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"The Spoon kernel is a lightweight implementation of core operating system APIs, including the filesystem, registry, process, and threading subsystems, complete

"The Spoon kernel is a lightweight implementation of core operating system APIs, including the filesystem, registry, process, and threading subsystems, completely implemented within the user-mode space, allowing Spoon apps to be executed without any device driver installation or administrative privileges." Two thoughts: 1. Wow, I cannot imagine how much work it would be to fake all the necessary Windows APIs for this to work. 2. IT managers everywhere should be afraid. Very afraid.

rythie 16y ago
It look Wine almost 15 years to get to the 1.0 release.
- arethuza 16y ago
  Although to be fair to Wine they have had to build the entire stack - as far as I can see this only runs on Windows. Presumably emulating the Windows APIs on Windows is a lot easier than emulating them on a completely different underlying platform. Still - it's pretty cool.
  - Hoff 16y ago
    It's easier, and a pass-through model is not entirely new. DEC's fx!32 emulator was running Windows x86 code on Windows Alpha way back in 1996. And yes, fx!32 passed calls through to native Windows code, too.
    - arethuza 16y ago
      I remember having a PC emulator on a OSF/1 Alpha about 94 or so (SoftWindows?) - was perfectly usable.
fname 16y ago
allowing Spoon apps to be executed without any device driver installation or administrative privileges Isn't this what Google was looking to do with their Chrome Frame for IE? Sounds like an acquisition may be in order.
- mahmud 16y ago
  Yep. Spoon wont last in the wild for long, if it actually delivers.
  - ck2 16y ago
    It's been around since 2007 (or earlier). They just renamed/bundled it. See my longer comment further down this page for details.
    - mahmud 16y ago
      "Virtual OS in the browser" sounds like the best business and consumer product. the stuff practically sells itself. If they haven't done much since 2007, I am left to wonder how well do they actually work.
- jey 16y ago
  No, Chrome Frame for IE is a way to swap out the rendering engine used by IE. It replaces the IE layout engine with Chrome's WebKit-based layout engine.
- mdaniel 16y ago
  I think you're thinking of NaCL (http://code.google.com/p/nativeclient/ http://code.google.com/p/nativeclient/) In contrast, Google Frame is designed to make the deployment hassle for new browsers simpler (user still clicks on "The Internet").
JangoSteve 16y ago
I hadn't even considered the possibility that they implemented that part themselves. I just assumed they were using something like Crossover as part of their product. Now that is impressive.
Kadrith 16y ago
Why should IT Managers fear this? From looking at their site it is very similar in concept to Citrix, which is already widely used. The browser plug-in is still needed so that provides some measure of control. If people are able to install the browser plug-in then they could probably install the applications directly.
- thaumaturgy 16y ago
  One of my clients is government-funded and can get into trouble if they have licensing issues with their software. Their employees, meanwhile, have a tendency to not fully review the EULAs for software they download. For that and other reasons, we're about to revoke admin privileges on their workstations. This would pretty much circumvent that. So, yeah. I can see how IT managers might not be looking forward to this. (But, that's their job.)
  - wtracy 16y ago
    Can they install the plugin without admin rights?

rythie 16y ago

It look Wine almost 15 years to get to the 1.0 release.

arethuza 16y ago
Although to be fair to Wine they have had to build the entire stack - as far as I can see this only runs on Windows. Presumably emulating the Windows APIs on Windows is a lot easier than emulating them on a completely different underlying platform. Still - it's pretty cool.
- Hoff 16y ago
  It's easier, and a pass-through model is not entirely new. DEC's fx!32 emulator was running Windows x86 code on Windows Alpha way back in 1996. And yes, fx!32 passed calls through to native Windows code, too.
  - arethuza 16y ago
    I remember having a PC emulator on a OSF/1 Alpha about 94 or so (SoftWindows?) - was perfectly usable.

fname 16y ago

allowing Spoon apps to be executed without any device driver installation or administrative privileges Isn't this what Google was looking to do with their Chrome Frame for IE? Sounds like an acquisition may be in order.

mahmud 16y ago
Yep. Spoon wont last in the wild for long, if it actually delivers.
- ck2 16y ago
  It's been around since 2007 (or earlier). They just renamed/bundled it. See my longer comment further down this page for details.
  - mahmud 16y ago
    "Virtual OS in the browser" sounds like the best business and consumer product. the stuff practically sells itself. If they haven't done much since 2007, I am left to wonder how well do they actually work.
jey 16y ago
No, Chrome Frame for IE is a way to swap out the rendering engine used by IE. It replaces the IE layout engine with Chrome's WebKit-based layout engine.
mdaniel 16y ago
I think you're thinking of NaCL (http://code.google.com/p/nativeclient/ http://code.google.com/p/nativeclient/) In contrast, Google Frame is designed to make the deployment hassle for new browsers simpler (user still clicks on "The Internet").

JangoSteve 16y ago

I hadn't even considered the possibility that they implemented that part themselves. I just assumed they were using something like Crossover as part of their product. Now that is impressive.

Kadrith 16y ago

Why should IT Managers fear this? From looking at their site it is very similar in concept to Citrix, which is already widely used. The browser plug-in is still needed so that provides some measure of control. If people are able to install the browser plug-in then they could probably install the applications directly.

thaumaturgy 16y ago
One of my clients is government-funded and can get into trouble if they have licensing issues with their software. Their employees, meanwhile, have a tendency to not fully review the EULAs for software they download. For that and other reasons, we're about to revoke admin privileges on their workstations. This would pretty much circumvent that. So, yeah. I can see how IT managers might not be looking forward to this. (But, that's their job.)
- wtracy 16y ago
  Can they install the plugin without admin rights?