Same reason many companies don't bother to support Linux. Linux kernel-mode APIs change very often and Linux APIs are usually not backwards compatible.
From kernel 2.6 you even need to compile your driver with the same compiler
that is used to compile the kernel. So, if you want to support two Linux distributions which are compiled with different compilers, then you need to distribute two binaries of your driver. If you want to support SMP configuration (in addition to UP configuration), you need to distribute two additional binaries.
Casper
-----Original Message----- From: ros-general-bounces@reactos.com [mailto:ros-general-bounces@reactos.com] On Behalf Of Enrico Weigelt Sent: 15. februar 2004 16:31 To: ros-general@reactos.com Subject: [ros-general] why folks
Hi folks,
a very general question:
why are you developing a completely new kernel instead of using an existing one like linux or hurd and running reactos just as a subsystem, perhaps with some kernel improvements.
For example: linux brings very good memory management and filesystem. If you want to use Xwindow, you can use a direct graphics backend for the UI. Console applications could run directly on stdio as all unix console applications do.
Doing so lets you run the windows applications within a another host operating system and integrating both together.
So what are the advantages of another own kernel against a subsystem in another host operating system ?
cu