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

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171–180 of 186 posts

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

#171
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which looks like nextstep.

Does it, though? Windows 95: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95#/media/File:Windows... vs Nextstep: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXTSTEP#/media/File:NeXTSTEP_... Yeah they're both light grey, but other than that, they don't really look similar to me...

Yes, grey embossed boxes everywhere, taskbar/list, [x] button top right to close window. Don't let the different apps fool you.

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

#172
post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which looks like nextstep.

Pretty sure Motif was the originator of the 90s era concrete slabs look. “Initially released in July 1989.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif_(software)

Nextstep and 95 both had a thin ~1px emboss depth. Also note the window decorations. Windows 3.1 looked more like Motif.

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

#173
post #167
post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I noticed the form designer and properties in the screenshot posted in the repo. Does that system only design forms, and you have to manually "glue" them to code - or is there a visual programming system behind it? I guess what I'm getting at is that you mentioned here being inspired by VB from your youth - so I was wondering how far you have taken that particular part? I worked professionally with VB for over a deca…

Yeah, so far the form designer is just to help you create layouts which are then turned into C++ code. There's a bit of smoke & mirrors here though, I haven't even started on the tool that converts a saved form into C++.. but all in good time!

It would be fun to build a visual programming system in the style of VB6~, but it's not something I've started on. :)

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

#174
post #51

Roughly speaking, the goal is a marriage between the aesthetic of late-1990s productivity software and the power-user accessibility of late-2000s nix.* In other words, a Windows GUI with a Unix-like CLI? That's something I can certainly agree with --- Windows has traditionally been very lacking with its CLI, while the Unix-ish systems (including Linux) seem to be quite fragmented and awkward at GUIs. I also thought t…

Totally agree about Windows GUI's and Unix CLI's. Sprinkle some MacOS on there and you have my vision for Serenity. All the fonts are hand-bitmapped by me, using the included FontEditor application. I was trying to construct the imaginary love-child of Tahoma and Fixed, so you are definitely on the right track there.

did you post about this on /g/? I could’ve sworn i’ve seen something like this posted in a dpt or something in the past few months

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

#175
post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which looks like nextstep.

Pretty sure Motif was the originator of the 90s era concrete slabs look. “Initially released in July 1989.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif_(software)

Thought that was the Amiga.

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

#176
post #147

34 year old here.. about every year I set up a whole OS 9 emulation deal because of my obsession with Mac OS 9, I dont know if I am sad and dwelling on the past, but I just loved that OS so much and keep trying to get back to it and I know I am not alone. I love to see projects like these

I'm more of a System 7 guy, but I still have two G4 towers, a G3 Powerbook, as well as some beige 68ks. They're still useful for making music and get used for that occasionally, but I honestly love just booting them up and using the Finder. I wish I could still use them for communication somehow.

>I wish I could still use them for communication somehow.

Bitlbee + IRC client.

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

#177
post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

May I suggest using the Windows 2000 warm grey instead of the Windows 95 grey? It does a lot to make the UI feel less dark

That's not a bad idea! I spend a lot of time hacking at night, with my monitor in "night mode" (warmer colors), so I didn't think much about how cold they look in the daylight. I should eventually add color theming so this can be done from a single place, and then I'll be sure to add a warmer option, too. And probably make it the default after I see how nice it looks :)

Even better, haha! Seriously impressive work though - one of these projects that show just how absurdly bloated and slow mainstream OS development has become.

Also for reference for those unfamiliar with the difference in greys: http://actsofvolition.com/images/screenshots/Display-95-thro...

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

#178
post #166

I would so love to contribute to this! I love the layout, aesthetic, and the approach to the internals that you've taken; I would use this in a heartbeat to be honest. Unfortunately although I know C++ I don't really know much about OSdev. If there's any way I can help, I have a few months of free time (summer break) that I'm looking to fill!

There’s so much more to operating systems than what people usually think of as “OS dev”. Wanna write a Tetris game for an obscure new OS? Here’s your chance! How about a bitmap editor (like MS Paint)? Maybe some cool graphical effect demos? Perhaps you’d like to write a telnet client? An FTP client? Or a disk usage visualization tool! Just look at all the stuff that comes with an OS like Win2K or your average Linux d…

That's very true! Just starting out working on your project with the File Manager showed me that there's a lot I can contribute.

My short term goal is to make a settings manager.

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

#179
post #129
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is that the device with 2KB RAM is a single-purpose embedded controller, and the device with 4MB RAM used to be a full-blown universal desktop daily productivity machine.

Though I remember that it was more or less necessary to have 8MB to browse the Web on those Windows 3.11 486s :)

I was browsing on Windows 3.11 with 4mb. Opera 3.62 + Trumpet Winsock could handle it.

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

#180
post #174
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree about Windows GUI's and Unix CLI's. Sprinkle some MacOS on there and you have my vision for Serenity. All the fonts are hand-bitmapped by me, using the included FontEditor application. I was trying to construct the imaginary love-child of Tahoma and Fixed, so you are definitely on the right track there.

did you post about this on /g/? I could’ve sworn i’ve seen something like this posted in a dpt or something in the past few months

Yeah, I visit /dpt/ regularly. "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
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