas, TX 75265 Voice: (214)995-2786
speter@bacchus.UUCP (03/29/87)
In article <17364@ti-csl.CSNET> peters@ti-csl.CSNET (Pat Peters) writes: >We're looking into developing code for a PC (AT clone of some sort) to make >it a network connected "smart terminal". What I've heard described is kind >of a cross between BLT (5620) capabilities and X (from what little I know >about X). Goodies would include: > > - The ability to download code from the host (a Unix system of > some sort) across the network This is an easy solution. Your Unix system should have a routine called TFTP. If not there is another routine, which you can buy yourself if you have to, called Kermit. Use your man pages on the Unix system to learn about TFTP. > - Windows, color, bit map graphics, mouse, etc As of yet, we, MIT, to the best of my knowledge see no way of putting X on a PC of any type, save the RT when it is in Unix mode. I suggest you buy Microsoft Windows or other such package for your work. I have heard good things about it. > - Enough intelligence in the MS-DOS applications to handle routine > dealings with humans and give concise commands across the network > to the host. There are ways to do this. The best way, or at least one of the best is the telnet or rlogin routine which is supported by Unix. The essencially make your PC look like a smart periferal. The are other command such as rsh is Unix which can be of use. The big thing is to get started. You should have enough information from here to do just that. >X seems a good place to start for window management, etc. Because MS-DOS >isn't multi-tasking, we'll have all of those problems to deal with--if >something happens involving two or more windows, it's up to our code to >remember to update them all. > >I'm no expert on X, so I'm wondering: > > - Has anyone worked with X on MS-DOS? X does not work on MS-DOS. > - Is there some basic structural 'feature' of X that won't work > on MS-DOS? It was developed by Brown U. for use exclusively on a Unix system. I fear that were one able to port it to a PC you would need something on the order of 30Meg to hold just it. { > - In general, are we going to have LOTS of problems? > >Any input is appreciated. Please respond by E-mail. I don't follow these >boards too closely. I will be happy to post summaries if there is >interest. > >-- >Patrick Peters UUCP: ut-sally!im4u!ti-csl!tifsie!pat >Texas Instruments sun!texsun!ti-csl!tifsie!pat >PO Box 655012 M/S 3635 uiucdcs!convex!smu!tifsie!pat >Dallas, TX 75265 Voice: (214)995-2786
jim@ci-dandelion.UUCP (03/30/87)
Peter Osgood (speter@athena.mit.edu) writes: > X does not work on MS-DOS. Oh really? This message is being written from an xterm that I popped onto one of the PC/AT's sitting in my office. Cognition has had X running on MS-DOS for over a year. > As of yet, we, MIT, to the best of my knowledge see no way of putting > X on a PC of any type, save the RT when it is in Unix mode. You might want to review the XPERT archives for the various discussions of low end X implementations. In January I posted a technical summary of Cognition's PC/X shortly after the X Conference (at which Locus described their 386 version of X). Also, I've spoken to several people back at Athena about PC/X. Although I agree that having X run so that local applications can talk to the window system is a hard problem on a 286 (or worse) class machine, a server is fairly straightforward to implement. Admittedly we have had to put a little extra hardware in the AT to make it perform well (moderately smart high-res graphics board and Expanded Memory), but it really isn't fair to say that X doesn't run on MS-DOS (Locus's runs on the plain 386 hardware). For the record, PC/X is NOT an available product. We sell it only as part of our integrated Mechanical Computer Aided Engineering product line. However, I'm quite willing to send out copies of the technical description mentioned above. If you would like one just send me email (please include the return address in your message). People who are interested in writing MS-DOS X applications or being able to run an MS-DOS application in an X window should contact Locus Computing about their Merge 386 product. Jim Fulton Cognition Inc. 900 Tech Park Drive uucp: ...!{mit-eddie,talcott}!ci-dandelion!jim Billerica, MA arpa: jim@athena.mit.edu, fulton@eddie.mit.edu (617) 667-4800
speter@bacchus.UUCP (03/30/87)
In article <821@ci-dandelion.UUCP> jim@ci-dandelion.UUCP (Jim Fulton) writes: >Peter Osgood (speter@athena.mit.edu) writes: >> X does not work on MS-DOS. > >Oh really? > >This message is being written from an xterm that I popped onto one of the >PC/AT's sitting in my office. Cognition has had X running on MS-DOS for >over a year. > Yes, I believe you. It seems I have made a faux pas of major proportions. I beg of anyone who reads this net to totally disregard my previous posting regarding this subject in its entirety. It is full of mistakes. Also, anything which I said was of course out of my own ignorance. Please forgive? ---peter osgood---
twh@yafs.cray.COM (Tim Hoel) (11/30/88)
Is there a version of X windows for MS-DOS on a PC? I have been using X on a Sun and would like to port a program to a PC. Thanks. Tim Hoel twh@cray.com