The ReactOS team is proud to announce the release of ReactOS 0.3.14.
This version includes a significant amount of changes including both
user visible and architectural improvements. Also included in this
release is the valuable work accomplished as part of the Google Summer
of Code 2011 event, of which ReactOS was a mentoring project.
One of the more significant sets of improvements was to ReactOS’
networking stack. As part of the GSoC, ReactOS gained a new TCP/IP
driver built around the LwIP project. The LwIP library is a popular and
stable implementation of TCP/IP originally intended for embedded use.
The new driver has significantly increased both stability and
performance, allowing the use of high bandwidth applications such as
torrents. Furthermore, ReactOS has improved compatibility with NT5.1
drivers with the export of scatter/gather DMA functionality. Last but
not least, ReactOS now includes wireless network support and is able to
connect to both open and WEP encrypted networks.
One of the more obvious user visible changes includes the implementation
of theme support. Users can now change the look and feel of ReactOS’
user interface by installing XP based themes and changing the appearance
of the desktop from the default classic look to something more exciting.
Architecturally, the addition of a kernel mode testing framework has
helped to identify a variety of bugs in kernel mode components. This is
an important change with regards to core stability and is proving
invaluable in ensuring the project does not suffer unexpected
regressions in the kernel.
Support for building ReactOS using the Microsoft toolset has also played
a large part in the release. This is now at a stage where ReactOS can be
entirely built using an MSVC based environment and can produce a working
boot and livecd. Along with GCC, ReactOS can now be built using two
different toolsets and on a variety of platforms including Windows,
Linux and Mac OS X.
During the preparation of this release 789 bugs were fixed, including
118 regressions with the oldest regression being issue #1009 (can't open
context menu with Shift-F10). The oldest bug fixed was #209 (PrintScreen
doesn't work) from over eight years ago. 811 new bugs were opened since
the release of 0.3.13.
A list of some of the more significant changes includes:
* ACPI
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface support is now enabled
automatically when the ACPI Hardware Abstraction Layer is used,
providing support for power buttons and full system power off.
* LwIP
A new TCP/IP driver using the LwIP driver has been integrated into
ReactOS, significantly improving network performance and stability and
also presenting an upgrade path to IPv6.
* MSVC Compatibility
ReactOS can now be built using Microsoft's compiler to create a working
boot or livecd.
* Scatter/Gather Support
Scatter/Gather DMA operations are now supported, significantly improving
compatibility with network drivers written for NT5.1 and later.
* Shell Improvements
The shell32 library rewrite in C++ has been merged in and brings with it
various architectural improvements that will help serve as a foundation
for future work on the new explorer shell.
* Special Pool
A special pool designed to guard against misuses of kernel pool memory
has been implemented.
* Theme Support
ReactOS now has the infrastructure needed to theme the user interface
and shell, allowing users to install and use something besides the
classic Windows theme.
* WiFi Support
ReactOS now supports wireless network drivers and is able to join open
and WEP encrypted wireless networks.
The detailed 0.3.14 changelog is available here:
http://www.reactos.org/wiki/index.php/ChangeLog-0.3.14
Main news link: http://www.reactos.org/en/news_page_70.html
Download link: http://www.reactos.org/en/download.html
I would like to thank all the past and present members of the ReactOS
team for their hard work and of course all those in the community that
support us.
We will never forget involvement and contribution of those who left our
world too early.
http://www.reactos.org/pipermail/ros-dev/2011-June/014419.html
--
Aleksey Bragin
ReactOS Foundation President
http://www.reactos.org
