Ftom Wikipedia: SkyOS was a prototype commercial, proprietary, graphical desktop operating system written for the x86 computer architecture. As of January 30, 2009 development has halted and no plans to resume its development have been announced.
…seems that its one-man-coder Robert Szeleney has made the last beta release of SkyOS 5.0 - build 6947 - available for free:
So, I took the suggestion of the OP, and tried SkyOS with my netbook’s (FreeBSD) VIrtualBox environment. SkyOS looks interesting. It took quite a while to install it on a VirtualBox virtual drive (obviously that problem is mostly attributable to Vbox). Subsequent to the installation I used the operating system for an hour or so … I’m guessing. I was able to come to this site using the Firefox 2 browser that SkyOS is supplied with (that brings back Haiku memories :-).
Anyway, the system looks a little Haiku-ish, IMO. Its gui is mimimalist in a Haiku sort of way. I’m thinking the author had a Haiku-like system in mind when he started the development of SkyOS. He’s using the BFS file system (to say it’s a derivative called SkyFS - I guess is more accurate). Somewhere I read that Robert wrote his initial kernel entirely in assembly, then converted it to C somewhere down the road. This would seem to speak to a speedy kernel, like Haiku. Yet, I found the system runs somewhat slower than Haiku. Part of the problem may be the result of the system’s having only a few video drivers, which meant that on my netbook it defaulted to VESA.
In some ways, I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it’s pretty incredible for a one man OS, but it probably needs some optimization. For now I’m likely to stick with my Haiku and FreeBSD setups.
Today I had a chance to try the SkyOS beta on real hardware (without using Vbox). To tell the truth … after looking at it on real hardware, I’m not sure there’s a lot of difference - speed wise - between Sky and Haiku …
I wonder why he (Robert) doesn’t expand on this thing? On his site, he mentions the manhour problem developing drivers. Seems he could take the Haiku approach and build compatibility with FreeBSD driver sources, etc. His baby seems to run pretty well on two of the three machines I have here, which is not so bad …
From SkyOS’ Wikipedia page): As a former open source project, SkyOS has been the subject of many debates involving free software.
Often, SkyOS is accused of violating the GPL. That is, since developing an operating system is thought to be an exceedingly complex task, the conclusion is drawn by some that Szeleney must have stolen code from free software in order for him to have made the progress that he has. In fact, the opposite is implied by Szeleney’s public dealings with open source developers. Even when not required under license, Szeleney has consistently published changes made to open source works used in SkyOS.
Some beta testers fear that their investment will be lost if Szeleney becomes unable or unwilling to continue the development of SkyOS. This fear is commonly used as one of the more well-substantiated arguments for open sourcing SkyOS. Following the cessation of active development, Szeleney has mentioned this as a possibility.
Of course i can’t say that he has taken something from Haiku too, btw i hope he decide to release the whole source code as open source.
I also hope that he can be involved in haiku development 'cause i strongly believe he can do mutch.
[quote=forart.it]From SkyOS’ Wikipedia page): As a former open source project, SkyOS has been the subject of many debates involving free software.
Often, SkyOS is accused of violating the GPL. That is, since developing an operating system is thought to be an exceedingly complex task, the conclusion is drawn by some that Szeleney must have stolen code from free software in order for him to have made the progress that he has. In fact, the opposite is implied by Szeleney’s public dealings with open source developers. Even when not required under license, Szeleney has consistently published changes made to open source works used in SkyOS.
Some beta testers fear that their investment will be lost if Szeleney becomes unable or unwilling to continue the development of SkyOS. This fear is commonly used as one of the more well-substantiated arguments for open sourcing SkyOS. Following the cessation of active development, Szeleney has mentioned this as a possibility.
Of course i can’t say that he has taken something from Haiku too, btw i hope he decide to release the whole source code as open source.
I also hope that he can be involved in haiku development 'cause i strongly believe he can do mutch.[/quote]
A quick online search of the issue does produce a few items related to things you’re saying about what are (IMO) false allegations. If it’s the kernel they’re complaining about, they should be able to point to some indication of the so-called trespass, since the kernel was open source up through version 3! Right? It sounds like more of the mindless dogma of the gipple-hoard’s hive-minded promo there, IMO. Oh oh … batten down the hatches … here they COME!!!
So I’m just wondering if there is a place to find the .rar now that the site is down, I’m just learning about SkyOS and am interested in it. If anyone could find me a working link, I would be most appreciative.
[quote=forart.it]From SkyOS’ Wikipedia page): As a former open source project, SkyOS has been the subject of many debates involving free software.
Often, SkyOS is accused of violating the GPL. That is, since developing an operating system is thought to be an exceedingly complex task, the conclusion is drawn by some that Szeleney must have stolen code from free software in order for him to have made the progress that he has. In fact, the opposite is implied by Szeleney’s public dealings with open source developers. Even when not required under license, Szeleney has consistently published changes made to open source works used in SkyOS.
Some beta testers fear that their investment will be lost if Szeleney becomes unable or unwilling to continue the development of SkyOS. This fear is commonly used as one of the more well-substantiated arguments for open sourcing SkyOS. Following the cessation of active development, Szeleney has mentioned this as a possibility.
Of course i can’t say that he has taken something from Haiku too, btw i hope he decide to release the whole source code as open source.
I also hope that he can be involved in haiku development 'cause i strongly believe he can do mutch.[/quote]
Legaly this is a mess. I thought HP bought Sky OS and killed it. Hm, there was a Linux based OS like this that was also on tablets just like Sky was. I would avoid this mess.
What HP bought was Palm. What HP killed was the HP Touchpad along with WebOS. HP later open-sourced most of the operating system as OpenWebOS.
Since Palm had purchased Be, and sold the intellectual property later to Access before being purchased by HP, there is a high probability that some of key concepts in WebOS were inspired by BeOS. If so, OpenWebOS could provide a framework by which a touch-based user interface could be implemented in Haiku. Mind you, I would prefer a solid desktop Haiku than a mixed-bag of things for R1.
As mentioned by another, you are clearly mistaking SkyOS (a hobby OS written by a single person, not based on any other kernel) for WebOS (written by Palm, based on Linux, sold to HP).