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ReactOS 0.3.15 Released
Beardydog writes "From the ReactOS.org bulletin, 'The ReactOS project is proud to announce the release of version 0.3.15. A culmination of over a year of development, 0.3.15 incorporates several architectural enhancements to create a more compatible and conformant implementation of the NT architecture. Perhaps the most user visible enhancement is initial support for USB devices, both storage and input.'"
ReactOS is a project to build a free, open-source clone of Windows, compatible with both drivers and userspace software. Why on earth hasn't this received more support from the OSS community? It's the only realistic chance of dethroning MS from the desktop in favor of an open alternative. Linux is fine for servers, portable devices, and embedded systems, but trying to stick it on the desktop is a foolish dream that has failed for over 10 years.
Well yes, but at the same time I only use Windows for one thing nowadays: running it in a virtual machine under Linux so I can run 3 programs that have no equivalent under Linux. If those programs work under ReactOS, I'll use that in a heartbeat. They must understand that beacuse the provide an already made VM among the downloads.
Non-Linux Penguins ?
To be fair, yes this is a hobby OS, but to say that with disdain diminishes the value of a hobby.
Nice point. Amateur means "one who loves" (literally), it should never be disparaging to be called an amateur. Hobbyists are "amateurs" by definition. All the great Renaissance thinkers were amateurs across a wide range of fields, but often to great depth. Hence we owe much of modern thinking to amateurs.
The code that managed context swapping is part of the scheduler, at least on Linux. Yes, it can be costly, which is why it needs to be implemented correctly, and why you keep getting alternative schedulers (not as often as you once did, it was crazy back in early 2.0). There is classic problem with Intel-HT and Postgresql that caused context swapping for database I/O to be extracostly, as you probably recall. And it can be done correctly, as was proven in this case, and then again for Oracle.
It is absolutely possible to have high performance userspace graphics, as was proven with some of the more up-to-date drivers. I think it was ATI that first did it, by the way. The trick is to keep as much as possible in userspace, but that requires a change in mentality for developers.
morcego
Not to mention everyone is ignoring the elephant in the room, the reason why Linux has never stood a chance...Windows software.
There is ALWAYS some "must have" piece of software that Linux doesn't have any alternative to or the alternative is poor, and as long as that is the case you can just give it up. the FOSS community has acted like all you need is a browser and Office but even my little old lady customers have software that they simply won't do without, and its pretty damned obvious by now that Linux is NEVER gonna get enough marketshare in its current form to get all that software ported, its just not gonna happen.
So if the FOSS community really and truly wants the world using a FOSS OS? Then get behind ReactOS, because that is pretty much the only shot you have of dethroning Windows on the desktop. Hell you make it stable so "update foo broke my drivers" or even better if supporting windows drivers isn't a problem I'll be happy to stock my shelves with ReactOS boxes and laptops, and I bet I'm far from alone. I really get damned sick of the FOSSie faction saying I don't want Linux to succeed or that I'm working for MSFT...do you have ANY idea how badly they fuck us system builders over? The OEMs get Windows cheap enough they can pay for the cost in trialware, us system builders have to pay the same price the average Joe pays and it fucking sucks. Don't you think I'd rather sell systems without that high as hell cost of Windows dragging like a boat anchor behind it? I'd even be happy to pay say $20 a pop for each copy of ReactOS, sure beats the wallet raping i get from MSFT.
So c'mon FOSS community, get behind ReactOS. You get the code you are always wanting, we system builders get an OS that doesn't bleed us dry, the consumers get an OS that runs what they want to run, hell you could even have a dialog box pop up pointing out a FOSS alternative to this or that software when the user first goes to install if you want to wean them off of non FOSS, its a win/win for everybody.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.