Difference between revisions of "Main Page"
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Using DriveWire 4, you can even link to the individual disk image of your choice over the Internet and boot your CoCo that way! | Using DriveWire 4, you can even link to the individual disk image of your choice over the Internet and boot your CoCo that way! | ||
| − | == | + | == Helpful Information == |
[[Transferring DSK Images to Floppies]] | [[Transferring DSK Images to Floppies]] | ||
[[Building NitrOS9]] | [[Building NitrOS9]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == NitrOS-9 FAQ == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. What is NitrOS-9?<br> | ||
| + | A. NitrOS-9 is an "OS-9 compatible" operating system for the TRS-80 Color Computer, Radio Shack Color Computer 2 and Tandy Color Computer 3. It is intended to replace both OS-9 Level One and OS-9 Level Two (once sold by Tandy through Radio Shack stores), as those products are no longer available, and have not been sold for years. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. Is NitrOS-9 completely compatible with OS-9 for the Color Computer?<br> | ||
| + | A. Yes, NitrOS-9 maintains compatibility with OS-9 Level One and OS-9 Level Two by using identical system calls and I/O handling. Existing utilities and applications developed for those operating systems should work fine under NitrOS-9. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. I thought NitrOS-9 was only for the Tandy Color Computer 3 with a 6309 CPU. Is that true?<br> | ||
| + | A. Historically, NitrOS-9 has been a 6309-only product. However, it has now been ported to the 6809 processor and supports Level 1 for the Color Computer. Since all Color Computers can now run NitrOS-9, the name was extended to cover all Color Computer platforms using either the 6309 or 6809. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. How do I know which version of NitrOS-9 is for which Color Computer?<br> | ||
| + | A. NitrOS-9 supports three "levels" and two processors, yielding six potential distributions: | ||
| + | |||
| + | <li> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6809 Level 1 for the Color Computer</ul> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6309 Level 1 for the Color Computer with a 6309</ul> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6809 Level 2 for the Color Computer 3</ul> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6309 Level 2 for the Color Computer 3 with a 6309</ul> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6809 Level 3 for the Color Computer 3</ul> | ||
| + | <ul>NitrOS-9/6309 Level 3 for the Color Computer 3 with a 6309</ul> | ||
| + | </il> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In short, Level 2 and Level 3 are exclusively for the Color Computer 3. Level 2 is compatible with OS-9 Level Two, and Level 3 contains additional features to manage system memory more efficiently. | ||
| + | Currently, NitrOS-9/6809 Level 1, NitrOS-9/6809 Level 2, and NitrOS-9/6309 Level 2 are available. The other distributions are still under development. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. Is it legal to download and use NitrOS-9?<br> | ||
| + | A. NitrOS-9 has been in existence since 1994, having been created by a number of dedicated individuals within the Color Computer community. Much of the code was written by the original NitrOS-9 team: Wes Gale, Bill Noble and Curtis Boyle. Later, Alan DeKok made even further improvements. Therefore, NitrOS-9 is an operating system created by the Color Computer Community, for the Color Computer Community. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. How critical is it for me to use NitrOS-9? Can't I just stick with OS-9 Level One or Two?<br> | ||
| + | A. There are two issues with OS-9 Level One or OS-9 Level Two today: first, there is no upgrade path for the products; second, neither operating system has been sold in Radio Shack stores for years, denying new users the ability to purchase valid licenses. | ||
| + | NitrOS-9 is today's and tomorrow's operating system for all Color Computers. It is constantly being improved and enhanced, is freely available, and is also faster and more optimized than Tandy's OS-9 operating systems. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Q. Whatever happened to TuneUp for OS-9 Level Two?<br> | ||
| + | A. That product is now superseded by NitrOS-9. | ||
Revision as of 15:48, 6 April 2010
What is NitrOS-9?
NitrOS-9 is a real-time, process-based, multitasking, multi-user, Unix-like operating system for the TRS-80 Color Computer, Radio Shack Color Computer 2, Tandy Color Computer 3 and Dragon 64. The original OS-9 was created in 1979. NitrOS-9 is the modern equivalent of that OS, and includes advanced features like support for up to 2 MB RAM and 4 GB Hard drive partitions. It is still being developed, and support is available in many mailing lists and forums.
How do I run it?
Nightly builds of the project are done and can be uploaded as individual disk images or you can download the entire nightly build in one (large) ZIP file.
If you are using a CoCo or Dragon emulator, then these disk images will run just fine.
If you are using a real CoCo, then the best experience is to use the DriveWire 4 package. DriveWire lets your Mac, Windows, or Linux system act as a disk storage gateway for your CoCo, eliminating the need for floppy disks or hard drives being attached to your system.
Using DriveWire 4, you can even link to the individual disk image of your choice over the Internet and boot your CoCo that way!
Helpful Information
Transferring DSK Images to Floppies
NitrOS-9 FAQ
Q. What is NitrOS-9?
A. NitrOS-9 is an "OS-9 compatible" operating system for the TRS-80 Color Computer, Radio Shack Color Computer 2 and Tandy Color Computer 3. It is intended to replace both OS-9 Level One and OS-9 Level Two (once sold by Tandy through Radio Shack stores), as those products are no longer available, and have not been sold for years.
Q. Is NitrOS-9 completely compatible with OS-9 for the Color Computer?
A. Yes, NitrOS-9 maintains compatibility with OS-9 Level One and OS-9 Level Two by using identical system calls and I/O handling. Existing utilities and applications developed for those operating systems should work fine under NitrOS-9.
Q. I thought NitrOS-9 was only for the Tandy Color Computer 3 with a 6309 CPU. Is that true?
A. Historically, NitrOS-9 has been a 6309-only product. However, it has now been ported to the 6809 processor and supports Level 1 for the Color Computer. Since all Color Computers can now run NitrOS-9, the name was extended to cover all Color Computer platforms using either the 6309 or 6809.
Q. How do I know which version of NitrOS-9 is for which Color Computer?
A. NitrOS-9 supports three "levels" and two processors, yielding six potential distributions:
- NitrOS-9/6809 Level 1 for the Color Computer
- NitrOS-9/6309 Level 1 for the Color Computer with a 6309
- NitrOS-9/6809 Level 2 for the Color Computer 3
- NitrOS-9/6309 Level 2 for the Color Computer 3 with a 6309
- NitrOS-9/6809 Level 3 for the Color Computer 3
- NitrOS-9/6309 Level 3 for the Color Computer 3 with a 6309
</il>
In short, Level 2 and Level 3 are exclusively for the Color Computer 3. Level 2 is compatible with OS-9 Level Two, and Level 3 contains additional features to manage system memory more efficiently. Currently, NitrOS-9/6809 Level 1, NitrOS-9/6809 Level 2, and NitrOS-9/6309 Level 2 are available. The other distributions are still under development.
Q. Is it legal to download and use NitrOS-9?
A. NitrOS-9 has been in existence since 1994, having been created by a number of dedicated individuals within the Color Computer community. Much of the code was written by the original NitrOS-9 team: Wes Gale, Bill Noble and Curtis Boyle. Later, Alan DeKok made even further improvements. Therefore, NitrOS-9 is an operating system created by the Color Computer Community, for the Color Computer Community.
Q. How critical is it for me to use NitrOS-9? Can't I just stick with OS-9 Level One or Two?
A. There are two issues with OS-9 Level One or OS-9 Level Two today: first, there is no upgrade path for the products; second, neither operating system has been sold in Radio Shack stores for years, denying new users the ability to purchase valid licenses.
NitrOS-9 is today's and tomorrow's operating system for all Color Computers. It is constantly being improved and enhanced, is freely available, and is also faster and more optimized than Tandy's OS-9 operating systems.
Q. Whatever happened to TuneUp for OS-9 Level Two?
