What do you want in an Operating System?

By yanike
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Grand Master

Matthew S.

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I think it was due before I was born.

Edit: Nope, most of the components were finished before I was born, kernel development started when I was 3.

And how old are you now? lol

It'll likely be done when I'm six feet under...

Grand Master

The_Decryptor Veteran

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...

I don't think the APNG thing is anything do with Debian "being stupid". Mozilla patched libpng to support APNG but libpng won't include the patch in their build for some reason... and Debian won't patch libpng themselves... Of course there is nothing stopping you downloading the source for Iceweaseal and libpng, patching libpng yourself and building against the patched libpng... just a lot more hassle.

...

Mozilla bundle their own build of libpng, which is pre-patched (so you specifically have to remove APNG support), and even then the plain patches are available from bugzilla, like in https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=418900 IceWeasel doesn't include it because it's not part of the PNG spec (which I think is pretty stupid, they don't patch out other non-standard stuff).

And how old are you now? lol

It'll likely be done when I'm six feet under...

Just turned 21.

Grand Master

_bobcat_ Veteran

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Personally I'm still in the honeymoon phase with OS X and feel that it's the best I've used so far. This is my list, in no particular order:

1. The interface is clean, simple and fairly minimalist. I'm not a fan of fat window borders and buttons that look like balloons which is the impression Vista gave me. I also have no need for pretty colours, I just want something neutral and fairly pleasing to the eye.

2. It is intuitive and consistent. Things are where I expect them to be, you don't have to learn how to do or find things, they're just in a logical place (to me at least).

3. I like the Dock (OS X) and Quick Launch (in Windows) where I can have a select few icons for frequently used files/folders/applications. I hate having icons on the desktop which I tend to use as a temporary repository for downloaded/new files.

4. I want to be able to customise *everything* but I don't want to have to do so. That means I want it to install in a usable state, so I can customise at my leisure.

5. I really like the repository system used in many (all?) Linux distros where you can just find a big list of software that you can search & install.

6. I like the preview thing in Vista when you hover over programs in the task bar.

7. Obviously I want a secure and stable OS that makes the most of my hardware.

8. The virtual desktops and Spaces software I've used is a must. I can't believe that Vista doesn't have this :o

9. Sleep mode, which is reliable with quick waking.

10. I like terminals, please don't hide it away as though I should be afraid of it :p

No start up loading? 1-5 seconds for an operating system to load? You do realize that with a spinning hard disk drive that has to access information for the OS and all the things than an OS has to do, that there is some time involved, right? But at the same time you want a seemingly esoteric feature of it 'knowing' magically whether a new installation is a security application or an office application?

You've likely never coded a line of anything in your life.

The question didn't demand that it be technically feasible, now or in the future, just what your ideals are, a goal to work toward.

Applications could have a built in tag to tell the OS what they are, or the user could specify on installation.

There are now solid state hard drives so maybe 1-5 seconds will be possible. Personally, I use the sleep function, which gives me about 5 - 20 second wait, depending on re-connecting to the internet.

Grand Master

4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran

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8. The virtual desktops and Spaces software I've used is a must. I can't believe that Vista doesn't have this :o

This is tricky. This has been in various Linux desktops for many years but there is a company out there who claims to have invented the idea. America allows software ideas to be patented and this company has a patent, though it has never tried to enforce it against Linux (probably because Linux has prior art).

Apple wanted the feature and pays that company royalties for every copy of Mac OS sold that includes the feature. Microsoft would have the feature, I think, if it weren't for this 'issue'. They aren't keen to pay up and they don't want to be sued, even given that the patent itself could probably be invalidated by reference to prior art.

Still, it is a good feature, but you only get it in Mac and Linux.

Grand Master

The_Decryptor Veteran

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Windows supports virtual "desktops", they just don't provide a UI for accessing it (MS did release a powertoy for XP that provided 4 taskbar buttons, but powertoys aren't official)

And any software patent would be struck down on prior art quite quickly.

Grand Master

4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran

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Windows supports virtual "desktops", they just don't provide a UI for accessing it (MS did release a powertoy for XP that provided 4 taskbar buttons, but powertoys aren't official)

And any software patent would be struck down on prior art quite quickly.

I found this article from Apple Insider which is quite good and has got me wondering why Apple pay a company called IP Innovation for this feature: see here at GrokLaw. I may have misread the GrokLaw pages because I am not a lawyer but it does seem that it is talking about the multiple desktop feature known as 'Spaces' in Macs.

Rising Star

yanike

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Thanks for all your suggestions. I've documented it and will try my best to make my Operating System reflect each of your suggestions.

Keep them coming :)

Note: I'm looking for BSD Developers, Graphics Designers and more for this project. If you are interested, contact me.

I want my operating system to be mine. I mean, that copy belongs to be to install as many copies as I like and use for whatever I want, without artificial limitations on features.

I already thought of a great way to manage the computers you install it on. Great Suggestion :)

Grand Master

+Warwagon MVC

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- Zero slow downs, no loading no matter what the application. Just click and open the application.

- No start up loading, just push the start button and desktop should be ready for use in 1-5 sec.

- No slow downs turning off computer, all running programs are closed in under 1-5sec.

- OS should be able to recognize types of application being installed, so everything doesn't go into program files. Perhaps something like Installed Games, Installed Secruity, Installed Office Apps, Installed Media files, etc.

- Registry shouldn't be organized better as well.

- so many improvements can be made...I could keep going

BeOS

Grand Master

Borbus

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DirectX and OpenGL support :)

OpenGL is easy because it's open... obviously. This is why all non-microsoft OSes use it primarily. DirectX is proprietary, though. The closest you're going to get on a non-microsoft OS is Wine. I'd rather not see DirectX in my OS. I'd rather see DirectX die.

Grand Master

_bobcat_ Veteran

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This is tricky. This has been in various Linux desktops for many years but there is a company out there who claims to have invented the idea. America allows software ideas to be patented and this company has a patent, though it has never tried to enforce it against Linux (probably because Linux has prior art).

Apple wanted the feature and pays that company royalties for every copy of Mac OS sold that includes the feature. Microsoft would have the feature, I think, if it weren't for this 'issue'. They aren't keen to pay up and they don't want to be sued, even given that the patent itself could probably be invalidated by reference to prior art.

Still, it is a good feature, but you only get it in Mac and Linux.

Well that is annoying! Personally I think MS should pay for it, or file some legal challenge. I would really struggle to get by without Spaces now.

Grand Master

4CxbqFxVnstmA Veteran

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Well that is annoying! Personally I think MS should pay for it, or file some legal challenge. I would really struggle to get by without Spaces now.

Actually probably no one should pay for it. It doesn't look like a 'safe' patent in that there appears to be prior art, as someone suggested. But it's the crazy software patent system to blame really. I figure it has to keep going its mad way until a good lawsuit comes along to provoke serious change. Anyway the EU and really most of the world don't recognise these software patents, just the USA at the moment.

Grand Master

The_Decryptor Veteran

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Software patents need to die, in the case of Linux (and UNIX), the way multiple desktops work is just a part of how they were designed, and it's been designed that way since the beginning (before the idea was patented).

MS has the technical backend, but no GUI way to implement it. It might not have anything to do with the patent.

Community Regular

Boktai1000

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-From BIOS to fully loaded OS in less than 10

-Fully 64-bit, no 32-bit version either.

-All devices working out of the box (includes printers/scanners/wireless/graphics cards)

-DirectX compatible

-Easily changeable Desktop Environment, no need for hacks such as uxtheme.dll for themes also

-Ability to run .exes, .rpm, .deb, idk what mac runs .dmg and .app right? (yes I know wishful thinking but thats what this is about rite?)

-Add/Remove + Package Manager, similar to ones incorporated in linux distros like ubuntu

-Compiz like or Compiz port for eye candy

-Full Support for every filesystem, but ext3 might be a good default. (ext4 actually but its not done yet)

-Free and Open Source

-No bloatware, but some good basic programs preinstalled.

Mentor

Impact

Posted
Posted
-From BIOS to fully loaded OS in less than 10

-Fully 64-bit, no 32-bit version either.

-All devices working out of the box (includes printers/scanners/wireless/graphics cards)

-DirectX compatible

-Easily changeable Desktop Environment, no need for hacks such as uxtheme.dll for themes also

-Ability to run .exes, .rpm, .deb, idk what mac runs .dmg and .app right? (yes I know wishful thinking but thats what this is about rite?)

-Add/Remove + Package Manager, similar to ones incorporated in linux distros like ubuntu

-Compiz like or Compiz port for eye candy

-Full Support for every filesystem, but ext3 might be a good default. (ext4 actually but its not done yet)

-Free and Open Source

-No bloatware, but some good basic programs preinstalled.

+1 Except for having compiz, because I really don't like compiz, and I think NTFS should still be the default filesystem. I don't care whether it's free and open source or not.

Rising Star

BilliShere

Posted
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An awesome ui that makes computing and everyday stuff wonderful, fun, and all warm and fuzzy inside. think something new, clean, and efficient, like a linux answer to microsoft's ribbon ui. i hate to admit it..but im enjoying office 2007 only because of that ui. while your at it... More compiz fusion effects won't hurt too. and better looking wallpapers.

A wicked media center that is easy to use yet compatible with everything including my 360. and it better run on linux too. Something like the result of Entertainer (if and when it completes) with its clutter ui and amarok make sweet love.

Most securest, yet at the same time, highly compatible, and speedy. hmmm. Linux? but with more beef....lean beef. wait! Highly Stable lean beef!

The ability to run all sorts of programs.. something like WINE or CROSSOVER and if they make Mac Wine thingy.. then we can run whatever program we like. extract those goddamn icontainer, icns, or dmg files by default. But it should be secure. very secure.. last thing i want is goddamn windows spyware running on my linux box.

And the only problem I got with my current OS... have you seen how fast Vista boots up? Please. let that fedora project on that super fast linux boot (which is also smooth and doesn't have your screen flickering due to compiz loading up) come to life. I needs it in my ubuntu!!!!

DirectX and OpenGL make sweet love also and get a new kid in town. This one better be super fast, efficient, and stable!

one last thing: Freeeeee!!!!! please! I hate macs for only this one reason. They are too expensive.. As a matter of fact.. that makes them no different from Microsoft.

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