that definition is different from the definition i'm using; it covers both what i'm calling 'cooperative multitasking' and things like async/await, the npm event handler model, and python/clu iterators
in the mac os 8 documentation, explaining how mac os 8 only has 'cooperative multitasking', the term is defined in the way i'm using it (https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Ca...):
> In programming, a task is simply an independent execution path. On a computer, the system software can handle multiple tasks, which may be applications or even smaller units of execution. For example, the system may execute multiple applications, and each application may have independently executing tasks within it. Each such task has its own stack and register set.
> Multitasking may be either cooperative or preemptive. Cooperative multitasking requires that each task voluntarily give up control so that other tasks can execute. (...)
> The Mac OS 8 operating system implements cooperative multitasking between applications. The Process Manager can keep track of the actions of several applications. However, each application must voluntarily yield its processor time in order for another application to gain it. An application does so by calling WaitNextEvent, which cedes control of the processor until an event occurs that requires the application’s attention.
that is, this requirement that each task have its own stack is not just something i made up; it's been part of common usage for decades, at least in some communities. the particular relevant distinction here is that, because each task has its own stack (or equivalent in something like scheme), multitasking doesn't require restructuring your code, because calling a normal function can yield the cpu. in the specific case of macos this was necessary so that switcher/multifinder/process-manager could multitask mac apps written for previous versions of macos that didn't have multitasking
what term would you propose for what i'm calling 'cooperative multitasking', like forth and mac os 8 and windows 3.1 (https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/3507... https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/791/how-d...)? this terminology is not absolutely standardized, and i'd be happy to use different terminology in order to be able to communicate productively
also could you please answer my request for clarification in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38861074