Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

SkyOS Now Runs Linux Binaries Natively

Posted by timothy on from the emulation-is-sincere-flattery dept.

Gunder123 writes: "A new (open source in the past, but not anymore) operating system, SkyOS, in its latest version can run Linux binaries unmodified, without the need of a recompilation, enriching its own application base this way. Their Linux emulation layer lies inside the SkyOS kernel, I wonder if there are any GPL violations going on here. Their future plans involve also an emulation layer for Windows applications, pretty much what ReactOS tries to do for the last few years for the WindowsNT model."

8 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. not all syscalls implemented by kbroom · · Score: 5, Interesting

    from the SkyOS website:

    >Emulation layers
    >
    >Linux
    > 6% of all linux syscalls implemented
    > Support for static linked ELF i386 binaries only

    Well I guess any binary using any of the remaining
    94% system calls will not work... hmmm....

  2. How is it different... by NinjaPablo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    than any other emulation (other than this is integrated in the kernel)? WINE runs Windows apps and I don't hear many complaints about license violations there.

    --
    SmashTech - No smashing of tech involved
  3. Re:GPL violation by TheMMaster · · Score: 5, Interesting

    one of the freedoms is the "freedom to read/modify and learn" from the source. If he is just learning from the source and reimplementing it, there is no problem.
    Is wine in violation with microsoft copyright?

    --
    Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
  4. It's a waste of time, but... by twilight30 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    the point is, it's *his* waste of time.

    Regardless of the licensing terms, this guy seriously doesn't expect to do anything truly useful with this OS.

    Remember that Torvalds initially didn't use the GPL for the kernel.

    Also note that Caldera has a 'distribution' that doesn't even use the kernel but rather reimplements a 'personality' -- I mean, even Unisys likes it !(I'm being sarcastic)

    Understand, though, I am not criticising his intent -- he has an itch; he wants to scratch. At least he's pursuing his own muse.

    --
    ========================================
    Death will come, and will have your eyes
    -- Pavese
  5. ReactOS not just going for app compatibility by JasonFilby · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I just want to point out that ReactOS is NOT just aiming for application compatibility (as is suggested by the submitter). We're also looking to support NT/2K/XP drivers and we're modelling the entire kernel and subsystems around the way NT works. Sure we'll do things differently where there won't be a huge compromise in compatibility and we can make something better.

    - Jason

  6. Re:Probably not a violation by All+Dead+Homiez · · Score: 3, Interesting
    In all likelihood, the Linux ABI will become a standard for all non-Microsoft x86 operating systems. It is simple and legal to implement, and very robust and powerful.

    Things definitely are moving in this direction. I just read on the netbsd-discuss mailing list that those folks are considering abandoning the slow BSD-style stack-based kernel calls, in favor of the quick register-based kernel call syntax favored by Linux and Solaris. If they do that, most syscalls will differ only in call number from the ones in Linux.

    -all dead homiez

  7. and for that matter by hawk · · Score: 5, Interesting
    If one is going to jump immediately to conclusions, the *more reasonable* question is whether they used BSD code, which would be legal--because that would be a more reasonable way to handle the emulation.


    Compare the immediate reaction of "did they violate GPL" with a absolutely no basis, in the face of the fact that it would be *more* difficult to get appropriate code from linux than from bsd, to the "wait and ask why" reaction to theft of bsd code by linux a couple of weeks ago.


    Then let's all head down to the High Church of Emacs and sing the hymn, "GPL, GPL, uber alles" . . .


    hawk

  8. Convergence to common binary format : good or not? by chrysalis · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Nowadays :
    • Linux runs Linux binaries (wow)
    • SCO runs Linux binaries
    • AIX runs Linux binaries
    • Solaris runs Linux binaries
    • OpenBSD runs Linux binaries
    • NetBSD runs Linux binaries
    • FreeBSD runs Linux binaries
    • Windows runs Linux binaries (LIME project)
    • SkyOS runs Linux binaries

    And all these emulations are very fast, because they are hooks to native OS functions. They aren't 100% emulation, like VMWare. I use Linux binaries daily on OpenBSD and FreeBSD, and I can hardly find any significant slowdown between a native BSD application, and the same application compiled for Linux, and run with emulation.
    So can we imagine that Linux binaries could become a de facto standard for executables?
    We would get something similar to Java, but yet more powerful (no tie to a specific language nor a specific API) . Ok, x86 binaries would only run on x86, but the same binary could run on 95% of the computers, regardless of their operating system. Any sort of application, low-level or high-level. GUI or daemon. And always fast, wrapping native system calls.
    The nasty drawback is that people would release more closed-source software.
    But OTOH, if you can take all your current applications and easily migrate to any operating system by just copying everything, including binaries, you can save a lot of time. You can also develop applications for customers even if you don't run a similar OS.
    Would it be a dream, or a hell?


    --
    {{.sig}}