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Xref: sserve comp.unix.bsd:12274 comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc:117 Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.misc Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!munnari.oz.au!constellation!osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!uunet!nwnexus!esca!peh From: peh@esca.com (Phil Hystad) Subject: Re: "NT is UNIX" or so Bill Gates says!!! Message-ID: <1993Jul15.153530.26913@esca.com> Organization: ESCA Corporation, Bellevue WA References: <1993Jul7.222018.20816@dbsoftware.com> <nagleCA6pqt.J1z@netcom.com> Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1993 15:35:30 GMT Lines: 40 nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle) writes: >torre@dbsoftware.com (T-Rex Fodder) writes: >>Now I want to know WHAT does this mean?!? >> Is NT UNIX?? > What it seems to mean is that NT will run most POSIX-compliant >character-based UNIX programs recompiled for NT. This is useful, >but not thrilling. You'll be able to run lots of pre-window UNIX >software, if you have source. Presumably most of the GNU tools will, >with some effort, work. POSIX on NT seems to be a nameplate item only so that the official government people can say that NT meets all their requirements. However, it is important to note the following: 1. Posix is support of 1003.1-1990 only. The other Posix standards such as 1003.2 (Utilities and Command Shell), 1003.4 (real time extensions - yes, it is not approved yet), 1003.4A (threads - yes it is not approved yet), and so on are not supported by NT and it does not appear that support will be quickly forthcoming from MS unless their support is a deep and dark secret. 2. Posix applications must run under the control of the Posix protected subsystem, under this subsystem, they do not have access to WIN32 API which means they cannot use other NT system services, do windows, or anthing of that ilk. Thus, if you are converting your POSIX application, you must convert all of it, you cannot have a mixture of POSIX and WIN32 APIs. +-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+ | Phil Hystad | I have nothing to say other | | peh@esca.com (or uunet!esca!peh) | than to say that my opinions | | 206-822-6800 x2023 (voice) | are my own and not those of my | | 206-889-1700 (fax) | employer. | +-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+ | Warning: please do not rely on my mail header reply address, it is not | | correct; instead, send mail directly to peh@esca.com. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+