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[K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

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kevinr@coho.net

[K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

When the original Macintosh was introduced it booted from ROM. Hooks
were provided in the ROM code to allow external fixes to the OS. An API
was released so application or OS programmers could modify the existent
code. There are good and bad sides to this. In the case of the K2, K1,
K3 (and most probably the KX1 and KX3) the timing of the RTOS is fairly
strict. If an API programmer added their own code through the hooks
into the RTOS the timing would change for many things. You could write
your own code and add it to the mix but then the RTOS timing would be
upset and you would most probably break many things. The interactions
between the many and varied tasks of the RTOS would change and mostly
for the worse. I realize the RTOS code for the Elecraft gear will never
be released to the public. So the work of adding new tasks to the
timing loops of the rigs' RTOS falls on the in-house code jockey(s).
Remember this when you ask for new features or tweaks to existing code.
Do you want a rig that works quickly and smoothly when you enter
commands via the front panel or the serial bus? Or would you rather
have a kluge of mashups? Don't ask about the divergent meanings of
kluge and kludge. I appreciate the effort the Elecraft team has put
into making fine products which work well.
73,
Kevin. KD5ONS
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Jack Brindle-2

Re: [K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

This is actually not quite true. The original Mac had some of the library code in ROM - Quickdraw, the file system, and various IO drivers come to mind, but the OS was most definitely supplied on floppy disk, and the disk was absolutely required for the Mac to boot and run. Updates to the OS were applied on mini floppies for quite some time. Also, over time things like the file system (going from MFS to HFS), drivers, and most other items were moved to disk. There was a 2x speed advantage to running from ROM instead of RAM, but that quickly disappeared as the Mac hardware evolved. By the time the Mac II was introduced, everything was on disk except for the boot code.

Yes, I have been programming Macs since the original 128K Mac. I still have two of those around here, and both booted last time I tried. Still have the original loose-leaf version of "Inside Macintosh" also...

Now I feel old…

Jack B, W6FB

p.s., I can't think of anyone who would even consider supporting products that have had the firmware modified by non-company programmers…
Your assessment is right-on in that respect! Embedded control systems (especially radios) are kept very tight for a reason.

On Jan 10, 2012, at 4:10 PM, kevinr wrote:

> When the original Macintosh was introduced it booted from ROM. Hooks
> were provided in the ROM code to allow external fixes to the OS. An API
> was released so application or OS programmers could modify the existent
> code. There are good and bad sides to this. In the case of the K2, K1,
> K3 (and most probably the KX1 and KX3) the timing of the RTOS is fairly
> strict. If an API programmer added their own code through the hooks
> into the RTOS the timing would change for many things. You could write
> your own code and add it to the mix but then the RTOS timing would be
> upset and you would most probably break many things. The interactions
> between the many and varied tasks of the RTOS would change and mostly
> for the worse. I realize the RTOS code for the Elecraft gear will never
> be released to the public. So the work of adding new tasks to the
> timing loops of the rigs' RTOS falls on the in-house code jockey(s).
> Remember this when you ask for new features or tweaks to existing code.
> Do you want a rig that works quickly and smoothly when you enter
> commands via the front panel or the serial bus? Or would you rather
> have a kluge of mashups? Don't ask about the divergent meanings of
> kluge and kludge. I appreciate the effort the Elecraft team has put
> into making fine products which work well.
> 73,
> Kevin. KD5ONS
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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Don Putnick-2

Re: [K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

I find it interesting this very topic was covered in depth way back in 2002 in an article by Mike Marcus, N3JMM/7JIAKO, titled "Linux, Software Radio and the Radio Amateur", QST October 2002, pp. 33-35.

Wander on over to http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/0210033.pdf

73 Don NA6Z
K3 #5495

>________________________________
>
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Bill Coleman-2

Re: [K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

In reply to this post by Jack Brindle-2

On Jan 10, 2012, at 10:09 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email]> wrote:

> This is actually not quite true. The original Mac had some of the library code in ROM - Quickdraw, the file system, and various IO drivers come to mind, but the OS was most definitely supplied on floppy disk, and the disk was absolutely required for the Mac to boot and run. Updates to the OS were applied on mini floppies for quite some time. Also, over time things like the file system (going from MFS to HFS), drivers, and most other items were moved to disk. There was a 2x speed advantage to running from ROM instead of RAM, but that quickly disappeared as the Mac hardware evolved. By the time the Mac II was introduced, everything was on disk except for the boot code.
>
> Yes, I have been programming Macs since the original 128K Mac. I still have two of those around here, and both booted last time I tried. Still have the original loose-leaf version of "Inside Macintosh" also…

Oh, I remember it well. I think I have two later editions from A-W, now horribly obsolete.

> Now I feel old…

Beats the alternative.

> Jack B, W6FB
>
> p.s., I can't think of anyone who would even consider supporting products that have had the firmware modified by non-company programmers…
> Your assessment is right-on in that respect! Embedded control systems (especially radios) are kept very tight for a reason.

As I remember, there were a lot of developers who ended up doing things they shouldn't, such as tail-patching A-line traps, who later found out the hard way that their software was broken.

Not a great model to follow, IMHO.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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N5GE

Re: [K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

I learned to program with Pascal on an Apple III. It had two
floppies, a printer card and RS232 card (state of the art). ;o)

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Fri, 8 Feb 2013 15:08:35 -0500, Bill Coleman <[hidden email]>
wrote:

>
>On Jan 10, 2012, at 10:09 PM, Jack Brindle <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> This is actually not quite true. The original Mac had some of the library code in ROM - Quickdraw, the file system, and various IO drivers come to mind, but the OS was most definitely supplied on floppy disk, and the disk was absolutely required for the Mac to boot and run. Updates to the OS were applied on mini floppies for quite some time. Also, over time things like the file system (going from MFS to HFS), drivers, and most other items were moved to disk. There was a 2x speed advantage to running from ROM instead of RAM, but that quickly disappeared as the Mac hardware evolved. By the time the Mac II was introduced, everything was on disk except for the boot code.
>>
>> Yes, I have been programming Macs since the original 128K Mac. I still have two of those around here, and both booted last time I tried. Still have the original loose-leaf version of "Inside Macintosh" also
>
>Oh, I remember it well. I think I have two later editions from A-W, now horribly obsolete.
>
>> Now I feel old
>
>Beats the alternative.
>
>> Jack B, W6FB
>>
>> p.s., I can't think of anyone who would even consider supporting products that have had the firmware modified by non-company programmers
>> Your assessment is right-on in that respect! Embedded control systems (especially radios) are kept very tight for a reason.
>
>As I remember, there were a lot of developers who ended up doing things they shouldn't, such as tail-patching A-line traps, who later found out the hard way that their software was broken.
>
>Not a great model to follow, IMHO.
>
>Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: [hidden email]
>Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
>Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
> -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Amateur Radio Operator N5GE