randall@Virginia.EDU (Randall Atkinson) (06/04/91)
ABOUT THIS FAQ:
Comments, information, and suggestions should be e-mailed to me at
the address above. I would like to include an Internet e-mail contact
address for the commercial firms. I am particularly eager for
information on European/Asian archive sites for GNU or alternative
freely distributable tools. Prices are deliberately omitted because
they vary on where you purchase (though free software is noted as
such).
PURPOSE:
There are several different sources of UN*X-like software tools for
MSDOS and OS/2. There are frequent inquiries about the availability
of such tools and this posting attempts to provide useful summaries of
the available alternatives.
KNOWN TOOLSETS:
1) GNU tools ported to PCs, Free Software Foundation, Cambridge, MA, USA
Includes MS-DOS versions of most of the standard GNU software
tools, including GNU Awk, GNU RCS, GNU File Utilities, GNU C Compiler.
Additional porting underway. Source and binaries freely distributable
under GNU General Public Licence ("Copyleft"). Some OS/2 ports have been
posted to comp.binaries.os2 and some MSDOS ports have been posted to
comp.binaries.ibm.pc. Check your nearby anonymous ftp site.
2) MKS Toolkit and other products, Mortice Kern Systems, Ontario, Canada
Includes a full set of UN*X-like tools (mostly with a System V or
POSIX feel). Toolkit has full implementation of the Korn Shell (ksh)
(as defined by the published KSH book), "new" Awk, and about 150 other
utilities. Also have an RCS port, a UN*X-like make utility (better
than MS/Borland), Lex & Yacc. Most complete toolset. Internet
support by e-mail. Inquiries can be emailed to: inquiry@mks.com
Commercial products for MSDOS and OS/2.
3) Hamilton C Shell
Includes a BSD-like C Shell implementation and some additional
BSD-style tools for MSDOS and OS/2. Less complete than MKS toolset,
but usually less expensive. Generally popular with BSD folks. No
advertised POSIX.2 compliance or POSIX.2 completeness. No known
e-mail address or Internet support. Commercial products for MSDOS and
OS/2.
4) Thompson Shell and other products, Thomson Automation, Oregon, USA.
Includes a Bourne Shell implementation and about 100 other utilities
for MSDOS. AWK available. Less complete than MKS toolset, but
usually less expensive. Used to be sold by Polytron as PolyShell and
PolyAWK. No advertised POSIX.2 compliance or POSIX.2 completeness.
No known e-mail address or Internet support. Commercial products for
MSDOS (unknown if also OS/2).
5) C/Utilities Toolchest, MIX Software, Richardson, TX, USA
Includes a Bourne shell and about 40 other file management or text
processing tools. Not very complete. Source optionally available.
No advertised POSIX.2 compliance or POSIX.2 completeness. No known
e-mail address or Internet support. Commercial product for MSDOS (only).
6) Berkeley Utilities, OPENetwork, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Includes about 32 BSD-like utilities, includes a make in
standard package. Not very complete. Claims BSD 4.3 conformance.
No advertised POSIX.2 compliance or POSIX.2 completeness.
No known e-mail address or Internet support. Commercial product
for MSDOS (unknown if also OS/2)
7) Other Shells for MSDOS & OS/2. Various developers.
There have been several other independently developed shells for
MSDOS and/or OS/2 that have been posted to either comp.sources.misc
or comp.binaries.ibm.pc. Their features and conformance to existing
UN*X shells varies widely. These are available by anonymous ftp from
the usual archive sites for those groups.
___________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 1991 Randall Atkinson, All Rights Reserved.
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All Commercial Use (including quoting in advertisements and distribution
to commercial publishers such as Compuserve, BIX, GENIE, etc.) prohibited.
All opinions expressed are those of the copyright holder.
___________________________________________________________________________mikem@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com (06/04/91)
Doug Hamilton/Hamilton Labs is reachable via e-mail at 3890321@mcimail.com I believe there is also BBS support thru BIX. Michael R. MacFaden IBM Palo Alto Marketing Systems mikem@ibmpa.awdpa.ibm.com, macfaden@paloic1.vnet.ibm.com disclaimer: what I write above is not necessarily my employer's opinion