Re: Please Share Ada -Freedos - Dos experiences

[Joakim Strandberg <joakimds@kth.se>]

lördag 27 maj 2023 kl. 21:49:38 UTC+2 skrev Joakim Strandberg:
> lördag 27 maj 2023 kl. 17:44:57 UTC+2 skrev Hou Van Boere: 
> > Hi Everyone 
> > 
> > I am thinking about using FreeDos as a kind of RTOS. The application is to control scientific instruments so portability is a non-issue. 
> > 
> > Can you please share bits and pieces about running Ada on FreeDos(or MS DOS)
> Hi, 
> 
> I wrote about how to get DJGPP compiler on DOS: https://www.reddit.com/r/ada/comments/vrhsv5/how_to_install_gnat_314b_on_freedos_13/ 
> I recommend installing a recent version of DJGPP, you will be able to use a lot the Ada language except for tasking which DJGPP does not support on FreeDos. 
> 
> I have been looking for an Ada83 or Ada95 compiler for DOS which compiles real-mode executables but the ones I found are still proprietary and can be bought. It indicates there are still old systems on old hardware still in use. 
> 
> I haven't built something on DOS, just toying with the idea. I've successfully been able to execute my Advent of code solutions for 2022 on FreeDOS. I've also successfully switched to VGA mode and putting pixels on the screen and switching back to text mode from an Ada application. I did it by interfacing with C code that had assembler embedded, if I remember correctly. 
> 
> Best regards, 
> Joakim

Hi again,

Another idea is to use the ObjectAda 7.0 compiler (free version) from 1996 that can be downloaded here:
https://archive.org/details/ObjectAdaSE7
It runs on Windows 95/98 but looking at the documentation for the ObjectAda compiler it says it is possible to use the compiler to create executables for DOS by using a DOS Extender. I haven't tried it but should be possbile to get working. Unfortunately there are limitations with the free version. One good thing is that it is possible to use tasks freely for creating a FreeDOS application but one must restrict one-self to Ada95 since the compiler is from 1996.

There is a professional version of ObjectAda from 2002 that can be downloaded here: https://vetusware.com/download/ObjectAda%207.2.2%20Enterprise%207.2.2/?id=17315
I've tested it and it works but the documentation no longer talks about being able to create executables for FreeDOS. Maybe it can still be used to make executables for FreeDOS?

Best regards,
Joakim