The SkyOS team has released build 6915. “This build features the complete new software store as well as the new viewer supporting location favorites and a query panel. Additionally the new C++ API got a lot of new features like Job support, HTTP download, etc. Just take a loot at this video to see the new features in action.”
i am constantly amazed on what is being put into this OS. i am anxiously awaiting the final 5 version. man has it come along way since the 4 days haha. the future is now!
The want me to pay up to even try the damn thing?
MUUUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Yes, they have not released the final version nor a trial livecd yet and as such, you have to pay to be able to get to try it. But paying that one-time-fee allows you to use any upcoming releases all the way to the final release. If that doesn’t sound like a good deal to you then you are clearly not the target audience. Your loss, I’d say.
“Your loss, I’d say.”
I am one of the idiots who paid to be a beta tester.
If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have lost anything, excepting for satisfying my curiosity.
Give the guy a break.Its not a kill-cow donation and the end product is free to those who paid up for the testing.
If anything its well deserved.
All money goes toward the various costs associated with development (hosting, hardware for testing, etc). No one is paid. And, as was said, you also get the final version once it is released.
A small release by it’s usual standards but the small features are extremely useful i look forward to testing it as usual
Compared to the usual degree of difference between betas, there is not much worth mentioning with this release. It appears to me that it was a “fill the gap” release between this and the next beta, which will be a pretty complete rewrite of the entire ‘kernel’ (from what I gather, this includes basically all of SkyOS, sans the various GUI and ported apps, which admittedly make up a large portion of the codebase). It has been in developent for quite a while already, and is the reason that there has not been lot to report in SkyOS land. It will not premiere in a beta for at least a few more months.
Edited 2008-04-02 22:28 UTC
what are some of the objectives and features of the new kernel to justify a rewrite?
I think one majer reason is speed and restructure the kernel to allow integration of new features (like swap support) that would require a lot of work in the current kernel.
Now there is being taken care of that these features are well designed from the start.
I can’t say to much about it but keep an eye on the site
As any programmer will tell you, you’re constantly gaining knowledge and technique. It’s the very definition of experience. Not that Robert wasn’t a brilliant coder years ago, but the current kernel’s code quality can’t compare to some of the code he has been producing recently. The kernel is essentially being “brought up to speed” with the rest of the system, some of which is still from the SkyOS 3.x days.
Briefly,
1) Unbelievable performance improvements. Scheduling is many orders of magnitude faster now that it’s being done in software. One measurable metric I’ve heard from Robert was that thread creation went from tens-per-second to tens-of-thousands-per-second. Applications will start up seconds faster, boot time will be cut in half, etc. SkyOS will blaze.
2) Scalable driver framework. The driver API in SkyOS, as it exists now, is very ruidmentary. The new API will somehow be better, though I can’t tell you specifically how. All I know is that many, many more drivers will begin to be introduced after the new kernel is put into production.
3) More features. Mostly C++ (where it doesn’t hamper performance). Support for SMP/Hyper-Threading. Faster and more accurate timing. Kernel-level VESA support (allowing for graphical display immediately after POST). Better memory management. Architecture abstraction. Etc.
Edited 2008-04-02 23:24 UTC
Well put, Alex. I’ve actually read the documentation on the new kernel, and it sounds very, very promising. The supposed speed gains as detailed in those docs are nothing short of astounding, and I must say, I’m looking forward to it. While responsive and fast, SkyOS always had this undefinable ‘slothness’ to it – I can’t really put my finger on it though.
Let’s hope the new kernel fixes that.
Rewrite the whole kernel again?!?!? LOL
It will be Beta Forever then!
how is support for 3d hardware (read nvidia, ati and intel)?
Nonexistant
Adam
Now all they have to do is get rid of the _hideous_ default skin!
Well your not wrong there, it does have a new theme engine on it from a previous version, hopefuly someone will step up and make a better one, i may even do it eventually.
if you wait one or 2 days, you will get an extra tool that makes it possible to create themes without needing skyos to modify datacollections. People can just copy a theme and change it in windows then. I would say, give it your best
It could never look worse than Ubuntu?
…SkyOS just plain doesn’t interest me anymore. Open source OSes like Syllable are at a similar stage of development, while also having the advantage of being free for anyone to try out and help out with.
And the there’s also Haiku and AROS which are both kickass in their own right, even if they’re somewhat less “original”
Edited 2008-04-03 15:55 UTC
I like SkyOS, have no problem with contributing some $ to help development, and think Robert has done some amazing work.
But I think the constant beta program is working against SkyOS’ interests. It seems to be a continually moving feast.
In my opinion, it would be better to get a Version 1.0 release “out there”, even if it doesn’t have a new kernel or the other new features that are being planned.
Plan for the future by all means, but solve the bugs, quirks and inconsistencies first, then get it out to the public.
Just a suggestion.
I paid to join the beta programme but the only machine on which I could install SkyOS was a laptop with no serial port (MSI S270). SkyOS uses the serial port for debugging.
When it wouldn’t boot properly, I sent Robert around 30 photographs of kernel debugging screens and tried various boot options as he requested. Then he ceased communication, my account was cancelled, but the beta fee was not refunded.
It’s only a few Euros, it’s not worth chasing, but it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth to be defrauded like that.
When it wouldn’t boot properly, I sent Robert around 30 photographs of kernel debugging screens and tried various boot options as he requested. Then he ceased communication, my account was cancelled, but the beta fee was not refunded.
Wow, that sure sounds like a nasty thing to do :O I have no idea what Robert has in his mind but I don’t really feel you either have any reason to lie here.
I would post this in the SkyOS forums to get this figured, if it hasnt already been looked at.
We never canceled any account and never will do so. Please contact me via email to get this issue solved. (me wonders why you didn’t already)
I did email you Robert, before posting here, at 00:27 GMT on 3 April.
Edited 2008-04-04 12:47 UTC
I’m not that active in the SkyOS community anymore.
But I will try every beta release, and I still think
Robert is doing a great job creating SkyOS.