DOS is free--freedos introduction

As we all know, Microsoft has stopped the independent development of DOS after developing WIN95. However, prior to the advent of Win95, Microsoft had significantly enhanced the development of windows and slowed the development of DOS, and http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/32995.html "> Take some dishonorable steps in Windows to repel other DOS systems such as Dr-dos to ensure MS-DOS's dominance and maintain its commercial interests. For example, when you run the win3.x in Dr-dos, there is a certain "error" message.


Microsoft's arbitrary practices, of course, has aroused many people's dissatisfaction, many groups and even individuals, including the well-known IBM companies have invested in the development of compatible DOS, the intention to break Microsoft's monopoly on DOS. At the same time because of the openness of DOS and the realization of the powerful function of DOS, the category of DOS is increasing, there are at least 20 kinds, such as Pc-dos, Rom-dos, Pts-dos, FreeDOS, and new functions, new ideas are endless. Here we will introduce the most representative FreeDOS.


The FreeDOS project (the FreeDOS Project) was founded in 1994 by famous programmer Jim and was quickly echoed by many users and programmers. The goal of the FreeDOS project is to create a complete, free and open, and fully compatible, MS-DOS operating system, which belongs to all of humanity. Because it is free software under the famous GNU GPL (GNU General Public License) Agreement, supported by many excellent programmers from all over the world, it has been developing continuously, and more and more people have joined together to work towards their goals through the Internet, Fully embodies the spirit of freedom and openness and solidarity. Now the version number of FreeDOS has grown to 7.0, and the latest version is beta 8 H1, launched in September this year. The DOS software currently being designed for it is being launched and developed, not only with a variety of external commands, but also with many other enhancements and attachments, and the quality is both high and practical, often exceeding the same commands in MS-DOS. For example, the cute Mouse developed above is currently the best (smallest, most powerful) mouse driver in DOS. and attrib, xcopy and many other external commands, not only than MS-dos of the same command efficiency, and the volume of less than one-second or even a fraction of the latter. It is particularly important that, as a free software, its source code is completely open, obviously for the people who need to learn and reference, this is the best thing.


FreeDOS is completely compatible with MS-DOS, so software developed for it can be ported directly to MS-DOS and other DOS. And the vast majority of DOS software that we have developed at home and abroad can also run normally on it. It is also very powerful, such as supporting FAT32 partitions and large hard drives, and some of the features already far exceed MS-DOS. There are many other very useful features, such as built-in doskey support, maximum memory support (up to 4G), and so on. As for more functions, such as long file name function, and so on, are now under constant efforts to develop, I believe that will soon become a reality. Moreover, its system startup files are much smaller than MS-DOS. Its core file is only one, plus a sys file and a command processor Command.com file, a total of 130K, in the boot disk is very appropriate.


However, like MS-DOS, the FreeDOS described above is 16-bit. Now that the 32-bit operating system has become the trend of the times, in order to keep up with the development of the time, people have developed a 32-bit FreeDOS operating system, that is, the kernel 32-bit FreeDOS version FreeDOS 32, and once again received a large number of support. Although it is not very mature at present, but it has been developing, and there is no doubt that the 32-bit FreeDOS has epoch-making significance, marking the gradual development of DOS to the 32-bit core.


especially abroad, many people think that the FreeDOS will bring new life and meteorology for DOS, so interested in this and participate in more and more people. Countless excellent programmers into which continue to contribute to the development of FreeDOS. At present, the FreeDOS of freedom is getting more and more attention, for example, the famous Dell Computer company will provide the FreeDOS operating system directly for some computers it produces.


at home, the importance of FreeDOS is beginning to be recognized. If you are interested, you might as well pay attention to it or join it, make it more powerful!