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*** SVARCOM VS FREECOM ***
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*** SVARCOM vs FREECOM ***
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The FreeCOM project is an impressive piece of software, but there are a few
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The FreeCOM project is an impressive piece of software, but there are a few
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things that I do not like about it. SvarCOM is my attempt at addressing these
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things that I do not like about it. SvarCOM is my attempt at addressing these
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things.
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things.
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*** MEMORY FOOTPRINT *********************************************************
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*** MEMORY FOOTPRINT *********************************************************
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FreeCOM is not suitable for low-memory machines. It takes about 55K of
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FreeCOM is not suitable for low-memory machines. It takes about 55K of
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conventional memory when XMS is unavailable. XMS being a 386+ thing, FreeCOM
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conventional memory when XMS is unavailable. XMS being a 386+ thing, FreeCOM
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is a poor fit for pre-386 machines. There is the KSSF hack, but it is a kludge
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is a poor fit for pre-386 machines. There is the KSSF hack, but it is a kludge
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with many limitations. As pointed out by one of the FreeCOM authors, FreeCOM
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with many limitations. As pointed out by one of the FreeCOM authors, FreeCOM
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is designed with 21'st century machines in mind and not IBM PC compatibles.
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is designed with 21'st century machines in mind and not IBM PC compatibles.
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SvarDOS does not rely on XMS and performs runtime swapping that works on any
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SvarDOS does not rely on XMS and performs runtime swapping that works on any
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IBM PC compatible machine.
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IBM PC compatible machine.
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*** NLS RESSOURCES ***********************************************************
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*** NLS RESSOURCES ***********************************************************
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FreeCOM requires custom NLS files. While the vast majority of FreeDOS programs
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FreeCOM requires custom NLS ressources. While the vast majority of FreeDOS
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use a single "standard" (CATS/Kitten), FreeCOM uses a different approach with
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programs use a single "standard" (CATS), FreeCOM uses a different approach
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pre-compiled NLS strings, which makes it necessary to distribute as many
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with NLS strings built into the binary. This makes it necessary to distribute
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binary blobs as there are supported languages. It also makes the translation
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as many binary blobs as there are supported languages. Another consequence is
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that FreeCOM is unable to switch its language dynamically (ie. following
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changes made to the LANG environment variable). It also makes the translation
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process much more difficult.
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more difficult.
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SvarDOS will use Kitten-style translations, like other applications.
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SvarDOS uses CATS-style translations in a precompiled form and loads the
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strings that match the LANG variable.
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*** CODE COMPLEXITY **********************************************************
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*** CODE COMPLEXITY **********************************************************
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FreeCOM is a complex beast: it aims for compatibility with multiple compilers
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FreeCOM is a complex beast: it aims for compatibility with multiple compilers
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and supports many embedded features. This makes the code uneasy to follow and
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and supports many embedded features. This makes the code uneasy to follow and
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changes require careful testing on all supported compilers and all possible
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changes require careful testing on all supported compilers and all possible
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build variants.
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build variants.
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SvarDOS, on the other hand, is meant to be simple and universal. It is meant
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SvarDOS, on the other hand, is meant to be simple and universal. It is
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to be compiled with OpenWatcom only, which makes a ton of IFDEF's go away. It
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compiled with OpenWatcom only, which makes a ton of IFDEF's go away. It also
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also won't integrate features that can be reasonably implemented as external
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does not integrate extra features that can be reasonably implemented through
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tools (typically: DOSKEY). It strives to reimplement the functionality of
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external tools (typically: DOSKEY). It strives to reimplement the baseline
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MS-DOS 5/6.
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functionality of MS-DOS 5/6.
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*** NON-FREE LICENSE *********************************************************
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*** NON-FREE LICENSE *********************************************************
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FreeCOM code is released under the terms of a license that restrains the
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FreeCOM code is released under the terms of a license that restrains the
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freedom of its users due to its virality (GPL).
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freedom of its users due to its virality (GPL).
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SvarCOM is released under the terms of a liberal and permissive (MIT) license
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SvarCOM is released under the terms of a liberal and permissive (MIT) license
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that does not impose limitations on how users may or may not use it.
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that does not impose limitations on how users may or may not use it.
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********************************************************************** EOF ***
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********************************************************************** EOF ***
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