MiNT
(MinT is not TOS - a {recursive acronym}) A
freeware, {open source operating system} for the {Atari ST}
range of computers. MiNT was originally based on a {port} of
{BSD} to {Atari ST} computers by Eric R. Smith. MiNT gave the
Atari access to BSD's many network applications. A short
(1992-94) romance between MiNT and {Atari} Corp., who decided
to convert the system to the {MultiTOS} {kernel}, produced a
unique TOS/Unix hybrid, which provides simultaneous access to
both {GEM} and BSD application libraries.
Since MiNT is MultiTOS's kernel, it has kept all the features
described above and, if an {AES} replacement is installed, it
can show you a new face of MultiTOS. Unlike MultiTOS however,
MiNT is based on a different {file system}, that is faster and
more flexible than TOS's. Furthermore, thanks to the network
support, MiNT allows an Atari to be an {Internet} {server}
that can still run GEM and TOS applications! This has won
MiNT many devotees ("MiNTquisitors"), making it the main
competitor for {ASH}'s {MagiC}.
Unlike {Linux}, MiNT can run on a {Motorola 68000} with no
{FPU}. It needs at least 4 MB of RAM, more to run multiuser
or to run GEM applications at the same time.
{(http://www.orient.uw.edu.pl/~conradus/docs/mint.html)}.
(1999-07-20)