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{{Short description|Computer operating system by Acorn Computers Ltd.}} {{About|the operating system developed by Acorn Computers Ltd|the OS developed by MIPS Computer Systems|MIPS RISC/os}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=April 2013}} {{Infobox OS | name = RISC OS | logo = RISC OS.png | logo size = 75px | screenshot = RISC OS 5.30 screenshot.jpg | screenshot_size = 300px | caption = A screenshot of RISC OS 5.30 (released 2024) running on a [[Raspberry Pi]] | developer = [[Acorn Computers]] Open-source (version 5) * [[Castle Technology]] * [[RISC OS Open]] Proprietary (versions 4 & 6) * [[RISCOS Ltd]] | working state = Current | source model = [[Closed source]]; [[Open-source software|open source]] for some versions since 2018 | released = {{Start date and age|1987|09|25|df=yes}}<ref name="arthur_os_copyright_note">copyright notice Arthur 1.20 (25 September 1987)</ref> | latest release version = * 5.30<ref name="ROOL news 2024-04-27">{{cite web |url=https://www.riscosopen.org/news/articles/2024/04/27/risc-os-5-30-now-available |title=RISC OS 5.30 now available |access-date=30 April 2024 |last=Revill |first=Steve |date=27 April 2024 |publisher=[[RISC OS Open]] }}</ref> / {{Start date and age|2024|04|27|df=yes}} * 6.20 / {{Start date and age|2009|12|01|df=yes}} | latest release date = | latest preview version = 5.31 | latest preview date = | marketing target = [[Acorn Computers|Acorn]] [[personal computer]]s | language = English | programmed in = [[BBC BASIC]], [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[assembly language]] | update model = [[Flash ROM]], [[Programmable read-only memory|OTP ROM]], or loadable [[ROM image|ROM image]] | package manager = PackMan, RiscPkg | supported platforms = [[ARM architecture|ARM]] | kernel type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] | userland = | ui = [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] | license = {{plainlist| * [[Apache License 2.0]]<ref>[https://www.riscosopen.org/news/articles/2018/10/22/risc-os-is-open-for-business RISC OS is open for business!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022204607/https://www.riscosopen.org/news/articles/2018/10/22/risc-os-is-open-for-business |date=22 October 2018 }}, RISC OS Open Ltd, accessed 23 October 2018</ref> (version 5) * [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] (version 6) }} | preceded by = [[Acorn MOS|MOS]] (discontinued)<br />[[ARX (operating system)|ARX]] (discontinued) | succeeded by = | website = {{URL|riscosopen.org}} RISC OS Open<br />{{URL|riscos.com}} RISCOS | date = }} '''RISC OS''' ({{IPAc-en|r|Ιͺ|s|k|.|oΚ|Λ|Ι|s}})<ref name="acorn_developer_news_issue14">{{cite news | url=http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/DN/Acorn_DevNL14.pdf | title=RISC OS | work=ISV Department news from Acorn | publisher=Acorn Computers Limited | date=May 1989 | issue=14 | access-date=14 February 2021 | pages=2 | quote=It is RISC OS (pronounced risk oh ess, not risk oss) | archive-date=21 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521002744/http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/DN/Acorn_DevNL14.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> is an [[operating system]] designed to run on [[ARM architecture|ARM]] computers. Originally designed in 1987 by [[Acorn Computers]] of England, it was made for use in its new line of ARM-based [[Acorn Archimedes|Archimedes]] personal computers and was then shipped with other computers produced by the company. Despite the demise of Acorn, RISC OS continues to be developed today by the [[RISC OS Open]] community on version 5.0 of the system that was [[open sourced]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2022 |title=RISC OS: 35-year-old original Arm operating system is alive and well |first=Liam |last=Proven |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/21/risc_os_35/ |work=[[The Register]]}}</ref> RISC OS is a [[Modular programming|modular]] operating system and takes its name from the [[reduced instruction set computer]] (RISC) architecture it supports. It incorporates a [[graphical user interface]] and a [[windowing system]]. Between 1987 and 1998, RISC OS shipped with every ARM-based Acorn computer including the Archimedes line, Acorn's R line (with [[RISC iX]] as a dual-boot option), [[RiscPC]], [[Acorn A7000|A7000]], and prototype models such as the Acorn [[Acorn Computers#NewsPad|NewsPad]] and [[Phoebe (computer)|Phoebe computer]]. A version of the OS, named [[NCOS]], was used in [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]]'s [[Network Computer]] and compatible systems. After the break-up of Acorn, development of the OS was [[Fork (software development)|fork]]ed and continued separately by several companies, including {{nowrap|[[RISCOS Ltd]]}}, [[Pace Micro Technology]], [[Castle Technology]], and RISC OS Developments.<ref name="riscosdev" /> Since then, it has been bundled with several ARM-based desktop computers such as the [[Iyonix PC]]<ref name="Acorn press release 1998-10-12">{{cite press release|publisher=Acorn Computers Ltd |title=Acorn announces distribution deal with Castle Technology for RISC based products |date=12 October 1998 |url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |access-date=6 January 2011 |quote=(October 12th 1998), Cambridge, UK-Acorn announced today that it has completed negotiations with Castle Technology for them to distribute Acorn products. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506180305/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |archive-date=6 May 1999}}</ref> and [[A9home]]. Most recent stable versions run on the ARMv3/ARMv4 [[RiscPC]], the ARMv5 [[Iyonix PC|Iyonix]],<ref name="Iyonix at a glance RO5 features">{{cite web |url=http://www.iyonix.com/iyonix/features/osfeatures.shtml |title=RISC OS 5 features |access-date=31 January 2011 |publisher=Iyonix Ltd |quote=All IYONIX pcs ship with RISC OS 5 in flash ROM. |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110111706/http://www.iyonix.com/iyonix/features/osfeatures.shtml |archive-date=10 November 2010}}</ref> [[ARMv7]] [[Cortex-A8]] processors<ref name="theinquirer snaps leak">{{cite web |url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1051924/snaps-leak-risc-os5-beagleboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519184833/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1051924/snaps-leak-risc-os5-beagleboard |url-status=unfit |archive-date=19 May 2009 |title=Snaps leak of RISC OS5 on BeagleBoard |publisher=[[The Inquirer]] |date=27 April 2009 |access-date=28 June 2011 |last=Farrell |first=Nick |quote=A snap of an RISC OS 5, running on a BeagleBoard device powered by a 600MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor with a built-in graphics chip, has tipped up on the world wide wibble. The port developed by Jeffrey Lee is a breakthrough for the shared-source project because it has ported the OS without an army of engineers.}}</ref><ref name="RISC OS Open wiki Cortex-A8 port status">{{cite web |url=https://www.riscosopen.org/wiki/documentation/pages/Cortex-A8+port+status/versions/1 |title=Cortex-A8 port status |access-date=31 January 2011 |publisher=[[RISC OS Open]] |quote=[The port includes] a modified version of the RISC OS kernel containing support for (all) Cortex-A8 CPU cores. |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026212426/https://www.riscosopen.org/hub/account/login |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Efn|(such as that used in the [[BeagleBoard]] and [[Touch Book]])}} and [[Cortex-A9]] processors<ref name="ROOL news 2015-04-25">{{cite web |url =https://www.riscosopen.org/news/articles/2015/04/25/risc-os-5-22-stable-is-now-available |title=RISC OS 5.22 stable is now available |access-date=25 April 2015 |last=Revill |first=Steve |date=25 April 2015 |publisher=[[RISC OS Open]]}}</ref>{{Efn|(such as that used in the [[PandaBoard]])}} and the low-cost educational [[Raspberry Pi]] series of computers, with the exception of the Raspberry Pi 5.<ref name="iconbar newsround">{{cite web |url=http://www.iconbar.com/articles/Newsround/index1271.html |title=Newsround |work=[[The Icon Bar]] |access-date=17 October 2011 |last=Lee |first=Jeffrey |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104182418/http://www.iconbar.com/articles/Newsround/index1271.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="osnews risc os">{{cite web |url=http://www.osnews.com/story/25276/Raspberry_Pi_To_Embrace_RISC_OS |title=Raspberry Pi To Embrace RISC OS |work=[[OSNews]] |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=1 November 2011 |last=Holwerda |first=Thom |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104182418/http://www.osnews.com/story/25276/Raspberry_Pi_To_Embrace_RISC_OS |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="archive london show 2011">{{cite news |title=The London show 2011 |work=[[Archive (magazine)|Archive]] |date=December 2011 |last=Dewhurst |first=Christopher |volume=23 |issue=3 |page=3}}</ref>
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