Author Topic: ReactOS  (Read 3650 times)

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JRS

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ReactOS
« on: April 18, 2018, 10:12:47 PM »
I installed the latest version of ReactOS in a VirtualBox on my Ubuntu 64 laptop. I was able to compile Script BASIC using TDM-GCC that came with Code:Blocks. So far it looks like a good Windows alternative.

It doesn't seem to work as well as Wine for OpenGL.  :-\ This may be due to running ReactOS in a VirtualBox, Curious if it would do better booting native off a partition?
« Last Edit: April 18, 2018, 11:41:06 PM by John »

Mike Lobanovsky

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Re: ReactOS
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2018, 02:56:29 AM »
Used to have absolutely no problem with running both OpenGL and GDI/GDI+ scripts at very good speeds in a ReactOS VM since I don't remember when.

Make sure to install Windows "guest additions" ("extensions"/whaddayacallit in VirtualBox) on top of your ReactOS VM to allow it to use your native Linux OpenGL drivers rather than its own software renderer emulation.

Even though ReactOS is currently at its v0.4.8, it is still alpha and should not be used for serious everyday work.

JRS

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2018, 08:36:36 AM »
Best part I like about ReactOS is how fast it starts up and shuts down.

jack

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2018, 09:11:03 AM »
frankly I don't like ReactOS for the simple reason that the motive for writing it was wrong, that is, it was motivated by hatred for MS.
as far as quick boot up time, Windows 95 and 98 boot time is quite fast.

JRS

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2018, 09:22:06 AM »
What do you think Wine's motive was?

Windows 95/98 aren't supported OSs.

jack

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2018, 09:29:36 AM »
yes, but they are far more complete than ReactOS.

JRS

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2018, 10:11:36 AM »
You can't buy either.

Mike Lobanovsky

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2018, 10:29:16 AM »
What do you think Wine's motive was?

Wine's primary motive was to allow linuxoids to play Windows video games, especially those that used to run in the windowed mode only. Compatibility with other MS products is just an accompanying bonus, a side effect of sorts.

It is amazing that game dev has always been one of the industry's major boosters, if not the major one. :)

The ReactOS development team, as opposed to Wine, has a much more comprehensive objective but is very weak in manpower. And yes, hatred is a rather poor keynote in one's development work.

JRS

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2018, 11:16:52 AM »
Quote
Make sure to install Windows "guest additions" ("extensions"/whaddayacallit in VirtualBox) on top of your ReactOS VM to allow it to use your native Linux OpenGL drivers rather than its own software renderer emulation.

Correct as always Mike.

I enabled 3d Graphics support in VirtualBox and now seeing a constant 60 FPS Pine Cone.

Thanks! You earned your kudos today.

JRS

  • Guest
ReactOS - EZGUI
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2018, 06:12:06 PM »
EZGUI seems to run under ReactOS as far as I can tell with my limited testing.

JRS

  • Guest
ReactOS - O2
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2018, 08:27:24 PM »
O2 seems to work under ReactOS as well.

Chris Boss

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Re: ReactOS
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2018, 06:08:00 AM »
Quote
EZGUI seems to run under ReactOS as far as I can tell with my limited testing.

There is a reason for this. I mentioned this before, but I will reiterate it again. While EZGUI is feature rich, I chose not to lean towards the "leading edge" of the WIN32 API. Instead I chose to use long existing API's as far back as Windows 95 and simply push them to their limit. One example is my Canvas control. Even its 2D sprite engine should work even on Windows 95, since I use the Windows DIB engine which has been there since the beginning of 32 bit Windows.

Somewhere around Windows XP, a number of API's changed data structures passed to them. EZGUI rather than simply use the latest versions, test the OS to see what version it returns back and if an old version it uses an older data structure and if a newer version is uses a later version. This makes it compatible on a large variety of Windows versions.

Another trick I use for a few later API's is load them dynamically. I use LoadLibrary to see if the OS DLL needed exists (ie. Theme DLL) and then load the DLLs as needed. Then I test the DLL using GetProcAddress to see if the needed API exists. If it does I use it and if it does not, I either use an alternate method to handle the task or simply turn the feature off (ignore it) in the EZGUI runtime.

This is why it does not surprise me that EZGUI runs very well on not only Linux using Wine, but also ReactOS.

A lot of thought and planning went into the development of the EZGUI runtime and backward compatibility was a high priority on y list.


JRS

  • Guest
Re: ReactOS
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2018, 12:15:14 PM »
ReactOS is now my GOTO Windows from my Linux development environment.

  • Starts and shutdowns quickly.
  • Virus detection/profit isn't the man focus of the OS platform.
  • No Microsoft spin.
  • Fast and not loaded down with BS marketing focused apps.
  • Seems rather stable for a ALPHA release.
  • I like the the ReactOS theme option on install. Clean but not over done like Win10.

I'm looking forward to moving more of my Windows development tools to ReactOS.