Apple ProDOS
| Apple ProDOS | |
|---|---|
 ProDOS 2.4 |
|
| developer | Apple Computer Inc. |
| License (s) | Apple Software License Agreement |
| Current version | 2.4.2 (January 18, 2018) |
| Current preliminary version | 2.5 |
| ancestry |
SOS ↳ ProDOS |
| Architecture (s) | Apple II |
| Others | Language: English |
Apple ProDOS is an operating system for computers of the Apple II series . It was released in version 1.0 in October 1983 as a replacement for Apple DOS 3.3 by Apple Computer , but was based more on Apple SOS than on Apple DOS.
History and technology
For BASIC programmers, relatively little changes (some new commands) compared to Apple DOS, even if the internal structure of the system was completely different. However, the new operating system now also gave assembly language programmers better development options, as it offered a uniform entry address with all the necessary parameters - a technology that is common in all operating systems today. Programmers who used assembly language were able to rely on a standard instead of manipulating DOS 3.3 in an undocumented way as before and always risking incompatibility with future versions. There was also better interrupt handling and faster disk access. The only essential feature of Apple DOS that was not retained in ProDOS was its support for the oldest Apple II model and for the outdated Integer-BASIC programming language of this model; So now at least one Apple II + or Apple II europlus was required, unless you didn't want to use any BASIC programs at all. The working memory requirement of ProDOS was also higher; If DOS ran from 20 kB RAM, ProDOS needed 48 kB for machine language programs, and 64 kB RAM for use together with BASIC. A memory of 64 kB was already available in 1983 in practically all running Apple II computers by retrofitting.
Other than that, Apple ProDOS had a relatively sophisticated hierarchical file system with features like multiple logical drives on one physical drive, support for up to 20 different file types, and 8 files open at the same time. 140 kB 5¼-inch floppy disks were still supported, and access to them was much faster than with Apple DOS. In addition, hard disks with up to 32 MB per partition are now also supported. All drives except the traditional 5¼-inch diskette stations now each contained their own, standardized driver in the firmware of their respective adapter cards, which means that various 3½-inch diskette drives and CD-ROM drives can later be used under ProDOS without further modification of the ProDOS core were.
When the 16-bit Apple IIgs came out in September 1986 , Apple ProDOS was divided into the branches Apple ProDOS 8 (for 8-bit microprocessors ) and Apple ProDOS 16 (for 16-bit microprocessors). The latter soon went over to the graphic operating system GS / OS .
Versions
The last official update for the operating system appeared in 1993, the same year that production of the Apple II series was finally discontinued. Version 2.0.3 requires at least an Apple IIc or an "enhanced" Apple IIe , the utility programs supplied also require at least 128 kB of memory. The maximum version 1.9 runs on the Apple II + and the non-enhanced IIe.
On September 15, 2016, developer John Brooks released ProDOS 8 2.4. One of the most important innovations is "Bitsy Bye", a kind of start menu with which it is possible to rummage through the directories on floppy disks and also to start programs. There are also a number of smaller tools, such as a basic compiler called "MiniBas" or a tool for moving files between storage media.
| PRODOS version | Release date |
|---|---|
| ProDOS 1.0 | Aug 1, 1983 |
| ProDOS 1.0 | Sep 1 1983 |
| ProDOS 1.0 | Oct 1, 1983 |
| ProDOS 1.0 | Nov 1, 1983 |
| ProDOS 1.0.1 | Jan. 1, 1984 |
| ProDOS 1.0.2 | Feb. 15, 1984 |
| ProDOS 1.1 | Aug 17, 1984 |
| ProDOS 1.1.1 | Sep 18 1984 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.2 | 6 Sep 1986 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.3 | Dec. 2, 1986 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.4 | Apr 17, 1987 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.5 | Apr 2, 1988 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.6 | June 14, 1988 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.7 | Aug 8, 1988 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.8 | May 23, 1989 |
| ProDOS 8 v1.9 | July 16, 1990 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.0 | Jan. 22, 1992 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.0.1 | 4th Mar 1992 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.0.2 | Nov 2, 1992 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.0.3 | May 6, 1993 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.4 | Sep 15 2016 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.4.1 | 19 Sep 2016 |
| ProDOS 8 v2.4.2 | Jan. 18, 2018 |
| BASIC.SYSTEM version | Release date |
|---|---|
| ProDOS BASIC 1.0 | Sep 1 1983 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.0 | Nov 15, 1983 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.1 | June 18, 1984 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.2 | Dec 14, 1987 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.3 | June 17, 1989 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.4 | Aug 1, 1989 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.4.1 | 17th July 1990 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.5 | May 6, 1993 |
| ProDOS BASIC 1.6 | Sep 15 2016 |
| PRODOS 16 version | Release date |
|---|---|
| ProDOS 16 v1.0 | 6 Sep 1986 |
| ProDOS 16 v1.1 | Dec. 2, 1986 |
See also
literature
- Ulrich Stiehl : APPLE ProDOS for climbers , Volume 1, Hüthig Verlag, Heidelberg 1984, 202 pages, ISBN 3-7785-1027-4 (2nd supplementary edition, Heidelberg 1985, 202 pages, ISBN 3-7785-1098-3 ) .
- Ulrich Stiehl: APPLE ProDOS for climbers , Volume 2, Hüthig Verlag, Heidelberg 1985, 208 pages, ISBN 3-7785-1040-1 .
- Arne Schäpers : ProDOS Analysis: Versions 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.1.1 , Hüthig Verlag, Heidelberg 1985, X + 470 pages, ISBN 3-7785-1134-3 .
- Arne Schäpers: The BASIC.SYSTEM . Reading book, analysis, tips and tricks, Hüthig Verlag, Heidelberg 1987, 341 pages, ISBN 3-7785-1407-5 .
- Don Worth , Pieter Lechner : Beneath Apple ProDOS , Reston Pub Co (October 1984), 285 pages, ISBN 0-8359-0463-6 . - Don Worth, Pieter Lechner: Apple ProDOS manual , pandabooks, Berlin 1985, 270 pages, ISBN 3-89058-036-X .
Web links
- Happy Computer 9/84: New Apple DOS: ProDOS .
- ProDOS Technical Notes (PDF file; 3.41 MB)
- Apple] [ProDOS 1.7 Operating System Source Listing - Apple Computer - July 1988; 329 pages.
- ProDOS 2.4: Browser-based emulator of the Internet Archive
- ProDOS 2.x for all Apple II computers
Individual evidence
- ↑ Announcing ProDOS 2.4.2 for all Apple II computers ( Memento from July 14, 2018 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ 23 years later: Apple II receives software update , standard.at, September 18, 2016.