With the Apple IIGS, Apple introduced an operating system for the IIGS,
ProDOS/16, as ProDOS/16 version 1. ProDOS/16 version 1 was intended to
implement the same call structure and many of the other features of ProDOS/16
in its final version.
Functioning as a shell around ProDOS/8 (the GS version of ProDOS 1.1.1),
ProDOS/16 v1 has a user interface layer that mimics the external appearance
and system call structure in its final version, but the actual operating
system beneath the shell is ProDOS. Therefore, ProDOS/16 v1 is essentially
restricted to functions that are available under ProDOS. Those parts of the
final version that will involve fundamental revisions or extensions to
ProDOS/8 are not available in ProDOS/16 v1. However, under ProDOS/16 v1, you
will be able to:
- make ProDOS/16 system calls from anywhere in memory, using ProDOS/16
parameter blocks located anywhere in memory.
- make I/O data transfers to or from anywhere in memory.
- allow limited use of named devices in the VOLUME and GET_DEV_NUM calls.
With ProDOS/8, you can only refer to a device by its volume name or its
slot and drive number.
- support up to eight system prefixes; ProDOS/8 supports only one.