Right now the situation for developers of minor operating systems seems somewhat bleak. Windows and the Unixes compete in the server world, and Windows and MacOS X compete on the desktop. Linux even gets ported to every embedded device, leaving few niches for the hobbyist or sidelined operating system developer. Some have even gone so far as to say that New Operating Systems Won't Stand a Chance. As anyone who reads OSNews can tell you, however there are a wealth of new systems with new ideas that just aren't taking off. Given all these new ideas some - like capability security from EROS for example - should be good enough to catch on, so why aren't they?
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Member since:2005-07-12
10 year ago, discovering Solaris at the University, i understood what a real OS should be.
But is Solaris what a real OS should be?
Roughly 25 years ago, coming from an Apple DOS 3.3 and TRS-80 environment, I was introduced to CDC's KRONOS and NOS timesharing operating systems. In college I was introduced to Unisys' OS1100 and DEC's VMS.
There are so many things found in those mainframe and miniframe OSes (as well as in various IBM operating systems) that don't seem to be present at all in Solaris, and some of those things were (and still are) extremely useful for those who used or are still using those operating systems.
The computing world isn't just Unix and Windows, but it seems like many of the so-called "experts" today have defined it in just those terms.
Member since:
10 year ago, discovering Solaris at the University, i understood what a real OS should be. I downloaded Linux (0.99.x) and then I ran Linux at home. No more wfw3.11 crap or wfw3.11 in disguise (aka win95).
But now I don't care if it's linux or windows. Both are rock solid if h/w & drivers are. Coding GUI wxWidgets lets me not care. Or why not some Java? Batch programming? ACE. My main development is now in winXP and I have Cygwin.
Ok, ten+ years ago it did matter, but now? For embedded and RTOS it's a different story, agreed. But not for the desktop. imho.
/Meng