Mastering OS-9 on the Tandy Color Computer
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Mastering OS-9 on the Tandy Color Computer A comprehensive learning guide for OS-9 Level 2 complete with step-by-step tutorials. Requires an 80 column display (RGB preferred), two 40 track double sided disk drives, and 512K of memory. Written by Paul K. Ward edited by Francis G. Swygert Published by FARNA Systems THIRD EDITION FARNA Systems Publishing Printed in USA by CopyMasters 524 N. Houston Lake Blvd. Centerville, GA 31028 Copyright March 1995, FARNA Systems Tandy Color Computer 3 Mastering OS-9 on the Tandy Color Computer 3 An enjoyable, hands-on guide to OS-9 Level 2 complete with step-by-step tutorials. Requires an 80 column display (RGB preferred), two 40 track double sided disk drives, and 512K of memory. First and Second Editions copyright 1988 by Paul K. Ward and Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises Third Edition copyright 1995 by Paul K. Ward and Francis G. Swygert Third Edition published in 1995 by FARNA Systems with permission DISCLAIMER The author, editor, Kenneth-Leigh Enterprises, nor FARNA Systems guarantee the suitability or accuracy of this book or its accompanying disk software. There are no warranties, expressed or implied, including those of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software is copyrighted and rights are reserved. Reproduction of disk or book contents, except for archival purposes, is forbidden by law. Utilities specifically designated as shareware or public domain may be copied in their entirety per instructions in the documentation files. Please register shareware— provide the authors with an incentive to write more programs! For questions and suggestions, please contact: FARNA Systems Box 321 Warner Robins, GA 31099-0321 or FARNA Systems c/o F. R. Swygert, Sr. Rt. 4 Box 145 Leesville, SC 29070 OS-9 is a trademark of Microware Systems Corporation, Copyright (c) 1983 Color Computer 3 is a trademark of Tandy Corporation UNIX is a trademark of Bell Laborotories IBM and IBM-PC are trademarks of International Business Machines 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Flight Simulator is a trademark of subLogic Wyse is a trademark of Wyse Computer All other products are trademarks of their respective companies. Page 1 Mastering OS-9 Acknowledgements: The people snd entities listed below all had a direct or indirect influence on the writing of this edition: Microware Systems Corp. Charles Askins Andy Ball Bill Brady James Gibbons Steve Goldberg Marty Goodman Michael Litt Eric Miller Dale Puckett Rick Ulland Bruce Warner Richard White And I have to personally thank Paul Ward, who gave FARNA Systems permission to edit and print the third edition (original title of first and second editions: "Start OS-9"). Foreword: Francis G. Swygert This is my second major work concerning the Color Computer. It goes without saying that the majority of the work here is Paul Ward's, but editing and revising is still a lot ofwork! It is not easy writing for this market, mainly because it is shrinking. There are few new CoCo users, and few purchasers of new material. Nevertheless, I still support this little beast, and a beast it can be under OS-9. I say this not only because of the difficulty some have with learning OS-9, but more because of the POWER that OS-9 unleashes. With this power comes a more complex way of doing things... very complex when compared to Tandy's simple Disk Extended Color BASIC. I have decided to continue to support the CoCo, and will do so for many years to come. I love my little simple and powerful computer. Simple under DECB, powerful under OS-9. It works well for me, and I expect it to continue doing so for many years to come. Page 2 Tandy Color Computer 3 Preface: Paul K Ward You are holding the only hands-on introduction to OS-9 Level 2. It differs from preceding books on OS-9 Level 2 because it is written for the intelligent beginner in a no-nonsense format, with clear, short examples which will speed you on your way to both USING and UNDERSTANDING OS-9 Level 2. In “Mastering OS-9”, we teach you the most-used features by providing sensible examples you perform yourself. This is our secret. “Mastering OS-9” brings the power of OS-9 Level 2 to your fingertips by putting those fingertips on the computer keyboard. In hands-on tutorials you learn the most practical aspects first, one step at a time. By the end, you’ll be able to explore with confidence aspects of OS-9 not covered here. “Mastering OS-9” offers: * ten tutorials, each providing immediate use of many powerful features of OS-9 * a wealth of clearly-written explanatory material to help you understand and retain what you learn * appendices offering advice on software and hardware * suggestions on customizing your system for special tasks Here are some benefits you reap from finishing the tutorials: * The investment in your computer system and OS-9 Level 2 wlll pay off. * Your OS-9 computer will adapt to your work style. * You will ultimately spend less time at your computer and put out a better product. * You get a foundation in OS-9 that eases learning more advanced techn iques. * You can make better-informcd purchases when buying hardware and software for your computer system. OS-9 Level 2 offers broader benefits, too. People who aspire to be software developers will revel in OS-9 Level 2’s programming environment, the most sophisticated you can find at most any price. Also, using business software available for your OS-9 computer puts professional power in your home and workplace for a modest investment. And OS-9 Level 2 is just plain fun. Please enjoy yourself. CONTENTS Page 3 Mastering OS-9 Day One Welcome To OS-9 Level 2, page 13 Introduction, page 17 The OS-9 Ethos, page 21 Before You Start the Tutorials, page 23 OS9Boot, page 25 About the Kernel: OS-9 is ticking away, page 27 IOMan: Input and Output Unification, page 31 The Shell: Guide and Intermediary, page 35 Notes on the Kernel, IOMan, and the Shell, page 39 Day Two Introducing the OS-9 Directory System, page 41 Everything About Path Names, page 45 Data Directories: Keeping Data Organized, page 53 Execution Directories: Where the Action Is, page 57 Command Syntax: Get It Right! page 61 Day Three Preparing for the Tutorials, page 69 Getting Started with Tutorial 1, page 71 Tutorial 1, page 87 Day Four Getting Started with Tutorial 2, page 101 Tutorial 2, page 105 Day Five Getting Started with Tutorial 3, page 113 Tutorial 3, page 119 Day Six Getting Started with Tutorial 4, page 125 Tutorial 4, page 131 Day Seven Getting Started with Tutorial 5, page 139 Tutorial 5, page 147 Day Eight Application Programs for OS-9 on the Color Computer. page 155 OS-9: Origins, Directions page 161 Day Nine Page 4 Tandy Color Computer 3 Do I Really Have To Learn Hexadecimal? page 167 Compact Disk-interactive, page 175 Day Ten Getting Started with Tutorial 6, page 179 Tutorial 6, page 185 Day Eleven Getting Started with Tutorial 7, page 193 Tutorial 7, page 205 Day Twelve Getting Started with Tutorial 8 page 211 Tutorial 8, page 219 Day Thirteen Getting Started with Tutorial 9, page 223 Tutorial 9, page 229 Day Fourteen Getting Started with Tutorial 10, page 235 Tutorial 10, page 239 Appendices A - Where To Go For More lnformation Francis Swygert B - Hardware for Your CoCo 3 / OS-9 Level 2 System Martin H. Goodman C - Telecomputing and OS-9 William L. Brady D - Hard Drive Systems for the Tandy Color Computer Kevin Darling and Francis Swygert E - Start BasicO9! Dale L. Puckett F - Syntax and Usage for the “Mastering OS-9” utilities Stephen Goldberg G - OS-9 and Music Paul K. Ward H - OS-9 User’s Group Application and information Page 5 Mastering OS-9 In the Beginning Welcome To OS-9 Level 2 From the start, computers have been crotchety and demanding. The first computers took up large rooms and were expensive to maintain. It took years of training to design and run them. Large staffs of scientists swarmed over the equipment, constantly replacing tubes and adding new data. When computers, now the size of a phone book, showed up in the American living room, they weren’t much better. If you bought one, you understand. There were few programs on the market, so you often had to write your own. This required days, even weeks, of poring over confusing manuals to accomplish the simplest task. The few programs available were either games or were so puny and powerless it is a wonder we didn’t all throw up our hands in frustration and call off the Computer Revolution. So why are computers still around? Blame VisiCalc. VisiCalc was the first truly USEFUL program for a microcomputer. It excited business people because it solved complex financial calculations. It taught us that computers can help us plan better, thus saving our time and money. Certainly VisiCalc for the Apple II computer convinced Apple to continue producing computers. It probably urged IBM into the home computer market. Other major names entered the market around this time, including Tandy/Radio Shack, Osborne, Timex, and others. Competition suddenly heated up in the personal computer industry. In the end, the victors in this market struggle survived by following these principles: * A computer won’t sell unless it has great software. * Great software is powerful and easy-to-use. * Both the computer and the software need a large base of users to remain vital.