Other multitask GUI within 1 MB system software?

[LoadWB]

How about Geos (8bit and 16bit)?

I'm not certain GEOS was really muti-tasking.  IRQ-driven, yes, but multi-tasking?  I'd like to see more in-depth information on that.

[matthey]

Windows 3.1 is multitasking. Not preemptive multitasking, but multitasking.

But is Windows 3.1 an operating system (original question asked for an OS)? Wasn't DOS the operating system with Windows a DOS interface sitting on top at that time?

[desiv]

But is Windows 3.1 an operating system (original question asked for an OS)? Wasn't DOS the operating system with Windows a DOS interface sitting on top at that time?

Yeah, but that starts to get into semantics that not everyone agrees on.
What's the OS?  What's the GUI?  etc...

Since Windows 3.1 on top of DOS allowed some task switching, I think it qualifies on that level..

But I don't believe Win3.1 was close to being under 1M, and I'd like to see a doublsespaced floppy actually hold enough of it to run, including DOS.


As kual as QNX is, being over 1M, that one doesn't fit the OP either.

SymbOS appears to have a 1M version for DL and that looks really kual.
Of course, it wasn't available back in the day, but it's pretty impressive.

Some guys on atariage are working on a new OS for the 8-bit Atari's that looks pretty incredible.  I can't remember if it has any multitasking in it tho.

Very neat and efficient stuff..

desiv

[psxphill]

But I don't believe Win3.1 was close to being under 1M, and I'd like to see a doublsespaced floppy actually hold enough of it to run, including DOS.

Old news.
 
http://web.archive.org/web/20030810114734/http://www.wimborne.org/richard/techstuff/windows31_on_a_floppy/

[matthey]

Yeah, but that starts to get into semantics that not everyone agrees on. What's the OS?  What's the GUI?  etc...

Since Windows 3.1 on top of DOS allowed some task switching, I think it qualifies on that level..

But I don't believe Win3.1 was close to being under 1M, and I'd like to see a doublsespaced floppy actually hold enough of it to run, including DOS.

I don't want to argue semantics . Besides, no one in their right mind would choose Windows 3.1 on a machine with less than 1 MB. Windows CE claims to run in 1 MB and would be bad enough. Knowing Windows, they would probably try to swap out to the floppy drive too .

The AmigaOS could be much smaller if optimized better. I think a 20% overall reduction in code size through optimization and compiling for the 68020+ (several AmigaOS 3.9 components are still 68000 compiled which has significantly worse code density) is possible. Just look at assembler optimized library replacements. Also, some 68k CPU enhancements as I have proposed on the Natami forum (68koolFusion) could reduce the code size another 5-15% I would guess. I think a powerful GUI like Reaction/ClassAct could easily be usable with 1MB ram. Screen sizes and colors would have to be kept to a minimum though. The 1 MB of disk storage would probably be the biggest problem. It's doable with some minor functionality limitations.

[freqmax]

Alternatives so far:
 * AmigaOS (m68k)
 * QNX 1.44M Web (x86)
 * MacOS from floppy (m68k?)
 * SymbOS for Z80 machines (MSX, Amstrad CPC / PCW) < 128 kB
 * Contiki (6502)
 * MenuetOS (x86)
 * KolibriOS (x86)
 * Multi-TOS (m68k?)
 * DOS + Win3.11 .. maybe??
 * GEOS 8-bit and 16-bit?
 * Early versions of GEM Desktop
 * Early versions of RiscOS

If I require pre-emptive multitasking, memory protection, GUI Window environment, free license, source code perhaps only KolibriOS fits?

I'm just thinking that a mobile phone shouldn't need 1 GHz CPU + 1 GB RAM to run software.... when an Amiga more or less did manage on 7 MHz CPU with 512 kB RAM in 1985. Time for Aphone (A-phone) that runs Amosaic on the town?
Also a laptop where one can compile and run C software with a battery that last a week would be something..

(just thinking freely)

[desiv]

http://web.archive.org/web/20030810114734/http://www.wimborne.org/richard/techstuff/windows31_on_a_floppy/

OK, after reading that, I feel better.
It was doable, but so gutted as to not really be usable as an OS.
It's REAL mode, not protected, so no multitasking of any kind..

So I consider that in the "really neat hack" arena, but it's not the Windows 3.1 OS in a floppy..  not really..

And it's a 1.44M floppy, so not in the OP's under 1M requirement.

It is a REALLY neat hack tho.. ;-)

desiv