REACTOS

ReactOS is an open-source re-implementation of Windows – more specifically a free replica of Windows NT – and is aimed at anyone who wants to use old Windows programs, but without running code from Microsoft. Even though the project has not received as much attention as major Linux distributions in recent years, there are still enthusiasts who regularly take care of the project. Currently, the ReactOS team has announced a number of new features, including a revised behavior of Windows Explorer in connection with apps in full screen mode. Thanks to the developer katahiromz, the taskbar will now react correctly to so-called “rude apps”, i.e. applications that run in full-screen mode on Windows and thus cover the desktop. In the future, the taskbar will automatically blend in and out correctly, which is an important step towards full desktop compatibility. In addition, there were also deeper technical improvements: An adopted correction from the Wine project fixes a bug in the oleaut32.dll. This is a Windows library that is essential for OLE automation and COM interactions in older Windows applications. With the fix, for example, ComboBox dialogs in Oracle VirtualBox now work correctly. This means that VirtualBox VMs in ReactOS can now be used for the first time. A similar error also affected 3DMark in 2001, which is now also correctly runnable. ReactOS lives on with this and although in small steps, it is proceeding noticeably. If you are looking for a real alternative to Windows, you will not be happy. However, if progressed, it is conceivable to use it as a replacement system for use cases that depend on old Windows programs.

Visopsys is a fully functional OS for Computer Science students. It is primarily an educational system, but it surprises with its usability. The OS boots fast and  boots into a Live session.  The desktop is fairly simple to navigate and includes a handful of essential apps, plus handy administration and configuration utilities. The OS is missing a web browser and there’s only a basic text editor. Visopsys  really is a very capable CS project.

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