7 ms·

ReactOS is one of the most impressive software endeavors I've ever seen, both from the scope of the task and the progress that's actually been made, especially

ReactOS is one of the most impressive software endeavors I've ever seen, both from the scope of the task and the progress that's actually been made, especially from such a small core group of developers. Many of the comments here are saying they're surprised it's still alive, or that it's sad someone would work on it, or that it should have more features. You're all missing the point.

remir 10y ago
I agree. I have tremendous respect for the devs of ReactOS.
selestify 10y ago
What is the point?
- dzamo_norton 10y ago
  It could be a nice option to have for people stuck running really old legacy Windows software.
  - LyndsySimon 10y ago
    Especially if ReactOS is able to maintain Win32 compatibility for legacy applications while also receiving community support for security updates.
- simonh 10y ago
  I can't speak for the developers, but the reason I appreciate it and projects like it is the journey they're on. The things they've learned about Windows and it's apps, the skills they've developed, the community they've built. That on it's own is worthy of respect even if it was not of practical value itself.
  - wruza 10y ago
    We are all on our own journey and learned personal and professional things and skills. Except that most of us do not chase an express train that has left ten years ago.
    - barking 10y ago
      They're chasing Windows xp which is a train that is waiting for them.
      - wruza 10y ago
        Xp is an empty station, not a train. In few years most apps and hardware will be incompatible with or not fully functional under xp (they already are in half). I'm not attacking reactos as you could think. I'm pointing to obvious facts that have to be dealt with for success. If we skip practical part, ReactOS is great as any big community-driven project, because driving a big project is hard.
        anewhnaccount 10y ago
        But how many companies will want a migration path from XP? More than you may think.
        vosper 10y ago
        No (sane) company's migration path from XP is going to be to an open-source clone of XP developed by a small team, that offers them no guarantees whether it works, no support, and the possibility that development could stop at any time.
        ant512 10y ago
        No sane company is still using Windows XP, given that support ended 3 years ago and development ended a decade ago.
- buherator 10y ago
  ReactOS in an invaluable resource when it comes to Windows internals and reverse engineering.
- alex_hitchins 10y ago
  Support, education and FUN spring to mind!
- zellyn 10y ago
  As someone who's been involved in the emulation and preservation community on the Apple II side of things, free and open source implementations of old operating systems continue to be useful for historical research, archiving of old software, etc. etc.
- jdietrich 10y ago
  Do you remember IBM's OS/2? It turns out that a lot of really important systems still rely on OS/2. ATMs, ticketing machines, industrial control systems. Stuff that still has plenty of lifespan left, but would be prohibitively expensive to replace from scratch. A company called eComStation produce an OS/2-compatible operating system, with full support for modern hardware. Their clients include Boeing, Fujitsu, Alstom and Siemens. I know of many vitally important systems that are still running on DOS, Windows 3.1 and a variety of even more obsolete platforms. I expect that Windows XP will continue to be a significant platform for several decades. If ReactOS ever gets out of beta, it'll be a boon for huge numbers of users.
  - jokr004 10y ago
    Wow, great point.. I had never though about these sort of legacy systems potentially running React someday.
  - wruza 10y ago
    It is interesting what exactly does eComStation support. Is that really mission-critical or just rarely used processes that no one wants to upgrade. Given the size of 4 companies you mentioned, there is non-zero probability that they allow entire eComStation to exist as a rounding error.

remir 10y ago

I agree. I have tremendous respect for the devs of ReactOS.

selestify 10y ago

What is the point?

dzamo_norton 10y ago
It could be a nice option to have for people stuck running really old legacy Windows software.
- LyndsySimon 10y ago
  Especially if ReactOS is able to maintain Win32 compatibility for legacy applications while also receiving community support for security updates.
simonh 10y ago
I can't speak for the developers, but the reason I appreciate it and projects like it is the journey they're on. The things they've learned about Windows and it's apps, the skills they've developed, the community they've built. That on it's own is worthy of respect even if it was not of practical value itself.
- wruza 10y ago
  We are all on our own journey and learned personal and professional things and skills. Except that most of us do not chase an express train that has left ten years ago.
  - barking 10y ago
    They're chasing Windows xp which is a train that is waiting for them.
    - wruza 10y ago
      Xp is an empty station, not a train. In few years most apps and hardware will be incompatible with or not fully functional under xp (they already are in half). I'm not attacking reactos as you could think. I'm pointing to obvious facts that have to be dealt with for success. If we skip practical part, ReactOS is great as any big community-driven project, because driving a big project is hard.
      - anewhnaccount 10y ago
        But how many companies will want a migration path from XP? More than you may think.
        vosper 10y ago
        No (sane) company's migration path from XP is going to be to an open-source clone of XP developed by a small team, that offers them no guarantees whether it works, no support, and the possibility that development could stop at any time.
        ant512 10y ago
        No sane company is still using Windows XP, given that support ended 3 years ago and development ended a decade ago.
buherator 10y ago
ReactOS in an invaluable resource when it comes to Windows internals and reverse engineering.
alex_hitchins 10y ago
Support, education and FUN spring to mind!
zellyn 10y ago
As someone who's been involved in the emulation and preservation community on the Apple II side of things, free and open source implementations of old operating systems continue to be useful for historical research, archiving of old software, etc. etc.
jdietrich 10y ago
Do you remember IBM's OS/2? It turns out that a lot of really important systems still rely on OS/2. ATMs, ticketing machines, industrial control systems. Stuff that still has plenty of lifespan left, but would be prohibitively expensive to replace from scratch. A company called eComStation produce an OS/2-compatible operating system, with full support for modern hardware. Their clients include Boeing, Fujitsu, Alstom and Siemens. I know of many vitally important systems that are still running on DOS, Windows 3.1 and a variety of even more obsolete platforms. I expect that Windows XP will continue to be a significant platform for several decades. If ReactOS ever gets out of beta, it'll be a boon for huge numbers of users.
- jokr004 10y ago
  Wow, great point.. I had never though about these sort of legacy systems potentially running React someday.
- wruza 10y ago
  It is interesting what exactly does eComStation support. Is that really mission-critical or just rarely used processes that no one wants to upgrade. Given the size of 4 companies you mentioned, there is non-zero probability that they allow entire eComStation to exist as a rounding error.