miray Software released the latest version of its embedded and PC operating system µnOS. Besides a number of runtime enhancements of the system core the new version 0.98 contains a vastly improved window server, an all-new intelligent console interface and new system utilities. A dedicated internet platform for developers and interested users will be launched by miray in the near future.
In version 0.98 of µnOS the process manager, being the central controlling system of µnOS, benefits from a number of improvements in speed and stability. The core of µnOS, the Sphere Kernel on the other part, is unchanged compared to the previous version, due to its maturity and the absence of errors since the former release.
The window server in µnOS 0.98 has been expanded and improved continuously. Resizing as well as minimizing and maximizing of windows by the user are now fully supported. Additionally different layers of overlapping windows have been introduced, this enables the realization of different window levels and windows which are always on top.
Completely new is the console interface. It is similar to the VGA text mode with columns and rows as well as foreground and background color for every character. The number of columns and rows as well as font face and size are freely adjustable, and there are 16 M (in contrast to 16) colors possible each for foreground and background. In addition, each program can have several console windows. This enables the programmer to use different windows for input, status and help output of a console application.
Important and substantial for the console interface is the support of sequential driven programs (in contrast to event driven programs with the GUI). Simple tasks are often implemented much faster and easier in a sequential driven program. And there is also no initial programming overhead as known from GUI programs. Console windows can be programmed via matrix functions or via positioning and printing functions.
The output logic (similar to DOS) is also ideal for porting old text mode programs to µnOS. Program structure and logic can be used without changes, which minimizes efforts. Additionally, the new input and output functions are very similar to the old ones regarding names and parameters. Examples for this are the programs Hangman, Snake and PCISniffer on the demo disk. The console API also offers interfaces for simple integration of keyboard and mouse. Because of the high level of optimizing, the console interface is very fast, although it is “just” a virtual text mode.
As usual, a free demo version is available at for download.
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I think it has to be “http://www.miray.de/“.
Downloaded and ran the new version this morning. No problems. Although it’s nowhere near as complete as MenuetOS, I’m still suprised at what fits onto a single floppy.
-Bob
linux ? We have too many operating systems and not enough computer manufacturers doing risk taking and going with linux or some other than windows. Menuet is nice though.
I looked a little on their site and found no help in pronouncing this name.
I think the name is pronounced münos (between minos and munos). The greek letter mu is also the abbreviation for micro.
As to standards, we need more open hardware (and software!) specifications, so _every_ device can be supported by any OS, just by writing a driver according to the specs.
In practise, some (far too few) devices have open specs, and these specs are deliberately (I think) written in a way that takes years to understand if you don’t die of boredom.
I don’t think there are too many OSes. You are free to use one you like, but many people are disappointed by the “state of the art” systems.
In times where even Linux as a once minimalistic clone of Unix becomes more and more bloated (especially the GUI software though), its impressive to see people like the µnos and menuet people developing Low-Fat-Software.
Way to go!
Wow a realtime kernel of 21K, pretty slick. Probably not much services tho …
The name of the OS is pronounced as follows:
English: [mjunos]
German: [münos] as U.H. assumed correctly
mjunos, is that mjunos as in mYunos (y for yellow as in “tanya…”
) or is it mjunos as in… mj…j for jack?
mju as pronounced in mute [=mju:t]