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GUI Operating Systems Software

SkyOS GUI Contest 42

Posted by timothy from the make-it-pretty dept.
SillyClown writes "Just saw this on OSNews.com. SkyOS (an alternative OS) is having a contest to replace their user interface. There are 30 or so designs, and the polls are open for voting. Check it out, help shape the future of SkyOS!"
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SkyOS GUI Contest More

SkyOS GUI Contest

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  • what? SkyOS?? (Score:5, Informative)

    by Dreadlord ( 671979 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @07:07PM (#6905111) Journal
    for those of you who have no idea what SkyOS is(and I'm sure there are many), check out this page [skyos.org].
    What I find the most interesting about it is that OpenGL and SDL are both ported, along with many of other GPL'd projects like MySQL.
    • According to some of the theme screenshots I saw, most of the great Open Source applications have been ported: Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Microsoft Office, etc. are all there.

      Booyeah. [nathanpalmer.com]
      • I saw that emulation of linux is in progress. Instead of porting windows programs, couldn't they just emulate Windows? I know it would be slower, but there has to be a FASTER solution. I mean, why use another OS if the life-cycle of its ported products is 6 months behind the life-cycle of the real products?

    • Unsung heros (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      KHTML strikes again! SkyKruzer, the SkyOS browser, is yet another port of the KHTML code. The KDE developers have done an amazingly great job with KHTML. That makes four browsers using the same rendering engine (Konqueror, Safari, and ABrowse from AtheOS are the others). All because the code was so easy to understand and port. Having this hugely complex, yet easy to understand and portable body of code out there is doing wonders for alternative OSes, since a nearly perfect browser is essential for an O
    • that page doesn't do much to explain what it is.
      there are screenshots of skyos running photoshop [nathanpalmer.com] and quicktime [nathanpalmer.com],
      and in addition, there are icons for MS Internet Explorer, Adobe Acrobat, ICQ, and WinAMP.

      i'd really like to think that the sole developer did this all on his own.
      but it seems more likely that he hacked the hell out of win95 with help from cygwin,
      violating the gpl and ms eula
      (or perhaps linux and wine, violating just the gpl).

      please prove me wrong!
      hopefully the only violation here is the

  • Hey nice oss.. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by mnmn ( 145599 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @07:32PM (#6905311) Homepage
    I'll be honest. I'm impressed with the amount of work already put in there. I wonder if ELF/COFF support means such binaries can be run if all those calls are supported in SkyOS.

    Now I just hate to see yet another OS that attempts to replace BeOS out there... so SkyOS will have to have an extremely simple programming interface, hopefully all in ANSI C 99, and not too much graphical overhead (as in KDE and GNOME), and most importantly, a COMPLETE support of OpenGL 1.4 and soon OpenGL 2.0.

    I've always wondered if it was possible to create a BeOS lookalike OS that can use the drivers source code from the linux kernel (or X11) to be able to fully use all those network adapters and graphic cards.That will give that OS a huge lead in development of drivers which is usually the stumbling block against many new OSes.

    If SkyOS REALLY has a tiny footprint, complete hardware-backed OpenGL support and drivers for as many hardware as is supported in say OpenBSD and has apps like QT, SDL, mozilla, perl, MPlayer, xmms, svgalib etc, I think this OS has a real chance. I just think the BeOS niche is open for any OS for the taking, which can shed the enormous overhead involved in running for example Linux + X11 + graphics binary drivers + Mesa + qt + gtk+ + KDE. At least some developers appreciate the relative simplicity BeOS had and will develop for such an OS if free.

  • I actually like eye candy.... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by josepha48 ( 13953 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @07:46PM (#6905403) Journal
    in all reality most of these desktops look much like windows / mac / or some linux desktop currently in use like blackbox or E or something. Eye candy is kinda nice cause it sortof adds an actual desk to the 'desktop'. I guess I would probably add a file drawer and inbox / outbox on the side of the desk. Also it seems like you could go on with a more 'desktop' desk like look and feel. Kinda different, but more user firendly I'd think. If done right then you would add a 'media player' that looks like a radio on the desktop and make the whole desktop look like a virtual desk. Anyway it is not something that I have seen many people do. Yes it would be costly as it would be opengl and all 3d and lots of graphics, but what else do you do with all those cpu cycles ;-).
    • Holy smokes, you should go pick up a copy of microsoft Bob. It sounds like it was made just for you. Seriously. The whole 'desktop' taken literally was a big part of it.... also a huge reason why it failed. A computer is not a desktop, regardless of the name. Its inconvenient to force that type of worksapce onto your PC.

  • Be Careful (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 08, 2003 @09:02PM (#6905893)
    Be Careful. The SkyOS leaders apparently don't understand the GPL or how it works.

    Let's just say that there will be some evidence that comes to light soon that reasonably proves they're using GPL Linux Kernel code in their kernel without providing their kernel under GPL.

    Don't believe me? Research a bit, if you know what you're doing it will become obvious very soon...
    • My guess is this guy is talking about the SkyOS EULA, which was just recently added. There was a big discussion of this on OSNews. The short story is the EULA was written by someone who speaks English as a second language, and doesn't have very good grammar. The EULA is trying to say that just because some of the apps that are ported to SkyOS are GPL'd doesn't mean that you are entitled to the source of the entire OS.

    • Re:Be Careful (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      I also heard there was some SCO code in the Linux kernel.

      Don't believe me? Research it a bit, if you know what you're doing it will be become obvious very soon..

  • Is SkyOS free software? (Score:4, Informative)

    by jbn-o ( 555068 ) <mail@digitalcitizen.info> on Monday September 08, 2003 @09:10PM (#6905950) Homepage

    It's clear from their description that SkyOS is getting a considerable amount of help from the free software community--the list of features includes support for POSIX so GNU software can be used including the GNU compiler collection, GNU binutils, and GNU shell tools. But is SkyOS free software [gnu.org] too? I looked around the website and could not find any clear indication SkyOS is free software.

    I found Google cache of a license page [google.com] clearly indicating this is proprietary software, but that page isn't being published on SkyOS' webserver anymore, so I'm not sure if it still applies. In light of this and because I could not find links for SkyOS' source code, I'm inclined to not recommend SkyOS (or any other non-free software).

    • Re:Is SkyOS free software? (Score:5, Informative)

      by shane_rimmer ( 622400 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:02PM (#6906263)

      I found the following version of their EULA in the SkyOS forums [skyos.org]. It's dated 8-27-2003, so it's fairly current, though not quite as current as the 9-5-2003 google cache the parent linked appears to be. I don't know if this is official or not, but it bears a strong resemblance to the parent's link. I post it here for your reading enjoyment. I'd like to point out that there are no clauses that stipulate acceptance of the EULA, nor anything prohibiting me from posting it (this is a general discussion)

      SkyOs 4.0.0 EULA By Andrew Youll (Youlle Owner Of deNUX)

      SkyOs is a registered Trademark Of SkyOs Inc. and as such anyone who wishes to use the Name SkyOs, must apply for usage, the only way this can be ignored is if it is for a editorial, review or in general discussion, but any person / company is forbidden to impersonate SkyOs or SkyOs Inc in any way shape or form, impersonating SkyOs or SkyOs Inc will result in court action.

      SkyOs is a product of SkyOs Inc. and is such only SkyOs Inc. has the right to the source code, this means that by continuing to use SkyOs or continuing with the installation of SkyOs you agree to the following; you will not de-compile SkyOs to gain access to the source code, you will not disassemble, and if you do come across SkyOs source code by continuing you agree not to re-compile SkyOs and claim it as your own, as this is in breach of the agreement above.

      SkyOs is not Open source, and as such you are not entitled to view the source code and you can not demand to see the source code as SkyOs is a Closed Source Os produced by SkyOs Inc. the only time you are allowed to view or use the source code is if SkyOs Inc. gives you explicit Permission to do so.

      SkyOs is a i386 or x86 Os, this means it is designed to be run on IBM-Pc Compatible systems, based on Intel Compatible CPU's if this Os is found on any other platform such as PPC, M68k, C64, etc please contact SkyOs Inc. immediately as this may be illegal port of the Os, this does not affect your statutory rights.

      If Linux Code / Applications are used in SkyOs you can not claim that this makes SkyOs open sourced the only code you have the right to view is the Linux code / other open source code included in SkyOs. If you agree to this EULA and claim that SkyOs is open source because of the Linux code / open source code you will be liable for slander against SkyOs Inc.

      SkyOs Inc. reserves the right to place charges on SkyOs Inc. services, it also reserves the right to change the system requirements at anytime with out prior warning this also goes for features and app support, also the exclusion of applications in further releases is at the soul discretion of SkyOs Inc. and its contributors.

      SkyOs includes ported software that is GPL'd this means that it is open source, these binaries/drivers/libraries are widely available on the internet, and as such you should not harass SkyOs Inc. or any contributor for the Source code of these ported apps, also these GPL'd binaries/drivers/libraries do not in anyway affect the SkyOs Kernel or SkyGI and as such you have no right as a user, developer or other party to demand to view the Source Code of SkyOs.

      SkyGI is a registered trademark of SkyOs Inc. and should be held in context to the same usage as SkyOs mentioned in the above. SkyGI is a Closed Source system, and as such you have no rights under the law to view any of its code, SkyGI uses designs / widgets / graphics from contributors or from SkyOs Inc. it's self and you do not have the right to use these graphics / widgets / designs with out SkyOs Inc.'s expressed permission. Failure to request permission may result in legal action on the behalf of SkyOs Inc.

      SkyFS is a part of SkyOs and as such is property of SkyOs Inc. SkyFS support maybe dropped in future releases of SkyOs but the File System is still the property of SkyOs Inc. and as such any one wishing to incorporate it into their own Os must ask SkyOs Inc. first and must give credit to SkyOs Inc. for development and creation of the FS.

      • The FSF takes GNU GPL violations seriously. (Score:5, Interesting)

        by jbn-o ( 555068 ) <mail@digitalcitizen.info> on Tuesday September 09, 2003 @01:16AM (#6907293) Homepage

        From the parent poster's quote of the older SkyOs so-called End User License Agreement ("EULA"):

        SkyOs includes ported software that is GPL'd this means that it is open source, these binaries/drivers/libraries are widely available on the internet, and as such you should not harass SkyOs Inc. or any contributor for the Source code of these ported apps, also these GPL'd binaries/drivers/libraries do not in anyway affect the SkyOs Kernel or SkyGI and as such you have no right as a user, developer or other party to demand to view the Source Code of SkyOs.

        The GNU General Public License (GNU GPL) does not allow anyone distributing the covered software to withhold the complete corresponding source code of the program or to point somewhere else and essentially say "get it from them, not us". Perhaps Andrew Youll should spend some time reading the GNU GPL FAQ [gnu.org], if the license's text isn't sufficiently clear. Distributing binaries alone is insufficient for compliance [gnu.org] with the GNU GPL. It doesn't matter if SkyOs comes with only a port of the applications or changes the software's feature set.

        Youll's EULA demonstrates Youll is trying to place more restrictive terms on GPL-covered software than the GPL allows. His EULA suggests he is quite unclear on what the GNU GPL's terms are and how to work within them. But overall, it's sad that someone who draws value from the GNU project's contribution to their own work is being dealt with in such a manner. Leveraging one's rights is never "harass[ment]". The GNU GPL does not aim to make SkyOs free software (although SkyOs would do their users a favor by making the entire operating system free). Proprietors have successfully used and distributed GCC as their main compiler for years.

      • I know, bad form replying to myself, but I like the slander provision. Since the EULA says nothing about libel, I guess that I can write that SkyOS is open source all I want. :D
      • Jesus. This dude takes himself far too seriously. He copied the style of the Microsoft code, and is now trying to copy the style of their lawyers...
      • at the soul discretion of SkyOs Inc. and its contributors

        heh.. they've got some soul! and the passion to use it.

  • Looks like a Windows 95 clone (Score:3, Insightful)

    by DesScorp ( 410532 ) on Monday September 08, 2003 @10:58PM (#6906567) Journal
    That in and of itself is not a bad thing. Windows 95 was actually pretty nice in a lot of ways. DLL Hell and its instability made it a pain. Fix those issues, and Linux might never have taken off like it did...

    Since Windows XP (and Longhorn) have moved away from the classic Win95 interface, why chuck it? Unless you just want a unique interface to establish SkyOs's identity. But hell, keep what works. The familiarity would attract a lot of users.
    • DLL or dependency hell. To me they are both the same beast. Both Windows and Linux are great as long as you never need to install any applications.
      • Or use a distro that just works, like Debian, Happily running Debian Sid (unstable) with no dependency problems that didn't iron themselves out in a the next nights update. In Debian stable I don't think I've ever seen a dependecny issue of any sort.

        -AX
    • Win95 SUCKS. It is a dumb, inconsistent graphical shell whose metaphors break down CONSTANTLY. The ONLY good thing to come out of the Win95 UI is the contextual menu!

      I said farewell to Apple a long time ago, but before making statements like "The Win95 UI is pretty nice", PLEASE try a Mac circa 1995 or even 1990!
  • It's indeed a shame that SkyOS is closed source. This is the kind of project that would have hundreds of developers within weeks of it being GPL'd. I doubt that just one individual, working part time for six years (since 1997), could support USB and write a complete kernel and GUI without using the source code of others. The EULA posted in another comment seems to be an indirect admission that the kernel even includes Linux source code. We need someone to do a binary analysis of SkyOS to determine if an

  • What's the business model? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by carndearg ( 696084 ) on Tuesday September 09, 2003 @07:15AM (#6908235) Homepage Journal
    Leaving aside all do-they-use-GPL'd-code issues I have to admit a curiosity as to the SkyOS business model.

    The freedom of a developer to charge for code is as much a freedom as the consumer's freedom to not buy code or the open source developer's freedom to give away their code. Bill Gates has every right to charge for XP(much as we might wish otherwise:), just as I have every right not to buy it. But if you take the decision to charge for code then you have to have a piece of code that is worth charging money for, or perhaps in some cases something that people are prepared to pay money for.

    If they intend to make money from a closed source OS then I suspect they will be sorely disappointed. This OS looks quite nice but since it offers nothing that cant be found anywhere else where can it go? If I want to pay for an OS I'll go for one with application support, even if the one without only costs ten euros, and since there are free offerings out there that offer all this and more why should I want to pay in the first place?

    Which leaves them with a few ten euro CD replication fees. Not much for that much work, is it? Surely an open source model would result in a distribution with far more value, with useful applications like OpenOffice.org which they could shift a load more of and quite legitimately get away with charging a bit more than 10 euros for CD copies.

    However I could be missing a point and being unfair on the developer. Perhaps they do not view it as a revenue stream, instead using it to gain some other advantage. Since I write open software as much for the CV candy as the philanthropy (hey, you have to eat!) I can see why someone might do that.

  • Just wanted to clear some things up (Score:3, Informative)

    by Hexydes ( 705837 ) on Wednesday September 10, 2003 @02:21AM (#6918828)
    Hello, this is Hexydes. I'm the leader of the GUI Design Team for SkyOS. I just wanted to clear up some confustion from the posts I've been reading:

    1. SkyOS does not run Windows apps. Any Windows apps you have seen running in the GUI CONTEST are for imaginative design purposes only. Think of them as placeholders for generic software.

    2. In regards to the EULA; the EULA was written by Robert (coder for SkyOS), whose main language is not English. He included the EULA in hopes that he could simply give some extra information about the OS, as well as to take a step towards legality (which we will of course encounter in the future). Youlle simply added some last minute touch ups to try to help out.

    SkyOS is not open source. Robert has worked on the OS for 6 years. He wants to keep the code for himself to work on, and if you can't respect that, then go use Linux. The inclusion about the GPL aspects in the EULA was simply his attempt to make it known that just because some GPL'd apps were included in the SkyOS package, it did not make SkyOS open source. Any GPL'd code he modified he will gladly send to anyone that wants it (though I don't think he modified much). There is also unmodified software included, which was simply ported to the OS (the media player....a few other things I can't think of). Those you can simply download from their respective websites (which is the message he was trying to convey).

    Robert holds the GPL in high regards and was never trying to augment it in any way. He simply wanted to make it known that the OS did not use GPL'd code, and that the simple inclusion of GPL'd software did not make the OS open source.

    *PHEW*

    3. The contest was open to everyone. 35 designers sent in designs, and I posted all of them. They are now being voted on. The top three will make it to round two. A winner will be decided from that list. After that, the GUI Team will be taking the design and polishing it up and getting it ready for Robert to code in. In addition to this, there will be new wallpapers, a new software installation interface, new icons, and a new OS installation interface. This will all be included for version 5.0 of SkyOS, which will be the next release.

    If you have any questions, don't hesitate to visit the GUI Design Contest forum, located at:

    http://www.nathanpalmer.com/skyos/phpBB2/index.php [nathanpalmer.com]

    Hope that helps!

    Hexydes

    • We took care of it I think. I had him outline everything that he wanted, and I just wrote a new EULA (I'm a native English speaker in case you couldn't tell, hopefully you could!). So it should clear up some confusion on the next release. The other thing people have to remember is that, currently, this is an amateur project. No one is making any money (aside from the 30 or so odd CDs that Robert has sold). Work is done by volunteers (Robert, GUI Team), website and bandwidth cost money out of pockets that d

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