OS2 World.Com Forum OS2 World.Com Online Discussion Forum. |
|
| Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Team member in admin
       posts: 535 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
|
1. Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Date: 17 Sep, 2006 on 16:05 |
|
|
Premium member in staff
       posts: 2298 since: 12 Jan, 2001
 |
 |
2. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
If alot of people call for the open sourcing of abandonware, the auther (if they respond) will either open source it or realize there is a market for it and continue to develop it. It seems like a win-win situation.
---
BigWarpGuy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OS/2-eCS.org Director of Communications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - supporting the past OS/2 user and the future eCS user http://www.os2ecs.org
|
| Date: 17 Sep, 2006 on 22:27 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
3. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Frequently, when a developer or company releases the source for a piece of commercial software, they want to find a worthy party to be responsible for it. If you look at OpenOffice.org, Mozilla, and other such projects, you see that they were not just dumped in an archive someplace, but they set up a Foundation with certain goals, to assure the quality and robust continued development of the project. The abandonment of OS/2 software in many cases was because of lack of interest. A prime example is Post Road Mailer. When the developer decided to abandon even Postroad's Java successor, J-Street Mailer, he offered to release the source to both. A maintainer came forward for J-Street, which is now known as Polarbar Mailer, but no-one answered his call for a maintainer of Postroad. Since that time, many people have sought its source code from the developer but he can no longer be reached. Being utterly ignored when he initially offered the source likely was insulting, considering the countless hours and care he had put into developing it. I personally am a big fan of Postroad Mailer and am sorry I (we/all of us) missed that window of opportunity, as it was a mature application with much potential for further development. Some companies went out of business and disappeared. I forget, what was the name of that word processor everyone loved? I regretted not buying it when I had the chance. If we had the source to it, we could today be using it with the latest Word files, without the bloat (sorry!) of OO.org or Lotus. Then there are those companies that ceased development on OS/2 but developed later versions for Windows and other platforms. SlickEdit and BlueCAD are examples that come to mind. They would not release their source, because some of it would be in common with the later versions and, if ported, could compromise their sales. These are the larger obstacles to open-sourcing OS/2 abandonware. I am skeptical of the idea that the developers do not know how to publish their source. Perhaps the action needed is to set up a Foundation, or to support and enhance existing organizations, to negotiate with former OS/2 developers, addressing their concerns within a professional structure (instead of being queried by yet another OS/2 user about that old project again). This is what happened with PM Mail. In this case, the source and rights were actually bought by OS/2 Voice in order to develop and sell it. Not exactly open-sourced, but that fits well with the fact that PM Mail is still developed and sold for Windows. For other abandonware, where the developer has disappeared from the known OS/2 universe, it could take quite some detective work to find the custodian of the source. That might benefit from collective action as well. |
| Date: 18 Sep, 2006 on 03:39 |
|
|
Team member in admin
       posts: 535 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
|
4. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| I complety understand that is desirable for developers (and to the OS/2-eCS community too) to have a responsable party for their software if it turns open source, but I think first we need to know which software can be open sourced. I'm sure that many OS/2 ex-developers don't even know that there is a OS/2-eCS community that can be interested on their source code. This is a general call to let know OS/2 ex-developers that his source code can be usefull and that there is a community interested. If there is a developer that want to open source his/her software only if there is a responsable party supporting it, it will be good if they can contact me to search for some interest on the community. But I think we must find first the original developers that want to make their OS/2 software open source and them focus on try to find a developers party to continue it. For the moment I want that the OS/2 abandoware gets an alternative to continue living. Open Source it will be the first step. It will take more time to find a developer party to continue it, but withtout the first step it will get harder to find this party. |
| Date: 18 Sep, 2006 on 19:42 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
5. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Maybe the trick is to set up something similar to the Bounties project. We need a list of abandonware projects that people are interested in, and some kind of petition, optionally with donations attached, to indicate how much interest there is. From there the developers can be found, and perhaps some private negotiations opened. This way, if they really do not know there is an interested community of users, they can find out just how interested people are. What do you think? |
| Date: 19 Sep, 2006 on 02:09 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 277 since: 10 Aug, 2004 |
|
6. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
obiwan (18 Sep, 2006 03:39): ...The abandonment of OS/2 software in many cases was because of lack of interest. A prime example is Post Road Mailer. When the developer decided to abandon even Postroad's Java successor, J-Street Mailer, he offered to release the source to both. A maintainer came forward for J-Street, which is now known as Polarbar Mailer, but no-one answered his call for a maintainer of Postroad. Since that time, many people have sought its source code from the developer but he can no longer be reached. Being utterly ignored when he initially offered the source likely was insulting, considering the countless hours and care he had put into developing it. I personally am a big fan of Postroad Mailer and am sorry I (we/all of us) missed that window of opportunity, as it was a mature application with much potential for further development.
I also am a big fan of Post Road Mailer, and I know that I've emailed Dan Porter at Innoval asking about the source. I'd love to get this, even if just to fix a few of the bugs and add some new features (such as the ability to use SMTP servers which require authentication, maybe add IMAP, etc). Unfortunately I have never received a response.
Some companies went out of business and disappeared. I forget, what was the name of that word processor everyone loved? I regretted not buying it when I had the chance. If we had the source to it, we could today be using it with the latest Word files, without the bloat (sorry!) of OO.org or Lotus.
You're thinking of Describe. It was a great word processor. |
| Date: 19 Sep, 2006 on 18:25 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
7. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Fahrvenugen (19 Sep, 2006 18:25): I also am a big fan of Post Road Mailer, and I know that I've emailed Dan Porter at Innoval asking about the source. I'd love to get this, even if just to fix a few of the bugs and add some new features (such as the ability to use SMTP servers which require authentication, maybe add IMAP, etc). Unfortunately I have never received a response.
That's exactly what I'd like to do, and I bet we're not alone.
You're thinking of Describe. It was a great word processor.
That's right, DeScribe. Thanks. The sources for programs like DeScribe have to be kept by someone somewhere, don't they? |
| Date: 20 Sep, 2006 on 06:13 |
|
|
Team member in admin
       posts: 535 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
|
8. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Well, I can not find some other post on the forums when several people put some abandonware that will like to see it open source. So, it is a good idea, lets post the OS/2 abandonware that we will like to see open source. |
| Date: 27 Sep, 2006 on 00:05 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 277 since: 10 Aug, 2004 |
|
9. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Okay, here's my list of stuff that I'd love to see open sourced. Some of these I doubt will ever be open sourced, but hey, you never know. 1. Post Road Mailer 2. Innoval's Hacksaw 3. Faxworks (PMFax) 4. BackAgain/2000 (or another similar professional backup product) 5. Ray Gwinn's SIO 2000 driver (I still use that driver) 6. Ceres Sound Studio (or instead of this, I'd love to see a port of the open sourced sound application Audacity... it is far past the capabilities of SoundStudio) 7. The CW-MMClasses (although I understand and respect Chris's reasons for not open sourcing them) I'm sure there are others, but that's just what comes to mind right now. |
| Date: 29 Sep, 2006 on 19:01 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
10. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| I came up with 8 I feel strongly enough about to think of: 1. Post Road Mailer 2. IBM Workframe, comes with VisualAge C++ 3 3. Blackbook, a freeware address book (hobbes) 4. Any and all EWS, but particularly I'd like to tinker with Alpha (an editor) 5. DeScribe word processor 6. Netscape 2.02 (to help fix elusive OS/2 performance problems in Mozilla ports) 7. Object Rexx for OS/2 8. Object Desktop |
| Date: 29 Sep, 2006 on 21:00 |
|
|
Normal member in user
       posts: 113 since: 04 Oct, 2006
 |
|
11. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Martin (17 Sep, 2006 16:07): Please post your comments on the Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware Article.
The most important application to open source is OS/2 itself. Once that is done, the applications will follow naturally. All the major players in the OS field are moving to 64-bit and OS/2 should follow suit if it is to remain a viable alternative. Unless Serenity REALLY develops and comes up with a 64-bit kernel for OS/2 --PRONTO, an alternative open source replacement kernel should be the focus of the efforts to revitalize the OS/2. It is no surprise that the applications that you mention continue to perform well under eCS --it is still in its essence old OS/2. What has merely been accomplished by eCS is a refinement to the IBM coarse and difficult installation procedure and a screen-scraping a la WinXX mode --nothing essentially revolutionary despite the marketing hype at Serenity. In this article, Eric Raymond provides insight about what an OS (in his case Linux) is required to have during this transition from 32-bit to 64-bit hardware to challenge the MS monopoly: <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2009201,00.asp?kc=EWLINEMNL082906EOAD > Hence, unless OS/2 is to be regarded as "viable" as an Commodore and/or Amiga in this fast moving technological area, Serenity has to do some REAL development and come up with a 64-bit kernel. And if Serenity can not, a serious effort to fund an open souce kernel replacement (to begin with) should be the aim and not the peripheral applications. I, for one, possesing many of those applications continue to run them even on OS/2 Warp 3 with no need of eCS. |
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 06:45 |
|
|
Premium member in staff
       posts: 2298 since: 12 Jan, 2001
 |
 |
12. OSFree or FreeOS? |
|
|
Alternative to open sourceing OS/2 is the OSFree project? They need people to help with it. http://www.osfree.org ?Perhas restarting the FreeOS project? I think it has been dropped?abandoned? The site is gone and the Yahoo group for it is too(?).
---
BigWarpGuy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OS/2-eCS.org Director of Communications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - supporting the past OS/2 user and the future eCS user http://www.os2ecs.org
|
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 15:47 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 16 since: 12 Jul, 2003 |
|
13. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| Sascha is trying to solve problems booting the L4. Anyone willing to take on the challenge?, he will help people getting the sources and make compile them. It's time to remind people that support for OS/2 is three months away from being over, forever. That means they are dropping the other shoe. In my opinion if we don't organize and make a sound plan to take control of the future of OS/2, the platform will be irrelevant even for us. All the "dead" OSs have some form of open source of their OSs. Haiku (BeOS), FreeDOS (DOS), AROS (Amiga), REACTOS(Windows). Why can't we..... Are there more BeOS users than OS/2? Think about it... Leonardo Pino |
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 16:52 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 277 since: 10 Aug, 2004 |
|
14. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| While I'd love to see OS/2 open sourced, it is pretty clear to me that IBM isn't going to do this. The bottom line is there isn't enough of a business reason for IBM to go through the process to open source OS/2. What that leaves us with is either trying to develop an open source version (clone) of OS/2, or (in the interim) seeing if it is possible to replace specific components of OS/2 with open source alternatives (some have suggested seeing if the OS/2 kernel can be replaced with a modified version of the Linux kernel, although I have no clue how realistic this idea is), or to just continue using it in maintenance mode (new device drivers can still be developed, new applications can be written, it even could be possible to develop new API's) , but with the core of the OS being static. |
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 21:24 |
|
|
Premium member in staff
       posts: 2298 since: 12 Jan, 2001
 |
|
15. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Would another option be supporting the OS/2 support in ReactOS? http://www.reactos.org
---
BigWarpGuy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - OS/2-eCS.org Director of Communications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - supporting the past OS/2 user and the future eCS user http://www.os2ecs.org
|
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 22:35 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
16. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
El Vato (04 Oct, 2006 06:45):The most important application to open source is OS/2 itself. Once that is done, the applications will follow naturally.
Please explain how that is a natural consequence. It is not self-evident. All the major players in the OS field are moving to 64-bit and OS/2 should follow suit if it is to remain a viable alternative.
Please explain how a 32-bit kernel that performs well on 64-bit hardware is not viable. It is a technical question, and the fact that other OS's have a 64-bit kernel is not a technical answer. Unless Serenity REALLY develops and comes up with a 64-bit kernel for OS/2 --PRONTO, an alternative open source replacement kernel should be the focus of the efforts to revitalize the OS/2.
While this seems a good idea, it is not clear why it is so imperative. What would it really achieve? What are the costs and risks, and are they outweighed by the benefit? Is there nothing else about eCS that is more worthy of focus? It is no surprise that the applications that you mention continue to perform well under eCS --it is still in its essence old OS/2. What has merely been accomplished by eCS is a refinement to the IBM coarse and difficult installation procedure and a screen-scraping a la WinXX mode --nothing essentially revolutionary despite the marketing hype at Serenity.
You consider it an improvement to break compatibility with older programs? No improvements to eComStation are "real" unless only the latest software can perform well? Bootable JFS, ACPI support, current accelerated video drivers, and native OpenOffice.org are nothing essentially revolutionary? If you wouldn't mind, please clue me in on how to do with Windows the customization and beautification of the screen that I can so easily do with eComStation. In this article, Eric Raymond provides insight about what an OS (in his case Linux) is required to have during this transition from 32-bit to 64-bit hardware to challenge the MS monopoly: <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2009201,00.asp>
This article is actually by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, and he quotes Eric Raymond. I don't really see any reasoning given there for the 64-bit kernel either. In fact it says that the Linux kernel has supported 64 bits for years, and it has not been the deciding factor over its share of desktops, which is what Raymond is concerned about. The only reason given for the urgency of 64-bit computing is that Eric Raymond says so, and he's very smart. If that is the reason for doing things then we all should have dropped OS/2 for Linux a decade ago. Hence, unless OS/2 is to be regarded as "viable" as an Commodore and/or Amiga in this fast moving technological area, Serenity has to do some REAL development and come up with a 64-bit kernel. And if Serenity can not, a serious effort to fund an open souce kernel replacement (to begin with) should be the aim and not the peripheral applications. I, for one, possesing many of those applications continue to run them even on OS/2 Warp 3 with no need of eCS.
IMO that's one of the beautiful things about OS/2, and now eComStation, that you don't have to upgrade, but all your programs still work the same if you do. I am not disagreeing with you necessarily, but I can't agree with you either, because you have given no substantive reason why. An open-source 64-bit kernel sounds exciting, but I don't have any reason to expect it to perform faster or more reliably than the very mature, stable, and fast kernel I have now. If anything, unless it used the same IBM codebase, I wonder if such a radical change would destroy the whole stability of the platform. In contrast, I know exactly what I would do with the source to these applications we've listed, to improve my own productivity. That really is what it is about, isn't it? |
| Date: 04 Oct, 2006 on 22:51 |
|
|
Normal member in user
       posts: 113 since: 04 Oct, 2006
 |
 |
17. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
El Vato (04 Oct, 2006 06:45):The most important application to open source is OS/2 itself. Once that is done, the applications will follow naturally.
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):Please explain how that is a natural consequence. It is not self-evident.
Context: potential developers are distributed across the globe and not everyone of them can afford even the cost of an eCS license (about the same cost for a WinXPP license but with NO modern applications). Keeping the OS/2 beast (source code) in the dark, chained, and only accesible by the few elite "priests", effectively keeps a cross-fertilization from happening inside the bowels of the OS/2. For potential open source developers who might want to suggest extensions and/or modifications to the OS/2 kernel and/or API to accomodate compatibility with current open source projects/applications, it is not simply possible.
All the major players in the OS field are moving to 64-bit and OS/2 should follow suit if it is to remain a viable alternative.
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):Please explain how a 32-bit kernel that performs well on 64-bit hardware is not viable. It is a technical question, and the fact that other OS's have a 64-bit kernel is not a technical answer.
Perspective...Do OS/2ers want a niche/hobby OS or do they want an workstation/enterprise class OS to compete with the big boys? Unless Serenity REALLY develops and comes up with a 64-bit kernel for OS/2 --PRONTO, an alternative open source replacement kernel should be the focus of the efforts to revitalize the OS/2.
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):While this seems a good idea, it is not clear why it is so imperative. What would it really achieve? What are the costs and risks, and are they outweighed by the benefit? Is there nothing else about eCS that is more worthy of focus?
Perspective, perspective...the window of transition is upon us (if we agree with Mr. Raymond). When a customer like a Small and Medium Business (SMBs) is evaluating an entry level OS workstation/client for its newly acquired 64-bit AMD or Intel based hardware, OS/2 should be among its potential choices. A 64-bit workstation/enterprise class where applications like the Apache Geronimo application server and the Derby small-footprint DB2-like database, at the very minimum, should be able to execute and SCALE well --can eCS do that??? It is no surprise that the applications that you mention continue to perform well under eCS --it is still in its essence old OS/2. What has merely been accomplished by eCS is a refinement to the IBM coarse and difficult installation procedure and a screen-scraping a la WinXX mode --nothing essentially revolutionary despite the marketing hype at Serenity.
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):You consider it an improvement to break compatibility with older programs? No improvements to eComStation are "real" unless only the latest software can perform well? Bootable JFS, ACPI support, current accelerated video drivers, and native OpenOffice.org are nothing essentially revolutionary?
Perspective, perspective, perspective...do not superimpose vos perspective upon mine, my dear fan of Chewbacca. In going from a bootable FAT formatted partition to an HPFS one, only one file is necessary to make the newly formatted hard disk/partition bootable: OS2BOOT. Accordingly, a hack to that same file is likely only necessary to make an JFS formatted disk/partition bootable. That, I hardly call revolutionary, as any OS/2 hacker with access to the source code of the file system might have done looong ago. Additionally, that booting method may not be exactly too stable for the general OS/2 environment --otherwise IBM might have done it in a whiff. There are issues that SNAP team has not resolved due to lack of access/modification to the OS/2 video subsystem. OpenOffice runs excellent under Linux right now and users do not have to pay $250.00. Are you sure the OpenOffice port is not a Win32 hack like the Innotek Java port and the VirtualPC/2 that run so unstable under the current OS/2 environment? obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):If you wouldn't mind, please clue me in on how to do with Windows the customization and beautification of the screen that I can so easily do with eComStation.
This is very OS dependent and your question has nothing to do with the METHODOLOGY to "upgrade" an OS a la WinXX. Again, you are reducing my statements to your notions --preconceived or not. In this article, Eric Raymond provides insight about what an OS (in his case Linux) is required to have during this transition from 32-bit to 64-bit hardware to challenge the MS monopoly: <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2009201,00.asp>
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):This article is actually by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, and he quotes Eric Raymond. I don't really see any reasoning given there for the 64-bit kernel either. In fact it says that the Linux kernel has supported 64 bits for years, and it has not been the deciding factor over its share of desktops, which is what Raymond is concerned about. The only reason given for the urgency of 64-bit computing is that Eric Raymond says so, and he's very smart. If that is the reason for doing things then we all should have dropped OS/2 for Linux a decade ago.
Perspective, perspective, perspective, perspective...server vs desktop/workstation --that is the focus of Mr. Raymond. Based on the previous pattern of transition from 16 to 32-bit architecture, this 32 to 64-bit phase in the Intel and or AMD customer/SMB and or enterprise client/workstations represents another chance to fight for turf on the desktop/workstation area. Mr. Raymond knows that the server class OS on 64-bit is old news for Linux. Hence, unless OS/2 is to be regarded as "viable" as an Commodore and/or Amiga in this fast moving technological area, Serenity has to do some REAL development and come up with a 64-bit kernel. And if Serenity can not, a serious effort to fund an open souce kernel replacement (to begin with) should be the aim and not the peripheral applications. I, for one, possesing many of those applications continue to run them even on OS/2 Warp 3 with no need of eCS.
obiwan (04 Oct, 2006 22:51):IMO that's one of the beautiful things about OS/2, and now eComStation, that you don't have to upgrade, but all your programs still work the same if you do.I am not disagreeing with you necessarily, but I can't agree with you either, because you have given no substantive reason why. An open-source 64-bit kernel sounds exciting, but I don't have any reason to expect it to perform faster or more reliably than the very mature, stable, and fast kernel I have now. If anything, unless it used the same IBM codebase, I wonder if such a radical change would destroy the whole stability of the platform. In contrast, I know exactly what I would do with the source to these applications we've listed, to improve my own productivity. That really is what it is about, isn't it?
Again, perspective. If OS/2 is to be relegated to a hobby like exercise for which you are willing to pay at least $250.00 is fine since all you will be running is oldie applications and thus I have not provided any substantive backing. I will be happy not spending $250.00 to run those same applicatioins if I remain with my OS/2 Warp 3-4. On the other hand, some of us want to run/recommend to business the same applications that other OSes run and --why not?-- compete with WinXX for vendor applications. I would like to run/recommend WebSphere (Java based) workstation/enterprise class applications like Rational's Studio or at least its equivalent Eclipse development environment. It was with great difficulty --trial and error-- that I was successful in having IBM CloudScape/Apache Derby, a Java based DB2-like personal developer's database, to execute under OS/2 with Golden Code Development (GCD) port of Java. And I see no reason not to unleash the OS/2 beast so that others may contribute source modification and/or applications to compete with WinXX than that of an equal footing with 64-bit OSes.. Closing one's eyes complacently and repeating, "we are an elite pool gene --we do not need cross-fertilization from other than Serenity/IBM" when suddenly the major playeres move to 64-bit and BOOM! we are gone.. OS/2 was designed as an integrating platform but in the current context it appears as if it were ok to be another DOS. |
| Date: 05 Oct, 2006 on 06:42 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
18. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Good response, El Vato. Just a few comments/questions. El Vato (05 Oct, 2006 06:42): For potential open source developers who might want to suggest extensions and/or modifications to the OS/2 kernel and/or API to accomodate compatibility with current open source projects/applications, it is not simply possible.
I think everyone agrees it either needs to be open-sourced, upgraded by IBM, or replaced, eventually. The question is how urgent is it? The API can be extended without changing the kernel. It still isn't clear how releasing the source to it would affect whether application developers release their source.
The window of transition is upon us (if we agree with Mr. Raymond). When a customer like a Small and Medium Business (SMBs) is evaluating an entry level OS workstation/client for its newly acquired 64-bit AMD or Intel based hardware, OS/2 should be among its potential choices. A 64-bit workstation/enterprise class where applications like the Apache Geronimo application server and the Derby small-footprint DB2-like database, at the very minimum, should be able to execute and SCALE well --can eCS do that???
Maybe not, but is that really dependent on replacing the kernel? In going from a bootable FAT formatted partition to an HPFS one, only one file is necessary to make the newly formatted hard disk/partition bootable: OS2BOOT. Accordingly, a hack to that same file is likely only necessary to make an JFS formatted disk/partition bootable. That, I hardly call revolutionary, as any OS/2 hacker with access to the source code of the file system might have done looong ago.
The source for JFS has been available for years now, and any OS/2 hacker didn't do it, Serenity did. Your question has nothing to do with the METHODOLOGY to "upgrade" an OS a la WinXX.
Sorry, I misunderstood you to mean the screenscraping was to make OS/2 more like WinXX. You actually meant it was an upgrade of the same sort you might find in WinXX. I will be happy not spending $250.00 to run those same applicatioins if I remain with my OS/2 Warp 3-4.
I can't install Warp 3 on even semi-modern hardware for $250. The rest of your points are well taken. It reflects a problem as old as OS/2 itself. Perhaps that is yet another reason to open-source these abandonware applications, so that they can ultimately be ported to other platforms. |
| Date: 05 Oct, 2006 on 07:52 |
|
|
Normal member in user
       posts: 46 since: 12 Apr, 2004
 |
|
19. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| OK, so open-sourcing OS/2 is stupid. Don't waste your time. 1. The code is really, really old. Much of the OS/2 kernel (over half of the lines of x86 assembler code) is devoted to processing the config.sys file. Quite a bit more is devoted to handling PS/2 hardware (and I don't mean Play Station). Lots more of the essential code of OS/2, for example the named-pipe code, is 16-bit. 2. The code is totally compromised. There are something like 300 vendors, most of which are no longer functioning corporations. It would cost millions in legal fees. 3. The function of the OS/2 kernel is pretty well documented. The point of the open-source OS/2 kernel clones are that it isn't that hard to duplicate the function of the closed-source parts of OS/2. 4. I like the Serenity/Mensys/Netlabs approach of replacing one piece at a time until all of the IBM parts are gone. Want a 64-bit kernel? There's one under construction. If it works, and it's correctly licensed, Serenity/Mensys will be including it in eCS.
---
Expert Consulting for OS/2 and eComStation
|
| Date: 05 Oct, 2006 on 23:32 |
|
|
Normal member in user
     posts: 164 since: 30 Aug, 2006
 |
|
20. Re:Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
Blonde Guy (05 Oct, 2006 23:32): OK, so open-sourcing OS/2 is stupid. Don't waste your time.
Thanks for chiming in Blonde Guy. Good stuff to know, and upbeat too. |
| Date: 06 Oct, 2006 on 01:23 |
|
|
| Call to Action: Open Source OS/2 Abandonware |
|
|
| All times are CET+1. |
< Prev. | P. 1 2 | Next > |
|
|
|