The DOS Union represents the highest level of DOS in China, and all the experts are here too, so I want to say a couple of things.
Microsoft has already given up developing MS-DOS, and the DOS architecture (unless otherwise specified, DOS here means MS-DOS) will no longer be updated. Everyone is still developing all kinds of DOS tools, but think about it: if the DOS architecture cannot be updated, can these tools alone support the future of DOS? So there are only two choices now: either form a DOS development team and continue Microsoft's work, or join FreeDOS. Only then is there a way forward. Think about it: new hardware can't be used—how much longer can 16-bit real-mode DOS keep going?
Although through everyone's efforts some new hardware can be used under DOS, and it can also run in protected mode, the functions achieved are really too poor. How much hardware still cannot be used under DOS? And how does DOS protected mode compare with Linux? Its practical value really is not great. 64-bit CPUs and all kinds of hardware have already appeared—how is DOS supposed to deal with that? Memory has reached the GB level—how is real mode supposed to deal with that?
So if the basic DOS architecture cannot be improved, DOS will sooner or later be eliminated. Then what use are all those tools developed by DOS experts? It would be more promising to develop FreeDOS. What I mean is, either form a development team responsible for updating the DOS architecture, otherwise no matter how many DOS tools are developed, it will all be in vain. If this development team cannot be formed, then the experts developing DOS tools can only go over to FreeDOS.
[ Last edited by hetao on 2005-11-25 at 11:56 ]
Microsoft has already given up developing MS-DOS, and the DOS architecture (unless otherwise specified, DOS here means MS-DOS) will no longer be updated. Everyone is still developing all kinds of DOS tools, but think about it: if the DOS architecture cannot be updated, can these tools alone support the future of DOS? So there are only two choices now: either form a DOS development team and continue Microsoft's work, or join FreeDOS. Only then is there a way forward. Think about it: new hardware can't be used—how much longer can 16-bit real-mode DOS keep going?
Although through everyone's efforts some new hardware can be used under DOS, and it can also run in protected mode, the functions achieved are really too poor. How much hardware still cannot be used under DOS? And how does DOS protected mode compare with Linux? Its practical value really is not great. 64-bit CPUs and all kinds of hardware have already appeared—how is DOS supposed to deal with that? Memory has reached the GB level—how is real mode supposed to deal with that?
So if the basic DOS architecture cannot be improved, DOS will sooner or later be eliminated. Then what use are all those tools developed by DOS experts? It would be more promising to develop FreeDOS. What I mean is, either form a development team responsible for updating the DOS architecture, otherwise no matter how many DOS tools are developed, it will all be in vain. If this development team cannot be formed, then the experts developing DOS tools can only go over to FreeDOS.
[ Last edited by hetao on 2005-11-25 at 11:56 ]