AMIGAOS
ATHEOS
EPOC
INFERNO
NEWDEAL
PALMOS
PLAN9
QNX
RISCOS
MORPHOS
Windows CE
BSD
LINUX
MACOS
UNIX
MS-DOS
WINDOWS
APPLE
ATT
BEINC
CRAY
DR
HP
IBM
MICROSOFT
NOVELL
SCO
SGI
SUN

digg
del.icio.us

[ Screenshots (38) ] [ Versions (15) ]

More operating systems

AllOS/Alliance OS
The Alliance Operating system Project had choose the target since 1998 to create a new stable operating system which is based on the Stanford Caching Kernel Model. Originally this project has split from the Freedows project. Modifications at the source code were published last in March 2001. The project was stopped in meanwhile.

AMX
The real time operating system AMX is from the company Kadak. It is used where everywhere there it depends on time critical reaction times. The medical area, telecommunication, control of industrial plants, data acquisition, automation and space-travel belongs to the fields of application. For embedded devices AMX is the basis of PalmOS version earlier than 5. AMX is availabe for different architectures and was used for the first time in 1980.

Features:
- compact structure
- short response times
- interruption of processes after priority
- preemptive, priority controlled task planner

AMX kernel variants:
- AMX 86, operates with or without MS-DOS and BIOS
- AMX 386/ET, 80386, 80486, Pentium processors
- AMX 68000, 680x0 and 683xx processors
- AMX CFire, ColdFire processors
- AMX PPC32, PowerPC processors
- AMX 4-ARM, ARM, StrongARM and XScale processors
- AMX 4-Thumb, ARM7TDMI and other Thumb processors
- AMX MA32, MIPS32 processors

Aperios is a proprietary of Sony developed (Artificial Intelligence Robot) real time operating system for the autonomous dog Aibo. The development time lasted for about 5 years, the first model was hit the market in 1999. This robot is equipped with a MIPS of 64-bits RISC processor (100 MHz) and 8 MByte DRAM main memory. The color video camera with a resolution of 180,000 pixels as well as the audio input and output interfaces make an orientation possible. Altogether 18 engines control the movability of the new mechanical domestic animal for the entertainment market. A battery provides electrical power for 90 minutes, till now he still can not charge itself. The hardware is built up on the Open-R architecture and the operating system reacts to the signals of the sensors in real time. Aperios is optimized for high transfer rates of audio and video streams. Originally Aperios was used for TV set top boxes like the Plus Media Station in Japan which offered the user interactive services like Internet, video On-Demand and games.

The AIBO ERS-7 came for approx. € 2,000 onto the market in the year 2003 and has a 64-bit RISC processor (MIPS R7000) with 576 mhz and 64 mbyte SDRAM as well as a W-LAN device for a wireless Internet connection. The integrated digital camera has CMOS sensors with a resolution of 350,000 pixels. Like the first model it had a temperature sensor, infrared sensor, acceleration sensor, pressure sensor and vibration sensor. The electrostatic sensor for increased interactivity of the robot was added newly.

The production of the AIBO models was discontinued in March 2006.

AROS (Amiga research Operating system) has the target, to became a compatible operating system to AmigaOS 3.1 on the x86 platform and to port for other platforms. The project started at the end of 1995. Many improvements flow into the development, the source code was put under the APL licence which is derived from the Mozilla Public License.

CRUX is a Linux distribution which define itself from other distributions by a slim basic installation. Applications for the same task were reduced on two different programs. Current software from the GNU software pool flows together with the latest Linux kernel into new releases. Different optimized versions exist for modern x86 processors.

The version CRUX 2.1 was published in April 2005, version CRUX 2.2 one year later.

The Freedows project plans to release a open source operating system under the GPL only for the x86 platform. Freedows shall emulate different operating systems and be compatible to applications, such as for Windows or Linux. No version was published till now, the content of the Freedows website were not updated any more for a long time. This project was stopped in 2002.

LynxOS is an real time operating system with short latencies. It is particularly suitable for time-critical applications, the performance can be increased linearly by additional hardware. LynxOS is binary compatibly to Linux and supports network applications and the POSIX Standard. With version 4.0 a performance increase of 30% was reached opposite to the pre-version.

The 32-bit operating system MenuetOS was programmed by Ville Turjanmaa with assembler. It is a new, graphical real time multitasking operating system which is programmed by several developers. Up till now FAT12 and FAT32 file systems are supported only rudimentarily. MenuetOS fits comfortably on one single floppy disk and offers a standard colour depth of 16 million colours. Multi-Threading and simple TCP/IP are supported in meanwhile. An assembler is already contained. The version 0.78 was published in March 2005.

With MenuetOS 64 (beta v0.02) of Ville Turjanmaa even a variant is available for 64-bit processors. Programmed in 100% assembler the execution of 64-bit and 32-bit applications is possible. The installation on fixed storage disks is supported. The improved version 0.43 was published at the beginning of June 2006.

Micriµm with his µC/OS-II real time kernel supports preemptive multitasking and finds his use on micro controllers and embedded systems. The "µC/GUI" allows the design of user interfaces and with "µC/FS" a high-speed and efficient file system is available.

Miray µnOS supports several processor families and was designed for embedded systems. The efficient real time Microkernel Sphere SP 2.0 is offered currently. The version µnOS 0.98 was released in July 2003.

Mungi is a single address space operating system (SASOS) on a 64-bit base. It is open source and is released under the GPL licence. By the SASOS design it differs from typical operating system structures. The sourcecode of the version 1.2 was published in September 2002.

Microware OS-9 was developed by the company RadiSys Corporation. It is a modularly built up real time OS for small devices and has preemptive multitasking. It can dynamically assign resources to prefered processes. Applications use the shared libraries, the file system is built up hierarchically. OS-9 can be operated without harddisk storage, it manages the system modules directly in the memory. This operating system does not allow programs direct hardware access by his architecture. The MGR Window Manager is used as user interface with X-Window. OS-9 supports processors of the architectures m68k, ARM/StrongARM, IXP1200, MIPS, PowerPC, SPARC, SuperH and x86/Pentium.

PaulOS was designed by Paul Sheer for small devices which shall be used for application development. It supports 16-bit, 32-bit and 64-bit processors. The file system follows the POSIX standard. Applications are executed in the single threading procedure with a very low latency. Many network applications were ported by Linux and come by the TCP stack from BSD and is used for example as mini-web server. The version 1.3.1 was published in April 2005.

PROLOGUE is a pure text oriented multitasking and multi-user operating system for x86 CPUs. Originally it was developed by Honeywell BULL as a very stable working environment for industry software as used by human doctors or workers. Successor of PROLOGUE is the operating system TWIN Server.

ReactOS A couple of persons decided at the 1996-01-23 to create a completely new operating system which can execute Windows applications. At first this project was called FreeWin95 and some start-up problems. In 1998 the nearly given up project was reanimated by the new project manager Jason Filby and renamed in ReactOS. The aim definition of ReactOS is to become a Windows NT/XP compatible operating system. Both applications and drivers are included. Even further subsystems like Java operating system, OS/2 and DOS shall be integrated later. ReactOS is still in alpha development and protected as OpenSource by the GPL (GNU General Public License).

With the release of ReactOS 0.3.0 (alpha) applications like OpenOffice, Nero Burning ROM, WinRAR and Unreal Tournament already run with this operating system. The temporary stop of development of ReactOS was announced at 2006-01-27. Cause is the suspicion of source code smuggled in by reverse engineering of Microsoft Windows. The facts are cleared by code audit and newly programmed if required. To prevent similar situations in future, new guidelines for developer were specified.

1996, ReactOS 0.0.7
2000, ReactOS 0.0.15
2005 May, ReactOS 0.2.6
200, ReactOS 0.3.0
200, ReactOS 0.3.1, 2.1 million source code lines

The SkyOS operating system was initiated by Robert Szeleney in 1996. SkyOS was programmed entirely newly for the x86 architecture. The first version 0.1 which consisted of a 16-bit kernel and a very simple user interface was published on 15-12-1997. The version 5.0 beta was available in March 2005. In meanwhile SkyOS supports multitasking , multithreading, SMP, virtual memory, memory protection and Internet abilities. The built-in GUI named SkyGI has got very flexible and efficient. Only some of the feature are alpha blending, transparent windows, shades, window animations, OpenGL rendered windows, anti-aliasing and hardware acceleration. The Unicode interface can be adapted for any native language. The used file system is called SkyFS. It belongs to the 64-bit file systems with journaling functios and supports extended attributes, indices and inquiries. Moreover, it supports all FAT file systems, BFS (BeOS), Ext2/Ext3 and the ISO9660 CD-ROM format.

SkyOS is suitable for playing all sorts of media files like videos, DVD, Audio CD and MP3 files. The ISS (Integrated Sound System) is also suitable for the development of complex audio applications. It plays several audio stream without restrictions, can adjust the sampling rate and use effect filters. The operating system provides the Web browser SkyKruzer, a porting of KHTML, to surf in the WWW. Further popular applications are AbiWord, GIMP, the GNU Compiler Collection, Pearl, VideoLan and much more.

TinyOS 1.0 bases on a component model which can be adapted flexibly to embedded devices. It is designed for minimal hardware requirements.

TriangleOS in the current version 0.0.3 of 30-4-2003 was developed by Wim Cool. It was programmed in C and assembler on the x86 platform with network abilities. For the version 0.0.5 a new Virtual file & Database System as well as a new user interface is researched.

v2os 0.64c is an assembler operating system which is freely developed. v2os is still in development, provided applications already demonstrate the abilities.

brickOS (formerly legOS) (last review: July 2003) is a open source operating system for robots from the Lego Mindstorm Kits. It supports all RSX subsystems, preemptive multitasking, infrared technique and the dynamic memory management as well as the dynamic load of programs and driver software.

Visopsys is developed since 1997, is open source and an independent development. The user interface is kept simple and functional. The version 0.62 was published in April 2006.

Wind River is specialized in real time operating systems and offers with the operating system VxWorks an optimal development system for embedded operating systems. The multitasking and real time kernel "wind" offers a POSIX extension and network functions.
VxWorks is used in the Rover robots conceived for geological purposes at NASA, as in the case of the Pathfinder mission to Mars. A Rover robot was used successfully with VxWorks in 1997 too. The RTOS controlled even the Lander, the transport unit for the Spirit named Rover and provided the communications to earth.
On February 23rd, 2004 the in 1981 founded company Wind River introduced the improved VxWorks 6.0. VxWorks was used for the development of the embedded operating system of the two Rovers Spirit and Opportunity in the Mars investigation in June/July 2003. The software controlled the hardware and provided the reliability and autonomy. The VxWorks RTOS was ported for the against radioactive radiation harden RAD6000 32-bit processor. The operating system managed the antenna for the reception and sending of data, provided the coordination with the star scanner, the supervision of the functions and the safe data storage.
In August 2006 Boing used the operating system Linux in the U.S. Navy military aeroplane P-8A. Wind River delivered the developer environment Carrier-Grade Linux, the aeroplane prototype shall be ready in 2009.

Operating systems for Automobiles

Operating systems in automobiles are used for all sorts of control and security purposes. For example the air conditioner, instrument panel, anti-lock braking system, airbags, comfort functions are connected to the CAN bus. The car manufacturers need high demands on such operating systems. In Germany these software must primarily be OSEK certified if they are in relation with the CAN bus. OSEK or OSEK/VDX is such a specification for distributed control units and the API. Many important companies like BMW, Daimler Crysler, Siemens, Motorola, Infineon, Mercedes Benz and still many more are involved in this specification which was suggested as an ISO standard.

OSEK/VDX 2.2.1 specification (16-01-2003)
- for the first time version 1.0 published on 11-2-1995
- defines multitasking behaviour and API for system services in C
- for distributed 1 processor systems
- real time requirements
- interrupt and task behaviour
- minimal hardware requirements
- scalability
- portability
- resources management
- error handling, application and system errors

Operating systems of the Eighties

EOS is an operating system developed in Germany, was written in the programming language C and has compared to CP/M 3.1 more commands.

Eumel (Extendable Multi User Microprocessor Elan System) was spread a little and was developed by the GMD (Society for Mathematics and Data processing) and the "Hochschulrechenzentrum Bielefeld" (University in Germany/Bielefeld). It is designed as an multiuser system and contains the programming language Elan (Elementary Language).

Famos (Microcomputer Systems Inc.) was only little spread on the market like PDOS and was used for multiuser systems. PDOS had the markable feature, that it was developed for processors of the series MC 6800 and TI 9900 and is designed especially for realtime applications.

Oasis runs on different embedded computers for business independend and business specific application software. It was developed by Phase One Systems Inc., the abbreviation stands for Online Application System Interactive Software. Oasis runs on 8-bit and 16-bit processors like the Z80, 8088, 8086, 68000. It was used for singleuser and multiuser systems.

Prologue is based on the in 1975 developed operating system BAL and was developed in France. It was developed more for customers of multiuser systems, software and system solution companys which wanted more advanced application solutions. The Prologue architecture contains different layers which guarantee the greatest measure in portability at different hardware configurations. The system core "Nueleus" of the operating system was programmed mainly in assemblers, however the source code also partly consists of "C" and "BAL". The availability of the programming language BAL (Business Application Language) increases the value of this operating system. Many commands for data communications, file and database management, graphic and more became directly integrated so additional routines are no longer necessarily.

System informations:
- real multiuser and multitasking operating system
- runs on Intel 8086/8088 computers
- can manage up to eight workplaces
- up to 1 (one) mbyte RAM, at least 128 kbytes
- can manage storage devices with at most 512 mbyte per drive
- needs 60-70 kbytes of RAM- dynamic memory management
- time controlled program flow
- spooling function for printers
- supports index sequential access (ISAM) to harddisk storage devices
- supports the programming language Dialogue II (similar to dBaseIII)

Operating systems produced for VEB Robotron

The personal computers "AC A 7100" from the DDR (German Democratic Republic) VEB (Nationally-owned company) Kombinat (compareable with a company) Robotron was delivered with the basic equipment K1710 monitor with the model number K 7229.22 as well as the keyboard K 7637.9X for special working tasks. With the port of CAD/CAM periphery it also was used for technical drawings. There was even the possibility of the remote power on and a integrated fan and power failure detection.

- 16-bit processing deepth
- modular computer design
- individually expandable
- up to 768 kbytes of RAM, 560 ns access time
- 32 kbytes permanent storage in the EPROM
- installation of 5"1/4 harddisk storage disks with 10 mbyte possible
- support for K 5600.20 5"1/4 floppy disks
- CPU description: K 1810 WM 86,5 MHz- extendable by a Co-processor
- up to 1 mbyte memory addressing
- system bus clock frequency: 9,832 MHz

SCP 1700 (Single User Control Program)
- floppy disk oriented singleuser system
- use as a terminal or in the local area network
- prefered use for the development of programs and office automation
- modular design
- control program loader LDSCP for transient commands in the CMD format- control program SCPX (file SCP.SYS)
- including standard software (like word processing)
- delivered with the compilers FORTRAN77, C, Pascal, MODULA-2, COBOL
- with the porgram interpreter BASIC
- graphic extension SCP-GX by GIOS (graphics input/output system) and GDOS (graphic device operating system)

MUTOS 1700
- Time-sharing operating system- UNIX derivated
- / root file system structure
- powerfull Shell with programming similar statements
- for different computer platforms
- writte mostly in C
- utility programs like cp (copies), cmp (compare), mkdir (creates directory), rm (deletes files or directories)
- field of application was the development of software or scientific computing

BOS 1810


- real time operating system
- multitasking with priority control
- modular design
- object oriented design
- field of application is the development of software
- contains already necessary device drivers
- included file access control with right assignment
- error treatment by validity tests
- condition controls with rule definition of exceptions
- dynamic RAM assignment
- interactive adaptation to the user with configuration profiles

Object types:
- Task (active individual program)
- Jobs (passive, separate of single applications to others)
- mailboxes (information exchange between tasks)
- semaphores (integer, affected the status of tasks to active/inactive)
- segments
- Connections

Hyperlinks

The comment function was deactivated due to spam abuse.