Gordon Keith wrote:
>
> On Wed, 8 Aug 2001 11:36, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>
> > Would it not be a good idea for an operating system to separate code
> > and data? Like in some of the operating systems I programmed in the
> > mid 1970s?
>
> Yes, but in this case it wouldn't be very useful as the problem is
> actually at a lower level, the machine architecture.
Which was what I was alluding to when I wrote:
> ... such a poorly architected environment, and that includes
> both the hardware and software.
If anyone remembers the BUNCH (Burroughs, Univac, NCR, Control Data and
Honeywell), there were many good ideas in their technology, most of which
(apart from those that were subsequently taken up by IBM) that have
disappeared from the IT world. Separating operating system space from user
space and Code from Data are just two.
Our present environment is dominated by systems based on micro-processor
technology, which is a long way from where mini and mainframe computing got
to. Just because something is popular doesn't make it good.
-- For the majority of people, smoking has a beneficial effect. -- Dr. Ian G. Macdonald, quoted in Newsweek, 1963 Regards brdBernard Robertson-Dunn Canberra Australia brd@dynamite.com.au brd@austarmetro.com.au
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