[Elecraft] [K*] Hooks into the RTOS for an API

[Bill Coleman]

On Jan 10, 2012, at 10:09 PM, Jack Brindle <jackbrindle at me.com> 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: aa4lr at arrl.net
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
           -- Wilbur Wright, 1901