Mac06 - the POSIX compatible OS for Macintosh

1. What is Mac06?

"Mac06" is a lightweight environment resembling the UNIX programming and user interface. It is built on top of MacOS and is therefore virtually hardware independent within the Macintosh computer series, as device drivers already existing are used. Mac06 uses fat binaries or 680x0 code and therefore should run on all Macs (I assume, at least a 68020 is required and MacOS 7.0).
The file system completely relies on the MacOS HFS and, therefore, transferring data between Mac06 and MacOS is very simple. Programs can be compiled using Symantec C++/THINK C. In this environment, even the MacToolbox (dialogs, windows etc) could be used within Mac06 executables. It is possible to start any Macintosh application from within the Mac06 system if you have file access.

2. Installation

Download the packed and binhexed files (for example from http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Nikolaus_Schaller/mac06.html). You may have to drop the file onto 'Binary Pump' to set the appropriate creator and type. Expand the package using Dehqx or StuffitExpander.
To run, launch the "mac06" application found in the root directory and the Mac06 kernel will start. A console window will open showing boot messages and greeting messages from the kernel. In this window, you can enter shell commands (/usr/bin/sh -i).

3. Operation

The kernel will run a root shell (indicated by the prompt '# ') connected to the console terminal window. Just type shell commands as usual. But be aware, that not all shell commands are completely implemented and tested. Also, for/case/if constructs are missing.

4. Shareware Fee

Since Mac06 is still under development, we are strongly interested in users doing beta testing the releases coming before Mac06-1.0. Therefore, the price policy is currently as follows: payment of a shareware fee is completely voluntary. But, as donations will further support the development efforts, voluntary payments ("donations") are taken as a prepayment of the shareware fee for the first final release. This means, you will not have to pay again for Mac06-1.0 if you do a voluntary payment now.

The pricing suggested for donations is as follows:

               single user    site      parts covered
Mac06          US$20          US$200    kernel, shell, files, device drivers, compilers, communication etc.

A site licence is equivalent to 10 users and covers all locations of your institution/organization within a 160km (100 miles) radius of your site. One big advantage of a site licence is that you do not need to keep track of how many people at your site are using the software.

Payment is fairly simple. Open the register program (found in /bin/register) either by using the Finder or by the Donations... menu item in the File menu. Enter your name, email-address, and the number of single user or site licences you want to donate.

If you are paying by US$ check or cash, Print the data from the register program and send the data together with your check or cash to Kagi. Their postal address is

Kagi
1442-A Walnut Street #392-QM4
Berkeley, California 94709-1405
USA

If you are paying with credit card, fill in the required data and then either Print and Fax the data to Kagi using the Fax number +1 (510) 652-6589. Or Copy the data and paste it to an email to Kagi (sales@kagi.com).

That's all. After a while (3 to about 10 days for processing) you will receive an email receipt from Kagi, provided that you have specified a valid internet email address.

Falls Sie in Deutschland leben und bar oder per Scheck bezahlen möchten, senden Sie bitte vorab eine E-Mail an uns (hns@computer.org), da in diesem Fall eine Bearbeitung über Kagi, USA unnötig aufwendig wird. Sie erhalten dann Hinweise über die Abwicklung. Zahlungen per Kreditkarte senden Sie bitte trotzdem über Kagi, da wir selbst keine Kreditkartenabrechnungen vornehmen.

5. Legal notices

Please note the COPYRIGHT and LICENCE files. The software is not public domain. The current release is distributed as freeware but the right is reserved to change this in future releases as well as changing the pricing indicated above.