Rsx Multi-Tasker

Summary

This issue of the RSX Multi-Tasker (January 1985) serves as a technical resource for users of the RSX-11 operating system. The document includes the following primary sections:

• From the Editor: An introduction by the new sole editor, Dominic DiNollo.
• Hints and Kinks: A technical Q&A regarding solving compiler errors (specifically error 11-F) by adjusting the expression frame analyzer stack.
• Introduction to the Task Builder Internals: A comprehensive technical breakdown of the RSX-11 Task Builder (TKB). This section details the six phases of TKB operation, including initialization, command line processing, overlay descriptor language (ODL) processing, memory allocation, task image generation, and symbol table file (.STB) generation.
• Appendix A (Task Builder Internal Data Structures): A detailed technical reference providing memory offsets and bit definitions for various TKB data structures, including Element Descriptors, Control Section Tables, Symbol Table Entries, Segment Descriptors, and Virtual Memory Pages.
• Appendix B (Task-Resident Data Structures): A technical reference for task-resident structures, covering Segment Descriptor Offsets, Window Definition Blocks (WDB), Region Definition Blocks (RDB), and vector formats.
• Library Updates: A collection of reviews for software available on DECUS symposia tapes, including tools such as PortaCalc (spreadsheet), Kermit (communications), Swedish PASCAL, Reese BASIC, and a custom character set generator (COMPOSE) for VT200 terminals.