[ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the project goal

[James Tabor]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the project goal
Resent-Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 22:08:57 -0500
Resent-From: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:05:44 -0700
From: rex [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail] [e-mail]

In a recent response to a message I posted, dennis
mentioned that the goal of the project is to build an
OS that gives the user a Win32 compatable
environment.  He also stated in that message that
the guts will not necessarily be the same as WinNT
or Win98, insted that might actually work correctly.
A while ago a similar discussion came up and it was
agreed (or so I remember) that we would try to
remain compatable with device drivers so we don't
have to reinvent them all.  I was reading a status
message from Connor and I realized that he has
some interesting ideas for building a high performance
video subsystem, but my brief glance at his description
left me thinking that legacy drivers probably will not
plug into it.  This does not bother me, however we
should discuss this and decide on a clear goal for
ReactOS regarding driver compatability.

It's my impression that the following statement
sums up the goal of the project:

ReactOS will be a freely distributable operating
system capable of running Win32 applications,
that is Win98 and WinNT applications.

The main project page states the following:

"ReactOS will be a free operating system that
can run software and drivers compatible with
Windows NT."

I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, but I think
before Conner builds a fast but not necessarily
compatable video system, or Arindam builds a
compatable but not necessarily most effecient
network subsystem, perhaps we should reaffirm
the goal so noone takes the wrong path.

Personally, I vote for driver compatability.  I think
there is enough room internally for improvement
over the MS design (though I haven't actually seen
it) that we dont need to change the structure of
the driver interface.  Of course, I haven't yet seen
the Network or Video driver interface other than
block diagrams and broad overviews.

Rex.

[Magnus Olsen]

Hi
We have allready winnt subsystem for video finish.
Windows is using directx with directshow to show video or audio
old way is video for windows VFW that is reactos already
support more or less. And directx from graphic driver.
is not far away to getting it working in ReactOS

I always belive reactos amine 100% compatibe with windows nt
(nt4.0/2000/XP/2003/VISTA)
I have run mplayer in reactos susess getting video and audio working audio
with sb16 nt4 drv
But offical we do not support sound. rember the nt4 sound system is not
finish, and some
did start on wdm audio subsystem, I do not known how far he have done on it.

I always aimed 100% compatible with windows  (nt4.0/2000/XP/2003/VISTA)
software and drv
and we shall not change that goal or take fast short cut  to getting there.
And follow ms nt design
when I write code.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Tabor" [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 3:04 AM
Subject: [ros-dev] [ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the
projectgoal
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the project goal
> Resent-Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 22:08:57 -0500
> Resent-From: [e-mail]
> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:05:44 -0700
> From: rex [e-mail]
> Reply-To: [e-mail]
> To: [e-mail] [e-mail]
>
> In a recent response to a message I posted, dennis
> mentioned that the goal of the project is to build an
> OS that gives the user a Win32 compatable
> environment.  He also stated in that message that
> the guts will not necessarily be the same as WinNT
> or Win98, insted that might actually work correctly.
> A while ago a similar discussion came up and it was
> agreed (or so I remember) that we would try to
> remain compatable with device drivers so we don't
> have to reinvent them all.  I was reading a status
> message from Connor and I realized that he has
> some interesting ideas for building a high performance
> video subsystem, but my brief glance at his description
> left me thinking that legacy drivers probably will not
> plug into it.  This does not bother me, however we
> should discuss this and decide on a clear goal for
> ReactOS regarding driver compatability.
>
> It's my impression that the following statement
> sums up the goal of the project:
>
> ReactOS will be a freely distributable operating
> system capable of running Win32 applications,
> that is Win98 and WinNT applications.
>
> The main project page states the following:
>
> "ReactOS will be a free operating system that
> can run software and drivers compatible with
> Windows NT."
>
> I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, but I think
> before Conner builds a fast but not necessarily
> compatable video system, or Arindam builds a
> compatable but not necessarily most effecient
> network subsystem, perhaps we should reaffirm
> the goal so noone takes the wrong path.
>
> Personally, I vote for driver compatability.  I think
> there is enough room internally for improvement
> over the MS design (though I haven't actually seen
> it) that we dont need to change the structure of
> the driver interface.  Of course, I haven't yet seen
> the Network or Video driver interface other than
> block diagrams and broad overviews.
>
> Rex.
>
> Ros-dev mailing list
> [e-mail]
> http://www.reactos.org/mailman/listinfo/ros-dev

[Magnus Olsen]

I forget one thing if u reading ReactOS roadmap it say all drv will be nt
compatible in ReactOS
Our Graphic drv is windows xp compatible already.  and I think alot other
drv is that already.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Tabor" [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 3:04 AM
Subject: [ros-dev] [ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the
projectgoal
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ros-kernel] How do device drivers fit into the project goal
> Resent-Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 22:08:57 -0500
> Resent-From: [e-mail]
> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:05:44 -0700
> From: rex [e-mail]
> Reply-To: [e-mail]
> To: [e-mail] [e-mail]
>
> In a recent response to a message I posted, dennis
> mentioned that the goal of the project is to build an
> OS that gives the user a Win32 compatable
> environment.  He also stated in that message that
> the guts will not necessarily be the same as WinNT
> or Win98, insted that might actually work correctly.
> A while ago a similar discussion came up and it was
> agreed (or so I remember) that we would try to
> remain compatable with device drivers so we don't
> have to reinvent them all.  I was reading a status
> message from Connor and I realized that he has
> some interesting ideas for building a high performance
> video subsystem, but my brief glance at his description
> left me thinking that legacy drivers probably will not
> plug into it.  This does not bother me, however we
> should discuss this and decide on a clear goal for
> ReactOS regarding driver compatability.
>
> It's my impression that the following statement
> sums up the goal of the project:
>
> ReactOS will be a freely distributable operating
> system capable of running Win32 applications,
> that is Win98 and WinNT applications.
>
> The main project page states the following:
>
> "ReactOS will be a free operating system that
> can run software and drivers compatible with
> Windows NT."
>
> I hope I'm not stepping on any toes, but I think
> before Conner builds a fast but not necessarily
> compatable video system, or Arindam builds a
> compatable but not necessarily most effecient
> network subsystem, perhaps we should reaffirm
> the goal so noone takes the wrong path.
>
> Personally, I vote for driver compatability.  I think
> there is enough room internally for improvement
> over the MS design (though I haven't actually seen
> it) that we dont need to change the structure of
> the driver interface.  Of course, I haven't yet seen
> the Network or Video driver interface other than
> block diagrams and broad overviews.
>
> Rex.
>
> Ros-dev mailing list
> [e-mail]
> http://www.reactos.org/mailman/listinfo/ros-dev

[Daniel Reimer]

I am no developer, so see my opinion as a User opinion. I think James 
Tabor is right. Being 100% compatible to the Windows Drivers already out 
there is very important. This is one thing ReactOS will be better than 
Linux, because Windows Driver Support is way better than for Linux. If 
NT Driver compatibility would fall, we would have nothing. Every driver 
would need a remake for ReactOS and persuading the people to do these 
would not be fun. Most very interesting Open Source Systems died because 
of two reasons: No Apps and No Drivers, keep this in mind. If there are 
ideas to optimize those parts of ReactOS, I think keeping compatibility 
is priority Nr. 1. All other, incompatible optimations could be added to 
ReactOS only mechanisms.

Sorry, that I disturbed you, but I just needed to say this

Bye

[fd0man™—The Magical Floppy Man]

On Fri, 2006-08-18 at 10:03 +0200, Magnus Olsen wrote:
> I forget one thing if u reading ReactOS roadmap it say all drv will be nt
> compatible in ReactOS
> Our Graphic drv is windows xp compatible already.  and I think alot other
> drv is that already.

This brings a question to mind:  Should bug reports be filed against
ReactOS, then, for drivers which fail to install?  Not a single one of
my drivers for this computer install—including the video driver from
Intel—on ReactOS at this moment in time.

Thanks,
    Mike

--
The fd0man™—The Magical Floppy Man! ([e-mail]) 
"One world, one web, one program"  —Microsoft promotional ad 
"Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuehrer"  —Adolf Hitler