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Text File | 2000-06-30 | 7KB | 265 lines

                   Chapter 1 - Foreword


    Introduction  to  ConIX,  how  to  use    this  manual,    and   some
    information regarding your version of ConIX.


                   - CONTENTS -
    __________________________________________________________________


      1.  Foreword...............................................  1-1

        1.1     The Implementation..................................  1-1

        1.2     About the Manual....................................  1-2

          1.2.1  Learning How To Use ConIX.......................  1-2

        1.3     The Distribution Files..............................  1-3





































                      -    i -





    ConIX Operating    System                      Foreword

    1.  Foreword

    In recent years, CP/M(tm) has become the industry standard
    Operating System for most 8080,    8085 and Z80-based microcomputer
    systems.  CP/M has been    around since the mid to    late seventies,    at
    the time that disk systems were    first being developed for micros.
    The bulk of the    original design    is still found in version 2.2
    which is being used to date.

    Since the time CP/M was    created, new concepts in operating system
    technology have    been developed.     Unfortunately,    CP/M, for the most
    part, represents the older ``bare essentials'' style of    operating
    systems.  Most programmers shy away at the thought of replacing
    it, since there    is probably no significant change that can be made
    without    losing compatibility with existing software.  There have
    been a few attempts, but nobody    can jar    the foot-hold CP/M has
    taken on the microcomputer industry.

    You may    have heard about UNIX(tm), the revolutionary new Operating
    System developed by AT&T Bell Labs for many large-scale
    minicomputers.    UNIX represents    the latest innovation in operating
    system software    and is rapidly growing in popularity.  Shell, the
    program    which interfaces UNIX to the user, is by far one of its
    strongest points.  It would be great if    UNIX and Shell could run
    on an 8-bit micro, but they can't, because of inherent limitations
    in hardware speed and scope.

    ConIX(tm) is an    Operating System designed specifically for CP/M
    microcomputers and has been modeled, in    part, after the    innovative
    software technology of the UNIX    shell.    Surprisingly, ConIX
    implements many    of its most popular features.  Surprising, because
    most people are    content    in the belief that their micro can't do
    the kinds of things that bigger    and more expensive systems can.
    Well, to some extent, we will be able to prove otherwise.


    1.1  The Implementation

    Maintaining compatibility with existing    software was of    primary
    importance during the many design stages of ConIX.  Great care was
    taken in implementing all the ConIX features around the    existing
    architecture.  It is for this reason that programs and data used
    with CP/M-80 are upward    compatible with    ConIX, and can be utilized
    without    modification.

    One reason for the high    degree of compatibility    is that    ConIX does
    not actually replace the CP/M BDOS, but    merely controls    it.  We
    can understand ConIX as    using CP/M in much the same way    that CP/M
    uses its BIOS.    Under ConIX, all the system dependent operations
    are left for CP/M and the BIOS to perform.  These functions, which
    are transparent    to the user, include the disk I/O operations,
    console    I/O, etc.  ConIX intercepts requests for such operations
    from the running program and processes them internally before
    passing    them along to CP/M.




                       1-1





    Foreword                    ConIX Operating System

    ConIX itself acts as a replacement for the Console Command
    Processor (CCP), the part of CP/M that accepts and processes user
    commands.  The CCP contains some built-in functions such as
    DIRectory, ERAse, and REName, as well as the ability to    execute
    programs stored    on disk.  ConIX    also provides all of the above
    ``standard'' operations, as well as many, many more.

    We call    ConIX an Operating System because it is    in total control
    of all system hardware and software, and all programs must pass
    through    it when    they are running.   ConIX also offers access to
    internal data and routines in the form of added    System Calls,
    which programs can use to take advantage of special built-in
    features.  ConIX represents a new way of life for your CP/M-based
    computer, providing it with more power and flexibility than you've
    ever imagined!


    1.2  About the Manual

    This is    an Instructional Manual    which will explain the basics of
    ConIX to the new user.    Some working knowledge of CP/M will be
    assumed.  If you do not    have a good background in CP/M,    we suggest
    you read one of    the many books that have been published    as
    introductory courses.

    Any new    concepts presented in this manual will,    generally, be
    explained with little or no prior programming knowledge    assumed.
    This may be a bit slow for the experienced programmer, but we
    highly recommend that even he take the time to read the    contents
    thoroughly.

    Examples are presented with frequency throughout this manual.
    Some are self-explanatory, but others may not be as trivial.  We,
    therefore, suggest you try them    out as you read    along to see,
    first hand, how    they work.  If you work    with the manual    and your
    computer, you are more likely to remember what you have    read and
    with a much better understanding.


    1.2.1  Learning    How To Use ConIX

    ConIX is a program with    many features and, as tradition    dictates,
    the more features, the more difficult it is to learn.  However,
    since most of the old CP/M environment is supported, there is a
    minimal    amount that you    must learn at the very beginning.  You can
    teach yourself how to use ConIX    at your    own pace, and explore
    different areas    and functions as the needs to use them arise.

    If you're going    to take    the popular approach to    manuals, namely
    ``read it as you need it'', then there are a few sections you
    really should learn right away.     They are Chapter 2 - Getting
    Started, Chapter 3 - The Command Line, and Chapter 4 - Memory
    Management.  These sections will lay the basic groundwork for new
    ConIX users.




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    ConIX Operating    System                      Foreword

    1.3  The Distribution Files

    The distribution files supplied    with the ConIX Shareware package
    contain    various    programs and files associated with its
    installation and usage.     These files are to be stored in user area
    0.

    The file README.DOC contains a listing and short description of
    each file provided.  Any additions or revisions    that were made to
    the ConIX Distribution after the printing of this manual will be
    reported in the    file ERRATA.DOC.  Please examine this file, if
    provided, and note the chapters    and sections which contain the
    changes.  In addition, any other .DOC files supplied on    disk may
    contain    important information regarding    your system, and should    be
    examined carefully.











































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