Editing SkyOS

{{Short description|Operating system}}
{{Infobox OS
| logo                   = [[Image:SkyOS Logo.svg|250px|The SkyOS Logo]]
| motto                  = See the light, break free.
| developer              = Robert Szeleney
| source_model           = [[Closed source]]
| released               = {{Start date and age|1997|12|15}}
| latest_test_version    = Beta 
| latest_test_date       = {{Start date and age|2013|08|09}}
| marketing_target       = Desktop users
| language               = Multilingual
| kernel_type            = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| license                = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| working_state          = [[Software release life cycle#Halted|Halted]]
| supported_platforms    = [[IA-32]]
}}

'''SkyOS''' is a discontinued prototype commercial, [[Proprietary software|proprietary]], graphical desktop [[operating system]] written for the [[x86]] [[computer architecture]]. Its first version was released in 1997, and its last beta build was released in 2008.

As of January 30, 2009, development of the OS was halted, with no plans to resume its development.<ref>{{cite web | title=SkyOS development is currently halted and no plans to resume its development have been announced | url=http://www.skyos.org/?q=node/647 | access-date=2009-01-30 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910053108/http://www.skyos.org/?q=node/647 | archive-date=2011-09-10 }}</ref>

In August 2013, developer Robert Szeleney announced the release of a public beta on the SkyOS website. This allows public users to download a Live CD of the SkyOS operating system, for testing and to optionally install the system.<ref>{{cite web | title=SkyOS Public Beta | url=http://skyos.org/?q=node/651 | access-date=2009-08-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816234843/http://www.skyos.org/?q=node%2F651 | archive-date=2013-08-16 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== 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"/>

== Features ==
[[Image:Skyos beta4.png|thumb|SkyOS Beta 4]]
[[Image:Skyos beta8.png|thumb|SkyOS Beta 8]]
[[Image:Skyos build6796.png|thumb|SkyOS Build 6796]]

SkyOS is a [[Unix-like]] operating system with a [[monolithic kernel]].<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13"/>
The OS supports [[multiple users]]<ref name="DerStandard"/> and [[symmetric multiprocessing]].<ref name="NewsForge"/>

SkyOS has an integrated graphics subsystem with support for desktop compositing including double buffering and transparency.<ref name="root.cz2006-07-12"/> SkyOS GUI also allows system-wide [[mouse gestures]].<ref name="NewsForge"/>

SkyFS is a [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of the [[OpenBFS]] [[filesystem]].<ref name="osnews2004-01-23"/>

SkyOS can also be run from the following filesystems:

* [[FAT32]]/[[FAT16]]/[[FAT12]]
* [[ISO 9660]]

SkyOS offers real-time file content query searches with multiple keywords (comparable to [[Beagle (software)|Beagle]] in Linux or [[Spotlight (Apple)|Spotlight]] in [[macOS]]), including [[Search engine indexing|indexing]] of files and programs.<ref name="NewsForge"/>

== Applications ==

Most command-line applications that were written to be compiled with the [[GNU toolchain|GNU Toolchain]] can be ported to SkyOS with little or no modification.

SkyOS contains several frameworks for creating applications (including [[Mono (software)|Mono]] port).<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13"/> Ported applications include [[Firefox|Mozilla Firefox]], [[Mozilla Thunderbird]], [[Nvu]],<ref name="NewsForge">{{cite web |last=Miller|first=Tim|url=http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/06/06/1929232|title=Four alternative operating systems, SkyOS|publisher=NewsForge|date=June 14, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108134548/http://os.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/06/06/1929232|archivedate=November 8, 2006|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref> [[GIMP]] and [[AbiWord]].<ref name="DerStandard"/> There was also a monetary incentive for porting applications as the SkyOS community voted for desired programs and then supported developers with donations.<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13"/>

== Reception ==

Although SkyOS includes many interesting features, limited application and hardware support are among its weaknesses (e.g. only a few [[graphics card]]s allow 2D acceleration).<ref name="NewsForge"/>
Kernel and drivers updates were solely worked on by Szeleney, and because of this he was unable to keep up with new devices. This was one of the reasons the development ended for this project. In the end, the OS was not able to expand beyond a small albeit dedicated user community. Apart from a short early open source time period, the OS had a proprietary licence with a commercial model based on paid beta-testing. This led to some controversy as SkyOS developers were accused of unauthorized use of open source software. No proof of any wrongdoing was given, but the public image of the OS was tarnished nevertheless.<ref name="root.cz2009-07-13"/>

== See also ==
* [[List of operating systems]]

== References ==

{{refs}}

== External links ==

* {{official|https://www.skyos.org}}
* [http://slashdot.org/articles/04/01/14/148247.shtml?tid=185&tid=190 Slashdot]—Walking Through SkyOS 5.0 Beta
* [http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/12/23/0317211 Slashdot]—Thunderbird and Firefox Ported to SkyOS
* [http://www.osnews.com/story/7748 OSNews.com]—SkyOS, The 7th Beta and Robert Szeleney

{{Hobbyist operating systems}}

[[Category:Proprietary operating systems]]
[[Category:X86 operating systems]]
[[Category:1997 software]]