Keeping the OS/2 Flame Alive

nanday writes "Ever wondered what happened to OS/2? With IBM officially abandoning the operating system last year, users are relying on a third party version of OS/2 -- and, increasingly, using free and open source software to keep it alive." From the article: "According to Haverblad, the main reason that users stay with OS/2 is for 'features that Windows and Linux don't have yet.' He singles out the REstructured eXtended eXecutor (REXX), an interpreted programming language known for its ease of use, a 'rock solid kernel,' 'excellent multitasking,' and low system requirements. Haverblad also claims a lack of viruses and spyware and, referencing a report on OS/2 Warp Server by Secunia, fewer security vulnerabilities." Newsforge is also an OSTG site.

Comments

Re:REXX was also available for Amiga...and others.

[iamacat]

Not to mention that Mac users had AppleScript before, during and after OS/2. Nothing to see here, move along!

Re:A worthy attempt but...

[DingerX]

Yeah, that reminds me. Last summer I had to buy a ticket at an Italian railway station. I could have used the robodispensers, but this required a little fancy maneuvering the automated machines didn't have. So I wait in line, give my request. The guy gets halfway through entering it, and the system crashes hard. He waits two minutes, hits reset and sure enough, the OS/2 Warp logo graces the screen. He ends up issuing me a ticket identical to what the robodispensers were giving, i.e., not solving the specific issue I wanted solved.

Now, Italian trains are, relative to the rest of europe, cheap, but I wonder if ditching OS/2 wouldn't improve stability and flexibility.

Obligatory Mac Bash

[Comboman]

The ONLY reason OS/2 /appears/ to be secure is because it isn't worth any one's time trying to crack it.

...just like Mac OS.