RSXNT Internals

If you use the new GCC switches -Zwin32 or -Zrsx32 the linker uses some patched C-libraries functions for Win32. The original functions are using some OS/2 API calls. After creating a UNIX-style output, the linker calls the program ntbind instead of emxbind to build the executable. NTBIND converts the GCC output file (AOUT or COFF) into the Win32 format. Bound executables are using a runtime DLL (RSXNT.DLL) under Win32 and a DOS extender (RSX) under DOS.

The makelib utility creates import-libraries for Win32 DLLs. The import-libraries are used by ntbind to create the import section in the Win32 executable.

The compiler NT09C runs in the following environments:

Win32 console (native under Win95 or WinNT)

DOS with DPMI memory manager (with rsx extender)

DOS Box of Win3.x and OS/2 (with rsx extender)

Win 3.1 or 95 window (with rsxwin extender)

The compiler EMX09C runs in the following environments:

OS/2 console (native with emx.dll)

DOS (with emx or rsx extender)

DOS Box of Win3.x, Win95 and OS/2 (with rsx extender)

Win 3.1 or 95 window (with rsxwin)

The program rsx is a DPMI-compatible DOS-extender and can run the compiler in a DOS box under OS/2, Win31 or Win95. There is also a window-based extender rsxwin, that can run the compiler in a real window of Win3.1 or Win95. It is possible to run this window from a GUI editor or from a IDE-shell. The rsx and rsxwin extenders are included in this archive. The documents RSX.TXT and RSXWIN.WRI contain more information.

To use the rsx extender in a Win32 console box, use can type:

rsx gcc ...

To start the rsxwin extender (and a shell) use the command:

rshellx ...