Hello all,
My ideal FreeDOS 2.0 would be something like this below. There might be some
points that I’m not quite versed in, so bear with me.
I would like the FreeDOS 2.0 release to make FreeDOS a single-repo, and
coherent operating system with a unified design language and development
guidelines.
1. Release Scheme
As a user, I do not want to choose from many installation options. At most, I
would like to see only 2+1:
- FreeDOS boot floppy
- FreeDOS
- An image of extra utilities and games
There should be no distinction between a USB and a CD image. There should be
only one raw image that works everywhere.
2. Package Curation
FreeDOS, by default, should offer a set of images, that are carefully curated,
and gives the next best experience when compared to a GUI-less Linux/BSD
installation, and should make it even better. Utilities should not be
duplicated by feature, this would equal bloat.
A minimal base system (other than the boot floppy) is simply unenthusiastic,
and would do little to help advance FreeDOS; it will just keep it stagnating.
If we want the DOS environment to thrive again, the system should be intuitive
and helpful as possible.
3. Development Repository
Upon selecting the packages above, move all those packages into a single
FreeDOS development repository, and give every maintainer commit rights. This
will be a great step to gather a development team, and make the development
effort coherent, say, like Haiku. Some other nice steps to take:
- Enforce a coding style
- Improve NLS (this one already did a lot, thanks Jerome)
- Create a HIG
- Enable CI tasks, and create a new image after each commit
4. Fast Updates
For machines with network access, it should be possible to update the system
more frequently. Let’s not make it a rolling release, but rather make it
possible to update without having to reinstall FreeDOS.
It goes without saying, but new package installs should be easy and intuitive
as well.
5. Feature Requests
This would be my wishlist for FreeDOS 2.0:
- Unicode support
- Vertical and RTL text with complex scripts support
- Nicer fonts with appropriate coverage for those above
- UEFI support
- Some sort of compatibility layer to enable reusing drivers from other
operating systems, maybe one of BSD’s (this one should be the priority IMO)
- Wi-Fi support
6. Development Environment
FreeDOS setup should offer installing development packages and
utilities. FreeDOS should strive to make DOS development on DOS viable, without
having to resort to other OSs to compile and build stuff. We could start making
a list of what is missing compared to other systems, and open tickets for those.
There should be built-in tutorials, and example source code to help
interested folks start FreeDOS development inside FreeDOS. Maybe a framework,
something like FDKit? How does it sound?
***
I guess this would be my ideal FreeDOS 2.0.
Best regards,
Emir (𐰽𐰺𐰍)
** E-mail needs to stay simple
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