[Coco] Fw: Which came first: BASIC09 or OS-9/6809

[Bob Devries]

Which came first: BASIC09 or OS-9/6809Hi all,
Here's some information from Ric Yeates of RadiSys regarding the development timeline.
Regards, Bob Devries

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ric Yeates 
To: devries.bob at gmail.com 
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:20 AM
Subject: Which came first: BASIC09 or OS-9/6809


Bob,

Regarding your query about BASIC09 vs. OS-9/6809.


Based on the timeline shown in the Winter 1992 Pipelines (Micoware Celebrates 15th Anniversary) it breaks down like this:

·       1977: Microware incorporated, RT/68 released

·       1978: A/BASIC compiler and LISP interpreter released, Motorola BASIC development license signed

·       1979: OS-9/6809 Development begins

·       1980: OS-9/6809 and BASIC09 released


So, it's a tie. They were both released in the same year.


The way it was explained to me was this:

In order for the BASIC being developed to run efficiently on the hardware, it needs some rudimentary services. Rather than create the services as part of the BASIC, they were split out into an executive that eventually became the OS-9 operating system. So, if I had to cast a vote, I would say that BASIC09 was developed first, but quickly became inseparable from OS-9/6809.

I'm no expert, though. I didn't start working at Microware until 1987, well into the 68000 era.


Ric Yeates

RadiSys Software Engineering - OS-9

5550 Wild Rose Ln Ste 400, West Des Moines, IA 50266-5304

Office: (515) 661-6212

Mobile: (515) 494-1062