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SvarDOS / edrdos

Enhanced DR-DOS kernel and command interpreter ported to JWasm and OpenWatcom C
http://svardos.org/
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country.sys: MS-DOS compatible format (?) #51

Open mateuszviste opened 8 months ago

mateuszviste commented 8 months ago

This follows a post on the SvarDOS forum. The EDR kernel relies on a custom format for country.sys and it appears there is no technical advantage for this, other than be somehow lined up with internal DR-DOS structures.

I would respectfully suggest moving towards the MS-DOS country.sys format. Perhaps adapting the EDR internal structure so they would reflect how MS country.sys is laid out? or, worst case scenario, some on-demand conversion within the kernel...

country.sys building and management is a burden that brings little added value, in other words - a nuisance. Being MS-DOS compatible would allow to reuse the COUNTRY.SYS from the FreeDOS project where lots of brainpower and human lifetime have been spent already.

It would also make it easier for users switching from one kernel to another, so they could keep their NLS settings and country.sys path without any change.

This is only a suggestion, and have little technical insight on the EDR internals, so feel free to reject this right away if you judge the cost/benefit ratio to be too poor.

boeckmann commented 8 months ago

Sure, that would be a welcome change. Though I have to admin that this is no feature I am enthusiastic implementing it myself.