Software for the Macintosh was, and is, mostly written in C (or C++). This made the switch much easier, especially since much of the OS itself was written in C++. Actually I think there was a lot of old Pascal code that was re-written in C++ for the PPC port. I am not sure what OS/400 was written in originally, but it is documented in "Inside the AS/400" by Soltis (sp?) that the entire OS was re-written in C++ for the Power port.
Much of z/OS seems to be written in assembly language. I wonder how much work it would be to re-write this into C, or any other language. I think that interpreting 370 machine code would be too slow, even on a 3GHz system. It would almost be like running Hercules on a 3GHz Pentium. I am thinking that the Register may have misunderstood IBMs statement. -----Original Message----- From: Jim Keohane [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 7:27 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: IBM's Power5+ to hit 3GHz John, Power5+, Power6 -> zSeries is what I've been waiting for years. I recall how cleanly Apple ripped out M680x0 and plugged in PowerPC without missing a beat. I recall the AS/400 having its s/38-like chip being replaced by RS/6000 family. I remember PC370 being partly a microcoded M680x0 with S/370 instruction support. One processor family across the board. Way to go, IBM! - Jim <an unrepentant Mac fan> Keohane At 21:07 2003-08-07, you wrote: >http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/32232.html > >I promise you, this is relevant to this group;-) > > > >-- > > >Cheers >John. > >Join the "Linux Support by Small Businesses" list at >http://mail.computerdatasafe.com.au/mailman/listinfo/lssb >Copyright John Summerfield. Reproduction prohibited.
