FreeWin95

Операционная система FreeWin95 была предшественницей ReactOS, авторы этой системы планировали создать open source-клон Windows 95. По сути система не представляла собой ничего иного, кроме как дальнейшее развитие ReactOS. Основателем и координатором проекта FreeWin95 был Янник Майорос (Yannick Majoros). Ниже представлен документ, написанный им в 1996 году и кратко представляющий общественности суть проекта:

FreeWin95 project introduction Document revision 0.1 Official release English version This is the introduction text for the FreeWin95 project. This document is not meant to be a programmers-only info file, but rather as information for anybody interested by the project. 1. What is it ? ---------------- The FreeWin95 project is project to make a free system which would be low-level compatible with Microsoft Windows 95. The system would be placed under a GNU-like license, which would make it so-called "free software". This means that the source is released (the original program, under a text-form, readable and editable by humans), that nobody may sell the system (it is free!), and that everybody may contribuate to the project (this last topic is actually not in the GNU license, but the project will be so). Low-level compatible means that it would accept system drivers which are designed for use with Windows 95. 2. In which way can I be interested ? -------------------------------------- First, as a would-be user. You can not only encourage us, you can also tell us your suggestions, what you like or don't like in Microsoft Windows 95 and what we have to make better. You can help development by spreading informations about the project (you are encouraged to spread this info file). Secondly, as a developer. You will naturally understand that programmers are necessary for such a project. They are the people who will put the project in concrete form. In the third place (but not less important!) are the people who will handle public relations. This goes from information for the public and relations with hardware producers for drivers to juridic problems (everything we release has to be legal). And, at last but not least, we need people who dedicate web pages or bbs'es to freewin95. A freewin95 home page would really be interesting. A mailing list would be interesting to, and someone has to maintain it. E-mail for freewin95 developers/helpers would also be handy. 3. Organisation ---------------- We need at least a little organisation if we want to achieve a fully-working system which meets our main goal : low-level compatibility with Microsoft Windows 95. Organisation doesn't mean hierarchy. I think everyone has to be treated equally in the project. We first need a coordinator, at least for the first months. I think that the project can then goes further without coordinator. His task will be to suggest who is going to do what. As I started the project, I am candidate for this and will act as if I had this function until there are major complaints from potential freewin95 helpers. In this case, we will think about a new organisation scheme (without me, naturally). Then we need someone who will maintain a web site (home page ?) and someone who will maintain the mailing list. A newsgroup would be great too. We also need someone who will write the "official" texts. If after a while we see more than one development tendency, there will be more than one distribution. I don't see anything more which would be necessary in the organisation. If you do, please tell us. 4. Development information --------------------------- I didn't discussed this with other people yet, and I think nobody has to decide it on his own. We have to discuss it all together. A newsgroup would be great for it, and a mailing list is almost necessary, as I said earlier in this text. I propose (this has to be discussed !) that we do everything in C/C++, so we all "speak the same language". I know there is a port of GNU C for Windows 95, and I propose we use this for every application we will develop. But this is for later, as we first need a kernel. For this, I propose we find a good compiler. We could eventually adapt GNU C. We could also do a lot in assembler, but I don't know if it is the best solution. It would not only take a lot of time, it would also not generate the fastest code. If we have to optimize everything for Pentium processors by hand... And who can be sure to make the best code with these pipelines, the cache, etc. ? What will almost necessarely have to be in assembler is the code which will put the processor in protected mode and manage memory. Anyway, ideas are welcome... I also wanted to say that you don't have to be a great programmer to develop something for freewin95. Feel free to try, there will be enough people to correct you if you're wrong, and it's the best method to learn. 5. How to contact us ? ----------------------- At the moment, the only mean is by e-mailing to me (project coordinator) : Yannick Majoros, aka Mellery Mutant, aka Melmut internet e-mail : ymajoros@hotmail.com