On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 5:51 AM, Norman Dunbar <[email protected]>wrote:
> I may regret starting this, but as the subject says, what would you like > to see in QDOSMSQ given that we were starting from scratch with the > intention of writing a completely new OS? > I'd like to see: A block sound driver, so we can do interesting and useful things with standard sounds. A windowing system that isn't just easy and cosmetically pretty for application users to understand, but that's also easy to code with. A new OS-supported distribution/save format that permanently resolves the stripped headers issue. A HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer - to make the OS less dependent on specific elements of the hardware that have held us back for some time. A new boot option to allow us to configure behavior of the system, eg: installed RAM without dropping to a host OS (if emulating) or on genuine Moto hardware so all functions pertaining to configuring hardware are consistent parts of the OS, not variable of assorted emulators. Proper networking. Treating sockets with device independence too, so OPEN #5,tcp_192,168,0,17p80 is valid. Font improvements. Start by calling them "fonts" - but also by having a choice of bitmapped or outlined fonts with anti-aliasing. Remote desktop. Standard encryption/decryption. Something modern. Unix-style users. It's a multi-tasking OS. If people can never log into it from elsewhere and have it recognize users and privileges, there's only so much it will ever be able to do in the future. Some IO functions. QDOS makes a good RTOS for IO function, data logging etc - everything is there in the OS except good IO and logging functions. It would make a great robotics OS. A group of people to come together to help write drivers for things. There are many hardware projects stalled simply for lack of drivers. People with those skills need to communicate, and take requests for help, then divide and conquer. There are, that I know of, at least two stalled projects now because of these types of issues. OS-driven speech. USB drivers and drivers for certain classes of standard devices like UVC webcams, TWAIN scanners, PCL5 printers, etc. In fact, a whole new printing system, like CUPS, would be nice. Dave _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
