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SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

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Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#151

Post by Crinus »

humanrebar wrote: post #114
Crinus wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary, the standard vector and string classes are garbage UX-wise (e.g. unlike pretty much every other single dynamic array implementation in existence, vector does not have something like an "index of element" method and instead you are supposed to use std::find and subtract iterators with a special check for when the element wasn't found... like, WTF).

OK, fine. Then use std::string_view, etc., which are cleaner and more efficient usually. There are several reasons why C++ open source is hard to reuse, and not using standard types appropriately is one of them.

I just wrote that the API is garbage and then you recommend me to use the API? :-P The entire STL/StdC++ has the same design style, it is garbage all the way down.

I'd rather use something like Qt (which is far from great, but better than STL/StdC++). Well, personally i'd rather not use C++ in the first place, but if i'm going to use C++ i'd rather use something else (which frankly, would be my own container and string classes that provide a much better API).

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#152

Post by Crinus »

AnIdiotOnTheNet wrote: post #121
RandomGuyDTB wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CRT rot... the grim reaper lurking behind the few remaining good monitors. I wish someone would make high-quality CRTs again, every time I use my C1701 I feel like I'm slowly desecrating an artifact- that I shouldn't be so shamelessly using such a limited resource. I suppose there's a chance I'll be able to keep up using CRTs until I die but I really am not ready to switch my old setup to an LCD.

It's interesting that no one does. Between the various retro-gaming and computing crowds one would think there's enough of a market for CRTs that at least one company would still be making them.

Well, most CRTs had mediocre image quality and people today remember a only the best of them (Sony, LG) which limits options and even then AFAIK it isn't exactly easy to make and distribute them which means a new CRT of good quality will cost a lot (in the four digit category). Also consider that it is already impossible to find OLED PC monitors and OLED panels are still is mass production so the machinery is there (CRT production machinery is probably either rotting or gone).

But yeah, if there was a brand new one i'd buy it without much thought.

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#153

Post by marktangotango »

akling wrote: post #13

Hello friends, author here! Fun to see my project on HN again. If you would like to see the system in action, I did a demo video in March[1] and one in April[2]. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the system. I’m not an expert on operating systems, but I can be pretty productive :) [1] https://youtu.be/hE52D-zbX3g [2] https://youtu.be/RBr5If8GrM4

Just curious if you were familiar with Wirths work on the Oberon system and what he and another contributor were able accomplish, when starting this project? What were some of your inspirations?

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#154

Post by iforgotpassword »

akling wrote: post #96
iforgotpassword wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it run on real hardware? Any plans for 64 bit? Any plans for SMP? The old readme mentions a gcc patch. Is it still needed? What does it do? Just the final executable's format? Is there an FAQ somewhere that I missed? :)

I haven't tried running it on real hardware yet, I'm too comfortable with my VM-based workflow at the moment. It'll eventually get there though, but I'm not in a hurry. :) The answer is basically the same for 64-bit and SMP support. Some day I'll wake up with the burning desire to implement those things, and then I'll start on it. Or someone will show up with patches. We'll see! Nothing really depends on those featur…

Thanks for replying! So no specific reasons not to do any of these, sounds good. Was thinking about taking some old hardware collecting dust for a ride with this. Maybe some day. :-)

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#155

Post by cryo »

akling wrote: post #116
cryo wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Awesome, this looks really exciting! Will it be possible at some time to compile Qt based applications in SerenityOS?

Anything is possible! It would take quite a lot of work to bring up a Qt port, so it's not really a priority right now as there are many other important things that need attention. But some day.

Looking forward to this day :) I'll be watching the project, keep up the great work.

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#156

Post by nickpsecurity »

sprash wrote: post #93
reaperducer wrote: post #25

I think this is an impressive achievement, and certainly something I could never do. But I'm a little disappointed in the state of desktop operating systems these days. I don't see any innovation. Every OS is just splashing chrome on the same WIMP paradigm that's been available to consumers for 35 years. Maybe I'm looking for the equivalent of a flying car, but I wish someone would come up with an OS, or even just an…

> I don't see any innovation. To me to Windows95 UI (not the OS) is peak productivity usability. All UI innovations that came later were just distractions except maybe tiling window managers and the "Exposé" function in Mac Os X which later was completely botched in Snow Leopard. At some point no further innovation is required. I'd rather see innovation on another level: Do away with C and introduce a new programming…

" All UI innovations that came later were just distractions"

Don't forget search. Especially if it can correctly guess what the user is probably trying to get to. Search in Vista let me ditch SlickRun for quickly getting to stuff.

"Do away with C and introduce a new programming language which gets rid of the need for a MMU or preemptive Multitasking at compile time."

You'll still need it for hardware or compiler failures. Cosmic rays being a big source of them. On compilers, they'll sometimes optimize away security checks. Then there's side channels which require low-level view of hardware and software interactions. Probably better to keep the MMU's or some hardware protections for defense in depth.

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#157

Post by neogodless »

saiya-jin wrote: post #145
akling wrote: post #13

Hello friends, author here! Fun to see my project on HN again. If you would like to see the system in action, I did a demo video in March[1] and one in April[2]. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the system. I’m not an expert on operating systems, but I can be pretty productive :) [1] https://youtu.be/hE52D-zbX3g [2] https://youtu.be/RBr5If8GrM4

> I’m not an expert on operating systems understatement of the century

Did you mean to be insulting, or did you misspeak?

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#158

Post by TBF-RnD »

akling wrote: post #139
repolfx wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you support yourself and why did you choose to dedicate your time to this project?

Sure, I don't mind. I've been living off of savings for a while, trying to figure out what to do with myself. Savings don't last forever though, so I'm actually starting a programming job next week. I originally thought I would learn something new instead of programming, but then I started working on this and got caught up in all the fun. It wasn't a "business decision" of any kind :)

What a hero!

I sympathize since I am also doing open source projects full time so I know that the struggle is real!

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#159

Post by akling »

marktangotango wrote: post #153
akling wrote: post #13

Hello friends, author here! Fun to see my project on HN again. If you would like to see the system in action, I did a demo video in March[1] and one in April[2]. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the system. I’m not an expert on operating systems, but I can be pretty productive :) [1] https://youtu.be/hE52D-zbX3g [2] https://youtu.be/RBr5If8GrM4

Just curious if you were familiar with Wirths work on the Oberon system and what he and another contributor were able accomplish, when starting this project? What were some of your inspirations?

I was not aware of the Oberon system. It looks interesting, I will read more about it, thank you :)

The inspiration for this system comes from using Visual Basic as a kid and just having fun trying to mimic the Microsoft Office look&feel of those days. It also comes from using Slackware Linux and realizing that everything can be done with text commands, and configured with text files.

Re: SerenityOS – a graphical Unix-like OS for x86, with 90s aesthetics

#160

Post by rmbryan »

akling wrote: post #139
repolfx wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you support yourself and why did you choose to dedicate your time to this project?

Sure, I don't mind. I've been living off of savings for a while, trying to figure out what to do with myself. Savings don't last forever though, so I'm actually starting a programming job next week. I originally thought I would learn something new instead of programming, but then I started working on this and got caught up in all the fun. It wasn't a "business decision" of any kind :)

best kind of decision
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