Will "application binary interfaces" fix the binaries problem? No...

[John Gilmore]

Dion_L_Johnson at cup.portal.com wrote:
>                                                              Finally,
> will the (someday) coming of widespread binary compatibility among
> at least some classes of systems affect the acceptance of binary
> distribution?

We will find out, I guess.  The main problem is that the "Application
Binary Interfaces" come one-per-CPU-maker.  There are still hundreds of
CPU makers' users represented on the Usenet.  Just for grins, I grepped
out all the system types from the uucp maps and tried to uniq them down
to a small list; I got 1566 different types, which manual editing got down
to a list of 225 types, presented below for your edification.  I'm sure it
could be pared further; I tended to assume that different models from the
same manufacturer were compatible, but in some cases I didn't; and I'm
sure I didn't eliminate all the different IBM PC clones.  Note that a few
years from now, when the source and binary standards are settled and
implemented, that there might only be half as many entries here.  But
will *every* 68000 box maker convert to the new format?  Even the ones
who are still shipping their original Unisoft or Xenix port from years ago?

32000
68000
68020
abc 9000 abcenix/dnix 5.12
accell scx-20
acer 1100
aeon:332/at genix system v.3
alliant fx/8
alr 386/2
alspa computer aci-2ds
altos x86
altos 68000
altos 68020
amdahl
amiga
apollo
apple lisa
apple mac ii
apple macintosh/xl
apricot xen (80286) 
arete
at&t 3b1
at&t 3b15
at&t 3b2
at&t 3b20
at&t 3b2400
at&t 3b5
atari st
cadmus
callan unistar 300
cci power 5/32 
cci power 6/32
ccur 3230
cds 3311
celerity
cimlinc 68000
cimlinc 68020
clerc/sysv.2 
clipper system v.3
codata 3300
concurrent (perkin-elmer) 3210
contel codata 3300
convergent technologies megaframe
convergent technologies mightyframe
convergent technologies miniframe
convex
counterpoint 19k
courier 9030 applications processor
crds universe 68
cromemco cs-300
cubix unixv
custom 68010 based
custom 80386
custom research and development 386
cyb multibox
cyb workmate ii
data general mv/series
datamedia 1620
datamedia 932 (mc68010)
dec lsi 11/23
dec lsi-11/73
dec microvax
dec pdp 11/34
dec pdp-11/23
dec pdp-11/44
pdp 11/45
pdp-11/60
dec pdp-11/70
dec pdp-11/73
dec pdp11/83
dec pdp11/84
pdp11/24 / rsx-11m 4.0
dec vax
decsystem 1091
delta 2616 w/system v/68 r3.4
diab ds90 (zilog z8001 based)/xenix ver 2
ds90
dsi32
dual system corp
dy4 dsm6816
edge model 500
eltec - sys 5.3
elxsi 6400
elxsi system 6400
encore multimax
enmasse ecs1000
equity ii
exxon 8421
exxon/zilog model 11+
flexible computer corporation flex/32
fortune 32:16
geac concept 9000
gec series 63
genroco python/32b (nsc32032)
gould powernode
goupil
gr 2720 (68000)
grc python
gsm-3068 
harris hcx
hb68-multics (smtp via irisa) (machine unix en juin 88)
hcx-7 hcx/ux 2.3
heathkit-h100
heurikon
hewlett packard 9000 model 840
hewlett-packard 9000/320
home brew mc68020
honeywell bull xps-100 model 20 m68020 based unix system 5.2
ibc ensign ii
ibm mainframe
ibm 5170 w/afterburners
ibm 6150 / aix 2.1.1
ibm pc & clones
ibm pc/at & clones
ibm ps/2
ibm rt/pc
ibm series 1
ibm9002
icl clan
icon 3000
in4200/inix (system v)
integrated solutions
intel 286/310
intel 286/310-140
intel 286/380 system
intel 80286
intel 80386
interpro 32c (clipper)
intersystems s100 z8000
jcs 184 (68000)
logic process mpulse 020
logix 386
macintosh ii
macintosh se
masscomp
matra ms 1326
microforce motorola 68000
micromega
microproject vme/3b (we321sb) computer.
mini6
mips m500
mixture/ system v.2 (uniplus+)
mizar matrix68k
momentum 32/e / siii
momentum hawk 32
motorola computer systems
multibus development system
mupid c2a2/cept 2.2
my 32 (ns32000)
nabu 1600
national semiconductor icm
nbi
ncr tower
nokia ux-2 (honeywell x20)
northern telecom meridian dv-1
olivetti
onyx
orion1 4.2bsd
own hardware
pacific pm200
parallel xr300
pcs cadmus
perkin-elmer
philips p9300 / mpx 2.10 (x/open)
pixel
plessey 11/23
plexus
prime
pyramid
quotron q1000
radio shack model 16b
rc39 xenix 3
ridge 32
s 1500
sagem 
sbull sps9
sci 1000
sequent balance 21000
sequent balance 8000
siemens mx500
silicon graphics iris
sm90 bull smx version 5.1
sms 83-3
sms1000/venix
sord m680ux/unix v.1
spectrix series-30
sperry
sps7 spix 5
stratus xa
stride micro
sun-2
sun-3
sun-4
symmetric s/375
synergy
syntronics general development tool (gdt)
tandem lxn running unix system v 2.2
tandy 6000
targon
tei / compupro 68k s-100 system
tektronix
tektronix 8560 (lsi-11/23)
tektronix stratos 6130
telmat sm90
thomson micromega 32 (v7)
tolerant systems
tom 4200
tranfor mb386/20 xenix v.2.2.1
unicorn 10m
unigraph sysv.2 + nfs
unisys 1100
unisys 5000
unisys 7000
valid scald-iv
viasyn 68k
vme-bus development system
wang vs85
wavemate bullet-atx
wcw mg-1
we32000
wicat
xyv-3
zilog system 8000
-- 
John Gilmore  {sun,pacbell,uunet,pyramid,ihnp4}!hoptoad!gnu        gnu at toad.com
"Use the Source, Luke...."