New open-source operating system aims to achieve binary compatibility with Windows 2000 and XP.

The push for an open-source operating system is hardly newsworthy stuff, after all, Linux has been championing the idea for years. The only problem is that Linux is no Windows replacement and even Linux supporters would agree with this. Attempts to make Linux more consumer-friendly such as Ubuntu have certainly helped to spread the open-source software message but the real problem is that many of the applications Windows users have come to love and cherish simply do not work on Linux.

However, the idea of an open-source operating system that is designed to be 100% compatible with Windows XP and Windows 2000 is something new and has the potential to straddle the divide between consumer friendly and open-source.

And that’s what ReactOS is aiming to do.

ReactOS is an open-source free operating system that plans to be achieve binary compatibility for applications and driver software with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Although Microsoft has been promoting the success of Windows Vista, you only have to read the various Windows operating system-focussed forums to see the disappointment a growing number of users have with the company’s latest operating system.

ReactOS has been in the alpha-stage of its life since 1999 however with the recent release of version 0.3.3, it is starting to see some fruition into an operating system of promise.

The ReactOS programming group are quick to point out that ReactOS is still not stable enough for use as an everyday programming environment however the group expect to reach the more promising Beta phase of its rollout during the next 12 months. The group expects to release a 0.4 Alpha version towards the end of this year that will achieve 50% compatibility with the Windows NT kernel or main engine and deliver other features such as initial support for audio as well USB mouse and keyboard functions. The group aims to get FileZilla, ICQ and WinAmp working correctly in this release.

Version 0.5 will be the first beta and aims to achieve 70% kernel compatibility and is aimed to be release in “2007/2008”. Amongst the features of this release will be printing functionality, a new explorer shell as well as full compatibility with Microsoft Office version 1995 to 2003, MSN Messenger 6-8 plus Yahoo and AOL Messenger apps.

Creating an operating system compatible with Windows is likely to bring up more than a few legal issues however the ReactOS Foundation believes it is able to achieve a positive result. Details of its legal position in overview form can be found here.

ReactOS version 0.3.3 is available for download however it is recommended that you do not install it on a system with important files and that it should be used as a learning/discovery tool only as the ReactOS Foundation makes no warranty for the software and describes the current alpha as “you are lucky if it actually installs and runs for you outside of a virtual machine”.

Still, if the idea of a Windows-compatible open-source operating system appeals, ReactOS still has some way to go but it could well be an interesting answer to an age-old problem.

ReactOS - http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html