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Home Forums 68kMLA Unix for 8-bit Apple — #41
Post #41 by H3NRY
Source Forum68kMLA
CategoryDevelopment
Post DateSun, 13 Sep 2009 - 06:33
Original URLhttps://68kmla.org/bb/threads/unix-for-8-bit-apple.17548/
Post
The //e doesn't have an MMU. There are just soft switches, addresses in the $C03x range you hit to switch banks of RAM. Works the same as the Language Card on the Apple][.

About the closest to Unix anyone ever got was Anix or Anux, which consists of the RWTS portion of DOS 3.3 and a few commands which load from disk and have a Unix-y flavor. No networking, no multitasking, no VM, no remote console, and not developed enough to even use as a base for applications. I worked with a guy once who was a fresh UCB grad and Unix whiz who thought he would base an industrial control system on Anix. He struggled mightily for about a month and gave up. In the end he used DOS and Applesoft, much as it hurt his vanity.

Unix may not be impossible on a 6502, but you'll find it a real challenge. Akin to going 160 MPH on a flat-head Indian. Speaking of hopping up underpowered machines, there are 68000 CPU cards that go in an Apple//e slot. Run the kernel on one of those and the UI on the 6502?

mp.ls