Note: Pro-POS is dead. This is preserved for sentimental value. Questions and answers regarding project status have been deleted to avoid confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Project Policy
So this is a project to resurrect AmigaOS?
No. Pro-POS is not about resurrecting anything, except perhaps the fun in computing. AmigaOS and Amiga-like designs keeps popping up in discussions and examples because several project members used Amiga computers for many years, and AmigaOS had certain characteristics unlike most other operating systems.
Why reinvent the wheel when you could simply use the open-source Linux and create your own "perfect" Linux distribution?
Well, as explained in our MissionStatement, Linux and other Unix spinoffs are based on Unix, which we consider to be inherently so full of legacy, demanding so much up-front knowledge, that it could be considered the antithesis of Pro-POS.
But, perfection is impossible to achieve, isn't it?
That is correct. We are aiming at something that is per definition impossible to achieve and we are also very aware of it. Why? Well, William Ellery Channing once said:
"Fix your eyes on perfection and you make almost everything speed towards it."
So, we are not saying that our OS will be "perfect", just that we are aiming for it. That is why we use "Perfection" as a moniker for our OS: it is a constant reminder of what we are aiming for. The end-user version will have another name to remind us that the goal has not really been achieved so that we will work even harder towards that goal for the next version.
Is your OS going to be POSIX compliant?
By design, no. Be aware that POSIX is a standard for Unix based operating systems.
We are open for solutions such as AmigaOS' IXEmul.library or the Cygwin.dll - providing a POSIX layer on top of the operating system for ease of portability - developed by third parties. But since we are not sure too strong an embrace of existing POSIX software will really benefit our project, we will not officially embrace such a solution.
Please be aware that our main goal is to create a better operating system. If we were happy with POSIX, we'd be happy with Linux.
Project Directions
Why not support Java and/or other programming languages than C++?
Compilers and interpreters are not exactly components of an OS, although we would really like to see them added at some later point of time. Java is definitely a must, and is targeted for "Perfection" v2.0 (i.e., it will not be part of the first public release since we need something that the Java VM can run on). Other languages are likely to follow.
"Perfection" will come with a scripting / macro / application interfacing language included, in the tradition of AmigaOS ARexx.
Why don't you use a virtual machine, it would be a much safer / more portable system?
A virtual machine is never faster, never takes less memory, and never has less bugs than a classic "process engine" since the VM itself has to run on such a process engine.
We would prefer to leave the decision pro/contra virtual machine - and what virtual machine - in the hands of the user. The system will enable a system administrator to install a VM on top of "Perfection" and disallow any other applications to be installed and run, effectively making "Perfection" into a VM-only system. Other people might have other demands.
Development Tools
Why don't you provide a dev package for download, e.g. GCC / Bochs / ...?
Tastes differ. The "barebones" GNU toolset is either included in Linux, or comes with an installer in Windows (Cygwin). We discussed the option of providing a "package" of our own, but decided against it: It would be large, downloads would quickly blow the traffic limits on pro-pos.org. It would have to be updated / re-downloaded whenever an individual part of the package gets updated. It would require someone to periodically check for changes, making and uploading the package. Thus, we merely provide links to such tools, and leave it to the individual contributer what to use.
Last edited on February 13, 2004 10:00 am. (c) by Pro-POS.
