After several months the BeFree project shows its first progress with a screenshot. The next version is planned before the end of the year or in the first days of the next year.
First BeFree Screenshot
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSAlert.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Nice work Pier!
“The next version is planned before the end of the year…”
Before the end of the year? It’s already 12/31 now. How much progress do they expect to make in less than a day?
Ask Pier who submitted it.
It would help to see the context of how he posted it:
I’m really happy, but that’s not all folks!
I will post news about BeFree another time in the near future, and I hope to release another version before the end of the year (it’s 10:30 AM in Italy so I’ve time
Anyway….
Two overlapping trasparent windows?
BeOS is cool. No question.
But how many BeOS clones are out there? Wouldn’t it be better to focus to only one (or maybe two) projects?
That’s what an OS is to most of the users nowadays, sadly…
But how many BeOS clones are out there? Wouldn’t it be better to focus to only one (or maybe two) projects?
But how many Linux distros are out there? Wouldn’t it be better to focus to only one (or maybe two) projects?
But how many X GUI toolkits are out there? Wouldn’t it be better to focus to only one (or maybe two) projects?
Silly question required above silly answer.
There are a couple of different approachs to redoing BeOS, which is why there are so many projects.
– OpenBeOS takes the approach of rebuilding BeOS from scratch.
– B.E.O.S takes the approach of rebuilding it taking advantage of the already existing Linux kernel and XFree86. It was closed source until recently.
– BeFree, takes the same approach as B.E.O.S, but is open source.
Now that B.E.O.S is open source (and under the same license), would it be possible to see some more cooperation between the two, since they take fundementally similar approachs.
So they’re making thier own graphics system?
This is similar to BlueEyed OS, except they are using XFree86. Their websites are quite similar too (i.e. snazzy but nothing much substantial :-).
I don’t think that PANZI’s question was stupid. One of BeOS’ strengths was its focus. (Until of course they focused on the wrong thing – the Internet Appliance market) BeOS’ focus was what made it so streamlined and efficient. The more fragmented an OS becomes, the more difficult it is for that OS to be a success.
For example, the biggest boost to Linux on the desktop now comes from Sun Microsystems – a company that is giving Linux a specific focus and direction.
Forking and branching all lead to dissipation and ultimately irrelevancy. Because those projects that do matter have reached that point through focus and direction.
Heh, I like the WM looks already! Look forward to see the process between BlueEyedOS and BeFree, somehow I am hoping that both of project merge together some day. Who knows!
One of BeOS’ strengths was its focus.
Which I think is good for a commercial company. They can pay people to be focused (but of course they had people who were devoted to BeOS anyway).
Problem with opensource, if people won’t work together then they just won’t. You can’t force them, they’re doing this for free/fun anyway. Plus the internet is absolutely useless compared to real life communication (I think mostly due to the “can’t punch someone in the face when they’re 100 miles away” factor).
I agree it would be better for a single opensource BeOS project, but my point is it will not happen. I think though that once OpenBeOS (which I believe the strongest of the projects) gets to R1 the others will slowly fizzle out.
Yes, it is just 2 windows, but if those windows are the result of a more complex display architecture then it is a good achievement.
I know this because in my spare time I have written a display architecture and you do a *lot* of work on the engine before you get to “see” nice things like windows.
From this point, if all is stable in their display server, the progress should happen rapidly.
Jamie Burns.
Trying to access/see screenshot on berilos.de server but it seams that server is DOWN ? Any other places that I can see that screenshots ?
It would be wiser for B.E.OS, BeFree and Cosmoe to join their forces..
If there was some technical discussion about the behind-the-scenes processes involved in this rendering, that would be more interesting and valuable to readers. Any direct links to this kind of info so people can stop complaining about the screenshot?
I must say. I love the screenshot. Unlike KDE (or even Gnome) there isn’t the clutter of icons, endless options and other crap that simply gets in your way. This interface is very streamlined. The application “test window” is so user friendly that I think I could achieve mastery without even USING the application. Just seeing the screen shot is enough.
Great job!
jeanmarc wrote:
It would be wiser for B.E.OS, BeFree and Cosmoe to join their forces..
Either that, or two of the three acquiesce and throw their support into the third. It is, after all, tough for a project to have three different leads.
Well, since Guillaume has already said he’s not concerned with *who* takes the leadership role, it’s really up to Pier and Bill Hayden to work on how this plays out.
ad develop some iPhoto/iMovie type programs that work as nicely. then the Mac will be in SERIOUS trouble.