What is UnixOS2?
The UnixOS/2 project aims to create a common set of guidelines to make it
easier to install and use ported Unix applications on OS/2. Together with
POSIX/2 and libemu this will lead to a complete Unix-like subsystem for
OS/2.
More than just a set of guidelines for writing and porting software, UnixOS2
strives to optimise the work done by many programmers. By coordinating a common
set of software packages and programmer's libraries, UnixOS2 will help ensure compatibility, a common directory structure,
a forum for support, and avoid duplication of effort.
UnixOS2 Packages
The preferred method of distributing pre-compiled version of UnixOS2 software
will be through UnixOS2 packages, modelled off of the Slackware Linux package
system. These packages come in the form of a standard zip-compressed archive;
and can be uncompressed using any unzip program that understands this format.
The preferred program to use these packages will be the pkgtool, which reads
a special configuration file within the archive which may contain additional
setup information to aid in an automated install.
The primary home of UnixOS2 packages will be /mirrors/unixos2.org/pub/unixos2/packages/
which will contain the most up-to-date UnixOS2 ports available.
UnixOS2 Developers
Porting Guidelines
When porting an application to UnixOS2, the optimum goal is to have any changes
rolled back into the original source so as to minimise the work of the UnixOS2
porters and at the same time maximise the benefits provided by any improvements
to the original code by other coders. Many projects do indeed seem
to welcome the inclusion of source that allows their code to compile on other
platforms.
If a project is unwilling to include UnixOS2-specific changes to the source code,
then it is highly encouraged that the UnixOS2 "maintainer" of the port generate
diffs against the original source that be included with the UnixOS2 source-code
packages.
UnixOS2 HOW-TO's
All UnixOS2 HOW-TO's should be prefixed with UX2 and post-fixed with
HOW-TO to make the documents readily identifiable from other systems' HOW-TO
files. (Or perhaps find a better term than "HOW-TO"!)
- Getting Started (major re-working underway!) (installation of base UnixOS2 subsystem, overview of
tools and concepts)
- Packages (installation, removal and creation of UnixOS2 packages and
their associated tools)
- Porting (tricks, tips and methods for porting software to the UnixOS2
"format", creation of diffs, etc.)
- Developing software (what "standards" are defined by UnixOS2, UNIXROOT
considerations, etc.)
- Documentation (proper structure of documentation, formatting, help
file formats)
- UnixOS2 tools
- EMX compatibility (considerations for eventually replacing EMX).
- Many more to come, most likely.
How to Contribute
Current the UnixOS2 developers are looking for assistance in many different facets of the project.
We are looking for people that are not only eager to port software, but to test software, help write documentation,
and give us feedback on our projects.
The
UnixOS2 mailing list is the way to get the pulse of the project, see the
direction we are moving and help us work toward our goal.
Current Status
The UnixOS2 project is working toward a 1.0 "release".
The
project status page will give a quick over-view to the current status of projects.
Material presented on these pages is ©copyright 2002-2004 The UnixOS2 Group and the pages' respective authors, unless otherwise noted. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium, provided this notice is preserved.
® OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.
document created: 2002-10-30 jr
last updated: 2003-07-31 jr
