Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: _general questions_
References: <Pine.A32.3.96.1000212171128.74139A-100000@cibs.sns.it>
From: Mark Gray <markgray@iago.nac.net>
Cc: Attico Nicola <attico@peg2.difi.unipi.it>
Date: 13 Feb 2000 05:51:50 -0500
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Attico Nicola <attico@cibs.sns.it> writes:

> hello,
> thanks for suggestions about installation.
> Now I'm a new minix user!! I would like to pose
> a general question. Yes, I installed minix on my 386
> over all because I intended to study a simple (is it
> really?) operationg system [yeah! I also buyed the 
> (expensive, very expensive!) book of Tanenbaum] 

It _is_ expensive (even in a world of other expensive unix books).

> but now I'm quite surprised of its possibilities and I'm wondering
> if it is possible to use it also for real working...  Yes, I know,
> X11 doesn't work, but this is not (finally) so important. But, for
> example, can I run some version of LaTeX with Minix? Can I use
> something dvi or ps viewers?

If you port them.

> Can I use some of the free linux software for Minix? There is some
> (specific) Minix software?

Some have been ported, others not.  Linux is a whole bunch more
full-featured than Minix so porting _can_ be a very educational
experience.  A lot of the tools on Minix will fail if pushed to the
limits that programmers from a virtual memory OS have come to expect.
I made a half hearted attempt at porting jed the other day and found
that I had to alter all the configure scripts by hand and even then it
failed to properly configure "slang", so I have put porting jed on a
back burner for the moment (elvis is powerful enough to make the work
needed to get jed up and running unattractive (but just barely :-))

> Another stupid question: a software running under Minix
> runs always under Linux? For example if I've the source of
> some Minix free software stuff, can I compile it also under
> Linux?

Only if it sticks to POSIX and does not use Minix specific hacks.
But again, porting them will prove educational.

> Last question: is there a FAQ list for comp.os.minix?
> Where can i find it?

Not on rtfm.mit.edu:

257 "/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/comp/os" is current directory.

150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls.
total 7
drwxrwxr-x   5 root     3             512 Jul 27  1999 linux
drwxrwxr-x   2 root     3             512 Jan  5 00:42 misc
drwxrwxr-x  10 root     3             512 Feb  8 00:57 ms-windows
drwxrwxr-x   5 root     3             512 Jul 27  1999 msdos
drwxrwxr-x   3 root     3             512 Oct  3 09:29 os2
drwxrwxr-x   2 root     3             512 Jan  5 00:42 plan9
drwxrwxr-x   2 99       3             512 Jan  8 01:03 vms
226 Transfer complete.

There is:

MINIX INFORMATION SHEET
http://www.cs.vu.nl/~ast/minix.html 

But you probably already have seen that (or a copy.)

