From: rburns@key.COM (Randy Burns) Subject: DOS/MS Windows compatibility for Free Software Date: 5 Jun 1992 18:59:10 GMT
What is being done/thought about to allow software developed originally
for DOS and MS Windows to be used with free OS's.
I have heard about a program that would allow MS DOS to to be run under
Linux under 8086 emulation mode. I've also head some rumors about a free
DOS 2.1 clone.
My own sense is that there is a window of opportunity right now for
free software. Microsoft is quite a ways from getting their "real" OS-
Windows NT to market.
There are a few things that could, I think dramatically expand the installed
base of the free software users, now that Linux is becoming more widely
available:
1) A kernel hack that would allow MS Windows 3.0 or 3.1 to run under the
DOS emulation mode under Linux. My understanding is that this would
essentially involve writing a set of DOS Protected Memory Interface
routines.
2) A free product similar to the commercial technology which would allow MS
Windows programs to be recompiled to run under X-Windows. I'm not sure
how big a project this is, but I get the impression that Bristol is
not a terribly big company. Another company has a similar product
that allows Macintosh programs to be recompiled to run under Sun's
Open Windows. Such products could help free software in two ways:
a) there is quite a bit of good Mac and Windows Public domain software
out there. A lot of it fills niches that it will be a long time
before they would be otherwise filled in the X windows arena. The
availability of these programs would mean that a lot of people could
use Linux and eventually Hurd and BSD who would otherwise be shut out.
b) The availability of such products could spur the use of Free OS's for
cross development purposes. My sense is that a lot of programmers
would convert before the corporate end-user base would.
3) We need to establish a universally available GUI API similar approach and
availability to the XVT product that would make it possible to develop
software for all major installed user bases using a common API. My sense
is that rather than promoting a consumer boycott of Apple, it may well be
more constructive to in effect promote a _gradual_ abandonment by
programmers of the proprietary Microsoft and Apple API's.
4) We need to develop more snazzy software that appeals to end-users. In
particular we need some genius out there to develop a free product which
empowers end users in the same way that products like Hypercard have.