There may be many out there who believe the world needs another 32-bit operating system like it needs another gang of mine-sowing Ayatollahs, but Theos Software Corp, Walnut Creek, California is pressing on with a 32-bit version of its Theos operating system, for Intel 80386-based computers. Theos 386 runs in 80386 protected mode, so it […]
There may be many out there who believe the world needs another 32-bit operating system like it needs another gang of mine-sowing Ayatollahs, but Theos Software Corp, Walnut Creek, California is pressing on with a 32-bit version of its Theos operating system, for Intel 80386-based computers. Theos 386 runs in 80386 protected mode, so it can address the full 4Gb of physical memory and up to 64 Terabytes of virtual memory. It can therefore support as many as 128 users, each with 4Gb of addressable memory, and also handles up to 999 tasks, each with up to 23 files.The system includes a debugger, linker, and Exec job control as standard while Basic and C compilers are optional. Although Theos 386 is not directly compatible with either MS-DOS or Unix, it is Unix and C source code-compatible with minor modifications. It has a new C compiler that includes functions and utilities for creating a data bridge between Theos 386 and MS-DOS, and as well as meeting ANSI C standards, it includes bridging utilities called Put File and Get File, as well as 250 functions for VDI graphics, multitasking, and file access. Developers will typically have to remove components like file and terminal system dependencies from existing C applications before recompiling them to run und-er Theos. Unlike previous versions of the Theos operating system, Theos 386 will use a Unix-like hierarchical directory structure, according to Microbytes Daily. A windowing environment is said to be under development for future releases of the OS, and a compatible version of Ryan-McFarland Cobol is promised soon. The operating system will be available to OEM customers by October with the final version set for January 1988.
