Fuzix (Unix like OS) for X16

mobluse · Post by **mobluse** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 12:46 am

Fuzix (a Unix like OS for 8 bit computers) has lately become popular due to that Fuzix now supports the Raspberry Pi Pico $4 microcontroller.

I searched for Fuzix implementations for Commodore 64, but there is none, but Commodore is mentioned here:

https://github.com/EtchedPixels/FUZIX/issues?q=is%3Aissue+commodore

Fuzix exists for some 6502 based system, but the Fuzix developers thought the floppy disk drives for Commodore were too slow, but Commander's SD card might be fast enough. Also commander has 2 MB RAM maximum, but C64 could have 2 MB RAM using REU.

It might be interesting for someone to port Fuzix to Commander X16.

I found some video demonstrating Fuzix on a ZX Spectrum:

desertfish · Post by **desertfish** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 12:54 am

There's this as well... so many unixes.... ?

rje · Post by **rje** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 5:09 am

And https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Operating_System#Third_Party_Operating_Systems

I like Contiki...

rje · Post by **rje** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 5:11 am

Ah, there's also the Acheron VM. http://acheronvm.github.io/acheronvm/

In the owner's own words, "AcheronVM: 16-bit code on the 6502, taken too far".

Quote

AcheronVM is a small, customizable 16-bit software CPU for the 6502. It has thrown out traditional models to pursue all 3 competing aspects of density, speed, and power solely from within the context of the 6502's tradeoffs. Notable features include a unique hybrid register model, try/catch/finally support, pointer-offset addressing modes, easy instruction set modifications, and a purely ca65 macro-based implementation. This talk spans its design, implementation, and use.

EMwhite · Post by **EMwhite** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 7:04 am

GeckOS looks(ed) interesting but struggles due to limited ram of the 64 (feels weird typing that) Could be great if an X16 port leveraged bank switching.

xanthrou · Post by **xanthrou** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 1:42 pm

Never heard of that. Interesting concept.

Pro-tip: Call this port FuziX16, to let people know that this is a Commander X16 port.

mobluse · Post by **mobluse** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:24 pm

9 hours ago, rje said:

Ah, there's also the Acheron VM. http://acheronvm.github.io/acheronvm/

In the owner's own words, "AcheronVM: 16-bit code on the 6502, taken too far".

AcheronVM seems more to be a VM than a complete OS. There would also need to be a C compiler for the VM for it to be useful.

mobluse · Post by **mobluse** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:39 pm

13 hours ago, desertfish said:

There's this as well... so many unixes.... ?

Fuzix is not a GUI OS. A GUI OS might be too slow.

desertfish · Post by **desertfish** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:45 pm

Yeah but I linked to a specific comment in that topic, which mentions GeckOS - a text based OS.

mobluse · Post by **mobluse** » Sun Feb 28, 2021 9:32 pm

GeckOS was last developed in 2013 so it might be difficult to get help porting it to X16, but Fuzix is currently developed and the developers are willing to help with ports. I suppose that the only 6502 system that Fuzix runs on yet is a 6502 emulator: https://github.com/EtchedPixels/Virtual65