🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1609@tuura.UUCP> risto@tuura.UUCP (Risto Lankinen) writes:
>Hi!
>I'm considering OS/2 2.0 as a programming environment to write applications
>for Windows 3.0/3.1 .

That's a good system, which I have used.

>Specifically:
>  - Do the Windows apps and OS/2 apps share the same message-passing system?
>    Can I '{Send|Post}Message()' to an OS/2 app from a Windows app?

No.  The message structure is much different.

>  - Are the Windows DLL's truly shared (ie. loaded just once even for multi-
>    ple clients)?  I've got colliding info on this from different sources...

Yes.  Code segments are shared, data segments are either shared or
local, depending on what the DLL specifies.

>  - Can an OS/2 app call a Windows DLL ?  How about the other way?

No.  DLLs are still DOS-dependant.  And OS/2 DLLs are dependant on running
under OS/2 protected mode, which Windows programs can't.

>  - I've currently set up dual boot: MS-DOS 5.0 & OS/2 1.2 .  Can I install
>    the 2.0 on top of the 1.2 without breaking my dual boot functionality?

I don't know about installing on top of 1.2 (I assume so) but dual-boot
is still there.  In addition, you might want to try out Boot Manager.
It is much nicer to use than Dual Boot.

>An objective voice-of-experience is what *might* win a *single* convert, yet
>I'm still planning to write for Windows users only.  So *PLEASE* don't tell
>me about 'the advantages of OS/2' - I've heard of them up to the point I'm
>fed up with.

If you want to use OS/2 for Windows development, you already know the
advantages.

Things to look out for:
Use Windows debugging tools in a full-screen Windows session.
Some things are broken in BCC 3.0 under OS/2 DPMI.  Read the 2.0 README
(I can send it if you want).
OS/2 and Windows use lots of the same technology, but nothing is
compatible.  Windows was designed under real mode, and OS/2 was designed
under protected, and you can't unfortunately trust either out of their
realms.  Besides, the thinking procedures and structures are different...
Well, you just can't. :->

-Dave
-- 
David Giller, Box 134 | Q: How many Oregonians does it take to screw in a light
Occidental College    | bulb?  A: Three.  One to replace the bulb, and two to
1600 Campus Road      | fend off all the Californians trying to share the
Los Angeles, CA 90041 | experience. ---------------------------rafetmad@oxy.edu