Submitted by The latest ReactOS Newsletter is out. “I’ve been assured by our release engineer that there are only 2 blocking issues left and that [0.3.1] will be released soon. That said, a kind user compiled the 0.3.1 branch and provided the isos for public trials here. I spoke with our project leader about future releases and he went on to say that future releases (0.3.x) will be made every month or 2.”
So does this mean that the code audit is almost over? That would be great news indeed!
I like the sound of a faster release cycle. I know of a few people who would be very interested in helping them test each release.
Keep up the good work guys!
Although it’s interesting to see someone follow the Windows style of design instead of just making another *nix-like, you have to call into doubt anyone who would just reverse-engineer someone else’s work instead of creating something new from scratch. And reverse-engineering binaries, instead of creating anew from defined goals, by necessity creates code that is bulkier than it needs to be, imperfectly understood, and harder to modify.
And this shows in the ReactOS team’s speed.
By the time the ReactOS team is done reverse-engineering Windows 95 (wait — Windows NT! No wait — Windows XP!), Microsoft and others will have come out with entire operating systems. Heck, Microsoft could “clean-room” (to use the ReactOS team’s euphemism) any Linux distro into a closed-source Linux distro in about two months, as a lark, and still have multiple scratch-built and updated OSs done by the time ReactOS finishes.
Yeah, Linus, leave that Minix alone! What a waste!
But seriously, I don’t think of ReactOS as a Windows clone. I think of it as a Windows-like OS, just like BSD and Linux are Unix-like OS’s. When all is said and done, I believe ReactOS will have areas where it is better than Windows.
All I know is that as a Windows-trained developer and an FOSS advocate, I look forward to a solid ReactOS. I can then use my Windows developer skills with a Free development environment (E.g., DevC++) to create true FOSS software that runs on a Windows-like OS that is also Free.
By the way, Minix 3 rocks!
obviously you have no clue and/or are just phishing for flames.
They are not reverse engineering the main parts. They are reimplementing it API compatible. I.e. they look at available documentation for the interfaces and build something that behaves exactly like the original _on the surface_. Show me your speed in creating a new Operating System, hot d00d..
and fyi they are aiming at the Win2K3 kernel which is considered a stable target for years because it means compatibility with XP/Wihsta.
And if MS really could clean room anything they should have done it when there was time. They are pretty fscked right now with nothing competable to Linux/BSD/MacOsX. Vista sux and I bet they know it, they have created it. Look on youtube for Vista BSODing if you dare, same sh1t all over again.
Screw that guys, I’m staying FOSS.
ReactOS is more than Windows. It’s doing the same thing the FreeDOS has done but in advance (yes MS is going to discontinue Win32 one day). It’s also doing a lot more. Don’t forget that the NT design is modular and composed of subsystem. MS has never added more than the DOS, Win16 and OS/2 subsystem. Even then, the DOS layer is still far from working as good as a true DOS. The ReactOS team could create subsystem for Linux or Java or any other platform existing. It could even add a .Net subsystem and run it more natively than MS do it!
ReactOS is in fact the deadliest threat to Microsoft. A free OS that can run legacy Windows apps and that will always stay alive. No end of support here. I’d like to see Ballmer’s face when this project will be stable enough to be used as an everyday desktop OS. I guess there will be chairs flying all around.
I guess there will be chairs flying all around
For the record, Ballmer’s office has been refurnished with bean-bag chairs and blow-up furniture. In addition, the stapler has been replaced with glue, and the computer has been replaced with a new Computers-R-Us foam tablet PC. Is now again safe to enter Steve’s office.
ReactOS is in fact the deadliest threat to Microsoft.
Pretty much everyone in the OS industry thinks their product is the deadliest threat to Microsoft…
I’d like to see Ballmer’s face when this project will be stable enough to be used as an everyday desktop OS. I guess there will be chairs flying all around.
If it ever became a threat MS will just create a big FUD storm and sign a ‘patent covenant’ with some screwball company to make it look like IP is being infringed.
Just like they do with other ‘threats’ on the OS front