Changes

== MiNT Becomes MultiTOS ==

== MiNT Becomes MultiTOS ==

In the early 90’s it became clear that a true multi-tasking was the future of operating systems. Although TOS had been greatly improved by a mix of incremental developments, particularly with the release of the Atari Falcon, it was also the release of this more sophisticated system that showed the limitations of the system.

In the early 90's it became clear that a true multi-tasking was the future of operating systems. Although TOS had been greatly improved by a mix of incremental developments, particularly with the release of the Atari Falcon, it was also the release of this more sophisticated system that showed the limitations of the system.

An independent programmer from Canada, called Eric Smith had already been exploring such options when he realised the difficulty of porting UNIX programs over to TOS. He developed a multi-tasking operating system that was fully TOS compatible, but contained better, though still limited, multi-tasking, and several UNIX similarities, making porting programs from UNIX much simpler.

An independent programmer from Canada, called Eric Smith had already been exploring such options when he realised the difficulty of porting UNIX programs over to TOS. He developed a multi-tasking operating system that was fully TOS compatible, but contained better, though still limited, multi-tasking, and several UNIX similarities, making porting programs from UNIX much simpler.

Smith had released his work on the internet as a GNU project, and a prominent programmer at Atari itself, Allan Pratt, became aware of the project, and suggested that Atari use MiNT as a kernel for a new and improved version of TOS that would be able to take advantage of multi-tasking and also improve it’s networking skills. Later Atari systems had, after all, been released with both AppleTalk networking ports, and the Falcon sported as DSP port, which it was anticipated would be used for a sophisticated type of analogue modem, which ultimately never surfaced.

Smith had released his work on the internet as a GNU project, and a prominent programmer at Atari itself, Allan Pratt, became aware of the project, and suggested that Atari use MiNT as a kernel for a new and improved version of TOS that would be able to take advantage of multi-tasking and also improve it's networking skills. Later Atari systems had, after all, been released with both AppleTalk networking ports, and the Falcon sported as DSP port, which it was anticipated would be used for a sophisticated type of analogue modem, which ultimately never surfaced.

The proposal for MiNT forming the basis of a new version fo TOS was accepted, and MultiTOS was born.  

The proposal for MiNT forming the basis of a new version fo TOS was accepted, and MultiTOS was born.