262 words [ 18 Screenshots ] [ 6 Versions ] [ 1 Weblinks ] - Last update: 2021-10-06 Page created: 2008-09-24 [SB]
ReactOS
A couple of persons decided at the 1996-01-23 to create a completely new operating system which can execute Windows applications. At first this project was called FreeWin95 and had some start-up problems. In 1998 the nearly given up project was reanimated by the new project manager Jason Filby and renamed in ReactOS. The aim definition of ReactOS is to become a Windows NT/XP compatible operating system. Both applications and drivers are included. Even further subsystems like Java operating system, OS/2 and DOS shall be integrated later. ReactOS is still in alpha development and protected as OpenSource by the GPL (GNU General Public License).
With the release of ReactOS 0.3.0 (alpha) applications like OpenOffice, Nero Burning ROM, WinRAR and Unreal Tournament already run with this operating system. The temporary stop of development of ReactOS was announced at 2006-01-27. Cause is the suspicion of source code smuggled in by reverse engineering of Microsoft Windows. The facts are cleared by code audit and newly programmed if required. To prevent similar situations in future, new guidelines for developer were specified.
The compatibility has been improved further in the ReactOS version 0.3.4 ( alpha) for the Windows 2003 operating system. Used files from the Wine project are up to date, new equipment drivers and the support of SSE/SSE2 processor functions are added. The user interface is reacting by different optimizations now faster. Still more Windows applications are running under ReactOS now, with the revision of the RPC and IDL technology also more complex applications like Microsoft Office in future versions.
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| ReactOS 0.2.4, Installation window under Windows | ReactOS 0.2.4, Installation screen | ReactOS 0.2.4, Basic settings for the computer | ReactOS 0.2.4, Boot Manager |
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| ReactOS 0.2.4, Graphic setup screen | ReactOS 0.2.4, Boot screen | ReactOS 0.2.4, View of the desktop | ReactOS 0.2.4, Explorer and version information |
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| ReactOS 0.2.4, Desktop Icon-Alignment and task manager | ReactOS 0.2.6, ReactOS, view of the desktop | ReactOS 0.2.6, File manager | ReactOS 0.2.6, Startmenu, File manager and task manager |
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| ReactOS 0.3.11, Boot Manager | ReactOS 0.3.11, Boot screen | ReactOS 0.3.11, Desktop | ReactOS 0.3.11, ReactOS Explorer and System |
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| ReactOS 0.3.11, Task Manager and start menu | ReactOS 0.3.11, Command line |
Date - Version
1996 - ReactOS 0.0.72000 - ReactOS 0.0.152005 April - ReactOS 0.2.62006 Aug. - ReactOS 0.3.02007 March - ReactOS 0.3.1, 2.1 million source code lines2008 Aug. - ReactOS 0.3.6