[openbeos] Re: Open BeOS
- From: "Leon Timmermans" <openbeos@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <openbeos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 23:53:47 +0200
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. Grant" <jg-lists@xxxxxxxx>
To: <openbeos@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 10:04 PM
Subject: [openbeos] Re: Open BeOS
> I seem to have never received Imre Leber's email. It was not in my spam
> filter either; how bizarre.
>
> on the 18/10/03 17:29, Adam K Kirchhoff wrote:
> > On Sat, 18 Oct 2003, Imre Leber wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> > If NewOS/BeOS kernel is self contained and POSIX complaint I see no
> >> > reason not to try it with GNU. After all, other kernels work well
with
> >> > GNU (Linux, Hurd and NetBSD spring to mind). If NewOS/BeOS kernel
has a
> >> > modern design, is efficient and complete I expect it could be slotted
> >> > into a GNU system. If it is better than the competition it could
become
> >> > a popular alternative too.
> >> >
> >> But we don't want for OBOS to be a replacement for linux, linux is a
> >> command line operating system (with some very basic graphics support).
> >>
> >> BeOS wants to be a *real* desktop operating system and for that we can
> >> hardly use any of the command line GNU tools.
> >
> > Excuse me, but aren't all/most of the command line tools that shipped
with
> > R5 GNU?
>
> My GNU/Linux computers proceed directly to a graphical environment after
> boot up. (I believe since around 1998 GUI has been my default). I seem
> to remember BeOS having a Console Debugging mode which looked similar to
> the linux kernel booting display. Are there keys to trigger this mode
> that I can press during boot up?
>
> My query referring to the OBOS kernel was making the assumption that
> each core component of OBOS is distinct.
>
> In the same way that the linux kernel loads and starts init which
> bootstraps the rest of the GNU system, does the OBOS kernel load and
> starts a bunch of daemons and then desktop? Is there an online document
> detailing the boot up process at all?
>
> If the OBOS kernel is POSIX compliant, I don't see a reason why it could
> not be used with the GNU system.
I suppose GNU could do that, but I don't know why theywould do such a thing?
They alread have plenty of kernels.
> I'm really interested in learning what is done better in the OBOS kernel
than the
> Linux kernel and also the way the OS manages processes etc etc.
>
OBOS is aimed at the desktop users (low latency), not servers (high
throughput).
I'm not a kernel hacker (actualy, I'm more like a lurker normally), so I
don't know the details.
> Writing a complete replacement for BeOS5 must be a very large task.
> Will OBOS take advantage of mature free software, like the GNU C library
> etc?
>
The GNU C library is LGPL licenced, OBOS has the MIT licence, therefore the
GNU C library is not used.
I think parts of *BSD are used for POSIX and ANSI C functions, you should
look at the (anonymous) cvs to check it.
> Kind regards
>
> Jg
>
>
Leon Timmermans
Other related posts:
