Haiku (operating system) facts for kids
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Screenshot of Haiku (Beta 3)
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| Company / developer | Community contributors and Haiku, Inc. |
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| Programmed in | C/C++ |
| OS family | BeOS |
| Working state | Beta |
| Source model | Open source |
| Initial release | February 15, 2002 |
| Latest unstable release | R1 Beta 4 / December 23, 2022 |
| Available language(s) | Multilingual |
| Package manager | hpkg |
| Supported platforms | IA-32, x86-64, RISC-V |
| Kernel type | Hybrid |
| Default user interface | OpenTracker |
| License | MIT License and Be Sample Code License |
Haiku, originally called OpenBeOS, is a free and open-source operating system. An operating system (OS) is the main software that makes your computer work. It helps you run programs and manage files. Haiku is made for personal computers.
This OS is a project led by its community. It continues the ideas of an older operating system called BeOS. Haiku aims to work with programs made for BeOS. This means you can often use old BeOS software on Haiku. The Haiku project started in 2001. A non-profit group called Haiku Inc. helps support its development. The operating system is still being tested, which is why it is called a beta version.
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The Story of Haiku
The OpenBeOS project began on August 18, 2001. It was started by Michael Phipps. This happened after a company called Palm, Inc. bought Be, Inc. This purchase meant that BeOS development would stop. Michael Phipps wanted to help the BeOS users. He aimed to create a new, free, and open-source OS. This new OS would work like BeOS.
Palm did not want to share the BeOS code. So, the OpenBeOS team had to figure out how BeOS worked. They did this by studying it carefully. In 2003, Michael Phipps started Haiku, Inc. This is a non-profit group in New York, USA. Its goal is to help pay for the development of Haiku.
In 2004, the project held its first meeting for developers. It was called WalterCon. At this meeting, they announced a big change. OpenBeOS was renamed to Haiku. This was done to avoid problems with Palm's trademarks. A trademark is a special name or logo that belongs to a company.
How Haiku is Developed
Most of Haiku is new software. However, its graphical user interface (GUI) uses parts from BeOS 5. The GUI includes the Tracker and Deskbar. These parts were made open source by BeOS.
BeOS was designed in a way that made it easy to build Haiku. Its parts were like separate building blocks. This allowed different teams to work on different parts of Haiku. They could create new versions of BeOS parts. This happened even before the whole operating system was finished.
The first big project for OpenBeOS was an update for BeOS 5.0.3 in 2002. It included open-source replacements for some BeOS parts. The kernel is the main part of an OS. It controls everything. Haiku's kernel was based on a project called NewOS. This happened in 2002.
In 2005, the `app_server` was completed. This part manages how windows look on your screen. In 2006, a developer named Stephan Aßmus created Icon-O-Matic. This is a tool for editing icons. He also made a special way to store icons called HVIF. This format helps icons look good and take up little space.
Over time, Haiku gained more features. It got support for Java programs. It also got WLAN (wireless internet) support. After many years of work, the first test version (called an alpha release) came out in 2009.
The Haiku community decided to do more than just copy BeOS. They wanted Haiku to work with modern computers. This included supporting newer hardware and web standards. They also wanted it to work well with other FLOSS (Free/Libre and Open Source Software) programs. In 2009, Haiku also got support for Qt4. Qt is a popular tool for making computer programs.
The WebPositive browser was included in the Alpha2 release. It replaced an older browser. After this, a lot of time was spent on a new way to manage software. This system helps you install and update programs easily. It went live in September 2013. The first beta version (Beta1) was released in 2018. It was the first official Haiku release with full software management.
Key Releases of Haiku
Haiku has had several important releases as it developed:
- Haiku R1/Alpha1 was released on September 14, 2009. This was the first public test version.
- Haiku R1/Alpha4 came out on November 11, 2012. This version supported both 32-bit and 64-bit computers.
- Haiku R1/Beta1 was released on September 28, 2018. This was the first beta version. It brought new ways to install software.
- Haiku R1/Beta4 was released on December 23, 2022. This is the latest beta version. It supports more types of computer processors, including RISC-V.
How Haiku Works Inside
Haiku is built using the C++ programming language. It uses an object-oriented way of working. This means its code is organized into reusable blocks.
Haiku's kernel is a hybrid kernel. This means it combines features from different types of kernels. It started from a project called NewOS. The kernel has many features. These include a way to manage files and support for multiple processors. Haiku works on 32-bit and 64-bit x86 processors. It also works on RISC-V processors. Work is also being done to make it run on ARM processors.
The way programs talk to Haiku is called the API. It is based on the BeOS API. This API is divided into "kits." These kits group similar tools for programmers. In 2007, the company that owned BeOS's ideas shared the BeOS API information. They released it under a Creative Commons license. This made it free for everyone to use.
Haiku has a special program called a boot loader. This program helps start the operating system. It can also start other boot loaders like GRUB or LILO.
Since the Beta1 release, Haiku has improved its memory safety. It uses features like ASLR and DEP. These features help protect the system from harmful software.
Haiku uses something called `app_server` for its graphics. This part handles how windows and images appear on your screen. If your computer's graphics card is not fully supported, Haiku can use a basic video mode called VESA. Haiku is also compatible with POSIX. This means it can run many programs made for other systems like Linux.
What Haiku Looks Like
Haiku's look and feel are made up of two main parts. One is the Tracker, which is like a file manager. It helps you organize your files and folders. The other part is the Deskbar. This is a bar that stays on top of your screen. It has a menu, a system tray, and a list of programs that are running. The Tracker is an improved version of OpenTracker from BeOS.
The icons in Haiku are called stippi. They were designed by Stephan Aßmus. He also created the Haiku Vector Icon Format (HVIF). This is a special way to store icons. It helps them look sharp at any size and keeps their file size small.
Software on Haiku
Haiku has a system for managing software. You can use a graphical app called HaikuDepot. Or you can use a command-line tool called `pkgman`. These tools help you install, update, and remove programs. You can get programs from online stores called "repositories." You can also install them by dropping files into a special folder.
Haiku comes with many programs already installed. These include:
- WebPositive: A web browser for surfing the internet.
- BePDF: A program for reading PDF documents.
- PoorMan: A simple program that can act as a web server.
- Pe and StyledEdit: Text editors for writing and editing text.
- Vision: A chat program for IRC.
- Terminal: A program that lets you type commands to control the computer.
Working with BeOS Software
Haiku R1 is designed to work well with BeOS 5 programs. This means that software made for BeOS can often run on Haiku without changes. The 64-bit version of Haiku works with BeOS programs in a different way. It doesn't run the old programs directly. But it still uses the same API. This means that programmers can easily update old BeOS programs to work on 64-bit Haiku.
See Also
- Comparison of operating systems
- List of BeOS applications
- ZETA
- Syllable Desktop
Images for kids
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Screenshot of Haiku (Beta 3)
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Haiku logo
