Package: wnpp Severity: wishlist Upstream: http://www.freedos.org/ License: GPL
FreeDOS package in Debian would be useful for 386 emulators/virtualizators such as Plex86 and Bochs, but the main need is for the DOSEMU emulator, which is damned in Contrib until its dependancy on a free DOS implementation is full filed. Problems packaging FreeDOS are: 1. That the build system is DOS-oriented, and it would need either heavy modification of the Makefiles or (preferably IMO) to be built inside a DOS emulator like DOSEMU. 2. FreeDOS is built with nonfree C compilers in upstream. As explained by Pat Villani, GCC is unable to build the FreeDOS kernel: "The GNU C compiler currently don't support real mode (16-bit) X86 code generation. In addition, it will not run on a PC using MS-DOS in real mode. This defeats the purpose of FreeDOS, so there are no plans to port the compiler at this time." (see http://www.freedos.org/faq/cgi-bin/fom-serve/cache/30.html) Maybe bcc can be used to build the kernel instead. Feel free to take this RFP, and have luck if you do! -- Robert Millan -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
