Star Zebuntu Debuts
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 19th Feb 2008 13:42 UTC, submitted by Karl
Linux Already at their second beta release [German], Zebuntu is an Xfce-based Ubuntu distribution with heavy - you guessed it - Zeta influences. Bernd Korz explains the goals of Zebuntu in the project's announcement [German]: "Our goal is to use BlueEyedOS to offer a new platform for our former Zeta customers. In the future, Zeta, BeOS, as well as any future Haiku applications, will run natively on Zebuntu. This also offers a distinct advantage for developers for these platforms; they can use Zebuntu to develop for their platforms while utilising the performance and versatility of Linux." In other words, run BeOS applications on Linux. They have not forgotten about BFS support either. The project is, of course, completely open source. The website is only available in German for now, but Zebuntu developer Leszek Lesner confirmed to me that work is being done on an English variant (there already is an English development blog). Download the second beta from their download page, and, of course, see some screenshots.
E-mail Print r 6   81 Comment(s) http://osne.ws/exr
Thread beginning with comment 301395
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
I'm really skeptical about this.
by SReilly on Tue 19th Feb 2008 14:31 UTC
SReilly
Member since:
2006-12-28

The last time Bernd got his greasy mitts on something, he ended up screwing up bad. I'm sure I don't need to go into the whole mess that was Zeta to anybody else interested in BeOS.

Granted, it's open source so he can hardly be accused of the same copyright infringements. Still, I'll believe it when I see it.

What I don't get is why he doesn't get on board with the Haiku development process and actually help get the real show on the road!

Reply Bookmark Score: 12

Valhalla Member since:
2006-01-24

I thought that if ever Bernd were to dip his fingers in the Beos world again it would be through Haiku, or perhaps more likely 'Zaiku' ;)

still, the idea of being able to develop for Haiku/Beos on the linux platform is pretty nice, however my guess is Haiku will be a pretty stable development platform long before this compability layer is done.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

SReilly Member since:
2006-12-28

I'm hoping your right. The only thing is it seems BlueEyedOS, which had/has quite a bit of development behind it, is being used as the basis for the compatibility layer. If the code 'inherited' from BYOS is enough to get this show on the road, we may see Bernd rise again.

I know which of the two I'd rather see.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

yahya Member since:
2007-03-29


still, the idea of being able to develop for Haiku/Beos on the linux platform is pretty nice, however my guess is Haiku will be a pretty stable development platform long before this compability layer is done.


Your comment implies that you believe that it will eventually be done. I honestly don't believe so. The one art in which Bernd Korz is a master is that of making colorful announcements. I wouldn't believe anything he announces, before having verified myself that it actually exists.

I would also see little benefits from this compatiblity layer. Compared to Unix or GNU/Linux, there are so few state-of-the-art apps for BeOS that a Linux compatibility layer for BeOS would make much more sense than the other way round. Further, running BeOS apps on top of a Unix desktop like XFCE is exactly the opposite of the consistency and elegance that BeOS stood for.

Finally, the German announcement is full of the same old ugly marketspeak. They hail themselves for the ability of handling MS Office file formats through OpenOffice and further they announce that they are having an Outlook-like application (Kontact), that they have an MS Windows compatiblity layer (wine) and so forth. Well, that's really laughable. I mean, this is what definitely every distro has.

Edited 2008-02-20 12:33 UTC

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

Phloptical Member since:
2006-10-10

I don't think those at Haiku would want this guy anywhere near their code given the allegations and brouhaha surrounding Zeta. In fact, I'd say it would be better for Haiku if this guy forgot BeOS ever existed altogether.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 4