Editing SkyOS (section)

== History ==
[[Image:Skyos early 1.gif|thumb|A very early version of SkyOS]]
[[Image:Skyos early 2.jpg|thumb|Another early version of SkyOS]]

Development started in 1996,<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13">{{cite web |last=Bednář|first=Vojtěch|url=https://www.root.cz/clanky/rekviem-za-operacni-system-skyos/|title=Rekviem za operační systém SkyOS|publisher=root.cz|language=Czech|date=July 13, 2009|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> with the first version released in December 1997.<ref name="DerStandard">{{cite web |url=https://derstandard.at/1726956/Die-Windows-Alternative-aus-Oberoesterreich|title=Die Windows-Alternative aus Oberösterreich|publisher=Der Standard|language=German|date=December 23, 2005|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
Up until version 4.x, the OS was freely available.<ref name="osnews2013-08-12">{{cite web |last=Matt|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/27260/last-skyos-50-beta-released-for-free/|title=Last SkyOS 5.0 beta released for free|publisher=OSNews|date=August 12, 2013|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> Starting with beta development of SkyOS 5 in 2003, users were required to pay US$30 to get access to beta releases.<ref>{{cite web|last=Loli|first=Eugenia|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/5440/skyos-5-beta-testing-cycle-is-open/|title=SkyOS 5 Beta Testing Cycle is Open|publisher=OSNews|date=December 17, 2003|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
SkyOS adapted new filesystem SkyFS based on OpenBFS in 2004,<ref name="osnews2004-01-23">{{cite web |last=Loli|first=Eugenia|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/5777/openbfs-becomes-skyfs-for-skyos/|title=OpenBFS Becomes SkyFS for SkyOS|publisher=OSNews|date=January 23, 2004|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> and its graphics subsystem was improved in 2006 with support for [[Compositing window manager|desktop compositing]], including [[Multiple buffering#Double buffering in computer graphics|double buffering]] and [[Alpha compositing|transparency]]. The OS also moved to [[Executable and Linkable Format|ELF binaries]] then.<ref name="root.cz2006-07-12">{{cite web |last=Krčmář|first=Petr|url=https://www.root.cz/zpravicky/vyrazne-upravy-v-systemu-skyos/|title=Výrazné úpravy v systému SkyOS|publisher=root.cz|language=Czech|date=July 12, 2006|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
The last beta build 6947 was released in August 2008,<ref name="osnews2013-08-12"/> and there was no status update for several months.<ref name="root.cz2009-03-11">{{cite web |last=Krčmář|first=Petr|url=https://www.root.cz/zpravicky/budoucnost-skyos-je-stale-nejista/|title=Budoucnost SkyOS je stále nejistá |publisher=root.cz|language=Czech|date=March 11, 2009|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
As the OS was mainly the work of one man, Robert Szeleney, there was increasing difficulty to add new [[device driver]]s.<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13"/>
Considering lack of development under Robert Szeleney, going [[open source]] was viewed by the tech press as the best option for SkyOS.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blankenhorn|first=Dana|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/skyos-faces-choice-of-go-open-source-or-go-away/|title=SkyOS faces choice of go open source or go away|publisher=ZDNet|date=February 3, 2009|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name="root.cz2009-03-11"/>
Although Szeleney tried to bypass the lack of drivers by using a new kernel based on [[Linux]] or [[NetBSD]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Krčmář|first=Petr|url=https://www.root.cz/zpravicky/skyos-experimentuje-s-jadry-linux-a-netbsd/|title=SkyOS experimentuje s jádry Linux a NetBSD|publisher=root.cz|language=Czech|date=June 10, 2009|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> and reported some progress in this regard,<ref>{{cite web |last=Dee|first=Jay|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/21726/skyoslinux-progress-report/|title=SkyOS/Linux Progress Report|publisher=OSNews|date=June 25, 2009|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> development has not resumed.
SkyOS website disappeared in 2013<ref>{{cite web |last=Chris_G|url=https://www.osnews.com/story/26868/skyos-website-finally-fizzles-out/|title=SkyOS website finally fizzles out|publisher=OSNews|date=March 18, 2013|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> and final public build from August 2008 was released for free shortly thereafter.<ref name="osnews2013-08-12"/>