[Coco] origins of OS-9

[Aaron Wolfe]

I just found a Microware ad in the Mar-Apr 1979 issue of 68 Micro
Journal (vol1 no2).

Products (all for 6800) include a Lisp interpreter, the A/BASIC
compiler and interpreter, an Eliza chat program, a chess game, and
most interestingly RT/68.

RT/68 is described as:

RT/68 Real Time Operating System
MikBUG compatible ROM that combines an improved monitor/debugger with
a powerful multitasking operating system.  Supports up to 16
concurrent tasks at 8 priority levels plus real time clock and
interrupt control.  Thousands in use since 1976 handling all types of
applications.  Available on 6830 (MIKBUG-type) or 2708 (EPROM-type)
ROM.  Manual is a classic on 6800 real-time applications and contains
a full source program listing.  $55

..so it seems Microware had quite some experience with operating
systems and BASICs prior to the 6809.  Motorola's decision to partner
with them for the Basic09 and OS-9 projects may well have been based
on these products, and I do wonder if some of the ideas if not the
code of RT/68 are present in OS-9.
Interesting stuff.

On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 9:14 PM, Lothan <lothan at newsguy.com> wrote:

> Wasn't that Microware RT68 for the 6800? This is pure conjecture on my part,

> but I somehow doubt Microware really had to put much thought into the

> decision to create an operating system for Basic09. I mean it had already

> created the RT68 platform for the 6800 and it sure is a lot easier to

> develop and sell products for an operating system than it is to do

> bare-metal development for each product it creates.

>

> --------------------------------------------------

> From: "Stephen H. Fischer" <SFischer1 at Mindspring.com>

> Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 7:51 PM

> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>

> Subject: Re: [Coco] origins of OS-9

>

>> Hi,

>>

>> I seem to remember that there was something before OS-9 for the 6800.

>>

>> FLEX had been in existence for the 6800 for some time and perhaps

>> something else.

>>

>> I think that I have the 68 micro journals starting just before OS-9 was

>> announced in an ad.

>>

>> Look in the scanned copies in the Archive.

>>

>> Have these issues been looked at by anyone?

>>

>> SHF

>>

>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gene Heskett"

>> <gene.heskett at verizon.net>

>> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>

>> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:12 PM

>> Subject: Re: [Coco] origins of OS-9

>>

>>

>>>> I think there is a part of the story that I haven't been able to find:

>>>> how OS-9 became a powerful, full featured OS and not just a shell for

>>>> running B09.

>>>>

>>> I can't argue about that, and considering that we are all much the richer

>>> for

>>> it, no other os's docs have ever approached the clear, concise detail

>>> they

>>> gave us.  What an education it has been!

>>>

>>> --

>>> Cheers, Gene

>>

>>

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>

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