ReactOS - An Open Source OS That Runs Windows Programmes

ReactOS is an open source OS that has been in constant development for more than two decades. Eventually the intention is that it will be a drop-in replacement for windows and able to run windows software from back in the windows 2000 days all the way up to the modern day.
Unfortunately it's still Alpha software, and so the realisation of the above goal still has a way to go. That said, it is usable and it has a fairly impressive package manager. It's probably fair to see that it's not yet ready for prime time but it is moving in the right direction. The only problem being, the ultimate goals of this OS are not likely to be achieved quickly.
I hope you enjoy the video :-)
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Ramble On!

[@ReactOSCommunity]

Hello from ReactOS team! Thanks for the nice review! We really apreacate it! Just want to tell you that we are preparing the next version release right now. It will have 0.4.15 number and you already can give it a try, by downloading fresh nightly build of our OS. Unreleased yet version 0.4.15 already contains quite a lot of stability and performance improvements, as well as set of new features.... Changle log impresses!

[@kiSABREWULF007]

when 0.4.15 will go out ?

[@PHDWhom]

I’ve been curious for a while now. What can you tell us about security and stability? Is it safe enough to use online without compromise?

[@tonywise198]

It's nice that the ReactOS team took the time to coment.

[@luluthecat1570]

@@PHDWhom it should be safe

[@SrIgort]

@@PHDWhom it should be really safe since no hackers would target ReactOS.

[@namelesske]

React OS is a perfect candidate for old machines running some old Windows versions to participate in manufacturing and other embedded tasks like controlling robots and cnc machines etc. But they need to speed up the development because everyone is moved to the next scumbag architecture.

[@paulg3336]

I service pathology lab analyzers. Some of the manufactures are beginning to use Linux as the system OS. German QIAGEN instruments are all Linux but with a Windows laptop for user interface.The operator software runs inside the Chrome browser. Italian Copan Wasp is Linux all the way through ,using Xubuntu as a user interface.

[@janami-dharmam]

Like the ATM machines still running windows XP; windows architecture (particularly the older ones) are designed to make bug fixing difficult. I do not know much about ReactOS

[@hifijohn]

ReactOS is like fusion, always just 20 years away.

[@ashuggtube]

I feel that the most important question has been missed, which is DOES IT PLAY 3D SPACE CADET PINBALL

[@CrimsonFader]

This sounds like an extremely interesting os, I hope to see more focus on windows applications going forward and one day maybe the world will have an community focused complete windows support platform. Edit: I thought I should mention I do appreciate linux's driver support as I found myself needing to swap to an alternative driver using a 3rd party application on windows whereas on linux it worked natively.

[@mjaga56]

Why is it that every time someone reviews ReactOS, they try out open source software like Firefox, Gimp and Libreoffice. Those are hardly the applications that makes this OS interesting, as these will of course run perfectly fine on Linux.

[@entx8491]

Because the code is available to recompile.

[@ghostcat11]

@@entx8491 yes but like can we get it running something like a game launcher and the games on it im an arch daily driver wit kde and a moved taskbar and i would love to use this as an easier wine

[@benwyatt7619]

I know right, I’d like to see ReactOS running Microsoft’s own Windows programs like Word, Outlook etc…

[@entx8491]

@@ghostcat11 steam or unreal running on this would be interesting for sure

[@Zellonous]

@@ghostcat11 games are not what this is for

[@Julenuri]

Thanks for your video. It's pretty informative and you get the majority of points. :) It's nice.

[@patrickrobinson317]

This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Thanks !!!! Patrick from Bethesda, Maryland, USA 😀😀😀

[@trueriver1950]

One of the reasons ReactOS is unfinished is that it is aiming at a moving target: given that MS keep creating new versions of Windows. In fact ReactOS already covers a wider range of Windows programs than any single version of MS Windows, even tho it is based on the NT kernel

[@vram1974]

They should just concentrate on being compatible with defunct versions of Windows. That way, the target is no longer moving so much.

[@luxucn]

I think it's targeting at NT5.2

[@SkepticalCaveman]

Windows 7 and backwards compatibility is enough. Wine will have to do for newer software.

[@deltoid77-nick]

They're not aiming for a moving Target they've pretty much said they want to have Windows 7 compatibility and don't really care about the later iterations like 8, 10, and 11.

[@deltoid77-nick]

@@vram1974 that's what they're doing they're targeting Windows 7 compatibility but true River here thinks they're doing otherwise I don't know what gives him that idea

[@johnstath9666]

This is a great review. It looks an interesting project. I hope they succeed. I have to use Windows but would dearly love to get away from the rigid control they set and this certainly looks the ticket. As for Winamp. Wow in its day it was an awesome piece of kit. Then Apple came along and it just faded away. Good to see it’s still around. OTB you made me 20 years younger with this review. Cheers mate!

[@OldTechBloke]

Lol cheers

[@Bigdog1787]

I use Winamp all the time on windows my windows don't look or feel like windows I have it highly customized even made my own skin using rainmeter made things that no one else has in rainmeter I'll probably release my skin eventually.

[@deltoid77-nick]

9:25 I'm a Linux Mint cinnamon user I jumped ship from windows after Windows 7 lost support. I think I'm closer to the target audience Target user base for react OS because it's for people who stopped liking windows at Windows 98 Windows XP Windows 7 and saw the next iterations of Windows like Windows 10 and windows 11 as a step backwards trying to appeal to the Macintosh user base and Linux is doing the same thing looking ever so closer to Mac OS desktop environment. React OS currently doesn't feel finished at all at any capacity though it's very attractive if only it worked which it doesn't. React OS could benefit from a package manager and also installing applications by hunting for programs on the internet like so many Linux users seem to criticize Windows users for doing even though they're perfectly fine with that because that's how they've always done things. The fact that this project exists is the only proof you need for why people want this to exist, having options is never bad. Also it wouldn't be bad if react OS had a flavor of the windows Aero desktop which is a beautiful desktop from Windows Vista and 7 the glass look there is something to be said about the semi opaque effect and skeuomorphism is just something you don't see a lot of nowadays and I can't fall out of love with that because it's just perfect an operating system that gets OUT OF THE WAY I don't want to be reminded I'm on Windows or Linux or whatever OS and lets the user work or enjoy whatever multimedia is being played.

[@iplyrunescape305]

Linux looking like MacOS? what? only ElementaryOS and a couple of other distros are doing this. Do you mean Ubuntu? Ubuntu's interface is its own thing. Mint/Lite is basing its interface on Windows.

[@ronnierush9379]

Great Video. Think I tried this OS way back in time in fact they should call it "The Back to the Future O/S" because you will need that DeLorean time machine to finally use the ReactOS Grand completed live version. Now if only I could afford charge-up that flux capacitor.

[@denizkendirci]

Honestly, as long as it does't run brand new AAA video game titles without an issue or configuration, a windows replacement is useless "for me". Because that's the only thing i still use windows for. Other than that, i'd rather boot into my linux installation. But i get that there are people prefers to use windows for more lightweight tasks like using word processors and office suites, web browsing, consuming video and music etc. And this OS might be useful for those people in future (when it supports x64 and multiple processor cores)

[@randomrfkov]

I am the opposite. Modern AAA title runs fine on Linux. It is the games from the 90s and early 2000s that I have to use Windows.

[@denizkendirci]

@@randomrfkov they run fine after some hussle and configuration process which i don't want to get involved with. on the other hand, old school games are not a problem for me because i don't play them. i played them in 90s, and that was enough for me.

[@dr.mikeybee]

Is this smaller than windows -- less resource intensive? It might be good in a virtual machine to run a particular program. I'm thinking about running Qubes OS, and this might be better than a qube running Windows.

[@gimlam5909]

Thank you for making the review at this time! Truly Linux hardware support is fascinating, but sometimes hardware is just designed in a way that excludes Linux altogether. My HP LaserJet CP1025 Color has drivers for Linux, but its Smart Install feature is loaded with drivers only for Win and Mac - and fails to be disabled in either of the official and unofficial ways to disable it. It seems to have Smart Install hard-coded. I really hope ReactOS succeeds in loading the driver from the printer on an old laptop I have. I'll try and report back.

[@flytie3861]

Last time i heard it was in alpha. Not fond of it cuz usb port keeps giving me blue screen when i plug something

[@sc0or]

A nice thing to run Microcap of VDS scanner. I like this quick look.

[@BrucesWorldofStuff]

My youngest is 35. Maybe he will see v1 before he passes to the great kernel in the sky... Lol Thanks OTB! LLAP 🖖

[@OldTechBloke]

I doubt I’ll see it 😀

[@spioradnaiseanta2318]

I hope this continues to get enhanced. Very cool.

[@minigpracing3068]

This might actually shine on things like raspberry pi boards.

[@ashuggtube]

Well … except they’re a different CPU architecture so you won’t be able to run any Windows software at all

[@Julenuri]

​@@ashuggtube There is actual Windows on ARM in Raspberry Pi, and ReactOS have binaries (under Github) that are ARM compatible. Also, VLC or Freeac have ARM executables.

[@PyroNexus22]

I like how for internet settings they used the Wine Internet Explorer icon

[@dmm10000]

thank you sir ! - does WIFI work (for example from an android / iphone hotspot)

[@itsfish8672]

Good vid OTB

[@5argetech56]

Same here. Ubuntu is my every day driver. I also use Linux Mint on a converted Acer C710 Chromebook ( flashed with seabios) That I bought in 2013. Installed a Samsung EVO 850 SSD. I use it to this day, in 2022. I will give ReactOS a go. Thanks for the great video. Cheers 👍🏾😊

[@peterschmidt9942]

While I don't think you'd use this for your daily driver, I also think it's not without merit. Since Microsoft has discontinued support for anything Win7 and below, I can see this being used as a replacement for legacy hardware running that sorts of OS. More importantly, that it can run older versions of Windows software natively. The development alone for windows/wine compatibility is a great idea. The Wine guys should be teaming up with this lot as I would imagine they'd have a lot of similar goals. The real question is whether this will even makes it to a released version and be maintained with security updates once that happens. Being that it's taken 20yrs to develop, I don't hold much hope in that regard unfortunately.

[@dramaticnormanbates2605]

Wine and ReactOS developers already cooperating with each other. :)

[@mkrleza]

Eventually... I'll be 47 in May. And this has been in Alpha for 20 years. It's been 25 years since my last math exam at college, but it doesn't sound like I'll live to see it...

[@cmartinez2022]

Hello, please i need to know: What softwares you use to do this channel? Kdenlive? OBS? How do you made the intro? And what camera are you using? I use logitech HD 1080p and you have more quality, you use DSLR Canon? I have canon t3i , and only works width entangle, and very slow. I want to learn all about this. Thankyou and sorry for bad my english, I live in spain but i can understand you.

[@OldTechBloke]

Sony a5100 mirrorless hooked up to an elgato cam link capture card. Then obs and shotcut. Intro was made on renderforest.com

[@cmartinez2022]

@@OldTechBloke Thanks you! I didn't know the cam link capture card, intresting !!

[@GTI1dasOriginal]

This video is like watching my mom reading instructions of her new VCR.

[@NOPerative]

Been looking at ReactOS out of general curiosity myself; again, you were reading my mind - lol. Been eyeballing an OS called FreeDOS. It can be installed on modern hardware and is currently developed - where's my time machine? Time to get a bootleg of Leisure Suit Larry (lmao). Fat16 is like win95 with win98/SE being fat16x2 (was touted as being 32bit, but it wasn't).

[@RHTORAS]

You could also show us AIRyx OS which is the same for macos but is based on bsd and kde. A very nice opensource macos alternative which is beta at the moment.

[@FlyboyHelosim]

This is certainly an interesting project and I've been messing with it in virtual machines for a few years now. However, due to it being stuck... at least aesthetically... in the Windows 2000 era it begs the question. Why not just use Windows 2000 itself which is already totally stable? Also with the proliferation of aforementioned virtual machines and computers getting more powerful all the time, there's little need for a native alternative to Windows when almost any version of Windows itself can be acquired (even if it does mean through illicit routes) and virtualized at almost native performance levels. You can't even really argue that ReactOS would be more secure than using an older version of Windows because it'll get updates, as the type of older programs people would surely be using the OS for don't even require an internet connection as back in those days you actually had wholly-owned, self-contained, software.

[@trueriver1950]

I'm going to argue exactly that ;) Win2k is stable only in the sense that MS is no developing it. It is not stable in the sense of being updated to circumvent newly discovered attack strategies. The reason ReactOS is useful is that it is intended to be work alike compatible with the target Win OSs but at the same time NOT work alike in terms of vulnerabilities to attack. A Win2k machine connected to the internet would be only if use as a honey pot to attract and detract the bad guys. Offnet I agree there would be uses, tho personality I'd still prefer XP

[@RobBoudreau]

First thing I noticed was one of the cabin's decorations was missing. 😀 I have to wonder if it's not just a nostalgia thing. Can't say it has any appeal to me, but then the last Windows I used was 3.11. Anyway, hope the weather held and you got some riding time. Cheers!

[@OldTechBloke]

Thanks Rob, yes managed to get a few hours in

[@StrelokRadist]

I’m about your age. Just a bit younger. I like your look a lot! I’m always pleased to listen to you. You are different from most of super fast and young empty-head KZbinrs. Thank you for your efforts!

[@OldTechBloke]

Thanks mate

[@EvilFookaire]

I've played around with reactOS several times over the years, mostly to run old games that I still have (and even then, not all of them worked but no big deal), and to get my nostalgic itch for some other old software scratched. Didn't experience any bluescreens myself but have seen them happen with others, somehow I seem to manage to either not get them at all or maybe I stop just short of where they might happen. Screen freezes... well, some did happen, usually in my case it was more a screen "stutter" but a few were actual screen freezes where I had to reboot. That said, I liked what I saw, and will keep on occasionally peeking in to see how far things get, and if it gets to a solid functional end-product I'll have a few old scrappers lying around that it can run on.

[@plainsabertooth7828]

The issue with Linux is that many distros dropped support for 32 bit only machines so projects like reactos would be a good fit for people that still have older hardware.

[@benygh911]

@OldTechBloke 😃👋 you shold have hit the ADVANCED button to FORCE a Resolution 😁✌

[@tonywise198]

I'd certainly prefer this to the crap that Windows has become with 11 - a chrome look-a-like! If Windows had stayed with 7, I may not have moved to Linux.

[@w0lfgm]

Eastern part of Europe is ruled by Windows in the Schools. But all government institutions need to play licenses for windows. It is much easier to get a free Win alternative and run on their computers than pay retraining of all employees.

[@kocokan]

30 years later, still alpha state

[@cyberp0et]

I wonder if the "Alpha" stage (given the goal to make it like Windows7 ) is comparable to a "beta" or even better if I want something like Windows 98 or XP at best :) It would be great for me to have a Windows 98 install that has no "BSOD"s or those nasty "illegal operation" popups. I am currently switching to Linux, however I do have a Windows 98 PC that I use occasionally. I love the snappiness of pld OSes that only take a fraction of RAM to function. And I am totally fine with the "classic" look. So it might do almost for a daily driver for those not so squeamish about using "the latest and greatest" :)

[@tylerdean980]

Not really what you’re looking for I guess, but if you want something more stable, look into FreeDOS. It’s not alpha, and it’s close enough to DOS now that you can actually run some versions of windows on top of it.

[@cyberp0et]

@@tylerdean980 I thought about that. I will give it a try :)

[@peterjansen4826]

@OldTechBloke I don't know if this would work on ReactOS but if you run any Linux distro in a VM then it often is possible to fix the resolution. In the Archwiki in the xrandr article you can read how to do that, see 4.2 of that article. It is not difficult, I followed the directions and I succeeded at fixing it in 1 attempt.

[@OldTechBloke]

Usually straightforward in Linux Peter but I couldn’t get it to work in Reactos

[@peterjansen4826]

@@OldTechBloke You are using Virtualbox, the driver of virt-manager which I used could not detect the correct resolution but I could hack it that way. One more trick in the toolbox.

[@robertcoyle9071]

Tried running it in KVM and tried playing solitaire and it redlined my RAM and froze.

[@bumblebee9337]

Reminds me of the Windows 95/98 installer. Edit: on second thought, the Windows 3.11 installer had a DOS-like installer, followed by a GUI portion.

[@bcruzan120]

My understanding is the developers are planning on incorporating Win16 support through Wine’s feature supporting Win16, and that it will be possible to incorporate DOS support through DOSBox as in Wine on Linux.

[@JamesLewis]

So jumping in before I have finished watching the video because... well, that's what you do isn't it?... I do have a few comments. 1. Windows NT kernel... well, technically Windows 11 is also based on the architecture of the Windows NT kernel... so that's not a limitation. 2. For apps that work with it, Wine is incredible... not to say that i would recommend people use Wine over native apps either, but especially for games it is an incredible enabling technology for the Linux desktop. 3 ndiswrapper, yes... we have native drivers for almost everything these days, but I was surprised to find recently that ndiswrapper is still going, there must be some devices that it's useful for.... although I've never used it.

[@jeremyschaefer2178]

Tried to install it and it would error every time when it would go to install. This OS does pretty much what every other Linux distro can do using Wine. Just installed AV Linux today, quick and the whole add software department is great. Maybe you should all try it. You don't have to use the AV programs, just install for your use. Good Daily!

[@Nitmir1]

Serenity OS next then? :D

[@osobowoscrealistyczna2852]

About browsers downloading, better than old Firefox are Mypal and K-Meleon which still supports those old Windows versions. I tried ReactOS in my old PC month ago. Installed without any problem, works OK but launching old games wasn't good, drivers for old Logitech gamepad not detected by control panel and system does not play sound.

[@taidee]

I can only see this as a project for Windows applications developers to sharpen their skills and try out things a proprietary platform like MS Windows might not allow them to try. Other than that, I don't see it being of serious use for an average user, MS also killed the idea of these systems (Haiku included) when they made newer version of Windows free if you had already owned it before. Thanks for the review OTB.

[@ttinsane1988]

The backwards compatibility issues mentioned are mostly a software thing. Try for example to run the linux release of simcity 3000 on a modern distribution. It can be done but it takes a lot of effort. In the linux world we have a tendency of breaking API compatibility on weekly basis(A bit of a exaggeration). This tendency makes it really difficult to maintain software. Flatpak, Snap,Appimage makes the maintenance a little easier but does not really solve that problem. If i download an Appimage today and i try to run that same Appimage in the year 2035 on an up-to-date distribution i guarantee you it won't run at all.

[@seanhinkley]

ReactOS does run old windows software no longer supported by MS such as 16-bit apps. Yes you can use win 9x or xp in a vm but doesn't run the same and won't have updates which reactos hopefully will have. Being a alpha release not something to be a daily drive but something to play with for sure and an interesting project for sure. it is very buggy though and likes to blue screen and the filesystem goes corrupt even when using btfs and fat16.

[@benwyatt7619]

You can install OTVDM to directly run 16 bit Windows applications on a 64 bit system. Something you can’t do with DOSBox unless you set up an entire Windows 9X installation within DOSBox and mount your drives for file access.

[@seanhinkley]

@@benwyatt7619 funny that windows needs to use a wine port to run older windows software. Otvdm is more stable than reactos, less cumbersome that a vm but buggy and doesn't support everything especially some older games and dx apps. At this point though I've found ZorinOs with PlayonLinux to be the best fit for me over windows as far as modern and legacy app support and daily use.

[@asifshamsi5630]

Open source community will never be able to catch up Windows. Windows will remain dominant desktop operating system for at least couple of decades.

[@markluxton3402]

I have tried it a couple times. Doing a good job replicating Windoze, including some of the bugs and crashes always part of Windoze. Not sure they can make a stable copy of Windoze.

[@bennguyen1313]

Can't believe the 'release' ReactOS is still at 0.4.14.. despite the WinXP code being leaked long ago. I would think any mystery as to how to make a compatible OS that can run the same applications would have been solved. BTW, I have a 2011 sata laptop and would be very happy running 32-bit Windows XP.. *IF* it could be made to run off a USB. Unfortunately, multiple attempts seems like it won't work because XP doesn't have the USB drivers baked into the kernel, so while you can install FROM a usb... and even install ONTO a usb.. it won't BOOT from usb. Any idea if ReactOS can run entirely from USB or an SD-Card? My main goal would be to boot from USB, and run programs that use USB peripherals.

[@eriksiers]

Clean room use is all they could legally use the leaked code for, and that would require an entire second team to read and document the MS code for rewriting.

[@ArneRagnarsson]

It's an Alfa for? 12 year?

[@anon_y_mousse]

I was certainly cheering them on 20 years ago, I just wish they were faster. I think the idea of a modern Windows that's stable, secure, runs all your old apps from DOS through current Windows and has that Win98/2k/XP feel to it would be spectacular. Problem is, they're just not there yet and may never be. Linux can give you the look and feel, the stability, the security, but not the ability to correctly run every app. At least not without a virtual machine, but then we're talking slowsville unless you have a really beefy computer. Even WINE is slower than native in a lot of situations and the interface elements can be wonky for a lot of apps. My statement on operating systems is, I hate them all, I just hate Linux-based systems least. I use Slackware, but I have a few Windows programs that I use because they aren't open source and there is no alternative for Linux. If I had the time I'd write my own in several cases, but there are games and they sometimes won't even run on Windows itself. At least as of 5 years ago they wouldn't, which is the last time I ever used Windows. No longer dual boot. A practice I had been doing for around 25 years now, but Win10 is the last straw and it's not like I used it much beyond gaming anyway. No one will read all this, I'm just wasting my own time.

[@OldTechBloke]

I read it 😀

[@anon_y_mousse]

@@OldTechBloke Thanks. You'll likely be the only one.

[@AlejandroAponte73]

exelente

[@tarunarya1780]

I think Reactos may be useful for older perfectly good peripherals that are no longer supported.It must be hard supporting ever increasing hardware. Good luck to the Reactos team.

[@TempoLOOKING]

You R wrong about linux being backward compatibility. They mean API and Binaries. A program for Ubuntu 12.04 will not run-on 20.04 unless you have source code The only 2 that do are Apple's OSX and Orical Solaris. We do not even have that with Snaps yet because of "Security Reasons" thanks to Chanonicle

[@LaniakVol]

Can you test Haiku Os please?

[@OldTechBloke]

Did that a few weeks ago

[@donaldmickunas8552]

It is a nice trip down memory lane. However, I have no use case for it either. It won’t run modern software which makes it unusable for the majority of computer users. I’ll stick with Linux as well. Nice review. Take care and stay safe.

[@DarkwerefoxRed]

Can highly recommand the current Debian builds...there r some real nice ones. ;3)

[@sageclown4218]

Games can run on this os?

[@Zero3K6]

Some 2D games can (like Cave Story).

[@MegaSumpor]

'alpha' in the year 3022, or later!

[@Muriz26]

I agree with with you. If you want Windows just go to Windows.

[@ivosarak959]

Let then program off what they like, but what is known there is no stability for that OS on any real world hardware and is somewhat usable under the VM use. Maybe there is need for that, but it is limited.

[@kairon156]

I bought a new desktop a little bit ago and had to run Linux for the first few days because issues with windows wi-fi drivers. So I find Linux is better than windows is in some cases. I will like to give Linux another try once I get a 2nd computer likely a laptop in a few years to mess around on. My big issue with Windows is actually Microsoft and the corporate direction they've taken their OS after abandoning win-7. 10+ has way too much malware built into their OS now days.

[@onlineph]

It wont boot, it wont install to my old pc.

[@Flaankatsu]

dat theme giving off lxde vibes

[@jimmymerchak1767]

😃 At least it's not asking you to plug-in a product key!

[@r.eugenelee9148]

I can understand some of there initiatives and project perspectives; but 20 years in alpha...no thanks. I will stick with my ArcoLinux build.

[@dimitrissafantis8705]

as long as I can remember linux the unique system does not want money to acquire it !!!

[@brianmadonna2873]

If it would ever install on bare metal.

[@zweiwing4435]

The ReactOS An Open Source OS That Runs Windows Programmes is the only 1?

[@UmbertoAmante]

The ONLY use for Reactos is as a VM to run some application that is legacy. This will be a crutch to get some users up and running on a superior Linux desktop (or Haiku or whatever even including OS X).

[@ccall48]

winamp... wow 1996 again ;)

[@opensourceisnotcommunism4639]

Second like from me

[@peterjansen4826]

I disagree with wine not being complete! Given that most games run without any problem on Linux via wine I would call it complete. However, it is not a replacment, it is a translation layer. That not all Windows programs work immediately with wine has to do with configuration, that is a different matter. For gaming many people put in the most effort to get those to run. However, there are plenty of programs outside pf gaming which do work well with wine. For example with Cinebench you should will a higher score multithreaded on Linux via wine than on Windows if you have a Ryzen-CPU. I don't mean any disrespect to the developers of ReactOX, wine is much more complete right now than that ReactOS will be in the next years. That is not weird, there is quite a lot of money behind wine, both the software and the optimal configuration.

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

I would agree, however many people seems to be unaware that a few years ago react os developers realized that reverse engineering windows binaries and libraries was taking an impossible amount of time, so they started incorporating code and findings from - surprise - wine into react os... 😁

[@peterjansen4826]

@@bufordmaddogtannen I suspected it, I didn't mention it because I had no evidence but it does not surprise me at all. I imagine that the wine-developers have more man-hours at their disposal, that helps too. Commercial interests + big dedicated gaming-community these days. But I think that it also just is much easier to replace functions (which basically is what wine and dxvk do) than reverse engineering. Reverse engineering is an awesome skill and I wish anyone into that best of luck with their progress. But it is a slow and difficult process, even with great but awfully expensive disassembly program.

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

@@peterjansen4826 indeed. It makes sense to just use replacement libraries from wine, than code them from scratch, as well as using their documentation and knowledge, rather than reinventing the wheel. So react os became a reverse engineered kernel, plus libraries which at a certain point started to leverage wine "discoveries" to have better compatibility and speed up development. I find it an interesting project, still Linux plus wine would probably give me more stability.

[@fge00]

Why?

[@Bigdog1787]

Won't ever happen if windows keeps doing what they doing it will happen no matter what as windows keeps getting worse and worse and they keep trying to lock stuff down on it. Linux will be everyone's savior eventually if windows keeps there stuff up.

[@TempoLOOKING]

The Amiga is better

[@SimonJackson13]

Maybe x86 flutter apps low resources.

[@SimonJackson13]

Heard the pi has a bare metal wrapper.

[@KnutBluetooth]

ReactOS is a critical piece of software to break the monopolistic OS stranglehold and mass government surveillance it enables. There are many small businesses that have set up shop around the Windows platform that would love to no longer be forced to upgrade Windows with all the malevolent or bloat code that is added with each update but at the same time can't afford to move to another platform for many reasons. There is a large swath of non-trivial software (such as industrial software) that has been programmed for the Windows platform that cannot be ignored. WINE will never have full compatibility with Windows software because much Windows software assumes the OS personality of NT which in some cases cannot be emulated on top of Linux. Unfortunately there are a lot of things hampering the development of ReactOS: The FSF/GNU is full of UNIX traditionalists who despite being grounded in the best principles of software freedom do not support OS projects such as FreeDOS and ReactOS because of OS culture tribalism. The GNU project typically produces software for and by programmers that is not fit for the general public that their excellent license targets. Despite claiming the opposite, they expect the average person to spend hours learning UNIX. They think freedom should be earned. In the ideal GNU/FSF world every computer user would be a programmer. This is never going to happen. Furthermore, many of them strongly oppose any initiative that would make Linux usable for the average person because they claim it is "not the UNIX philosophy" (systemd hate). Some ReactOS developers do not really care about freeing NT as a platform, they hope that like former ReactOS kernel developer Alex Ionescu, working on ReactOS will get them hired by Microsoft which they think is a ticket for an early retirement. One ReactOS kernel developer said last year on Discord that ReactOS would probably never be stable. Most early ReactOS programmers who started the project to fight Microsoft are gone.

[@h8everythingdies]

Cool concept. Game and software devs should be targetting mac, linux, android before windows.

[@Cavi587]

Never gonna happen as long as Windows has the most users unfortunetely. As a company you target the market that has the potential to be the most profitable to you. If they have a choice to put their product out on a platform that has 1% market share or one that has 30%, it's quite obvious what are they going to choose.

[@h8everythingdies]

@@Cavi587 My windows install wont even navigate directories correctly. Bios hangs since install. Junk I should of never installed.

[@Cavi587]

@@h8everythingdies I see. But still, it has the biggest market share and for that reason unfortunetely no big developr will ever prioritize Linux over it. I hope one day it can change.

[@h8everythingdies]

@@Cavi587 I hope so also.. The best games and software I've seen utilize cross platform code principles. Takes some learning.

[@thiesenf]

The only use-case would be to simply stick it to the man and say "fuck you capitalist shit"... But then again that's what I have been doing when using every Windows version since Win98... yar har har... Jolly Rogering wtf... :-)

[@rpgfreak9999]

So "It's not like the other girl" then? I thought we had Linux clownfuckery for this. 😂

[@boblittle2529]

In the past I installed ReactOS on a VM and it ran just fine. "Cool" I thought, then deleted it because honestly, who needs it?. Recently, I bought a new laptop. So just for the heck of it, I tried installing ReactOS on a 8 year old laptop and it wouldn't install. The installer would either freeze or crash altogether. So I tried on an even older laptop and it wouldn't install on that one either. Both laptops run Linux without issue.

[@dougtilaran3496]

I had a React-ion. It made me want to buy a Macintrash. My Psych will see me at 1 PM.

[@michaelgregory903]

"Why not just use Windows if you need Windows?" Because M$FT has ruined Windows beginning at 8. They HATE the power user and administrator. They intentionally remove advanced functions and water down GUI elements to make it "easy to use". The thing is, they could have left the advanced features that were not on by default, but they didn't. They use their PAYING customers to advertise to, track, ultimately harass or strong arm into their other or newer products. I'm like you and primarily use Linux at home, or Mac sometimes when I want simplicity... I still have Windows unfortunately for games, as there are a few games I play that we just can't get working on Windows despite the great efforts of Valve, Proton, Wine, Lutrus, etc. I would love ReactOS to be the answer, so I could get away from M$FT, but it just isn't there yet. I love what they are doing and hope they can get a solid working Windows replacement soon but at the pace it has been going I just don't see it happening anytime soon. This will probably be a good fit for old software that just doesn't play well with Wine in Linux.

[@paulg3336]

Great if you want to run viruses By the time it it gets a full release, Windows will probably be a Linux based OS

[@philtkaswahl2124]

Sadly, as of know (and since for awhile) it's more like it "runs" Windows programs. Some of them.

[@mikepilsneratwork]

Windows XP 🙂

[@an1rb]

I have been following ReactOS since at least 2005. It was a good attempt at a 32-bit replacement for Win XP. Now, it is too late to be useful for anything except as a toy.

[@mikephillips5551]

If they won't run in wine they not going to run in ReactOS !! Last time i installed ReactOS is was running wine !!!

[@shaddow1dog]

I still can not find a rational for this OS. I think it is just a pet project for the developers to keep them busy and they are just too stubborn to give it up. 20 years and still alpha? really. Hell just use MS Windows for pity sake.

[@Quicken2k]

Microsoft will stop this.

[@fame_o6442]

Bill Gates is that you?

[@OldTechBloke]

Lol

[@aburayhan470]

they want to make a windows clone, thats why they will never reach the target. they should have concentrated to make a standalone OS binary compatible to windows, not look like in appearance..

[@redrush-hp9li]

A more modern design would have been better

[@allmertalex]

I'm more concerned with the underlying plumbing. They've been working on this for decades and it's still in alpha, it's still not compatible with a lot of windows software. The ui aspect of it is the easy part imo.

[@PyroNexus22]

No, thanks. I've had enough of boring flat UI

[@TempoLOOKING]

@@allmertalex they have t9 make sure it is all legal. they can not break US copyright laws. They are not MVG.

[@midixiewrecked7011]

Misspelled *progams*

[@OldTechBloke]

Look up uk spelling

[@midixiewrecked7011]

@OldTechBloke you also mispronounced *Ubuntu* go look that up.

[@Crossfire2003]

I see no reason why anyone would install ReactOS.