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Simply GNUstep Delivers UNIX, Simply

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-play-with dept.

Eugenia writes "A new, Linux-based operating system released recently, called Simply GNUstep and it is based on the GNUstep architecture, originally built by NeXT (OpenSTEP) and is now also used by MacOSX (Cocoa). The alpha version of the x86-based OS is available for download and boots off the 110 MB bootable CD. The cool thing about Simply GNUstep is its partial source compatibility with MacOSX programs (further compatibility is still worked on) and its clean infrastructure, as it only includes GnuSTEP graphical applications like WindowMaker, Mail.app etc. You can read an introduction article of the OS at OSNews."

6 of 396 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Interesting, PowerPC version? by xil · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mac OS X still has fat binaries, actually. You should be able to build binaries which will run on Mac OS X or Darwin (PPC) and Darwin (Intel).

    Obviously the Darwin/Intel contingent is pretty small, so I haven't seen this in practice.

    On my Mac OS X 10.1.2 box:

    % which lipo
    /usr/bin/lipo

  2. Terms & Definitions by maggard · · Score: 5, Informative
    For those confused by what's what this might help bring folks up to speed (and keep the discussion coherent):
    • NeXT: The next business founded by Steve Jobs after being pushed out of Apple (to sell the next generation of computers.)
    • NeXTSTEP: The black cube then slab with object-oriented OS based on Unix sold by NeXT Computer.
    • OpenStep: The NeXT OS ported to 5 different architectures and sold as a stand-alone product.
    • Objective-C: The language OpenStep is written in. An object oriented extension of C considered by many to be cleaner then C++.
    • GNUstep: The reimplementation of OpenStep by gnu-folks.
    • Rhapsody: OpenStep after Next buys Apple for -$400 million. Reworked to be their next OS. To run on Macs and under Wintel. Dropped after developers refuse support.
    • MacOS X: Shipped version of next-gen MacOS. OpenStep-derived kernel & Cocoa layer along with legacy MacOS compatabilty & virtualization evironments. Publically PPC only.
    • MacOS X Server: Same thing, different focus on services.
    • Cocoa: The layer in MacOS X that along with the kernel is still closely OpenStep.
    • Darwin: The Open Source PPC & x86 core of MacOS X - doesn't include Cocoa.
    • Simply GNUstep: GNUstep coupled with a Linux distribution.
    --
    I don't read ACs: If a post isn't worth so much as a nom de plume to its author then I wont bother either.
  3. Re:Not there yet. by cehardin · · Score: 5, Informative

    The problem is that many of the newest video cards do not support the VESA 2.0 standard.

    As this was mainly a demo cd, I was more concerned with getting it to run on as many machines as possible with minimal effore (therefore, VESA)

    The actual installation disc I'll end up creating will not try to use the VESA framebuffer.

    Chad

  4. Update from Chad (author) by redmenace · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've got to run to work (I'm late!), but if one of you could please put a post on the slashdot article explaining the problem I would be very
    thankful!

    It seems I broke a rule at sourceforge which limits file sizes to 100MB

    If someone could offer a mirror site I would be very thankful for that as well!

    Thanks! Chad

    Here's what sourceforge had to say

    --------------

    Greetings,

    My name is ********; I am the Quality of Service Manager for
    SourceForge.net. This message is directed to you since you are
    designated as a project administrator for the Simply GNUstep project on
    SourceForge.net.

    First, we would like to take a moment to congratulate you on your recent
    press exposure on Slashdot.org -- we love to see Open Source projects
    succeed, and press exposure of this nature is always of great benefit.
    Since the announcement of your project efforts on /., your project has
    received roughly 2241 downloads of the ISO image provided through your
    download page at: http://simplygnustep.sourceforge.net/Download.html

    It has come to our attention that you are making use of SourceForge.net
    project web services as a mechanism to release file materials in excess
    of 100MB in size. Each project hosted on SourceForge.net is provided
    with project web services as to ensure that they may adequately provide
    an online description and information regarding their project.

    ... etc

  5. Why simply GNUstep will not DL! by cehardin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sourceforge has a policy of not allowing DLs of files over 100MB, I broke that limit with my 110MB ISO image, so they took read access form the file to everybody but me.

    If someone would like to offer a mirror I would appreciate it very much!

    Chad Hardin

    1. Re:Why simply GNUstep will not DL! by PMcGovern · · Score: 5, Informative

      SourceForge.net does indeed have a 100MB limit per project for project web server disk usage.

      We do, however, encourage people to use our File Release System (FRS) which does not have this 100MB limitation.

      The File Release System is recommended for a number of reasons; one of which is
      to allow us to balance the traffic load among many download servers on our high-capacity download network.

      Before we removed the file, Simply GNUstep had two thousand downloads at 110MB each, during the course of the day (totalling over 200 GB of data).

      Obviously we need to distribute this kind of load, which our file release system allows us to do; otherwise this kind of download traffic will impact the other 30,000 projects we host.

      If you have any other questions about this, please feel free to email me at pat (at) sourceforge.net