[Coco] OS-9 Attributes

[Robert Gault]

Steve Ostrom wrote:
><snip>
>  Can I assume that
> NitrOS-9 is OS-9 with additional attributes?  Or maybe it is said better by
> asking if OS-9 is a direct subset of NitrOS-9 for coding purposes?
>

NitrOS-9 is a rework of OS-9 with the express purpose of making it faster, 
simpler, and to remove any errors found in the code. It also incorporated the 
conversion of 6809 to 6309 opcodes again for speed and slimming down programs.
As presented in the Sourceforge project, NitrOS-9 is found as either all 6809 or 
as much as possible 6309 code. For the most part, the difference is invisible to 
the user except for speed of execution.

> There are many instances of Coco OS-9 programmers who write to this list with
> frustrating error messages and scripts that don't seem to work.

That's not just OS-9. :) You will see frustrated messages on all kinds of 
subjects. When I read some of these messages, I see signs of a lack of ability 
to approach problem solving in a systematic way or even how to adequately 
describe a problem.

> Are all of
> these issues answered by documented instructions, or is there still a lot of
> undocumented art in the creation of an OS-9 program?

Programming is general is an art form. :) Anyone can write programs but only 
artists create something that works really well and is a joy to use. That's why 
there are so few names in the Coco group that are known to all.

> If I write a program, and
> it does not work as desired, is there readily available documentation that I can
> read to understand why my code did not work?
>

Yes. If you do not have your own copies of the "Unravelled" series, various 
Tandy manuals, the OS-9 Level2 Operating System manual, and others, they can be 
found at, for example,
ftp://maltedmedia.com/coco/
ftp://www.rtsi.com/
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/nitros9/index.php?title=Main_Page

There are also sites dedicated to programming which have a wealth of questions 
already answered, for example,
http://www.coco3.com/community/
http://www.tandycoco.com/forum/
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/nickma/GamesWorkshop/
https://sites.google.com/a/aaronwolfe.com/cococoding/home

> I do like to work as independently as possible.

That's fine regards the structure of a game or utility program but will force 
you to unnecessarily reinvent lots of wheels. :) Why stew in frustration after 
deciding you want, for example, to use artifact colors in a game but don't know 
how to generate them or on which models of the Coco they can exist?

 ><snip>
>
> --- Steve ---
>

Robert