Interesting article on an open-source microprocessor operating system called TRON which is used in some 3-4 BILLION devices. The originator of the OS, Ken Sakamura, gave it away for free and didn’t profit from it. I always wondered what OS was running all of these consumer electronics that Japan has been building for the past 20 years.
“It’s not good to charge people for using something which is like a social infrastructure. It also inhibits the development of the computer industry. The very basic infrastructure should be free,” he said.
“But Mr Gates is free to do whatever he wants, as we live in a world of capitalism.”
CNN.com – TRON man shuns Gates-like fortune – Jul. 16, 2003
via Slashdot
There’s a great TV program on NHK called Project-X (Tuesday evenings, I think, at around 8pm). It’s a 1-hour documentary a bit like 60min., but with less pizzaz and sensationalism. At any rate, about two months ago they covered Tron, and how the US apparently banned the import b/c American companies feared it would dominate (though their claim was more about it being a super-computer — much like how the PS2 was initially banned (wasn’t it?)). Sakamura-san is a bit like a Japanese Linus
How can we get it for a PC? Anybody offering it for download, like Linux?
I’m sure it is being offered as a download for free somewhere, but I don’t think it would be for personal computer use like Windows, OSX, or Linux. I’d be interested to see TRON but as far as I can tell, is is an OS for embedded systems and devices, not for personal computers.
Actually TRON can be modified to be used in PC. But due to the US accusation of Violation to Free Trade Agreement to Japanese Gov. regarding the use of TRON in PC, TRON was never modified to fit in the PC’s microprocessor. TRON actually possess big possibilities to be used in PC as the creator of TRON Ken Sakamura use TRON in his own PC. If the back then the Japanese disregard US accusation, the world of computers / PC will be very much diffrent from now.
As a programmer/systems developer from the ’60′s who now donates 50% of her time to a non-profit on US/Japan business, I would like to invite Sakamur to speak at one of our events next year. Our events are in Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley. If anyone could direct me as to how invite Sakamura-san to speak I’d appreciate it.
i’m a ITS student from Indonesia and i’m interesting with your OS program and i want to learn it more spesific , please sent me a sample of OS TRON and the tutorial of the use of the program
Hi Nadine and Sinung,
Find out more about TRON (The Realtime Operating syetm Nucleus) and T-Engine, as well as how to contact them from the following URL:
http://tron.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Jake> There is actually a TRON for PC, known as BTRON or Chokanji, which comes with support for all the world’s characters including all Asian and other weird languages. You can find out more about it from Personal Media Corp. at:
http://www.personal-media.co.jp/te/en/welcome.html
Sorry, this link for Personal Media might be better:
http://www.personal-media.co.jp/welcome-e.html
hi can any body guide me how to transfer my java code for windows and linux to tron …. can jtron come in handy ?
Dear all,
If anyone is interested in T-Kernel, it can be downloaded from the http://www.t-engine.org. For English support in Asia especially ASEAN and Pacific regions, you can go to http://www.t-engine.com.sg.
We would be holding an exhibition on the 15 June to 18 June 2004 in Singapore in conjunction with CommunicAsia 2004. A seminar on the 16 June 2004 will be held to explain more about T-Engine and its software.
Please visit http://www.t-engine.com.sg for more information on the seminar and exhibition.
Dear Hamid,
From what I understand, there will be Java based machines for development soon by some companies in Japan.
Will let you know when they release it.
TEADEC