This manual is the definitive reference for OS, which is the main interface to file and process facilities for Topaz programs written in Modula-2+. Topaz is the software environment built at SRC for research into multiprocessing and distributed personal computing. This environment provides facilities for developing and executing programs on Firefly computers running the Taos operating system and on VAX computers running Ultrix.
OS has been designed so that its clients can coexist and cooperate with standard Ultrix applications running on the same machine, whether it is a Firefly or a VAX. Topaz programs (using OS) and Ultrix programs can read and write the same files, send each other signals, and start processes of the same or opposite kind.
Section 2 gives an overview of the facilities underlying the interface. Sections 3 through 5 describe the individual types, constants, and procedures of the interface. Appendix A describes the related OSFriends interface.
In general this manual applies to both the Firefly/Taos and the VAX/Ultrix implementations of OS. Differences are noted where relevant, and Appendix C describes additional global details of the VAX/Ultrix implementation.
In addition to running Topaz programs, Taos--the Firefly operating system--is capable of running many Ultrix programs. See Appendix D for details.