Editing TRIPOS (section)

== Features ==
TRIPOS provided features such as [[pre-emptive multi-tasking]] (using strict-priority scheduling), a [[hierarchical file system]] and multiple [[command line interpreter]]s.

The most important TRIPOS concepts have been the non-memory-management approach (meaning no checks are performed to stop programs from using unallocated memory) and message passing by means of passing pointers instead of copying message contents. Those two concepts together allowed for sending and receiving over 1250 packets per second on a 10&nbsp;MHz [[Motorola 68010]] CPU.

Most of TRIPOS was implemented in [[BCPL]]. The [[kernel (operating system)|kernel]] and [[device driver]]s were implemented in [[assembly language]].

One notable feature of TRIPOS/BCPL was its cultural use of shared libraries, untypical at the time, resulting in small and therefore fast loading utilities.  For example, many of the standard system utilities were well below 0.5 Kbytes in size, compared to a typical minimum of about 20 Kbytes for functionally equivalent code on a modern Unix or Linux.{{clarify|date=May 2021}}

TRIPOS was ported to a number of machines, including the [[Data General Nova|Data General Nova 2]], the Computer Automation LSI4, [[Motorola 68000]] and [[Intel 8086]]- based hardware. It was offered as the standard operating system on the Microbox III, a computer based on the Motorola 68010 produced by Micro Concepts, alongside alternatives such as [[CP/M]] and [[OS-9]].<ref name="practicalcomputing198607_microbox">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/practical-computing/PracticalComputing-1986-07/page/54/mode/2up | title=Microbox III Graphics for the Specialist | magazine=Practical Computing | last1=Moody | first1=Glyn | date=July 1986 | access-date=16 July 2024 | pages=54–55 }}</ref> It included support for the [[Cambridge Ring (computer network)|Cambridge Ring]] [[local area network]]. More recently,{{when|date=May 2015}} Martin Richards produced a port of TRIPOS to run under [[Linux]], using [[Cintcode BCPL]] virtual machine.

{{Asof|2020|2}}, TRIPOS is still actively maintained by [[Open G I|Open G I Ltd.]] (formerly [[Misys Financial Systems]]) in [[Worcestershire]], [[UK]]. Many British [[insurance broker]]s have a Linux/Intel based{{clarify|date=May 2021}} TRIPOS system serving networked workstations over a [[Internet protocol suite|TCP/IP]] connection—the systems are used to run Open G I's [[BROOMS Application suite]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} Open G I have added a number of features to support the modern office such as the ability to integrate into many mainstream applications and services such as SQL server, Citrix XENAPP, terminal servers, etc.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

=== Commands ===
The following list of [[command (computing)|commands]] is supported by the TRIPOS CLI.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/1986-metacomco-intro-to-tripos|title=Introduction to Tripos |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=May 1986 |publisher=METACOMCO plc. |access-date=November 29, 2022}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=9em}}
* ALINK
* ASSEM
* ASSIGN
* BREAK
* C
* [[cd (command)|CD]]
* CONSOLE
* [[copy (command)|COPY]]
* [[date (command)|DATE]]
* [[del (command)|DELETE]]
* [[dir (command)|DIR]]
* [[diskcopy|DISKCOPY]]
* DISKDOCTOR
* [[echo (command)|ECHO]]
* ED
* EDIT
* ENDCLI
* FAILAT
* FAULT
* FILENOTE
* [[format (command)|FORMAT]]
* IF
* INFO
* INSTALL
* [[join (Unix)|JOIN]]
* LAB
* LIST
* [[MAKEDIR]]
* [[mount (Unix)|MOUNT]]
* NEWCLI
* PATH
* PROMPT
* PROTECT
* [[quit (command)|QUIT]]
* RELABEL
* [[ren (command)|RENAME]]
* RUN
* SEARCH
* SKIP
* [[sort (Unix)|SORT]]
* STACK
* STATUS
* [[TYPE (DOS command)|TYPE]]
* VDU
* WAIT
* WHY
{{div col end}}