Frequently
Asked Questions
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What
is Exelyx?
Exelyx
(Personal Computer Operating System) aims to be a stable, efficient,
compact OS which will run on any IBM compatible computer. Although it
is technically a 'shell' program, don't let that fool you. Exelyx is
unlike any shell you've probably ever used. It will, in its completed
form, combine the stability of Linux, the speed of DOS, and the
user-friendliness of the MacOS.
Since
it's a shell, Exelyx probably isn't that useful, right?
Not
necessarily. Exelyx is in fact a shell, but if you didn't already know
that you probably wouldn't have noticed just by using it. Exelyx works
with your computer's hardware on a fundamental level to provide many
features found only in 'high-end' operating systems.
What
kind of features does Exelyx offer?
Here's
a short list:
preemptive multitasking
protected memory
virtual
memory support - limited only by the size of your hard drive!
XMS
support up to just under 3 GB with the standard HIMEM.SYS XMS driver
- meaning programs can run while loaded into XMS, unlike MS-DOS
SVGA
and XGA support through use of VESA routines
access to the
kernel's internal routines, providing an API for
developers
inter-application communications
file system
security (files associated to a specific user can be locked to only
be opened and/or modified by that user being logged in with their
password
Windows-compatible long filename support
built in APM
power management support
How
user friendly is Exelyx?
A
variety of user interfaces will be available for the Exelyx kernel.
Among those are a command prompt interface which can be easily used
by anyone familiar with traditional DOS commands, but it will also
support a handful of new commands which make use of the Exelyx kernel's
enhanced features which were unavailable in DOS. A graphical
interface will be released too, which will offer many different
'skins' (a'la Linux's variety of window mangers) the first of which
will be modeled after the "Apple Grayscale" look used in
the classic MacOS 8 series.
Where
do I buy software for Exelyx?
Initially,
the only place to get programs for Exelyx will be to download them from
this site. The project is always needy of cool new applications,
games, and utilities, however, so if you have a knack for programming
and think you may want to contribute a program to the project, you
are more than welcome to visit the How to Contribute section.
Do
I get any software with the OS?
Not
at this time. All software available for Exelyx will be able to be
downloaded separately from the Downloads section. Exelyx Package 1,
when released, will be bundled with a collection of applications and
accessories.
Do
I need to dedicate my entire computer to Exelyx?
No,
you will be able to use whatever operating system you currently use,
as long as it can run DOS-based programs in their full capacity, and
run Exelyx only when needed, or run it through a DOS emulator. DOSBox
does a top-notch job of simulating the DOS environment. So much so,
we use it during development of Exelyx. Also, if you're so inclined,
you may make it the only OS on your system under just about any
flavor of DOS to allow it to run at its full potential.
When
will it be done?
As
of yet, that's very uncertain. Development continues to push on, in
the team's free time - which seems to become more and more of a
limited resource. The kernel is as near as it's ever been to
completion, with more features being added. Every version available
for download now on this website is a beta version, up until version
2.00, which will be the official first release of Exelyx.
How
are the different version numbers of Exelyx significant?
The
average version number is made up of two main parts, the major
version and the minor version. As with most other software packages,
the major version only changes when there's a major overhaul to the
underlying system structure. The minor version changes whenever bugs
are fixed, or sometimes when small features are added. There is
another part to the version numbering scheme, though, and that is the
revision number. The revision number changes similarly to the minor
version number, but when the bug fixes or features are extremely
minor, and do not warrant changing the existing version status of the
release.
What
are the system requirements for Exelyx?
Exelyx
is a lightweight platform when it comes to system resources. The
current requirements for the PC running the series 1 kernel are as
follows:
-a DOS environment [either true DOS or an emulator will
do]
-an Intel 80386 or better / equivalent
-a math coprocessor
[e.g. an Intel 8087 or better / equivalent]
-some available XMS,
and an associated driver [e.g. himem.sys]
-enough disk space to
store the programs you'll be running
These are the minimums
only, of course, so if you have a better system Exelyx will just run
that much smoother.