{"id":5996,"date":"2014-07-16T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2014-07-16T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.nccomputertech.com\/?p=5996"},"modified":"2014-07-16T10:00:16","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T14:00:16","slug":"it-may-be-barely-an-operating-system-but-dos-still-matters-to-some-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2014\/07\/16\/it-may-be-barely-an-operating-system-but-dos-still-matters-to-some-people\/","title":{"rendered":"It may be \u201cbarely an operating system,\u201d but DOS still matters (to some people)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, I spent a day working in the throwback world of DOS. More specifically, it was FreeDOS version 1.1, the open source version of the long-defunct Microsoft MS-DOS operating system. It’s a platform that in the minds of many should’ve died a long time ago. But after 20 years, a few dozen core developers and a broader, much larger contributor community continue furthering the FreeDOS project by gradually adding utilities, accessories, compilers, and open-source applications.<\/p>\n

All this labor of love begs one question: why? What is it about a single-tasking command-line driven operating system\u2014one that is barely up to the most basic of network-driven tasks\u2014that has kept people\u2019s talents engaged for two decades? Haven’t most developers abandoned it for Windows (or, tragically, for IBM OS\/2)? Who still uses DOS, and for what?<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Old school: I work in DOS for an entire day<\/p>\n

Open source MS-DOS alternative lives\u2014but using it nearly killed me.<\/p>\n

To find out, Ars reached out to two members of the FreeDOS core development team to learn more about who was behind this seemingly quixotic quest. These devs choose to keep an open-source DOS alive rather than working on something similar but more modern\u2014like Linux. So, needless to say, the answers we got weren\u2019t necessarily expected.<\/p>\n

Doing very little, very well<\/p>\n

Jim Hall kicked off the FreeDOS project 20 years ago while he was an undergraduate studying Physics. Hall is now the IT Director at the University of Minnesota-Morris, and he’s still working to keep the DOS prompt blinking. Hall just returned to the project after completing a second master’s degree program, and he says that group has between 30 and 50 active developers involved. (That’s down from the hundreds who were active while pushing FreeDOS to its 1.0 release in 2006.)<\/p>\n

While it’s a small group, this is no rag-tag assemblage of DOS holdouts. Many of them do develop for Linux and other operating systems, work for commercial software vendors, or hold other technical jobs. They largely contribute to FreeDOS for the intellectual challenge. Pasquale “Pat” Villani, the man who contributed the kernel to FreeDOS, was for many years a lead software engineer at Digital Equipment Corp., Compaq, and then HP, working on various Unix operating systems.<\/p>\n

Jim Hall kicked off the FreeDOS project 20 years ago, when he was an undergrad. Now he’s a university IT director.<\/p>\n

University of Minnesota-Morris<\/p>\n

FreeDOS has a very loyal core constituency. Eric Auer, a long-time core contributor to FreeDOS, explained in an e-mail why he thinks DOS is still relevant. \u201cIt is small enough to get an idea of the inner workings,\u201d he said. Auer said FreeDOS now has support for developers who want to do full-blown 32-bit applications thanks to the DJGPP toolkit, a port of the GNU Compiler Collection to FreeDOS. This allows developers to build monolithic applications that use all of the computing power of the machine they run on without the overhead of more complex operating systems. Also, Auer said, \u201cIt runs games that I knew 20 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because FreeDOS is, as some have called it, \u201cbarely an operating system,\u201d it allows developers to get very, very close to the hardware. Most modern operating systems have been built specifically to avoid this for security and stability reasons. But FreeDOS has become much more friendly to being virtualized or running in hardware emulation, such as the Linux DOSEMU emulator<\/p>\n

The direction the project has taken hasn\u2019t exactly followed the road map Hall envisioned after version 1.0. He once had ambitious plans for a next-generation of DOS, originally envisioning a modern FreeDOS along the lines of an alternative history of computing. \u201cFor a while, I was thinking, \u2018If MS DOS survived, where would DOS have gone in the last 10 to 15 years?\u2019” Hall said. “I was advocating some sort of multitasking\u2014we could have task switching like what was supported in the 286, where you can put one process to sleep while you do another process. I wanted to have TCP\/IP added to kernel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Full Story: It may be \u201cbarely an operating system,\u201d but DOS still matters (to some people) | Ars Technica<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this month, I spent a day working in the throwback world of DOS. More specifically, it was FreeDOS version […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[9],"tags":[302,386],"class_list":["post-5996","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-software","tag-dos","tag-freedos"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/papNkV-1yI","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9804,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2024\/11\/08\/maximum-iceland-scenario-data-caps-3rd-party-android-stores-nuclear-amazon\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":0},"title":"Maximum Iceland Scenario – Data Caps, 3rd Party Android Stores, Nuclear Amazon","author":"NCCT","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/P5MkCwktKz0 Data Caps, 3rd Party Android Stores, Nuclear Amazon \u2022 Google must crack open Android for third-party stores, rules Epic judge \u2022 Google asks 9th Circuit for emergency stay, says Epic ruling \u2018is dangerous\u2019 \u2022 Canceling subscriptions is about to get easier \u2022 The FCC is looking into the impact\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Software"","block_context":{"text":"Software","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/software\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/P5MkCwktKz0\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9655,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2021\/03\/09\/fuquay-varina-and-holly-springs-computer-repair\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":1},"title":"Fuquay Varina and Holly Springs Computer Repair","author":"NCCT","date":"March 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome to our blog. NC Computer Tech services Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, and surrounding NC areas. We offer prompt, professional, courteous service with over twenty years of experience dealing with residential and small business clients offering them solutions and fixing their computer and network issues at reasonable rates. Our services\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9890,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2024\/12\/08\/49-years-of-video-game-consoles-in-10-minutes\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":2},"title":"49 Years Of Video Game Consoles in 10 Minutes","author":"NCCT","date":"December 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/27_xEN5srVI Believe it or not, the home video game console has been around for nearly 49 years. Yes, that\u2019s almost half a century. Since 1972, we\u2019ve seen over 30 consoles created and sold in North America, which is a ridiculous amount of consoles. That\u2019s an average of more than one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hardware"","block_context":{"text":"Hardware","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/hardware\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/27_xEN5srVI\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9393,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/08\/19\/this-week-in-tech-680-hacky-hack-hack\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":3},"title":"This Week in Tech 680: Hacky Hack Hack","author":"NCCT","date":"August 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7ClMz3MkTJk This Week in Tech Elon's Twitter addiction, $1200 iPhone XS+, Movie Pass Fail, Pai's lie, and more. --Leave Elon alone! Tesla tumbles after Musk laments his \"most difficult and painful year.\" --Google employees revolt over China rumors; town hall meeting shut down due to \"kerfuffle\" tweets. --Apple thinks that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Technology"","block_context":{"text":"Technology","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/7ClMz3MkTJk\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9335,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2018\/04\/29\/this-week-in-tech-664-warm-tushie-tech\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":4},"title":"This Week in Tech 664: Warm Tushie Tech","author":"NCCT","date":"April 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ImbCQ9LqcAo Sprint and T-Mobile make it official. Amazon, Google, and Facebook all have amazing quarterly earnings reports. Amazon's home robot and the battle for smart home supremacy. Facebook's community guidelines. Golden Gate Killer found with open source DNA site. Who wants Snap's second generation Spectacles? Apple's rumored AR\/VR headset. What\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple"","block_context":{"text":"Apple","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/apple\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ImbCQ9LqcAo\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9904,"url":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/2025\/02\/11\/how-can-this-launch-get-any-worse\/","url_meta":{"origin":5996,"position":5},"title":"How can this launch get any worse?","author":"NCCT","date":"February 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cDuEq1URx5c The Zotac 5090 Solid OC is one of the most common 5080 and 5090 cards in the wild right now... but it has some of the worst software I've seen in a long time!","rel":"","context":"In "Hardware"","block_context":{"text":"Hardware","link":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/category\/hardware\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/cDuEq1URx5c\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5996\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nccomputertech.com\/techtalk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}