ReactOS 0.3.3 has been released. “The Win32 subsystem is in the beginning of a total overhaul to make it completely compatible with NT5 which may introduce various drops in application compatibility from time to time, however in the 0.3.3 release it has had a positive impact on stability and compatibility with Win32 applications. As a generic result of these internal changes, the system feels a lot more stable in comparison to previous releases, and could be run on a real hardware (though usual limitations still apply – no USB, SATA, NTFS).” The screenshots page has been updated as well.
Very good! I’m eager to try it out.
The problem with this project is that not many people will be excited by it until it is stable enough to be actually useful. I just hope enough interested developers can stay focused enough to get to that point.
Checking out the ReactOS homepage, I notice no mention of their pirated code “cleanup” which made all the headlines. In addition, they’re now trying to “ground-up implementation of a Microsoft Windows XP compatible system.” Really? Just like when they were trying to make a 2000- compatible system, or back when their project was still called FreeWin95?
It’s a shame. If they were to simply make a good OS on the NT model, and then try to emulate Windows, they might have a chance of making a viable OS. However, by instead trying to chase down every Windows release as it comes out, they’re a team of tens trying to reverse-engineer the work of thousands.
They finished the clean up, thus no mention. Whether their was pirated code is unknown and pure speculation.
NT5 is the code base for 2000, XP and Vista. If you stick to NT5 you’ll get a good system.
Actually Vista is officially using the NT 6.0 kernel, although rumour has it SP1 will up that to NT 6.1 to come in line with Server 2008.
Yes, but Vista is a thing to avoid wherever and whenever possible.
Cheeky… but very funny.
Thanks a lot, I spat hot coffee all over my knees, keyboard and screen
That is the challenge.
Anyway, you don’t need to be as devoted as they seem to be, but you can let yourself see they are doing a great job to achieve their chosen goal, even if you did not find it interesting.
“It’s a shame. If they were to simply make a good OS on the NT model, and then try to emulate Windows, they might have a chance of making a viable OS. However, by instead trying to chase down every Windows release as it comes out, they’re a team of tens trying to reverse-engineer the work of thousands.”
Its a good job they are building on work done for many years by the Wine team…for years, and I suspect an awful lot of code will be used from other places as well. They already have a lot working.
You must be blind.
If you take a look at the right column on the front page, you will see a box which says:
ReactOS Auditing
99.5% complete
For further information on the audit status, please visit the related ReactOS-Wiki page.
I even have a screenshot, made just for you
http://www.uploadgeek.com/uploads456/1/reactos-frontpage-auditing.p…
There never was pirated code in ReactOS. So far none is found, and there is only 0.5% to go. It is unlikely that the unproven claims would be proved by the last remaining 49 files.
FreeWin95 has little to do with ReactOS except for the wish to recreate Windows API. ReactOS is coming nicely along and has a quite nice compatibility already. They can pull it off. They are not trying to be ahead of Microsoft. They are trying to create an open Windows system for those who don’t want to buy expensive hardware to run the newest buggy release from Microsoft.
They are trying to create an open Windows system
Well, IMO it’s stupid to try to create a open windows clone if you just end up running propietary drivers. Not that reactos isn’t awesome despite of that….
I don’t know about that. If you have proprietary drivers that work, but have an OS that is no longer supported by the company behind it… well, suddenly it’s not so stupid.
Besides that, there are open drivers as well (ext2fs drivers and some other fs-drivers in more or less working state).
I disagree.
If ReactOS gets good enough to be able to run most Win32 binaries, then I would run it virtualized under Linux in a few years time in order to maintain legacy applications.
If it catches a virus, no biggie … just wipe, rinse and restore from an image.
ReactOS virtualized under Linux could potentially become an ideal way to maintain support for legacy, binary, Windows-only cruft that you may find that you still need to keep running.
you can use wine too for that purpose
ReactOS virtualized under Linux
Why???!! Reactos is the best hope to ditch both Windows and Linux, so if you ever want virtualization, run Linux on top of Reactos, but not the other way around! (Unless you’re a sysadmin)
No, I have it the correct way around.
Literally tens of thousands of pieces of malware and literally millions upon millions of rooted Windows systems says that you have it entirely the wrong way around. What we want (as end users) is to ditch Windows and Windows applications as much as is practicable.
It is by far more sensible to have a secure and capable OS as your base host OS, and then virtualize the insecure wonky OS that you are only keeping because of backwards compatibility for a handful of legacy binary applications.
Besides, virtualization comes free with the Linux kernel:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel-based_Virtual_Machine
A pretty picture of how it would be (substitute ReactOS where you see Windows XP in the picture):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Harumphy.kvm.screenshot.png
Edited 2007-09-13 01:47
LOL that screenshot was classic!
“…newest buggy release from Microsoft.”
Just wait and see how bug-free ReactOS will be when it is finally released, if ever.
I doubt you will be satisfied with its quality.
Out of pure curiosity I ask: Why is that? What would make ReactOS so unstable and inconsistent that it would dissatisfy me? Would it give me as many BSODs as NT4 did? Win2K and Win2K3 are much better than NT4, but lacks consistency in the interface.
Considering the amount of bugs in GNU/Linux, *BSD, Windows 2K/XP/2K3 and pretty much all software only poor performance and lack of stability can dissatisfy me. But I doubt that ReactOS 1.0 will have poor performance and low level of stability. FLOSS software generally don’t reach the 1.0-milestone without having good performance and stability. Gnome 1.0 was an exception to that rule (as stable as windows 3.x).
Linux, for example, took quite some time to “get there”, and that is just a kernel. Windows is much more than that – It is a kernel, a graphical subsystem, other built-in applications etc.
I am currently using KDE 3.5.7, and I can still find fixed use-cases which cause software to crash.
Bug-free certainly isn’t the highlight when it comes to open source software. QA and bug fixing are simply not as fun as implementing new features.
… ?
Try again. And this time with some sort of structure in your answer. You don’t make sense.
They are doing it on their free time.
It contains several software projects, all by the same crew.
Every software has bugs, and they lack the QA army Microsoft pays for.
The KDE remark was in order to show that even a project of such magnitude, with 3.5.7 for a release number (which is greater than a 1.0 release), still contains trivial bugs in it.
ReactOS won’t be any different.
Edited 2007-09-13 16:03
Reactos still runs on fat32 harddisks NTFS development hasnt even begun , they should have focused on ditching the overactive desktop concept too since you cant totally remove it from reactos even if you choose to , they should also keep it minimal and get the most importain things running on it before adding wormholes such as RPC service and stuff , makes me believe they want their os to be phoning home.
Furthermore the size is quite big for not having all basic functionality such as Ntfs plug & play support and full drivers support .
But Since Vista a terrible product has arrived i would really rather switch to reactos provided that in the distant future when everyone made the Vista switch they reverse engeneer it to support both Nt5 and Nt6 series of driver support.
… ?
Why i dont like
1. Vista requires more ram than previous oses for silly reasons (security stuff i never wanted) thus a sluggish system.
2. Vista halts network for video/audio which is nowdays a feature = bad programming and too much bloatware
3. When we were on 56k modem internet used to lag why have the whole computer lag?
Reactos on the other hand is opensource with strange development active x controls that are ridden from function but not system files thus memory when you deselect it on installer. I However highly doubt i would use original Reactos distro of even that after it releases , i developed something better than tinyxp based on nt 5.2 kernel (home project) for using computer with comfort and less worries
Its up 2 u Microsoft Lovers feel free to vote down even this comment.
What is it with you and wanting to stir the s**t? Do you really want everybody to ignore your comments or shoot you down the minute you come out with one?
Personally, I think the project rocks. I don’t see a problem with somebody trying to recreate a system from scratch.
What’s the big deal? You don’t like the fact that somebody is trying to create a better OS than MS? That makes no sense.
Surely, if your a fan of MS software, you want MS to give they’re best? Don’t tell me MS is going to do that without some form of competition?
Well, if moulinneuf and Oliver can stir the s**t from a GPL and a BSD-POV then Almafeta can stir the s**t from a Windows POV
But I don’t grasp why he wants to be in that group…
LOL! Neither do I.
It’s nice that this site has most of the trolls under control and although I don’t consider Almafeta one, yet, it’s still nice to be able give them a kick in the teeth no matter which side of the fence they’re from.
As for ReactOS, this project is making some serious headway. I downloaded the latest release and am seriously impressed. It seems to have sped up and become allot more responsive.
Nice work ReactOS team.
It’s a shame. If they were to simply make a good OS on the NT model, and then try to emulate Windows, they might have a chance of making a viable OS. However, by instead trying to chase down every Windows release as it comes out, they’re a team of tens trying to reverse-engineer the work of thousands.
Why should they try to make a new OS which has no market and then *try* to emulate Windows instead of making a Windows-compatible OS which instantly gains the biggest software base in the world? Your logic is beyond me.
Thanks to something called “backward compatibility” and something called “stable API”, you usually don’t need latest Windows to use its software, unless specifically designed for latest version of OS.
Being a generation behind official Windows (like being XP-compatible in the era of Vista) would be a great achievement for ReactOS.
…if it worked with a few holdouts of my favorite windows applications, then i wouldn’t have to keep that spare copy of win2k around.
i’ll give it another whirl. tried it two years ago and it couldn’t really do much of anything except sit there and crash, and i already have a copy of windows for that.
If you favorite winapps are not new ones, it might work. Otherwise, ReactOS is similar to Mono, because both try to be compatible with someone who is constantly changing the rules of the game.
You are mistaken about the “pirated code”. There was no scandal about pirated code. There was a hoopla over the difference in what constitutes legal reverse engineering in different countries. Their resolution was to audit all code as they touched the section of code, and at that time, remove anything that might even gray in any country. They have a meter right on the front page of their web site that shows what percentage of their code has been audited. I would consider that a mention. Also, they are saying that they are shooting for NT5, which is what 2000 is. Just because they are including some NT5.2 compatible code does not mean they have abandoned NT5.0.
Reactos could be a secure and lightweight Windows-like alternative to Windows Vista. While people are angry at Vista because it uses so many resources and because it’s insecure and still, pricy, Reactos would solve all these problems in a few years. People don’t want bells & whistles, they want security, speed and low cost. If people don’t adopt Linux, they could adopt Reactos that will be familiar for them and it’ll run their favorite applications. Best of luck to the team.
I’m not sure I’m happy about using the Tango icons. Personally I’ve begun to choose the Crystal Project over the Tango Project – especially for Windows.
Oh well.. it’s FLOSS, so it’s not impossible to change. I just have to compile it myself. It probably won’t be as smooth as compiling Firefox 3 for Windows.
Am I the only one to think the Tango icons are a tad bland? I think it could handle a bit more gloss – like something in between Tango as it is and the Crystal icons. Not too much gloss, nor too little.
Nope, you’re not the only one. I can’t stand the Tango icons. They’re flat-out ugly.
Opinion alert: Don’t take this as fact.
No, it is a fact, Tango icons are ugly.
Crystal is ugly too, If they were going to emulate Windows, they should have used Windows look-a-like icons too.
Tango is ugly and Crystal is, well, a bit over done.
There’s always Oxygen of course, which is shaping up to be a good iconset.
“Am I the only one to think the Tango icons are a tad bland?”
Probably not but I like their “blandness”. On the other hand absolutely cant stand the Crystal gloss.
Aah yeah, well. There are several variations of the Crystal icons. I dislike Crystal Clear very much, but Crystal SVG is nicer. The older versions are generally horrible, but there are some new versions which are quite nice.
The “Crystal Project” I was thinking of, is this one:
http://www.everaldo.com/crystal/?action=preview
A bit too much gloss but nothing like the older Crystal styles. Much more mac-like – more photorealistic than actually glossy.
Something between Crystal and Tango would look so sweeeeeeeet (said with really cute high-pitched voice a la Leela).
In Gnome I use Tango icons but that’s because it works fine with my slightly extra-coloured fancy theme. In Windows (or in Gnome with an old-fashioned theme) the newer Crystal icons would probably do juuuuuuust fine. I think.
Okay, I’m officially babbling now
BTW: Danes only drinking on occasion. Of course we have an occasion for every day
So do we Irish. There is no excuse needed for a good drink, but it’s nice to have one.
Yeah, I like the Crystal icon set, although it is a bit glossy for me.
Oxygen now, that would be sweet!
“The “Crystal Project” I was thinking of, is this one: ”
Ehh..I dunno. It doesn’t do it for me. I also really dislike “photorealistic” icons (like the hard disk icon in that set). It’s an icon, it should symbolize something, not be an accurate depiction of that something.
“BTW: Danes only drinking on occasion. Of course we have an occasion for every day
”
Drinking in itself is an occasion
I remember the Danish DHL office having their lunchroom fridge stacked with alcohol. That seemed quite odd to a swede.
It’s quite amusing that something as irrelevant and easily changed as the choice of icon set is the topic that causes the biggest discussion. I guess compaining about something technical and relevant would require too much knowledge and effort, and after all you do have to complain about _something_.
(Much like me complaining about people posting complaints)
Hey, I wasn’t complaining about the icons. And if you see my other posts, you’ll see I’ve got a quite positive attitude towards ReactOS.
just imagine every linux distro with seamless virtualbox and a reactos guest for legacy apps. I think it will be a better solution than wine.
just my 2 cent but I am happy about the progress
Browser: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 6.12)
I didn’t know that my comment would expose my browaer and os .. I am ashamed ..
Browser: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 6.12)
You’re forgiven
If DX10 came to this. Then Vista wont be needed.
Well, supposedly Vista STILL isn’t needed because DX10 really makes no difference…
The problem is finding an icon set rich enough to support the vast number of icons which are bundled with ReactOS / Windows.
Most icon sets are designed for Linux desktops, so a certain set of icons is designed. Windows has different icons to Linux, and we need to simulate that range.
Tango was one of the richest, but even that wasn’t enough, many of our icons are modified Tango.
Eventually, a set of photo realistic ReactOS dedicated icons will be developed, but until that time we need to utiize what the market offers as best we can. Tango was the best solution when the decision to use them was made (about a year ago)
Well, the Tango icons are better than the ugly blend of Win 3.1, Win95, Win98, Win2K and Win XP icons found in pre-Vista Windows
Despite ReactOS being in an early state it is quite consistent in its UI, even in regard to translations. In terms of localisation ReactOS is already ahead of Windows
Will msstyles be supported in ReactOS or will you stick to the classical Windows look (not a bad choice, IMHO) ?
Eventually if this project does reach a usable state, it will only serve as a free version of windows. And that’s not a bad thing. To me, (this is a very subjective opinion) Linux served me for many years as a free Unix alternative.
In any case, good work by ReactOS devs for auditing the source code and removing any illegal parts. Hopefully with time, more people will join the project and help out.
Edited 2007-09-13 09:27
Having ReactOS able to use all my driver prodived by the manufacturers and get ALL my peripheral working automagicaly would make this is far more interesting than Linux, unleashing the full potential of the hardware. I’d better wish that hardware manufacturers make Linux drivers but hee…
The only thing I’d wish is that they could add an X emulation layer so I could use KDE as my DE and still use GDI app.
Will msstyles be supported in ReactOS or will you stick to the classical Windows look (not a bad choice, IMHO) ?
At some point in the future, yes.
We have uxtheme.dll from Wine, but it’s not fully implemented yet.
There is also a full replacement for our current explorer which has started development. This will bring a much more modern shell to ReactOS.
Sounds good. ReactOS is getting sexier for each release.
I hope msstyles will perform better in ReactOS than in Wine, though.
What about ReactOS 0.3.3 with BBlean for Windows as a replacement shell? Think I’ll try it in Virtualbox.
Edited 2007-09-13 15:43
Timing has lot to do with the Success of ReactOS.
Before people upgrade there hardware and spend money ReactOS should reach to 1.0 version which will be hopefully stable.
We do not expect any fancy things from this os, we just want out apps to run on this OS! and we never have to use Vista and windows XP again!
>We do not expect any fancy things from this os, we just want out apps to run on this OS! and we never have to use Vista and windows XP again!
Hear hear! I have one box still running windows because of the apps, and when Reactos goes beta, I’m installing it.
(Linux’s one task, one app approach is ok, but some things are just easier to do when you have one app that does everything you need to do, instead of switching between various apps to do the same job.)
They are trying to recreate a system which is broken by design. XP is a system hacked up for a decent user experience, but there are many shortcomings and design flaws (e.g. bad non-admin user support, bad driver model with power management left to be implemented in each driver, win32 API itself, services with open ports, window system in kernel etc.). Even Vista is much better in sense of architecture. The only problem is that it was over-ambitious and MS rushed it out year or two before it was ready.
wow, I would never have guessed someone who read osnews could be so clueless about XP. Pretty much everything you said is inaccurate.
Are these design flaws in Windows reflected in the API, or internal? If internal, the new code could be better than the old. ReactOS could end up a better Windows than Windows.
We’re getting there. Linux/BSD and OSX are maturing rapidly. GNOME is pretty and polished.
KDE is too and is about to change a few things…
Driver support is better than ever.
AMD/ATI and Intel are supporting the F/OSS community.
Virtualization is evolving very rapidly…
Pretty soon one will be able to use ANY OS and run just about ANY program relatively seamlessly. Granted, the programs might not be cutting edge…But playing BioShock in Linux within a few years on a sweet rig with open source 3d drivers…
I just installed this last version in a vmware virtual machine and it is very far from sufficient stable for production or even for daily usage.
In my opinion it would be more productive investing time and effort to develop wine, samba and making linux more user friendly for windows users. NT kernel has not many advantages over the old and reliable unix kernel. It is stupid trying to play a game dicted by Microsoft and with MS patents involved.