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What is the Command.com file
- Thread starter rezax123
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a. You would need a programming environment that is adaptable enough to create .com files.
b. The difference between .com and .exe is that a .com file is in fact the memory layout of the entire program. An .exe is more versatile than that. In other words the .com format has been superseded by the .exe.
c. Why would you want to? The only reason I can think of right off the bat is to trick users into thinking they go to a website instead of start a program.
d. If you really are interested in creating .coms it would be best to ask a Windows development forum instead of a Mac OS X forum that dabbles with Windows on the side.
b. The difference between .com and .exe is that a .com file is in fact the memory layout of the entire program. An .exe is more versatile than that. In other words the .com format has been superseded by the .exe.
c. Why would you want to? The only reason I can think of right off the bat is to trick users into thinking they go to a website instead of start a program.
d. If you really are interested in creating .coms it would be best to ask a Windows development forum instead of a Mac OS X forum that dabbles with Windows on the side.
boss i dont want the language of the .com programming. i just wanna know bout the compiler. if there any?? but boss i never heard from anyone this kind of compiler. that can make .com files.
You don't get it. .com is the extension of a type of program. It doesn't thave to do with language, it doesn't have to do with compiler. Either the compiler has the switches to create a .com program or it doesn't.
As I said, try a Windows forum.
P.S.: I'm not your boss.
Good Lord, WHY?!?
Wow, this takes me back to the olden days! The "compiler" for .com files is assembler, you can also take a properly formatted (read: completely and totally arcane) text file of the assembler codes and create a .com file by piping the assembler into the old DOS debug command. But I don't recommend it. Bobbi is right, the .com files were a file mapping of the assembler as it was loaded into memory (which OBTW made writing virii for .com files easy if you knew what you were doing).
Continuing the stroll down memory lane, Command.com contained all of the commands (copy, dir, etc.) that weren't one of the handful built into the actual OS itself (either msdos.sys or io.sys, plus config.sys), or weren't separate programs. Back in the day we used a command.com replacement named 4DOS that had enhanced functionality over what the MS-DOS version provided (we're talking MS-DOS 3.x here, the pre-Windows days).
As someone who lived through this era, I can't imagine why anyone would want to revisit it. OS X gives you real BSD Unix scripting and a real "command line" (an insult, really, to call it that) via terminal. Other than to write a virus for DOS or early Windows (Win9x/WinME) computers I can't imagine why anyone would be remotely interested in creating .com programs.
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go on a two day bender to try and purge those days from my memory.
Wow, this takes me back to the olden days! The "compiler" for .com files is assembler, you can also take a properly formatted (read: completely and totally arcane) text file of the assembler codes and create a .com file by piping the assembler into the old DOS debug command. But I don't recommend it. Bobbi is right, the .com files were a file mapping of the assembler as it was loaded into memory (which OBTW made writing virii for .com files easy if you knew what you were doing).
Continuing the stroll down memory lane, Command.com contained all of the commands (copy, dir, etc.) that weren't one of the handful built into the actual OS itself (either msdos.sys or io.sys, plus config.sys), or weren't separate programs. Back in the day we used a command.com replacement named 4DOS that had enhanced functionality over what the MS-DOS version provided (we're talking MS-DOS 3.x here, the pre-Windows days).
As someone who lived through this era, I can't imagine why anyone would want to revisit it. OS X gives you real BSD Unix scripting and a real "command line" (an insult, really, to call it that) via terminal. Other than to write a virus for DOS or early Windows (Win9x/WinME) computers I can't imagine why anyone would be remotely interested in creating .com programs.
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go on a two day bender to try and purge those days from my memory.
Or, as in my case, C.
Debug! EEEEeewwww.... You kiss your mother with that mouth?
I hated that program.Norton had a brother in NDOS. Worked like a charm, though it still was a clone of 4DOS.
I'm joining you! Bartender! Set them up again!Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go on a two day bender to try and purge those days from my memory.
Ah, the memories...
MLOL!Debug! EEEEeewwww.... You kiss your mother with that mouth?
I'll be there with you!Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go on a two day bender to try and purge those days from my memory.
Okay, this is officially going to get you smacked!Next you guys will be talking about TSR's!
Oooohh.... INT 27h.... Now that is a trip down memory lane!Next you guys will be talking about TSR's!
/me pours another whiskey!
Cheers!
Speaking of memory lane, I am having fun this week using an HP Digital Cassette Drive connected to my HP-71B.
There are hundreds of books on C... Pick one and learn to code. Then, if you have questions, go to a programming forum for Windows. End of story on my part.
That's even too quaint for me... And the kids already look at me with question marks in their eyes, and a hand ready to dial 911 (You never know if it is contagious or if the old man is going mad). "DOS 3.0? Word Perfect? dBase? Arpanet? Bulletin Board? No Mouse???? How could you do something!!!!!!!!!"
We don't need no stinking mouse!
BTW, I started with DOS 1.0, and remember the upgrades to version 2, 3, and so on.
I used these at one time. This is a picture of one that I personally made in 1975. The card 33 years old, or older than a majority of MR members me thinks!
Attachments
My first experience was MS DOS 3. Working with those oldies, but goodies like Word Perfect 4.2, dBase III+ and Lotus 1-2-3 v.2.20. First programming work in dBase, and went on to become the phreak I am now.
How times fly.... Or is it how time flies.
How times fly.... Or is it how time flies.
You are listing some of my favorite programs at that time.
It's fun to see dBase III+ applications still in use in some places. The screen is always recognizable.
If memory serves, DOS 3 was buggy. The 3.3 update was a good version.
Did you every use an HP-200LX? It had Lotus 1-2-3 built in.
Picture of HP-200LX and EeePC 4G-X
I never see them anymore. My first paid programming job was in Clipper, and these days my job is mostly writing countermeasures for malware in Windows and supporting them in many anti-malware forums online. I work in Windows 2000 and run Leopard at home with VMware and every possible Windows flavor as VM.It's fun to see dBase III+ applications still in use in some places. The screen is always recognizable.
Honestly... I can't remember. I started with 3, and I didn't know the difference between feature and bug. Tried to kill programs instead of shutting them down, etc. My "job" mostly was playing King's Quest, Space Quest and Leisure Suit Larry on a monochrome Hercules screen. Everyone did stuff like bookkeeping or accountmanagement with actual books and rolodexes and such. Try that now and these youngsters don't even know how to spell rolodex.
When I got to understand how those computers worked, the system was already upgraded to MS DOS 3.3 (read new computer with CGA 4 color screen!!! w00t!!!)
I read about computer viruses and when Norton Anti Virus 1.0 * was released I got busy with it. Ever since I am security and anti-virus man. I still have a collection of some 1,500 floppy discs, both 5.25 and 3.5 ", at home with old baddies that are harmless these days.
*: When Norton was a respectable company, and wasn't taken over by the killer Symantec.
Now I program in Delphi, C++ and MS Assembly, and in that order.
And in the meantime I am getting more and more familiar with OS X, and eventually will switch programming as well.
That is in, extremely, short my history with computers. It is just a part of what I do with computers, as I am also a keyboardist/guitarist that uses the computer to drive synthesizers and such.
That HP... Never even heard of, let alone that I've seen it.