Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:35:43 +1100 From: Peter Jeremy <peter.jeremy@auss2.alcatel.com.au> To: current@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: New boot loader and alternate kernels Message-ID: <98Nov3.093515est.40322@border.alcanet.com.au>
next in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
To join in the general discussion: I support the idea of FORTH in the bootloader. It's small, reasonably fast and extensible. I like the idea of a bootloader that fits into the bootblocks - which puts a hard upper limit on the size. As a general comment, once you start cutting down a standard, well- known language, it gets harder to work with. You have to remember which features no longer work (or, worse, behave differently). I would not like to see a mini-sh, mini-tcl, mini-perl or tiny-C as a bootloader language. Whilst shell is well known, it is much larger - and relies on external code (which assumes the kernel is running) for most commands. The more commands you build into the shell, the bigger it gets. It's not readily extensible, so it's difficult to hide the underlying language. Similarly, tcl is large and non-extensible. On a slightly related issue, some time ago, Greg Lemis and I were discussing the possibility of replacing DDB with something that included a command language. This is another area where bloat is undesirable and I suggested FORTH. There would be obvious benefits in having a common extension language used by the bootloader and kernel debugger. FORTH does have a decent pedigree as a bootloader - Sun have been using it for at least 6 years. Most user interaction is covered by "boot FILE FLAGS", "reset" and "sync" - you don't have to be a FORTH guru to use it. Peter -- Peter Jeremy (VK2PJ) peter.jeremy@alcatel.com.au Alcatel Australia Limited 41 Mandible St Phone: +61 2 9690 5019 ALEXANDRIA NSW 2015 Fax: +61 2 9690 5247 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-current" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?98Nov3.093515est.40322>