- Half Baked

From: [at]} <Rex>
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:17:17 -0600

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        This is a peripheral issue, but there seems to be a pervasive confusion between command processors and DOS. That black window you see on a 32-bit system (the command processor) is not DOS, and it's not just a matter of terminology. Even the MS command processor, "cmd.exe" offers some improvements over the clunky, archaic DOS "command.com", but some offer far more than that. There's a reason that some UNIX and Linux users prefer one or more of the many command shells.

        In Windows, with a really good command processory, I find that features such as command and directory completion (as well as many other extremely helpful features) are easy to use and offer a huge productivity boost for someone who is willing to use a keyboard. My favorite, "4NT", also offers file descriptions, which is such a useful feature (one of many) that it's a strong reason to keep using Windows. (And if you don't like white on black, you can easily have black on white, or even chartreuse on purple if you want!)

        Doug Danforth mentioned that he didn't like compiling from a command line. Neither do I, and that's why I use an IDE. It's important not to confuse using a command line with not having an IDE. A GUI is nice, but if you extend or port BlackBox, please don't forget completely that the keyboard exists.

        To be a little picky, I also want to point out a couple of technical errors. DOS (Disk Operating System) is an archaic class of 16-bit operating systems such as MS-DOS, PC-DOS, and DR-DOS, all of which include a primitive (but replaceable!) command processor that is often confused with the operating system itself. A command processor on 32-bit Windows is a different program. It will run most DOS or Windows programs, but since it is neither an OS nor "command.com", it is not DOS.

Rex Couture

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Received on Mon Jan 29 2007 - 20:17:17 UTC