Not UNIX for 8-bit Apple II

[luddite]

Just throwing out an idea here:

There's always been a lot of discussion about multi-tasking on the Apple II which generally doesn't go very far... I think the reason for that there are very few practical applications for it and the resources of the Apple II are somewhat lacking.

How about instead of multi-tasking, some sort of pause-and-switch scheme? You launch a program in main memory and then (through some clever hacking of ProDOS) you hit a key combo that causes execution to suspend and you can then swap main memory into one of the other banks and launch another program.

Would this avoid the seemingly thorny issue of interrupts? Maybe it could use one of the annunciators as a signal?

 

[Dog Cow]

This has already been done, hence why we have moved on to the more difficult challenge.

 

[luddite]

More details please...

 

[Dog Cow]

Here is the one for IIgs: http://www.hypermall.com/companies/procyon/switchit.html'

Here is the one for 8-bit Apples: http://rich12345.tripod.com/split.html

ProSel (most famous, IMO): http://apple2.info/download/21/

There may be one or more implementations around as well.

 

[luddite]

ProSel can switch between running programs??? I've been using it for ages and I never knew that! I guess I better RTFM

MTOS on the other hand is a bit of a non-starter (for me) since it apparently supports neither ProDOS nor BASIC.SYSTEM

 

[Dog Cow]

ProSel can switch between running programs??? I've been using it for ages and I never knew that! I guess I better RTFM

If I've got my facts right, it can.

I agree with you on the multi-tasking thing. The problem with many implementations is that there is no useful software for them.