ReactOS facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
ReactOS

ReactOS 0.4.14 desktop
Company / developer	Community contributors The ReactOS developers
Programmed in	C, C++
OS family	Windows NT-like
Working state	Alpha
Source model	Open-source
Initial release	(partial) 1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Latest unstable release	0.4.14 / 16 December 2021; 3 years ago (2021-12-16)
Marketing target	Personal computing
Update method	CD-ROM ISO image, QEMU image, VirtualBox image, VMware image, or source code
Supported platforms	IA-32, x86-64
Kernel type	Hybrid (designed to be compatible with Windows NT family)
Influenced by	Microsoft Windows
Default user interface	Graphical (ReactOS Explorer)
License	GPL-2.0-or-later

ReactOS 0.4.14 running the Firefox web browser

ReactOS is a free and open-source computer operating system. It is made for personal computers. Its main goal is to work like Microsoft Windows. This means it can run many programs and use device drivers made for Windows. People see ReactOS as a possible free replacement for Windows. It also helps people learn about how Windows works behind the scenes.

ReactOS has been in the making since 1996. As of 2024, it is still in an early testing stage, called "alpha software." Because of this, the creators suggest using it mainly for trying out and testing things. However, many Windows programs already work on it. These include Adobe Reader 9.3, GIMP 2.6, and LibreOffice 5.4.

ReactOS is mostly written in a computer language called C. Some parts, like its File Explorer, are written in C++. The project is also working to support 64-bit computers. ReactOS works with many other free and open-source projects. A key partner is the Wine project. Wine helps Unix-like operating systems run Windows programs.

How ReactOS Started

Early Steps in Development

Around 1996, some free and open-source software developers began a project called FreeWin95. They wanted to create a copy, or clone, of Windows 95. But the project got stuck because people couldn't agree on how to design it.

By the end of 1997, FreeWin95 hadn't released anything to the public. So, the team, led by Jason Filby, decided to restart the project. The new goal was to copy the features of Windows NT. They chose a new name: ReactOS. Development began in February 1998. They started by building the core of a new NT-like system and basic drivers. The name "ReactOS" came from a chat. "OS" meant operating system. "React" showed the group's unhappiness with Microsoft's strong position in the computer world.

In 2002, the ReactOS Foundation was set up in Moscow. It was later closed down in 2015.

Making Sure the Code is Original

To avoid legal problems, ReactOS had to be completely new and not copied from Windows. This needed very careful work. In 2006, a developer claimed that ReactOS might have code copied from Microsoft Windows. The team looked into this right away.

The developers temporarily stopped access to the code. They wanted to discuss the claims. ReactOS explained that there were different ideas about how to legally create software that works like another. To be safe, some companies have a rule: the person who studies the original code should not be the one who writes the new code. ReactOS made its rules clearer to follow these ideas. They checked all their code to make sure it was original. All developers had to agree to these rules. After the check was done, access to the tools was restored.

Joining Google Summer of Code

Since 2006, the ReactOS project has taken part in Google Summer of Code. This program helps students work on open-source projects. For example, in 2011, a student helped add a network feature called lwIP to ReactOS.

Seeking Support in Russia

Between 2007 and 2015, ReactOS contributors in Russia tried to get support from the Russian government. As of 2019, these efforts did not lead to government funding. The Russian ReactOS Foundation was closed in 2015.

Former ReactOS project coordinator Aleksey Bragin (left) showing ReactOS to Viktor Alksnis

• In 2007, Viktor Alksnis, a member of the Russian parliament, met with project coordinator Aleksey Bragin. Bragin showed ReactOS running programs like Total Commander and Mozilla Firefox.
• In 2011, a demonstration was given to then-president Dmitry Medvedev.
• In 2012, Vladimir Putin also saw a demonstration of ReactOS.
• In 2015, Bragin attended a meeting about reducing Russia's reliance on imported software. The meeting mentioned creating an open-source operating system based on ReactOS.

Funding Campaigns

In May 2012, ReactOS started a fundraising campaign to get €30,000. This money would help pay for more development. By the end of the year, they had about half the goal. They decided to keep raising money without a deadline.

Thorium Core Cloud Desktop Project

In 2013, ReactOS announced a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. They wanted to raise $120,000 for a project called Thorium Core Cloud Desktop. This service would use ReactOS as its core. It would let people use Windows programs from mobile devices like smartphones or tablets. The campaign ended in February 2014, raising $48,965, which was less than the goal. So, no money was collected.

ReactOS Community Edition

In April 2014, the ReactOS project started another campaign on Indiegogo. This was for the ReactOS Community Edition. The goal was $50,000. Users would vote and help fund which software and hardware ReactOS should support. By June 2014, they raised $25,141. The voting process for hardware and software support began soon after.

ReactOS Hackfest Events

The ReactOS project has organized several "hackfests." These are events where developers meet to work together on the project.

• The first hackfest was from August 7 to 12, 2015, in Aachen, Germany. Many new features were added during this event.
• The second hackfest was in Cologne, Germany, from August 14 to 18, 2017.
• The third and fourth hackfests took place in Berlin in August 2018 and August 2019.

ReactOS Versions Over Time

What ReactOS Includes

ReactOS 0.4.14 desktop: left Start Menu and right ReactOS's own File Explorer

New shell in ReactOS (v0.4.0 and newer)

Command Prompt, Spider Solitaire, Calculator and WineMine

Device Manager in ReactOS 0.4.14

Built-in Programs

ReactOS comes with many programs, similar to what you might find in Windows:

• ReactOS Explorer (like File Explorer)
• ReactOS Applications Manager (to find and install more programs)
• Accessories:
  • Calculator
  • Command Prompt (for typing commands)
  • Notepad (for simple text files)
  • Paint (for drawing)
  • WordPad (for basic documents)
  • Magnifier (to zoom in on the screen)
  • On-Screen Keyboard (to type with your mouse)
  • Remote Desktop Connection (to connect to other computers)
  • Multimedia Player (like Media Player)
  • Sound Recorder
  • Volume Control
  • Character Map
  • Clipboard Viewer
  • ReactX Diagnostic (like DxDiag)
  • Registry Editor
  • Task Manager
• Administrative Tools:
  • Device Manager (to manage hardware)
  • Event Viewer (to see system messages)
  • Service Manager (to manage background programs)
  • System Configuration (like MSConfig)
• Games:
  • Solitaire
  • Spider Solitaire
  • WineMine (like Microsoft Minesweeper)

Command Prompt Commands

The ReactOS reg command

ReactOS's Command Prompt supports many commands. Here are some examples:

• cd (change directory)
• copy (copy files)
• del (delete files)
• dir (list files and folders)
• echo (display text)
• help (get help for commands)
• md (make a new folder)
• move (move files)
• reg (manage the registry)
• ren (rename files)
• start (open programs)
• time (show or set the time)
• type (show file content)
• ver (show system version)
• xcopy (copy files and directories)

How ReactOS is Built

Core Development of ReactOS

ReactOS is mainly written in C. Some parts, like its File Explorer and sound system, are written in C++. Developers use different tools to build the project.

The developers want the core of ReactOS to work even better with Windows NT version 5.2 (Windows Server 2003). They also plan to support newer versions of Windows as the project grows. ReactOS has its own way of handling DirectX graphics, called ReactX. For 2D and OpenGL 3D graphics, it works directly. For other graphics like Direct3D, it uses OpenGL as a temporary solution, often borrowing code from Wine.

The progress of ReactOS depends on how many developers are working on it and their experience. For example, Microsoft had about 1,000 developers working on Windows 7. ReactOS has a smaller team. Many ReactOS developers learn about Windows as they work on the project.

ReactOS mostly works on regular x86/AMD64 computers. There were efforts to make it work on ARM architecture and PowerPC, but these are not actively worked on anymore. Support for the Xbox and NEC PC-9800 computers was added. Work is also ongoing to improve 64-bit support.

Working with Other Projects

ReactOS aims to create a Windows-compatible system using open-source code. It often uses and works with other open-source projects. This means they don't have to build everything from scratch. In return, other projects like Wine also use parts of ReactOS's code.

Hardware Drivers

For hardware, ReactOS uses projects like UniATA for Serial ATA drivers. It has also experimented with the FullFAT library for its FAT file system. ReactOS uses the USB code from Haiku to help with its USB support. Mesa 3D helps with OpenGL graphics.

Networking

ReactOS's network system uses parts of the network code from FreeBSD. It also has its own code for things like IP. Later, a small network stack called lwIP was added to ReactOS.

Cooperation with Wine

A simplified architecture diagram of ReactOS, with Wine dependencies indicated by the Wine logo. White boxes denote third-party binary software. Green boxes are "userland" components, red are kernel components.

The ReactOS and Wine projects both want to run Windows software. So, they share a lot of code and ideas. ReactOS uses parts of the Wine project to benefit from Wine's work on the Win32 system. While some parts of Wine cannot be used directly by ReactOS, many small pieces of code can be shared. ReactOS develops its own core system, as Wine relies on existing Unix-like systems.

There was also an experimental branch called Arwinss. It tried to improve support for Windows graphics and user interface by combining ReactOS's design with Wine's code. This also allowed users to use a remote display instead of a local one.

Other Collaborations

The Tango Desktop Project provides open-source design rules and icons for desktop programs. FreeType is a library used to display text and fonts. The KernelEx project helps older Windows programs run on newer systems. Other projects that help ReactOS include MinGW, SYSLINUX, ICU, Ext2, GNU FreeFont, DejaVu fonts, and Liberation fonts.

Other Projects Like ReactOS

Some other operating systems have been created based on ReactOS:

• Ekush OS (2004)

See Also

In Spanish: ReactOS para niños

• Binary-code compatibility (the ability to run programs made for another system)
• FreeDOS, a copy of MS-DOS
• Haiku, a copy of BeOS
• Wine, a program that lets you run Windows apps on Linux and other systems
• List of operating systems