Hey guys, have you seen ReactOS Project ?
It is an open source OS that intends to clone a Windows NT system. It is in a very early stage, but looks very promising.

Very interesting, I've been wondering if anyone has tried to do this (besides Wine, as in a fully fledged operating system) for some time.

Version 0.25 is out

It has now network (still a bit experimental) and much better stability.


Some nice screenshot:
IMAGE

Is this Linux with a new Shell, or is it a complete OS (brand new Kernel)?

It is a new OS.

Won't Microsoft be going after it pretty soon?

I don't think so...it's naive to believe that some open source project can be as good as Windows...it's not that you write that code in a year or so...you have to have a lot of knowledge and tons of time + a bunch of developers that do work on that all day long...I mean why is Longhorn being pushed back? For how long do they work on that now? And how many professional programers are involved in that....

Btw. wasn't there someting like Lindows that was supposed to be very good? Never heart about it again...

I think he means for copyright purposes.

Lindows is now Linspire.

This project has taken a lot of benefit from Wine (and also wine is taking benefit from it). It just has its own kernel, and over it there are subsystems implemented (well, I think this is the idea). There is planning for other subsystems than NT, as JAVA, OS/2, DOS...

It is expected a 100% driver compatibility, so, a driver made for MS Win will work on it. The programmers try to understand Windows API's and calls, and then implement it's own code to do the same, so software thinks it is on M$ Win.

I think this project has a high potential, once it gets stable, you can have your own Windows but Open Source, and modify it with your tastes, subsystems, FileSystems...

sounds pretty cool. i hope this sees the light of day.

React'O's sounds like a cereal.

In any case, this project is very cool - they work with Wine to get the application compatibility in check, and have a dedicated team of coders working tirelessly on cloning Windows low level subsystem.

The true test would be if native drivers worked on it, but application compatibility is fine enough for me!

Ruairi

New version 0.26 is out.
Changelog.

Some nice screenshots:
Win32 Script Host in ReactOS
Dillo accessing Google
OpenOffice 1.1.4
Deus (it seems it is a game, I think, but nice to see)
Unreal Tournament
Task manager
Abiword

This is a intermediate version between 0.25 and 0.30, just to take out some official version between 0.30, as it is expected to take some time. Everybody is waiting for it, won't be a stable product, but a lot of functionalities are on the way, as sound, usb, integrated web browser (and ActiveX controls too i think), a lot of software will start to run, OpenOffice support, etc... I can't wait to see that

Do you have to press 'start' to shut it down ? .. ok just kidding

How about VMWare support for this OS

ReactOS Faq

The Faq says it runs on a range of virtual hardware.

At the moment the project is fronting as a developers/learning tool - it is replicating and documenting all of the windows APIs (including microsofts previously undocumented system APIs )

Pretty amazing its got this far.

And for the million dollar question:

- has anyone succesfully run Foobar on it?

Doesn't run smooth, has problems with redraws (as so many things in ReactOS), and audio is not implemented yet.
On 0.3 or 0.4 I think it will work for sure

Bit of a show-stopper, that one

Haha :-)

According to the screen shot above, yes.

And Linspire is just another Linux distro. Looks too "Pay-more-for-this-feature"-like to me, but its being sold to people clueless on buying a PC. (ie, on cheap boxes at WalMart.) Best thing they've done, which is free, is the nVu Web Editor.

This is Deus Ex, one of the most underated games in history. It's an RPG crossed with a FPS. It features stats and upgrades, but is also very much focussed on combat (or the evasion of combat, depending on what you prefer) & problem solving. It has an extensive plot that, as far as I'm concerned, has yet to be bettered. While the game is now several years old (based on the UT99 core), it is one of the best games ever created (at least imo). Won numerous game of the year awards. From the creators of System Shock 2.

This project looks pretty interesting, I must check on it once in a while. I do wish someone would change "Start" to "Menu", however.

I agree, it's superb. One of the best games I've ever played.

Well, if anyone interested, i mantain the 'Non Tested or Ported' software list on the ReactOS Applications' wiki.


Volunteers needed !