There are quite a few operating systems which have moved beyond the simple hobby operating system stage, onto a more lasting plane of existence. AROS, ReactOS, SkyOS, Syllable, Haiku; they're no longer basement products, coded by a single programer - they are now projects in which a lot of people have invested time, and possibly money too. They won't go away any time soon. The last few days have seen news on three of these systems: ReactOS, SkyOS, and Syllable.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2007-08-19
That's why Microsoft has to be careful when they say Windows 7 won't be binary compatible with previous Win32 applications. Yes, they said there will be compatibilty modes using virtualization, but if they don't get a good amount of software running properly, people COULD, especially corporations that rely on said odd program, turn to ReactOS.
Member since:2008-02-26
Member since:2005-07-07
While RactOS may not end the Windows Monopoly it will end the MICRO$OFT Monopoly over computer opperating systems using the worlds largest driver and software library (A library which now includes Proprietary Commercial Software and Shareware, Proprietary Freeware and ecen F/OSS software.
This is something computer makers can actually use to end the Microsoft tax on computing, something which even desktop Linux has failed to do.
While I really would like Linux to win I know it will never happen as long as hardware manufacturers will not build linux drivers for their products.
Right now even though ReactOS is mainly aimed at running current Proprietary products its own GPL/LGPL
status (Wine which is the basis of its GUI libraries is LGPL) may bring more people in the F/OSS movement.
Member since:2006-02-17
I know people assume they use WINE code, but that isn't really true. They use WINE as a reference point, but all the code in ReactOS is meant to be original. If their code resembles WINE or is an exact copy anywhere then it will really surprise the lead developers. They share an allegiance with the WINE developers in spirit and goal, just not necessarily in code.
Member since:
2006-01-24
sbergman wrote:
-"I think I can safely say that no one that I know from outside this forum would know anything about any of them."
while I don't doubt that for a second, there was no mention of these operating systems being even remotely mainstream, nor did it seem implied. it simply stated that these were no "no longer basement products, coded by a single programmer".
I'm a huge fan of Haiku (and Beos), that doesn't mean I believe it will conquer the desktop. hopefully it will do well in attracting users beyond the Beos base, but the competition is fierce for those few people prepared and/or able to leave the windows platform.
this is why I think Reactos is the alternate operating system with the greatest chance of attracting a substantial userbase. being a windows clone means access to drivers and most importantly windows's biggest asset, it's unequaled software library.
the only negative thing I find with Reactos is that if successful it will help reinforcing window's hold over the operating system market. not that I think windows is bad (I don't, although there are other operating systems I think are better), but rather that the whole desktop operating system market would do better with more competition.