NikiWiki - User contributions [en]

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-26T00:13:58Z

Davidme: /* Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by [[Darwin O'Connor]].
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for [[MMOS/2]] WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved [[MP3]] media players ([[WarpAmp]] - Free, [[PM123]] - Shareware).
* Ogg [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* [[INI]] editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* [[Defrag]] program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS [[undelete]] tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: [[traceroute]], [[nbtstat]], [[ping]], etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS usability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his [[DragText]] 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like [[Dialog Enhancer]] and [[eWorkplace]]. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make [[Scitech SNAP]] the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* [[Tabbed windows]], like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with ([[Animated Mouse Pointers]] 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc ([[Styler/2]] by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* [[Transparent window]]s and [[transparent folder|folders]] ([[Candybarz]] by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions ([[Dialog Enhancer]] by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a [[Recycle Bin]] with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A [[Shutdown]] folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable [[WarpCenter]] (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A [[font manager]] to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit [[DPMI]] DOS environment, Win16, [[GeOS]] and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original [[WinOS2]] sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the [[Calmira]] II technology) plus [[Win32s]] 1.25, plus-[[Paragon DOS]] or the newly released [[DR-DOS]] 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in [[DOS Virtual Machine]]s a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games ([[vCOMPAT]] by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM [[PC-DOS]] 2000 or [[Regina]]-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions ([[4OS2]] by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see [[#Top Ten Wishes|top ten wishes]] above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing [[HOB XServer]], [[VNC]] Server/Viewer and [[SVISTA]] technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the [[PMM2MOZ]] program to "import" the *.msg files.
* [[Opera]] 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to [[DOS Virtual Machine]]s "[[VDM]]s" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of [[MPTS]] [[PROTMAN]], which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing [[TCP/BEUI]] in a [[DHCP]] environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony ([[Total Recall System]] by [[Chris Martinic]] - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for [[multiple monitors]] "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising [[InetPowerServer]] suite
* Better support for [[Daylight Savings Time]] (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation [[Pluggable Look And Feel]] (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native [[VNC Viewer]] (and ongoing development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM [[VNC Server]] 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance ([[BootAble]] by [[Hayo Baan]])
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "[[Network Browser]]" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of [[FM/2]].
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the [[NumLock]] on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes ([[UpdCD]] by [[Zsolt Kadar]] - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced [[APM]] 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working [[Watchcat]] or a supported functional equivalent such as [[CAD-Handler]] into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-26T00:04:56Z

Davidme: /* Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by [[Darwin O'Connor]].
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for [[MMOS/2]] WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved [[MP3]] media players ([[WarpAmp]] - Free, [[PM123]] - Shareware).
* Ogg [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* [[INI]] editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* [[Defrag]] program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS [[undelete]] tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: [[traceroute]], [[nbtstat]], [[ping]], etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS usability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his [[DragText]] 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like [[Dialog Enhancer]] and [[eWorkplace]]. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make [[Scitech SNAP]] the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* [[Tabbed windows]], like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with ([[Animated Mouse Pointers]] 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc ([[Styler/2]] by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* [[Transparent window]]s and [[transparent folder|folders]] ([[Candybarz]] by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions ([[Dialog Enhancer]] by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a [[Recycle Bin]] with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A [[Shutdown]] folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable [[WarpCenter]] (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A [[font manager]] to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit [[DPMI]] DOS environment, Win16, [[GeOS]] and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original [[WinOS2]] sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the [[Calmira]] II technology) plus [[Win32s]] 1.25, plus-[[Paragon DOS]] or the newly released [[DR-DOS]] 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in [[DOS Virtual Machine]]s a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games ([[vCOMPAT]] by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM [[PC-DOS]] 2000 or [[Regina]]-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions ([[4OS2]] by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-26T00:00:21Z

Davidme: /* User Interface Enhancements */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by [[Darwin O'Connor]].
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for [[MMOS/2]] WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved [[MP3]] media players ([[WarpAmp]] - Free, [[PM123]] - Shareware).
* Ogg [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* [[INI]] editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* [[Defrag]] program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS [[undelete]] tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: [[traceroute]], [[nbtstat]], [[ping]], etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS usability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his [[DragText]] 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like [[Dialog Enhancer]] and [[eWorkplace]]. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make [[Scitech SNAP]] the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* [[Tabbed windows]], like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with ([[Animated Mouse Pointers]] 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc ([[Styler/2]] by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* [[Transparent window]]s and [[transparent folder|folders]] ([[Candybarz]] by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions ([[Dialog Enhancer]] by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a [[Recycle Bin]] with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A [[Shutdown]] folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable [[WarpCenter]] (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A [[font manager]] to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T23:29:49Z

Davidme: /* System Utilities */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by [[Darwin O'Connor]].
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for [[MMOS/2]] WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved [[MP3]] media players ([[WarpAmp]] - Free, [[PM123]] - Shareware).
* Ogg [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* [[INI]] editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* [[Defrag]] program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS [[undelete]] tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: [[traceroute]], [[nbtstat]], [[ping]], etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T23:03:35Z

Davidme: /* Improved Multimedia Support */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by [[Darwin O'Connor]].
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for [[MMOS/2]] WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved [[MP3]] media players ([[WarpAmp]] - Free, [[PM123]] - Shareware).
* Ogg [[Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:50:46Z

Davidme: /* The Front Office */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in [[As of 2004|2004]] !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic [[Papyrus Office]], recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* [[SunDial Office]], the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The absence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new [[CIFS]]/[[SMB]] Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:47:31Z

Davidme: /* Drivers R Us */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the [[MIDI]] hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for [[scanner]]s (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI [[sound card]] drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern [[video card]]s ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], [[802.11b]] and [[802.11a]] wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better [[TV card]] support for [[BT878]]-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for [[Sis7012]] and [[Sis7018]] audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated [[DIVE]], [[DART]], and [[RTMIDI]] (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal [[device driver porting kit]] - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit [[PC Card]] 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel [[HSP56]] audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:42:22Z

Davidme: /* File System Support */ Reiser, TrueCrypt, Captive, UnionFS, FUSE

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].
* A port of [[TrueCrypt]], a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows XP/2000/2003 and Linux [http://www.truecrypt.org/].
* An equivalent of [[Captive]], "[http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/ the first free NTFS read/write filesystem for GNU/Linux]. It implements the Win32 kernel API required to run the original
Windows filesystem binary drivers.
* A stackable [[union filesystem]] like [http://www.fsl.cs.sunysb.edu/project-unionfs.html UnionFS] to create virtual folders "containing" the files of two unrelated folders.
* A [[filesystem in userspace]] like [http://fuse.sourceforge.net/ FUSE] to allow the creation of virtual filesystems with normal programming tools like Rexx, Python, C,... enabling thinks like [http://wikipediafs.sourceforge.net/ WikipediaFS].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:29:09Z

Davidme: /* File System Support */ * The journalled ReiserFS. Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better [[FAT32]] and [[NTFS]] drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and [[EXT2]] (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add [[UDF]]-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for [[VFAT]] long file names often used with [[Zip disk]]s and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired [[XFS]] journalling file system.
* Integrate [[TVFS]] support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* [[Logical Volume Manager]] (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like [[BeFS]] in BeOS or like [[AFS]] in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS].
* The journalled [[ReiserFS]].

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:26:32Z

Davidme: /* System Security "Out of the Box" */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of [[rLogin]] and [[Telnet]]).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) [[Sesame]] by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* [[Filesystem encryption|Filesystem with password encryption]] of all data stored - as with NTFS
* [[Antivirus]] options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use [[firewall]] application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:21:59Z

Davidme: /* Kernel Desires */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. [[Single Input Queue|Key GUI architecture decisions]] taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its [[Hyperthreading]] feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor ([[SMP]]) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better [[hibernation]] support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) [[SOM]] 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a [[CORBA]] 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:18:24Z

Davidme: /* Some Priority Applications for Porting */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* [[Ximian Evolution]] and [[Ximian Connector]]. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an [[MS Exchange Server]]. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* [[RealPlayer]] 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* [[Intuit Quicken]] - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* [[VirtualDub]], a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port [[XLib]] to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* [[VideoLan]], is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:15:34Z

Davidme: /* Must Have - Features and Applications */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for [[ACPI]], without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install mutually compatible versions of [[Sane]]/2 and [[Tame]]/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like [[ZIP]], [[RAR]], [[ARJ]], etc) - should be similar to the implementation in [[Object Desktop]], but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit [[command interpreter]] to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users double-click once to install both [[Ghostscript]] for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the [[X.500]] and [[DCE]] standards and for [[Kerberos]] authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .[[PDF]] documents within OS2/eCS word processors (see [[Lucide]]).
* A highly scalable [[mail server]] with [[IMAP]]4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for [[Palm]]OS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* [[Project scheduling]] software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date [[Citrix]] [[ICA]] Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an MS Exchange Server. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* RealPlayer 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* Intuit Quicken - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* VirtualDub, a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port XLib to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* VideoLan, is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:11:10Z

Davidme: /* Mind Your Language */ Links. or the open-source Squeak.

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* [[C]] and [[C++]] options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* [[REXX]] options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* [[Java]] is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* [[Ada]] is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* [[PHP]] your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* [[Perl]] one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* [[Python]] handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* [[Fortran]] coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* [[Smalltalk]] for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk] or the open-source [[Squeak]].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for ACPI, without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install mutually compatible versions of Sane/2 and Tame/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like ZIP, RAR, ARJ, etc) - should be similar to the implementation in Object Desktop, but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit command interpreter to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install both Ghostscript for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the X500 and DCE standards and for Kerberos authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .PDF documents within OS2/eCS word processors.
* A highly scalable mail server with IMAP4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for PalmOS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* Project scheduling software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date Citrix ICA Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an MS Exchange Server. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* RealPlayer 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* Intuit Quicken - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* VirtualDub, a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port XLib to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* VideoLan, is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:08:48Z

Davidme: /* The Programer's Cauldron */ Links

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the [[EMX]] runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as [[Xandros]].
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream [[book]] that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by [[Martin Vieregg]] (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by [[Mektek]] (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for [[XML]] and [[SGML]] files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of [[LX]] executables to the [[OpenWatcom]] C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel [[SSE1]] and [[SSE2]] instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* C and C++ options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* REXX options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* Java is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* Ada is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* PHP your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* Perl one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* Python handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* Fortran coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* Smalltalk for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for ACPI, without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install mutually compatible versions of Sane/2 and Tame/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like ZIP, RAR, ARJ, etc) - should be similar to the implementation in Object Desktop, but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit command interpreter to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install both Ghostscript for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the X500 and DCE standards and for Kerberos authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .PDF documents within OS2/eCS word processors.
* A highly scalable mail server with IMAP4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for PalmOS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* Project scheduling software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date Citrix ICA Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an MS Exchange Server. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* RealPlayer 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* Intuit Quicken - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* VirtualDub, a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port XLib to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* VideoLan, is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T22:06:01Z

Davidme: /* The Top Ten Wishes */ Links. Format

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured [[GCC]] port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "[[#Mind Your Language|Mind Your Language]]", below)
* Great tools for [[porting|converting]] applications written for [[Win32]] or for [[XWindows]] into GUI native [[PM]] apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the [[Linux]] and [[Unix]] platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Five criteria for this logo might be
*# installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an [[RPM]]-style package manager);
*# available in all the same [[NLS]] versions as eCS;
*# fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2];
*# uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from [[ErOS2]];
*# has been updated within the last twelve months.
* [[Bootable JFS]], though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with [[AIX]]) it lets us walk away from [[HPFS]] and [[FAT16]] boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and [[Samba]], first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "[[#other wishes|other wishes]]" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun [[Java]] 2 Standard Edition ([[J2SE]]) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.4.1 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique [[Odin]] technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the [[Innotek Web Pack Plus]] for OS/2 and Castlesoft [[Colour Manager]] into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial [[DVD]] movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the EMX runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as Xandros.
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream book that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by Martin Vieregg (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by Mektek (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for XML and SGML files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of LX executables to the OpenWatcom C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel SSE1 and SSE2 instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* C and C++ options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* REXX options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* Java is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* Ada is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* PHP your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* Perl one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* Python handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* Fortran coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* Smalltalk for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for ACPI, without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install mutually compatible versions of Sane/2 and Tame/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like ZIP, RAR, ARJ, etc) - should be similar to the implementation in Object Desktop, but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit command interpreter to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install both Ghostscript for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the X500 and DCE standards and for Kerberos authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .PDF documents within OS2/eCS word processors.
* A highly scalable mail server with IMAP4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for PalmOS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* Project scheduling software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date Citrix ICA Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an MS Exchange Server. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* RealPlayer 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* Intuit Quicken - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* VirtualDub, a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port XLib to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* VideoLan, is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

The Warp Wishlist

2006-10-25T21:57:28Z

Davidme: The

The Warp Wishlist is now available at this netlabs.org wiki page with permission from it's maintainer.

Visit the [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html Os2bbs page]
 Visit also the [[Ideas]] wiki page.

=The Top Ten Wishes=

* A commercially supported, full featured GCC port, at the same code level as that of the equivalent Linux package (see "Mind Your Language", below)
* Great tools for converting applications written for Win32 or for XWindows into GUI native PM apps such as the extraordinary project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue] from Netlabs, which should make it easier and much faster to bring applications originally written for the Linux and Unix platforms to OS2/eCS).
* A "Ready for eCS" certification process (to go with the [http://dev.ecomstation.com/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=106&page_id=16 logo]) for hardware and software - to enable eCS buyers to see whether products are certified to work with their eCS system BEFORE they purchase them. Four criteria for this logo might be (a) installs to optional drive locations using [http://warpin.netlabs.org/ WarpIn] or something better (such as an RPM-style package manager); (b) available in all the same NLS versions as eCS; (c) fully supports the InnoTek-[http://www.innotek.de/products/ft2lib/ft2libgeneral_e.html Font Engine for OS/2]; (d) uses the [http://eros2.by.ru/systray_widget_en.shtml SysTray] API from ErOS2; and (e) has been updated within the last twelve months.
* Bootable JFS, though this file system may be seen as "too alternative" for desktop use by John Q Public (or in any SOHO account unfamiliar with AIX) it lets us walk away from HPFS and FAT16 boot drives, thereby reducing the number of required filesystems to one (like the ubiquitous Win* platform) - IBM already supports booting AIX and Linux from JFS, so how come they're dragging their collective feet on facilitating the code changes needed for bootable [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS] to become a reality on OS2/eCS ?
* The ability to easily install, load and run ubiquitous Win32 applications (eg MS Office XP) that the average business has already paid for, and prefers to keep using, without the need for any Windows licenses on our PCs ( [http://www.codeweavers.com/products/office/ CrossOver Office] gives Linux and FreeBSD users this ability already).
* Develop eCS 2.x as the first Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) for x86 PCs. The idea is to virtualise a complete heterogenous LAN consisting of two virtualised workstations and a virtualised file and print server machine. The virtual server machine could run generic Linux and Samba, first virtual workstation would run eComStation 1.2 and the second virtual workstation could run Windows NT or Win2000 (see "other wishes" - below).
* The latest release of the Sun Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) platform. A native OS2/eCS port of Java 1.41 is available from [http://www.goldencode.com/company/press/20020814.html Golden Code] Development Corporation, while [http://www.innotek.de/products/javaos2/ Innotek] has released their own Java 1.42_05 product, which uses their unique Odin technology to run unmodified Win32 Java code from Sun
* The seamless integration of the Innotek Web Pack Plus for OS/2 and Castlesoft Colour Manager into the base eCS 1.x and future 2.x products.
* A media player, like the very impressive [http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVisionGUI] project that is packaged with whatever license is needed to legally play back commercial DVD movies.
* Support for fourteen NLS versions; eg English, German, Dutch, Russian (available) plus French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Swedish, Trad Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hungarian and [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n1643/n1643.htm Klingon] (as soon as commercially practicable).

=The Programer's Cauldron=

Our platform of choice needs constantly improving tools. The very sophisticated cross platform [http://wxwindows.org/dl_os2.htm#dev wxWidgets] GUI application development framework is a good example of what is available for OS2/eCS. Other steps forward may include :

* Continued development of the potentially very important OSS [http://eclipseos2.netlabs.org/ Eclipse Java IDE] for the OS2/eCS platform (brought to you by [http://projects.netlabs.org/ Netlabs] )
* Increased C99 and C++98 standards compliance for compilers and tools running on OS2/eCS.
* Regular updates to the EMX runtime, to keep it feature compatible with the latest GNU C compilers available on mainstream Linux distros such as Xandros.
* A new edition - dusted off and scrubbed clean of anachronisms of the pre-MCP2/eCS era - of at least one mainstream book that focuses on the unique aspects of the OS2/eCS platform
* A versatile, full featured Help File authoring package such as [http://www.hypermake.com/english/n024.html#hd24 Hypermake] by Martin Vieregg (shareware) or [http://www.os2world.com/vyperhelp/ VyperHelp] by Mektek (Open Source - GNU GPL)
* Feature sets equalling those available on the fascinating [http://www.iti.upv.es/%7Emaragda/doc/index.html Linux], solid [http://www.netbsd.org/ NetBSD] and occasionally notorious [http://www.deanliou.com/WinRG/ Win32] platforms today.
* A native OS2/eCS 32-bit parser and editor for XML and SGML files ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gx- gX] from Untravelled Sphere).
* Add support for compression of LX executables to the OpenWatcom C/C++ linker.
* An annual OS2/eCS developer seminar - held immediately after, and in the same city, as a large IT event unrelated to OS2/eCS. Seminar attendees can reduce their time away from the office and, perhaps, charge their airfare to the non-OS2/eCS event that they needed to attend in that city anyway.
* Add Intel SSE1 and SSE2 instruction set enhancements to the OpenWatcom compiler
* A port of the modern, standards compliant [http://comeaucomputing.com/custom.html Comeau] C and C++ tools to OS2/eCS (commercial).

=Mind Your Language=

The OS2/eCS platform is well supported by languages and associated toolsets today and, due to the generally thankless work of many gifted OS2/eCS programers, the available choices are constantly improving. Languages and application development tools ready for your next OS2/eCS project include :

* C and C++ options include [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom C/C++ 1.2] (free) and the commercially supported [http://www.innotek.de/products/gccos2/gccos2general_e.html Innotek GCC 3.2 for OS/2]
* Pascal options include the [http://sibyl.netlabs.org/ Netlabs OpenSibyl] project, [http://www.vpascal.com/ Virtual Pascal] for OS2 and [http://www.us.freepascal.org/down-os2.html Free Pascal for OS2].
* REXX options include [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/ad/obj-rexx/ ObjectREXX], (Open Sourced by IBM but not available for OS/2-eCS yet - [http://www.oorexx.org/ Open Object REXX]) Watcom [http://www.edm2.com/0206/vrexx.html VX-REXX] (find it on eBay) and [http://regina-rexx.sourceforge.net/index.html Regina-REXX] (free)
* Java is well supported on OS2/eCS. For a powerful multiplatform Java IDE that runs great on OS2/eCS, try [http://www.netbeans.org/ide/index.html NetBeans] (free, open source).
* Ada is available for OS2/eCS with [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/ada GNU Ada 95] (free)
* PHP your tool of choice ? Then here's [http://silk.apana.org.au/php/ PHP 4] (free)
* Perl one, knit two ? The [http://www.prima.eu.org/ PRIMA Toolkit] is a multi-platform GUI application development tool available for the OS2/eCS platform.
* Python handlers will love [http://www.andymac.org/python.html Python 2.3.4] (free)
* Fortran coders can get productive with [http://www.openwatcom.org/about/info_content.html OpenWatcom Fortran 1.2] (free)
* Smalltalk for big results ! Try the modern, well regarded [http://www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/smalltalk/ IBM VisualAge Smalltalk].

=Must Have - Features and Applications=

Much of the best software available for OS2/eCS today is available at no cost under open source licences. However, large commercial users often prefer to pay for a commercially licenced product (eg. StarOffice) rather than use free software of equal quality ( eg.[http://www.openoffice.org/ OpenOffice.org 1.2] ), perhaps because of the legally enforcible obligations commercial software licences may place on software vendors. Having such choices is great ! Whether "running native" or utilising the very sexy Odin subsystem, there are some standard / mainstream applications that OS/2 and eCS need to support in order to offer aid and comfort to Windows survivors taking those hesitant first steps toward a brighter, less costly x86 alternative.

* Support for ACPI, without which OS2/eCS may cease to be a viable OS on future mainstream PC hardware.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install mutually compatible versions of Sane/2 and Tame/2 to any directory nominated.
* Integrated WPS folder views for many archiver formats (like ZIP, RAR, ARJ, etc) - should be similar to the implementation in Object Desktop, but inherit the extensions from e.g., XWorkplace ( [http://www.subsys.de/eZIP/ eZIP]).
* Enhancements to both the Presentation Manager (GUI) and command line (CLI) user interfaces, in particular, a robust new 32-bit command interpreter to replace the archaic IBM [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html 16-bit CMD.exe] that still ships with every copy of OS/2 and eComStation sold.
* A "single pass" unified installer that lets end users Doubleclick once to install both Ghostscript for eCS/OS2 and [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/ GhostView] to any directory nominated.
* Provide support in OS2/eCS for the X500 and DCE standards and for Kerberos authentication.
* A cool GUI internet dialer out of the box with a modern feature set (like [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM]) - the new eCSCoNet in eComStation 1.1 has banished DOIP to a museum. Also available are the deservedly popular [http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy Dialer] (character based) and [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links]
* A single sign-on facility, to obtain secure access from OS2/eCS to files and resources on Unix, Windows, Netware, Linux and Mac OS X servers - either over a LAN or across the world.
* ALL configuration info to reside in a readable and editable set of files, saved in one known place (i.e. x:\System\OS2\ini).
* Full support for reading and writing more modern Adobe .PDF documents within OS2/eCS word processors.
* A highly scalable mail server with IMAP4 support - ([http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/ CommunigatePro] - Commercial).
* Better support for PalmOS PDA devices ( [http://jsyncmanager.sourceforge.net/ JSyncManager] by Brad Barclay - free GPL ).
* Project scheduling software with Gantt charts ( so far, there is [http://www.ws-it.de/en/product/ptime/ptimeuse.html PTime/2] by Wolfram Schmid ).
* An up to date Citrix ICA Client such as the very professional [http://www.innotek.de/products/citrixos2/citrixos2features_e.html OS/2 Kit for Citrix ICA Client 7.100 Release 1] from Innotek GmbH.
* A native, full featured, bloat-free equivalent to MS Outlook - to ease transition from the high-cost Windows environment to OS2/eCS for price sensitive corporate users (the [http://lookout.netlabs.org/ Lookout/2] project).

=Some Priority Applications for Porting=

* Adobe Acrobat 6 - while [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/%7Eghost/gsview/index.htm GSView] or [http://www.subsys.de/ePDF/ ePDF] can do the job (mostly), Mac and Windows ex-users will forever insist on using the latest version of a product they have known and used for year after year. For the moment, Innotek are offering release four of their OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05] and release one of their planned OS/2 kit for [http://www.innotek.de/products/acrobatos2/acrobatos2general_beta_e.html Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1].
* Ximian Evolution and Ximian Connector. [http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/ Evolution] is a highly regarded open-source MS Outlook look-alike, now fast gaining users on the Linux platform. Ximian Connector allows non-Microsoft clients to connect to an MS Exchange Server. Novell "loved it so much, they bought the company". For OS2/eCS to fit easily into mainstream corporate networks, something like these two GNOME based products need to be ported from Linux and/or Solaris as a high priority.
* Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7] Player, not yet available for OS2/eCS, as the hard working team at Innotek are yet to obtain a licence (is this because of high cost ?).
* RealPlayer 10 - needed mainly for the same reasons as Acrobat 6. The Helix DNA [http://www.helixcommunity.org/ client] has been open sourced by RealNetworks, which should lead, in time, to an OS2/eCS port of this versatile media player. Maybe it is not needed, but Windows refugees would sorely miss it.
* Intuit Quicken - because it is nearly ubiquitous and its absence is a show-stopper for many SOHO users, who have all their financial skills/records tied up in this one, simple to use product.
* Niku Workbench, a modern full featured alternative to Microsoft Project. It's code has recently been released under the GPL (see [http://www.openworkbench.org/index.php OpenWorkBench] ) - free
* VirtualDub, a multimedia editor, with useful [http://www.virtualdub.org/features features] for everyone with a digital video or still camera. Can you port OpenDub to OS2/eCS ? (free GPL).
* Port XLib to OS2/eCS Presentation Manager to swell the flow of applications written for Linux and Unix that can be adapted with relatve ease to run on OS2/eCS (eg. project [http://everblue.netlabs.org/ Everblue], from Netlabs)
* VideoLan, is a full featured open source cross-platform [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html media player and streaming server] with a plethora of Codecs and skins - is the toolset needed to port this great looking application to OS2/eCS available ?

=Kernel Desires=

Not so long ago, OS/2 was arguably less crash prone than other x86 choices (notably Win9x), but in more recent times WinXP and some Linux distros have reversed this lead. Key GUI architecture decisions taken over ten years ago by the designers of PM and the WPS make it impossible to terminate some failing processes, including the WPS and PM themselves. If OS2/eCS is to retain support from its current users, let alone attract new users, increased stability for PM and the WPS and a bullet-proof process killer are essential OS enhancements.

* Multiple asynchronous input queues - the OS/2 Holy Grail - without this, process-killers often fail.
* A new 32-bit command processor ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/devel/4os2/ 4OS2 by JPSoft] - newly free and being actively maintained, or [http://homepages.tesco.net/%7EJ.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html 32-bit Command Interpreter] by JdeBP - Free)
* A more capable Graphics Rendering Engine - a prerequisite to provide all applications with (optional) anti-aliased fonts for low resolution monitors (i.e. unable to show 104 dpi on a CRT or 114 dpi on a TFT display).
* The ability to utilise multiple virtual CPUs on Intel processors with its Hyperthreading feature.
* Support for AMD's [http://www.x86-64.org/about x86-64 CPU] (64-bit superset of the IA-32 architecture)
* Support for AMD's [http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_861_1028,00.html 3DNow!] instruction set
* Support for Intel's SSE1 and SSE2 instruction sets.
* X11/Motif API's ([ftp://ftp.netlabs.org/pub/xfree86/ XFree86/OS2 project] - Free, [http://www.hobsoft.com/www_us/produkte/connect/x11.htm HOBLink X11] - Commercial).
* Remove the 31 character font-naming limitation - to ease document exchange and interoperability.
* Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) support for both Client ([http://consultron.ca/english/products/ecomstation/ecspro.html eCS with the SMP Pack]) & Server ([http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WSeB])
* Better hibernation support - support for JFS/LVM, SCSI, HPFS, etc
* Elimination of the former 512MB limit for memory addressing (already fixed in IBMs MCP and Serenity's eCS 1.0 or above)
* Allow "mounting" a device under an arbitrary path name ( as in Windows 2000 and WinXP )
* IBM completes (or releases for others to develop) SOM 3.0 in the form initially released as a beta in Februrary 1996, thus providing a CORBA 2 compliant object request broker for OS2/eCS. [The [http://www.objs.com/x3h7/som.htm System Object Model (SOM)], is an IBM implementation of [http://www.omg.org/gettingstarted/corbafaq.htm CORBA] and forms the base on which the WorkPlace Shell (WPS) is built. The WPS in OS/2 4.52 and eComStation still uses the outdated, less capable IBM SOM 2.1 ]

=System Security "Out of the Box"=

There have been at least four products or projects which delivered multiple-user functionality (eg. desktop prefs/settings are determined by a user's login ID) to OS/2, but none of them has ever been distributed as a part of the base OS, in the way that Microsoft has for Windows since at least 1995. For lack of distribution with the base OS, this product category has stagnated on OS2/eCS. The lack of even the most basic multiple-user features "out of the box" makes OS2/eCS almost unique on x86 - but not in a good way ! A number of valuable projects will let us eliminate this deficiency :

* [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ Security/2] is now a requirement to run OpenSSH/2 and is currently expected to form a part of eCS 2.x product
* For more secure connections, installation of [http://en.ecomstation.ru/openssh/ OpenSSH/2] by default (instead of rLogin and Telnet).
* Better security - C2 while connected to a network (based on extending SES in Warp 4.x)
* For rusted-on IBM branded OS/2 users, multiple user features are offered with [http://www.quasarbbs.net/cristiano/mudesk.html MultiDesk] by Cristiano Guadagnino - Free
* Access control ([http://www-5.ibm.com/services/es/bis/secure.html IBM Secure Entry] and (perhaps in future) Sesame by [http://www.goldencode.com/ Golden Code] - Commercial)
* Filesystem with password encryption of all data stored - as with NTFS
* Anti Virus options with modern virus scanning engines ([http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?productID=27 Norton Antivirus] by Symantec, Viruscan by McAfee or the very popular [http://www.norman.com/products_nvc_os2.shtml Virus Control] by Norman Data Defense Systems Inc.)
* An easy to install and use firewall application based on Stateful Packet Inspection technology.
* Strong file encryption/decryption with both VIO and (in future) PM interfaces ([http://www.blowgish.org/teatime.php TeaTime/2] by Daniël de Kok).

=File System Support=

* Better FAT32 and NTFS drivers - for large disks ([http://www.dsteiner.com/products/software/os2/ifs.htm NTFS utilities] - Free, [http://fat32.netlabs.org/index.phtml FAT32 drivers] - Free)
* Ability to boot the operating system from mainstream file systems such as NTFS, FAT32 and EXT2 (FAT16 and HPFS are at a developmental dead-end)
* Add UDF-support for removable Magneto-Optical storage to the existing file system drivers.
* Better support for VFAT long file names often used with Zip Disks and with plain Diskettes ([http://www.os2world.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=32&id=1085456753 VFATMon by Jason Stefanovich])
* Read/write access to Macintosh disks ([http://www.student.nada.kth.se/%7Ef96-bet/HFS/ HFS drivers] from Marcus Better - Now GPL on Hobbes)
* Read/write access to Linux file systems ([http://perso.wanadoo.fr/matthieu.willm/ext2-os2/ ext2-os2 drivers] by Matthieu Willm - Free)
* The ability to share a fast to recover 64-bit journalling file system (eg [http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/aixos/whitepapers/jfs_vfs.html JFS2] ) with AIX and Linux.
* The ability to boot from and read/write to the much admired XFS journalling file system.
* Integrate TVFS support into the kernel ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=tvfs TVFS] - Free EWS, version 2.11 is now on Hobbes)
* A bullet-proof FDISK, display, analysis and recovery tool for disks and filesystems ( [http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm DFSee] )
* Logical Volume Manager (no reliance on drive letters, provides sophisticated drive spanning)
* A database-like journalling filesystem with support for metadata (ie Extended Attributes) like BeFS in BeOS or like AFS in [http://www.atheos.cx/ AtheOS] .

=Drivers R Us=

* IBM completes the [http://ais.gmd.de/%7Eveit/os2/kee.html KEE API] to allow pure 32-bit physical device drivers (no more thunks, thanks!)
* Drivers for the [http://www.broadcom.com/ Broadcom] BCM4401 chipset, as many mainstream laptops (eg. the Dell Inspirion 8600) use this Broadcom chipset for the integrated NIC.
* Why not licence the surprising Panasonic USB drivers for DOS and include them in the eCS entry level product ?
* A driver for a PCI sound card, any sound card, that supports the MIDI hardware connection. This can be via the joystick port, USB or Firewire or whatever.
* A revolutionary video driver model ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/os2features.html Scitech SNAP] - Commercial & Free variants)
* A universal driver for scanners (including USB 2.0 models) along the same lines as SNAP.
* Better CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVDs device manager drivers ( [http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA001398/#faq_jjscdrom JJSCDROM] by Takayuki Suwa )
* Better support for [http://www.1394ta.org/ FireWire] 800 and other new enabling technologies such as
* Support for the [http://www4.tomshardware.com/storage/20020812/index.html Serial ATA] standard likely to replace EIDE for PC hard drives within two years is already included in Version 1.6.4 of Daniela Engert's Danis506 drivers - Great to hear it !
* Drivers for the proposed [http://www.serialattachedscsi.com/ Serial Attached SCSI] standard may be of special value to OS2/eCS users in future for attaching more demanding peripheral devices (such as scanners and disk arrays).
* Better PCI sound card drivers ([http://sound.netlabs.org/ SBLive! driver] - Free, [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument Universal Audio drivers] from Innotek - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Better support for modern video cards ([http://www.scitechsoft.com/products/enterprise/snap_os2_content.html Scitech SNAP Graphics] - Commercial)
* Better support for IEEE [http://www.80211-planet.com/news/article.php/1502671 802.11g], 802.11b and 802.11a wireless networks (WLAN), including PCI cards and the general availability of drivers for IBM devices based on the Lucent Orinoco chipset.
* Better USB 2.0 Scanner support - a serious deficiency today ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=usbscan USBScan.Sys] will hopefully integrate with [http://paulf.free.fr/sane-os2-gui.html SANE/2] - Free and [http://www.os2world.com/goran/tame.htm TAME/2] by Goran Ivankovic and Klaus Staedtler - Free)
* Better USB 2.0 Camera support (USB on OS/2 site maintained by Martin Iturbide)
* Better Serial drivers ([http://www.gwinn.com/ SIO2K] by Ray Gwinn - Shareware)
* Better printer drivers (IBM drivers for [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/5b74e0e7572dc53086256c2f00631d2c?OpenDocument postscript], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/fe52d45fee2e225986256c2f00630f76?OpenDocument inkjets], [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/169817402fcb123186256c2f0062db5a?OpenDocument laserjets], and [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/067f720b0177c4c286256c2f00633470?OpenDocument plotters] - Free)
* Better DVD, DVD-RAM / DVD-RW and CD-RW support (IBM's [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/4b2e6f2261265d6d86256a810069fe2b?OpenDocument UDF 2.01] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS, [http://www.rsj.de/stage/en/cdwriter/cd_os2.asp RSJ CD Writer] - commercial)
* Better TV card support for BT878-based cards ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/tvshow.php TVShow Project] - from Kiev Elephant)
* Better support for cable modems and xDSL ([ftp://ftp.uni-freiburg.de/pub/pc/os2/isdn/ ISDNPM], treats cable modems like an NIC)
* Support for USB 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/bf7e05615440e8f086256b6c005eac99/eda0b842e1e56c1e86256c170050c84b?OpenDocument USB drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Support for multi-function Printer / Fax / Scanner / Copiers.
* Support for Sis7012 and Sis7018 audio (hopefully to be provided in a future release of [http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/d3234193f73bccd986256c4100584eaf?OpenDocument UNIAUD]).
* Updated DIVE, DART, and RTMIDI (for multimedia AND games)
* Universal device driver porting kit - something like IBM Open32, only for drivers
* Support for more and better joysticks with all their latest features ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-search?key=gamedd new joystick driver] - Free)
* 32-bit PC Card 5.0 support ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/186d96ebef23e6438625689c007ac1ef/60cd60ba019194f7862566de0052496d?OpenDocument CardBus drivers] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* 32-bit TCP/IP stack and applications ([http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/asd-bin/doc/en_us/tcpclnt/f-feat.htm version 4.3.x] - for IPA subscribers, or from eCS)
* Enhanced support for removable media (LS120, LS240, Zip 250, Zip 750, Jaz, Syquest, etc.)
* Support for modern optical and "wheel" mice ([http://www7.software.ibm.com/2bcprod.nsf/4eddaa42e99c19e186256a700058020a/899e6aa065ded37786256bf4006da652?OpenDocument IBM drivers] - Free, [http://www.nbsoftware.de/sw_ms21en.htm Amouse])
* Support for the PCTel HSP56 audio modem chip.

=The Front Office=

Few business or home users would consider OS2/eCS worth buying as as an alternative general purpose platform without a choice of high quality Office productivity software ready to go. Happily, our preferred platform offers a wealth of alternatives in this area and our choices are getting much better in 2004 !

* Microsoft Office, dust off that old Windows licence, you can soon use it to run MS Office in an OS2/eCS virtual machine such as [http://www.serenityvirtual.com/ SViSta] (commercial)
* OpenOffice.Org, the ultimate Office application for the Linux platform is coming to OS2/eCS, with [http://www.innotek.de/products/ Innotek] once again applying its Odin skills to good effect !
* Lotus Smartsuite, updated to [http://www.lotus.com/products/smartsuiteos2.nsf version 1.7.3] with many improvments - particularly for those needing to work with MS Office documents (commercial).
* ROMLogic Papyrus Office, recently updated to version 10 - in both the German and English languages - a surprisingly compact Office solution (commercial)
* SunDial Office, the Rodney Dangerfield of powerful, well designed Office suites - for those who prefer a different way of getting the job done (commercial)
* Lotus Notes, one of the main rivals to MS Exchange/Outlook in the Fortune 500 space is apparently to be released in a Java version by IBM. The abscence of this key application on our preferred platform was likely cited as a reason for walking away from OS/2, so a Java version usable on OS2/eCS would be great !
* A new CIFS/SMB Client (not a netdrive plugin) to allow eCS/OS2 to transparently access resources and files held both on (the formerly ubquitous) Windows servers and on the Linux and FreeBSD servers which have now won acceptance everywhere from SOHO to the Fortune 500

=Servers for Every Purpose=

IBM Warp Server for eBusiness (WSeB) was great, once, but has fallen far behind the pace and is unlikely to ever be substantially enhanced by IBM (it also costs a lot, for what you get). The modern open source server software for OS2/eCS included in the list below offers so much performance and value. . . perhaps we will one day be able to buy a commercially supported OS2/eCS ServerSuite from eCS resellers ? Until then, you can be up and running with some of the great free and commercial server software below !

* Web Servers, such as [http://silk.apana.org.au/apache/ Apache] for OS/2 (open source) the svelt and efficient [http://dink.org/web2/ Web/2] or the W3C [http://www.w3.org/Jigsaw/ Jigsaw] server (written in Java !)
* Application Servers, such as [http://os2ports.com/content/sections/zopeos2 Zope] (open source) & IBM [http://www.os2.cz/index.php?lang=en&v=view&nid=1300 WebSphere 4.01] (commercial).
* Database Servers, such as [http://www.quassarbbs.com/yuri/mysql2/index.html MySQL] and [http://venuto.monrif.net/ PostgreSQL] (free) or IBM [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/udb/ DB2] (commercial)
* File & Print Servers, such as [http://samba.org/ Samba] (free) or [http://www-3.ibm.com/software/os/warp/warp-server/ IBM WarpServer for eBusiness] (commercial)
* Directory Servers, such as [http://www.openldap.org/ OpenLDAP] (will this LDAP server be ported by [http://www4.airnet.ne.jp/tyano/ Takashi Yano] ?)
* Mail Servers, such as [http://www.zeryx.com/ ZxMail] (commercial) and [http://eepjm.newcastle.edu.au/os2/Weasel.html Weasel] (also very well regarded).
* Boot Servers, such as the [http://www.q-systemsonline.com/pxe_booting2.html Q-Systems] solution, able to boot diskless OS2/eCS PCs over a LAN
* FTP Servers, such as the superb [http://www.os2ezine.com/20010216/ftpserver.html FTPServer] by Peter Moylan (shareware).
* Standby Servers, such as [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/httP;//www,innotek.de/products/costandby/costandbygeneral_e.html CoStandby server for eBusiness] by Innotek (commercial).
* BackUp and Recovery Servers, such as [http://www.cds-inc.com/prod/ba2ksv.html# BackAgain/2000 Server] by CDS Inc. (commercial).
* Proxy Cache Servers, such as [http://www.os2.spb.ru/software/internet/squid/ Squid for OS/2] (open source)
* Domain Name Servers, such as [http://www.goldencode.com/atlos2/notes/dns/dns.html#obtaincode BIND 8] from the ISC (free). Is anybody porting [http://www.isc.org/products/BIND/bind9.html BIND 9] ?
* Multi-function Server suites, such as [http://www.inetpowerserver.com/ InetPowerServer] or [http://www.nititelecom.com/caravandownload.htm Caravan] for mail, web and ftp use
* DHCP Servers, such as that which ships with WSeB, or a port of something from the OSS world ?
* Transaction Servers, like IBM CICS for OS/2 (apparently IBM has withdrawn it from sale).

=Improved Multimedia Support=

* A fully licenced DVD movie player, with no crashing during playback & flawless audio-synch
* An elegant, up to date port from the Linux platform of [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/xine/ Xine for OS/2] currently a work in progress by Darwin O'Connor.
* A commercially supported [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla] based browser that integrates the Macromedia [http://www.innotek.de/products/flash/flashnews_e.html Flash 7 Player], Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 as a helper application and a [http://www.dvdfllc.co.jp/ DVD licence].
* Regular updates to the very useful [ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/system/drivers/sound/uniaudio_gpl_compiledbinaries2.zip Universal Audio Driver] for OS2/eCS (free GPL version).
* Ability to record DVDs - CDRecord [ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/cdrecord/ProDVD/ ProDVD] is now available for OS2/eCS (free)
* Complete replacement for MMOS/2 WPS classes ([http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes] by Chris Wohlgemuth)
* Create audio & data CDs in a snap using the power of the WPS ( [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/creator/creatormain.htm Audio/Data CD Creator] )
* Multimedia playback with support popular audio/video codecs ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/wv.php WarpVision] - Free).
* Better hardware accelerated video support ([http://os2.kiev.ua/en/overlay.php WarpOverlay!] project - from the Kiev Elephant)
* Improved MP3 media players (WarpAmp - Free, PM123 - Shareware).
* Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 playback ([http://math.berkeley.edu/%7Eroconnor/MMIOMP3/ Multimedia IOProcs] and the [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW Multimedia classes])
* Support for RealAudio & Video streams ( can Innotek get [http://www.real.com/ RealPlayer 10] running using its [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Odin] technology ? )
* Sound drivers that accomodate simultaneous audio under OS2/eCS and WinOS2
* Sound scheme editor ([ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/apps/mmedia/scheme/sound16.zip Sound Scheme Editor] - Free)
* A full-featured sound recorder/editor (such as the promising [http://home.clara.net/orac/os2.htm#dtape D-Tape project] from Paul Ratcliffe)
* New Audio-Video and Graphics Codecs - not yet another player (we have VERY good ones today)
* More and better plugins/helper applications for Mozilla/Netscape (i.e. for WAV, MPG, etc etc)

=System Utilities=

* A PM utility comparable to Norton SysInfo that every OS2/eCS user can admire ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-viewer?sh=1&fname=/pub/os2/util/system/sysinfo0820.zip Sysinfo/2 0.8.20] by Alexey Smirnov - Free)
* A utility that automatically mounts USB media, updates the list of the accessible devices and assigns the corresponding drive letter ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/cgi-bin/h-browse?sh=1&dir=//pub/os2/util/disk USBmountD]).
* User friendly PM application for editing your Config.sys ([http://www.tyra2.de/ Tyra/2]- Shareware)
* Another PM application for system maintenance ([http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool.htm Config Tool] by Goran Ivankovic - Free)
* A compendium of Config.sys information (Joerg Sievers' [http://www.warpsite.de/en/csdp/about.htm Config.Sys Documentation Project], ConfigTool [http://www.os2world.com/goran/cfgtool/cfgdat.htm database] by Klaus Staedtler)
* Association editor, like the utility of similar name ([http://www.os2ss.com/information/kelder/ AssoEdit] by Henk Kelder - Free)
* INI editor with repair function ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial, [ftp://ftp.pc.ibm.com/pub/pccbbs/os2_ews/iniedit.zip IniEdit] - Free EWS)
* Defrag program for all OS2/eCS supported file systems ([http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/util/disk/gulite20.zip Graham Utilities] - was Commercial)
* Uninstaller that monitors installations for perfect cleanup later ([http://www.filestar.com/pages/unimaint.html UniMaint] - Commercial)
* Better internet dialer applications ([http://www.fx.dk/injoy/ InJoy] - Shareware, [http://www.isdnpm.de/home.htm ISDNPM] - Shareware, [http://en.ecomstation.ru/dialer/ Dialer/2] - Free, [http://www.lgs.kiev.ua/products/sfppp.shtml SafeFire PPP/Links])
* A process killer that grabs Ctl-Alt-Del, REXX interface ([http://www.pcs-soft.com/productcc25.htm CAD Commander] - Commercial)
* Priority manager ([http://www.prioritymaster.com/ Priority Master] - Commercial)
* Work Place Shell (WPS) class manager ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* File Phoenix/2, an effective FAT and HPFS undelete tool ([http://archiv.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/systools/phenx135.zip/ Version 1.35] - Free EWS)
* GUI File Manager, with a tree view like that in Windows 3.1 (http://www.os2world.com/freeos2/file.html#ffreedom FileFreedom 2.02] - Freeware)
* Ability to open command line from WPS folders ([http://xworkplace.netlabs.org XWorkplace] - Free - GNU GPL)
* Better network utilities: traceroute, nbtstat, ping, etc included in eCS and IPA subscriptions.
* A really useful Character Map applet ([http://glass.os2.spb.ru/software/english/charmap.html Character Map/2] by Glassman - Free - GNU GPL)
* Benchmarks to test OS2/eCS performance on your own system ([http://warped.cswnet.com/Sysbench/ SysBench] - Free - Source code available)

=Just Browsing=

There are a number of good native PM and CLI web browsers available for OS2/eCS, some bulky, some slim, some older, some startlingly new. What I wish was on my own desktop right now is an "eComStation themed" browser based on the latest [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Mozilla] or [http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/%7Essk/kde/srcdoc/khtml/KHTMLPart.html KHTML] code (used by Apple's [http://www.apple/safari/ Safari-web] browser for OS X, by KDE in its Konqueror browser for Linux and in ABrowse for Atheos) - with integrated multimedia helper applications to smoothly handle PDF and Flash content. This sought-after browser would, ofcourse, provide by default bookmarks, including for the eCS updates site, OS2/eCS developer sites, news pages and free / commercial software provider sites. For the here and now (or yesterday if you prefer) try these six choices - all of them have their own strengths and weaknesses :

* For IBM Passport Advantage (IPA) subscribers there is the IBM Web Browser (commercial)
* For other OS2/eCS users (or those who want to use the latest versions) there are two other Mozilla based browsers; eg. [http://www.mozilla.org/ports/os2/ Warpzilla], and the browser-only version now known as [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/ Mozilla - Firefox].
* There is also the older but still widely used Netscape 4.61 for OS/2 web browser (Free)
* If you want something really different, you can even pay for [http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/index.dml?platform=os2 Opera] 5 for OS2/eCS - Commercial
* For nostalgic OS/2 users, there will always be IBM WebExplorer - it coulda been a contender - too bad IBM likely won't release the code either to the OS2/eCS community or else to Serenity Systems or an ISV such as Golden Code.

=User Interface Enhancements=

The WPS and PM "are OS2/eCS" to most users. To replace either of these two elements of the OS2/eCS platform is to lead users to choose a whole different OS, like Red Hat, MacOSX or FreeBSD. If OS2/eCS becomes "more like Windows" (as is happening with many Linux distributions) we would be losing one of the key advantages our favorite OS platform retains - its unmatched user interface. That advantage can be increased yet further - here are some ways :

* The OS2/eCS useability enhancements Rich Walsh has created in his DragText 3.8 product are just great. I wish they were integrated into eCS 1.x like Dialog Enhancer and eWorkplace. For the forseeable future, it seems likely to remain one of those must-have products, like oven mitts, aspirin and electric lighting.
* Include a tiny widget on the system bar allowing easy switching between different LAN configurations with a single click; eg toggling between "Work/Office" with a fixed IP and a proxy and "Home", with DHCP and no proxy etc. There is already Windows shareware that allows this available.
* Improved color scheme editor (ColourManager/2 originally by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* The ability to easily create a directory, by default, in any "file, save" option (even windoze has this often useful feature).
* Make Scitech SNAP the default video driver under OS2/eCS.
* Tabbed windows, like Mozilla's tabbed pages, but useable with any OS2/eCS application. The-Ion window manager for X servers uses this user interface idea.
* Give REXX scripts access to WPS objects (using XWorkplace or the very promising WPS Wizard).
* Replace the IBM Presentation Manager (PM) with an open source clean room re-implementation optimised for stability, not performance. This PM clone should not break tools or key applications.
* Christian Langanke has provided us with (Animated Mouse Pointers 1.01 for OS/2 - Free)
* Develop a plan to systematically replace every original WPS class with a better designed, more stable, functional equivalent (preferably to be released under dual commercial / BSD syle licences. Hmmm this seems, gradually, to be happening. . .)
* Transform OS2 titlebars, backgrounds, buttons etc (Styler/2 by Alessandro Cantatore - Shareware - variants are included in eCS 1.0 and 1.1)
* Transparent windows and folders (Candybarz by Netlabs)
* Allow small (32x32) icons in high resolutions (Dialog Enhancer by Richard Castle - Shareware)
* While eCS 1.2 now bundles the Snowstorm screensaver, those still using MCP or earlier releases of OS/2 may like to try Screensaver by Siegfried Hanisch or else take a look at Screen Saver by Jostein Ullestad - Shareware
* Add a Recycle Bin with options for managing deleted files & WPS objects (XWorkplace - Free, TrashCan 2.71 - Free)
* Logout, close apps, and restart of desktop - like Windows98 does (XWorkplace - Free)
* Dynamic resolution changing.
* Better, centralized configuration for display driver and other settings.
* A Shutdown folder and the option to reboot when shutting down (XWorkplace - Free)
* Improved selective install - change hardware or software, without having to do both.
* Option to have full path name in title of folders (XWorkplace - Free)
* Ability to readily locate all Shadows of an object and all Folder templates.
* Enhanced replacements for the venerable WarpCenter (XWorkplace - Free, Systray Widget for XCenter based on the original work of Dmitry Zaharov - Free)
* Determination of file type by header info (so Windows .HLP files open with WinHelp, and OS/2 and eComStation .HLP files open with NewView)
* A font manager to avoid absurdly long font selection lists (XWorkplace - Free, FontFolder - Shareware)

=Warp Legacy OS Sub-Systems - the Next Generation=

OS/2 has a long, proud history of supporting legacy software such as 16-bit DOS and Windows. Several teams have done amazing work to enhance DOS, the 32-bit DPMI DOS environment, Win16, GeOS and other legacy software environments for which OS2/eCS already contains built-in support. Yet relatively little of this work has so far been made available in a form usable by ordinary OS2/eCS end-users.

Many OS/2 users say "Let those who want it, pay for it". Removing MDOS and WinOS2 from the base OS2/eCS product and offering a seperate Legacy OS Sub-System CD to interested buyers, might be the fairest way to fund a very extensive refresh of DOS, DPMI and Win16 support. This CD would provide end users with a "single-click" installation of the original WinOS2 sub-system, plus an eCS-themed GUI (perhaps using the Calmira II technology) plus Win32s 1.25, plus-Paragon DOS or the newly released DR-DOS 8.0 (for their speed, ongoing development status and features eg. FAT32 drivers) plus all of the patches and fixes available for the OS2/eCS DPMI host (0.9x and 1.0) for 32-bit DOS apps.

* Eliminate 16-bit resource limits in WinOS2 and in DOS Virtual Machines a.k.a. "DVMs".
* Full 16 bit WAVE and MIDI support in DOS boxes and Win-OS/2.
* New look & feel for WinOS2 sessions (WPS for Windows - Free or Calmira II - Free or Paypal.
* Improve OS2/eCS DVM compatibility with DPMI games (vCOMPAT by Martin Kiewitz - Free)
* Installs of WinOS2 to include support for Win32s up to version 1.25 (Win32s compatibility list)
* REXX in DOS sessions (like IBM PC-DOS 2000 or Regina-REXX- Free)
* Provide VFAT long file name support for DOS and WinOS2 sessions.
* Display short versions of long filenames so that DOS & Windows can see them.
* Provide a "start" command in DOS sessions (4OS2 by JP Software - now free or "StartB" by Christian Langanke)
* Ability to run the many K-12 Educational applications from Breadbox.com, using the Industry Standard GUI version of GeOS running on OS2/eCS.
* Distribute the DPMI version of the Seal 2 graphical user interface for use with DOS VMs (free).

=Other Wishes for OS/2 and eComStation=

* Desktop Virtual LAN (DVL) - see top ten wishes above. The underlying technology is meant to be absolutely invisible to the end user. After booting, they would only see a regular eCS desktop come up, but when they click on the icon for, say, Microsoft Access 2000 that appears on their eCS 1.2 desktop, Access just launches as if the user was sitting at an ordinary WinXP machine. For this different approach to running unmodified Win32 applications (and unmodified Linux CLI apps) on OS2/eCS to have adequate "useability", then the virtualised machines running a copy of Windows 2000 and a copy of Linux would each have to be started up as soon as the PC was powered on. This idea is one possible use for the existing HOB XServer, VNC Server/Viewer and SVISTA technologies. I suggest that the "secret host" OS would be 64 bit NetBSD as it has significant respect and mindshare among developers, is under heavy development, has no licencing fees to pay and, unlike OS2/eCS, supports all modes offered by the AMD x86-64 platform; likely to displace the x86-32 platform within three years or so.
* Provide Firefox / Mozilla with any easy to use extra function eg. to convert PMMail *.msg files to Mozilla / Firefox format, perhaps using the PMM2MOZ program to "import" the *.msg files.
* Opera 7 - do you feel the need for speed ? A successful effort to port the Opera browser to OS/2 and eCS should result in a great product that adds credibility to OS2/eCS as an alternative on the x86 platform.
* In the interests of coherency and understanding, stop referring to DOS Virtual Machines "VDMs" (rename them as "DVMs" so acronym mirrors "JVM")
* The ability to host Linux, WinXP, other OS choices in a virtual machine under OS2/eCS - Serenity Systems is now working on SViSta (commercial)
* A rewrite of MPTS PROTMAN, which allows dynamic network driver (re)configuration (a necessity for properly utilizing TCP/BEUI in a DHCP environment).
* Examples of newly developed and maintained embeded systems that use OS2/eCS for mission critical applications, such as EMS telephony (Total Recall System by Chris Martinic - Commercial).
* Install a single variant of the REXX interpreter (Object REXX by IBM) as it is intolerant of flaky programming habits, compared to its less discerning sibling
* Ability to map "Windows Special" and other keys to useful functions (XWorkplace or eStylerLite in eCS 1.x; Win95Key - Free)
* A Chinese and other Language Homework Trainer package that runs on eComStation (free).
* Support for multiple monitors "Dual-Head" (SNAP Graphics by Scitech Software - Commercial)
* A native PM graphical configuration utility for the promising InetPowerServer suite
* Better support for Daylight Savings Time (eCS Clock in eCS 1.x; DSTswitch - Shareware)
* Provide an eComStation Pluggable Look And Feel (PLAF) for Sun Java applications, so that every application running on an eCS JVM will take on the appearance of a native PM application written for OS2/eCS.
* A heavily refreshed PM native VNC Viewer ( and ongong development of Eugene Romanenko's promising new PM VNC Server 1.02 for OS2/eCS )
* Implement eCS 2.x as series of tightly linked virtual PCs running on an SMP 64-bit OS-platform such as GNU Darwin, NetBSD or GNU Linux (with one VM capturing C-A-D for crash recovery)
* Make the OS2/eCS CD bootable for installation or maintenance (BootAble by Hayo Baan)
* An easy browser-based system for end-users to submit problem reports - see the eComStation.com web site for eCS Bug Reporting !!
* A better, and more intuitive, method of integrating OS2/eCS with MS Windows in peer networks.
* Enable the Shift-Printscreen key combo for windowed OS2/eCS sessions
* A "Network Browser" to quickly navigate around the network attached devices.
* A better file manager - perhaps based on the source code of FM/2.
* A "WebExplorer" style browser - with the Gecko engine, Java, Javascript and 128-bit encryption
* Leave the NumLock on if it's turned on at startup by the BIOS (XWorkplace - Free).
* Update bootable OS2/eCS or eComStation install CDs with fixes (UpdCD by Zsolt Kadar - Free)
* A utility to help clean-up of INI files, so that broken WPS links need not be stored forever (XWorkplace - Free).
* Enhanced APM 1.2 (power management) support (APM/2 utility)
* Start OS2/eCS applications from a DOS prompt: avoid swapping windows (Seamless OS/2 - free)
* Integrate fully working Watchcat or a supported functional equivalent such as CAD-Handler into eCS !
* Better Plug and Play adapter support, but not as "good" as Windows ME
* Further polishing of the already impressive OS installer - it is now becoming one of the best elements of the user experience !!

Ideas

2006-10-25T21:56:09Z

Davidme: There is also the wiki version of the The Warp Wishlist.

Note: This page is extremely unorganized like most of my todo-lists I do at home. Feel free to add your ideas here. We hopefuly organize that a bit better one day...

There is also the wiki version of the [[The Warp Wishlist]].

* eComStation is very nice in my opinion (ktk speaking here :-) but updating it is still a major pain in the ass. We need a easy and stupid proof way updating it. And *please* in a non-GUI version too!

==MultiMedia Improvements==

There seems to be two ways to achive Multimedia Improvements

===Enhancing the native MMOS2 Infrastructure===

There should be goals like:
* Complete Open Source Replacement of all the MMOS2 files
* Create a Bundle package of all Open souce CODECs
* Re-energize the [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/mmos2/ OS2 Multimedia Infrastructure Project]
* Write an IO Storage procedure for proper streaming support, so the CWMM classes could handle more than just Icecast streams (the current one fails because it doesn't get the expected header which prepends the stream)
* Add Storage IOProc support to Format IOProcedures which doesnt' supports them (like JPEG I/O, PNG I/O, MP3 I/O, OGG I/O, Vorbis I/O, etc.). ??? Every format I/O proc supports storage I/O procs out of the box. Otherwise you couldn't use them because the access to the filesystem is implemented using a sorage I/O proc. Strictly spoken the format I/O proc isn't aware of storage. MMOS2 handles the stuff. !!! Not every FIOProc uses SIOProc. Above IOProcs uses direct file access instead of SIOProc. FIOProc MUST be written with SIOProc support in mind.

The projects that can be integrated are:
* [http://www.reamined.on.ca/doconnor/timidity.html TiMidity MCD for OS/2] (midi)
* [http://r6.ca/MMAudioPak/ MMAudio Pak 2 for OS/2] (MP3, Vorbis, FLAC)
* [http://www.os2world.com/cdwriting/mmclasses/mmclassesmain.htm CW-Multimedia classes] ''(Prokushev) Unfortunately, CWMM Classes are not open source. As result, can't be extended. Another problem is no IDL files for CWMM Classes or MMOS/2 Classes. As result, classes can't be extended. Only solution is restore IDL files from IR or using class information from MMPARTS.DLLs. Or ask Chris to open source his classes or, at least, to publish IDL files''
* Quickmotion (Quickmotion's Tom Harding told there there could be a change to open source it if we find an developer for it

Check also the [[MMOS2 Related Projects]]

===Enhancing NON MMOS2 related Multimedia (like WarpVision) ===

This seems something that Vladest might tackle with WarpVision: [http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ VLC media player]

==UnixOS2==
There is a ports-like system for UnixOS2 in the works at the moment but I'm not really happy with that one and I doubt that we will be enough people for maintaining all that stuff ourself (dependencies and so on...).

When I use Linux I often work on Gentoo, which has really the best source-based ports system I've ever seen (and I know BSD too so it's not the only ports-system I know ;).

At the moment the ports system is quite Linux oriented but at the moment there is a complete rewrite of the portage-system in progress. They call it [http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/portage/portage-ng/systemspec.xml portage-ng]. One of the targets is cross-platform support for stuff like BSD or MacOS so I really vote for OS/2 support as well :). It's too early at the moment to really have a look at it but we should definitely do that as soon as possible.

The discussion about portage-ng is [http://news.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.portage.devel here]

Update September 04: I talked to the guys who work on portage-ng. It looks like portage-ng is not really dead but at least progressing very slowly. Meanwhile, a group of MacOS X users created a [http://www.metadistribution.org/macos/ portage for MacOS X] so it looks like it does work on BSD-like systems too. So that changes the todo list a bit:

TODO:
* set up a basic package with latest GCC and Innotek LIBC. The basic package contains all tools and libraries needed to compile Python with Innotek LIBC.
* as soon as Python compiles we need to wrap together <tt>emerge</tt> on OS/2. This might get a bit tricky because it also heavily relies on shell scripts. So whatever shell we gonna use, it must be as close as possible to bash (if not bash anyway, it looks like the stuff is not that portable to other shells).
* once we get portage to work properly we need to create ebuilds for the basic libraries. At the first stage there is no rsync server needed to do this but it will definitely get handy sooner or later (shouldn't be a problem but needs to be set up).
* implement more and more ebuilds for all kind of packages
* and in a later stage create a bootstrap-package that also compiles GCC and all other tools (that won't be an easy task :)

==PM==
We need to port some toolkits or finish the current ports:
* qt - more soon, looks good
* GTK2: Samm proposed to work on it, will give an estimate of time soon
* wxWindows: Port quite up to date but the PM parts in it are definitely not yet done or very buggy -> fix (probably dmik)
* SWT: will be done when Eclipse is done -> dmik
* An Everblue-based X11 server might be interesting(?) as a replacement for HOBlink which seems to get increasingly outdated; at least I'm seeing more and more crashes in newer programs...

Also, it would be nice to have updated public PM controls. This should be done with one DLL subclassing these public controls, and extending and/or fixing their behaviour. Things to fix/implement should be:
* Remove 64K limits in some of the controls
* Create extended MLE control (understanding HTML tags maybe?)
* Automatically drop-down list of combobox, when clicked (like DragText does)

==[http://www.edm2.com/index.php/SOM WPS] (Workplace Shell)==
* replace background image dialog, it should be possible to point that to another directory than \os2\bitmap
Note: This is already possible and a lot of software to make things like
slideshows out of it exists also. - lp

* replace the file dialog, Gnome 2.6 does that '''very''' nicely (screenshot will follow).
* replace the Icon rendering, should be able to handle stuff like PNG as well and in best case also SVG
Note: Don't think we must replace Icon rendering. But adding MMPM IO procs for PNG and SVG is good idea.

Note: most probably PNG IOProc will be included in next eCS version -prokushev

Note: File dialog is not a WPS issue. But it can be implemented via WPS class. I consider it is good idea to move to object world. - prokushev.
Can you describe that a bit with more details prokushev? - ktk

Yes. File dialog placed in PMCTLS.DLL. We can do such trick:

# move PMCTLS.DLL to PMOLDCTL.DLL
# write new PMCTLS.DLL with forwarders to PMOLDCTL.DLL
# In WinFileDlg (new PMCTLS.DLL) we must check, is WPS exist? If exist, then just create WPS object (with name like WPOpenFileFolder or something like this) and monitor it (wait result from it). As result our open file object can be replaced and/or extended by standard SOM features. If no WPS exists then call or old WinFileDlg or our own implementation of open file dialog (for systems without WPS)

WPOpenFileFolder is subclass of WPFolder with changed reaction on open objects in it. If object is folder then go deep. If object then close WPOpenFileFolder and notify our new WinFileDlg. Comment: You can't do that with a WPFolder subclass because it expects every inserted object to be an existing object. So you will end with copies of each object. You have to create something different or override *a lot of methods* in your WPFolder subclass to get this done properly. And a lot of probably means every method introduced by WPFolder.

(Cornelis): One more problem with that method: An application can call WinFileDlg providing an own dialog resource and handling the dialog messages in its own way! I cannot see how this case could be handled with the WPS method. The only "solution" I can imagine at the moment: Also check for custom resources or custom dialog function and if they exist, do not call the WPS file dialog. I don't know how many applications use these features - but I am afraid that quite a lot do it...(!??)

Something like this.

And yes, it can be part of XWP.

BTW, how about move Doodle Screen Saver to XWP? ;)

BTW 2 : Why dont add also LSwitcher to XWP ?

Cinc: I oppose the idea to add every single utility in the world to XWP. Maintaining the XWP code is difficult enough right now because of complexitiy. Adding Utilities to XWP means they are not available for people not using XWP (for whatever reason).

=== What about Backup / Restore / Portability of WPS objects !?? ===

(Cornelis): One serious disadvantage of the WPS gets even worse with all new and derived classes: There is no way to save the WPS with its "objects" in an open format in order to port them to another system or to a new installation! I know there are programs like Open Desktop and other WPS backup and restore tools, but they all only work with a set of "normal" objects, like folder objects, program objects etc., ask their properties and store them somehow. But neither would these tools find any newly defined objects (like already the "Workframe" objects of VAC/C++ 3.0), nor would they save any extended features (like the content of the "Environment" settings page of XWP extended "program objects").

This is a conceptual problem, because in an "object oriented world" any saving/restoring program should not have to know anything about the properties of the WPS objects, but just have to call a standard function that has to be defined for each and every object: "getAllProperties" or such. And then restore it with the corresponding "setAllProperties" call. While all derived classes would have to implement versions of these functions.

Without knowing any internal details of the WPS I assume that such functions do not exist, so their introduction would not be easy. Would it be possible at all? Did anybody ever think about such an issue?

Cinc: No there isn't such a function. Nevertheless it's possible to emulate it by overriding wpSave*() methods in one base class and telling the class to save the internal variables by calling wpSaveImmediately(). In the wpSave*() override you can catch the information. Restoring the data on recreation is more difficult, though, but there may be a similar way.

djmutex: XWorkplace has a framework in place to allow for retrieving the complete setup string for each object, and I also started implementing a recursive function that will walk thru folders and collect object data to create a REXX script that will recreate these objects somewhere. However, the code isn't quite finished. Check fdrCreateObjectScript in src/filesys/object.c, which has roughly working code. This needs some polishing and bugfixing only, which I no longer have time to do.

===Desktop Search Engine===
I recently found a nice application on MacOS X which provides some form of desktop search engine. You can index all kind of documents and then you can easily search for it on the desktop. The cool thing is that it is plugin based so everyone can write an extension for new document types or something alike.

A friend of mine does something like that in Java right now and as search engine core he is using [http://lucene.apache.org/ Lucene].

Cris: I'd love to have something like this on OS/2 too. On hobbes I have found a recent port of Swish-e (http://swish-e.org/). If I understand it correctly, this is exactly what we want. We have to create a user interface, and add a couple filters to exploit OS/2's features (e.g. extended attributes).
I have been dreaming about this for a while, but never had time to start working on it.

==Porting Windows 32 Applications with ODIN Tutorial==
It would be nice if there is a tutorial on how to use odin to port open source win32 apps to OS/2.

==Drivers Development Skeleton==

A skeleton driver that can be used for writing drivers. More importantly, a hands on/hand holding tutorial for writing drivers. Writing drivers is a daunting project, but is necessary for OS/2 to survive in the long run.

==USB Drivers==
[[USB_Todo%27s]]

==External list==
* [http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2Wishlist.html The Warp Wishlist] maintained by [[Kris Lake]].

==Open Source OS/2 Strategy and Follow up of Open Components==

An strategy with the final goal to have OS/2 open sourced. 
More than a development project it had to be an integration project of open source software for OS/2, like an information site to follow up all the open source replacement for OS/2 closed components. On this site we will list the open source project available for OS/2 and the closed component that is replacement.
 
Ex: 
* Newview.exe -> replaces View.exe -> License GNU GPL
* XWorkplace
* HandyFTP
* Doodles Screen Saver
* lSwitcher
* etc, etc

Plan to make replacement for:
* command line programs like "xcopy.exe, attrib.exe, etc" (some tools already exists as part oof osFree project)
* Enhanced and replacements of CMD commands (some tools already exists as part of osFree project)
* Replace of some closed DLLs (some DLLs already exists as part of osFree project)
=== Open Source OS/2 Distribution ===

Build a OS/2 distribution with open source replacements on it. Of course that many people says it is too hard, but we need to start with something. It can start creating an OS/2 distribution that is focused in Open Source components, and bundle on it, dssaver,xworplace,lswitcher, xfree, emx, warpin, usbres, etc. (bitmaps, icons and drivers too)

To don't start it as a too complex project it can be something similar to the UpdCD project, that requires license of Warp 4.52 or eCS to build an updated image. 
We can ask help from UpdCD project to create an install image (that will require the OS/2 CD) that contains open source software on it replacing the closed components. And keep evolving this project and replacing components until in some years it can work without licensing OS/2 from IBM.

One may think about an open source distribution you simply install over an existing installed system

=== osFree project ===

I want to remember to all about existing of osFree project (site at [http://www.osfree.org]). At the present time it is collection of open-source replacement of closed OS/2 components. It includes:

* Customized 4OS2 as cmd.exe replacement (mostly integration to common build system and moving 'not must have' commands to stand-alone executibles)

Remark (Cornelis): But 4OS2 is not Open Source!?? It's Freeware AFAIK!(?) Otherwise: Why not consider the 32-bit Command Line, together with the "OS/2 command line utilities" by Jonathan de Boyne Pollard [http://homepages.tesco.net/~J.deBoynePollard/Softwares/] ? These aren't Open Source either (also Freeware), but very solid and mainly focused on extending the CMD.EXE functionality and make it fully 32-bit. Extensions are the tools. (Why 32 bit? Well, I use it together with make, which "feeds" the command line interpreter sometimes with commands of several thousand charecters - much more than CMD.EXE would ever digest!) Furthermore: 4OS2 is just "set free abandonware", while there is still a person behind the 32-bit Command Line Interpreter...

Remark (LightElf): 4OS2 IS Open Source (GPL as far as I remember). Now it hosted at Scitech.

(Cornelis:) This is what I find at Scitech: [ftp://www.scitechsoft.com/devel/4os2/4os2304f.zip] But that contains just binaries! This is not to contradict you; I only didn't ever hear about an Open Sourced 4OS2, and still I cannot find it where you say it is!? But please correct me! For the rest: Open Source or not - I would still point out to not forget the "32 bit command line interpreter"! (Maybe the status could even change if there is a good point being made by the right person at the right time??)

(Prokushev): 32-bit comandline interpreter depends on 32-bit vio/kbd API. If no 32-bit API then no 32-bit CMD ;) If vio/kbd will be implemented then just recompilation of 16-bit CMD.EXE will move CMD.EXE to 32bit world ;) Nothing hard here.

(Cornelis): The "32-bit commandline interpreter" and the "OS/2 commandline utilities" are '''existing''' freeware products, running on '''existing''' OS/2 or eCS systems, so it's even easier! The only "problem": it's freeware, not open source.

(Prokushev): And "32-bit commandline interpreter" is actually just uses CONAPI which just wrapper around old 16-bit API. Don't see any differents with stnadard 16-bit CMD.

(Cornelis): There are '''a lot''' of advantages! Please go and '''LOOK AT IT''' and '''READ THE DESCRIPTIONS''' before you make your statements! [http://homepages.tesco.net/~J.deBoynePollard/Softwares/cmd.html] Actually besides all advantages for the user (like no more limitations in command line length etc., while maintaining the most possible compatibility with CMD.EXE) it indeeds is NOT a wrapper around the old 16-bit API, but it uses the "32-bit Unicode Console API" [http://homepages.tesco.net/~J.deBoynePollard/Softwares/conapi.html] which replaces completely the old 16-bit API functions you mention.

(Prokushev): "32-bit Unicode Console API" is wrapper around old 16-bit API. It closed source. 32-bit CMD is also closed source. And uses 16-bit wrapper. Actually, CONAPI.DLL uses CON3216.DLL which IS wrapper.

(Cornelis): For me this "discussion" is getting a bit irrational now: I never intended to engage in such a stupid "faith war" for a piece of software!

But ok, if it's so important: Several levels "further down" from the 32-bit command interpreter you do indeed still hit 16-bit functions. But what's the problem with that? As long as there are 16-bit drivers this will always be the case! The important points for me are:

1. The 32-bit CMD offers a full 32-bit interface for programmers, which is designed after a later abandoned 32-bit interface by IBM. So if any programmer would use that interface, all options are open to later replace the 16-bit code two levels "further down" later on, no changes being necessary to the software.

2. The user doesn't suffer from any old size limits any more either, like a limited command line length.

3. The command syntax is very closely compatible with the CMD.EXE syntax, and where it is changed in order to make it more consistent, these extensions can be optionally turned off.

For these three reasons the 32-bit command interpreter is more future oriented than a thing like 4OS2: That one has nice extras, but is much less compatible with CMD.EXE, which generates problems in certain cases. A high degree of compatibility even in details has many advantages, because software developers or script writers etc. can rely on a specific surrounding. Keep in mind all the troubles we have already with the two REXX "flavors" on current OS/2 systems: A developer can NOT rely on an existing "classic REXX" or "Object REXX" surrounding! This would be the same with 4OS2 becoming part of a "new OS/2 standard".

Concerning the source license: 32-bit command interpreter is freeware, not open source. 4OS2 was claimed to be open source above, but nobody could until now give us an URL of the sourcecode, so this looks at least dubious: It seems that 4OS2 is also just "freeware", not open ource.
Cinc: as LightElf already pointed out 4OS2 is open source. There're even different versions floating around made by people who grabbed the source and fixed some bugs. No I don't have the URL handy. Google should help there.

And only for that reason I asked to consider also the 32-bit command interpreter, besides of course also 4OS2.

(Cristiano): 4OS2 definitely '''IS''' open-source. If you search on hobbes, you'll even find two different and somewhat incompatible code branches. One is the "official" Scitech branch, the other is a branch made by some private individual, starting from the original JPSoft source code (i.e. not building on Scitech code). If you want to know better, ask Michal Necasek (SP?) of Scitech. He'll tell you what's the current state of 4OS2 code, where you can get the source, and more.

* ReginaREXX as REXX replacemend (still missed 16-bit wrappers). Subject to change to Open Object REXX.
* Replacement of many command-line tools (like attrib, ansi, chkdsk, etc.). Mostly without error handling.
* THE as TEDIT replacement
* Some forwarder DLL's (like VIOCALLS, MOUCALLS, etc.)
* FreePM sources (because FREPM seems to be discontinued)
* other things.

CVS controlled by ktk, so anyone free to contact with him to have access. osFree site can be used for above things. To do it just contact me (prokushev here).
But another general thing is it's time to make one general open-source components repository with common build environment with general goal to create open-source OS/2.
And, again, osFree can be good place for it. osFree not limit in languages (except common build environment). C, C++, Fortran & Pascal currently in use. Perl is coming (REXX compatible API for Perl, if possible, is planned).

Really, main goal of osFree subsection is to point above project already exists.

Insted of talking HOW OS/2 must be open-sourced (from the kernel to WPS or from WPS to the kernel) I propose (prokushev here) just start collect already existent things. Thing happen if try to do them.

=== Kernel Free (OS/2 Kernel with License GPL) ===

To release to the kernel of the system on the part of IBM and other companies.

Cinc: why GPL?

BTW using a GPL kernel wont allow to create *any* closed source software because you're not allowed to link it to GPL code dynamically. So much for the GPL hype...

==WarpModem==

The general idea will be to make a commun interphase (like Windows 95) for analog modems on your OS/2 system called "Warp Modem". Programs that uses the modem will had comunicate to "Warp Modem" to get the configuration of the modem and it status. This will be useful for OS/2 user, because he will not configure the modem on each OS/2 application that uses the modem.
 
What will be good is to have a "Modems" icons inside the OS/2 System Setup folder.

http://www.os2world.com/pictures/articles/SystemSetup.jpg

This program will show us the modems that are configured on our system. If the systems has two ore more modems it will shows us all modems that we had configure.

To make this configuration we can start using the Doug Bissett's modem configuration list (http://www.os2warp.be/modems/modem.lst)

On this menu we can see the "Add...", "Properties...", "Delete..." and "Test..."

http://www.os2world.com/pictures/articles/Warp%20Modem%20GUI.jpg

Add button will show us the instruccions to add a new modem

http://www.os2world.com/pictures/articles/Modem%20Config.jpg

(picture taken from ATT Dialer)

The "Test..." button will be a tool to test it is working. A good idea is the one from ATT dialer too.
http://www.os2world.com/pictures/articles/Modem%20Tester.jpg

(picture taken also from Att Dialer)

"Properties..." will show us something similar to the "Add" window to change the modem configuration.

I think "ADD" should support "Installing" the modem using the windows "drivers" i.e. the inf-files which contain the AT seq. used for certain operations which an application can then query or call via an published API.

"Remove..." will ask us for confimartion to delete that modem

And the app should seperate the physical modem from multiple configurations one could have.
i.E. a Modem has a max speed of 36.000 baud but I should be able to create a fax configuration with would setup the modem to lets say 14.400 etc.

Other tools

So, what kind of software will be good to integrate with Warp modem ?

All programs that used a analog modem can take advante of this. Developers of Phone dialers, Fax, Internet Dialers, Voice Phone, RAS, BBS software..etc..etc..

http://www.os2world.com/pictures/articles/Modem%20Selector.jpg

Documentation

This project will need a good documentation so developers that wants to uses the OS/2 Warp Modem configuration can access it easily for their phone/fax/modem applications.

Wish list

# Open Source Project / free license GNU GPL.
# C++ or Java development.

This is just a development idea, there is nothing coded on this direction. The pictures in some cases are just fake to explain the posibilities of this project.

== Port of coLinux ==

I would like to see the 'Session' capabilities of OS/2 expanded upon. While a port of coLinux ( http://www.colinux.org/ ) wouldn't be a true session, this could be a step toward this goal. Especially if an IFS driver could be written to allow the disk image to be mounted.

== Netlabs runtime distribution ==

Create a set of runtime libraries filling the voids of OS/2. For example including an additional Rexx utility DLL with much needed functions, a set of standard window classes for use in programs (see also PM and open source distribution above). The following classes should be easily implementable (Cinc: I've got already some code for them):

* Progress bar
* Separator
* URL control (control which shows a URL and starts the browser on click)
* ...

Everything should be extremly hassle free to install. So in the end every user has it on the system and developers can be sure to find that. If not they may just write in the readme: "Prerequisite: Netlabs runtime Distribution".

It's not necessary every developer reinvents the wheel again and again. A good starting point is the WPS toolkit IMHO: http://wpstk.netlabs.org/
(don't be fooled by the term WPS in the name, it contains also general purpose functions). The following general purpose functions should be added to WPSTK:

* Query function to get the common OS/2 directories (e.g. ?:\OS2\DLL)
* Function to get the users home directory
* General purpose about box using a predefined look
* Function to start the default OS/2 browser
* ...

There is also quite a lot of helper stuff in xwphelpers from XWorkplace. At the moment it's quite difficult to use them because you have to compile it in your own application so probably we should use parts of it and put it into WPSToolkit as well. We would have to check the licensing issues however because xwphelpers are GPLed and WPSToolkit will most probably be based on BSD or MPL or something alike (more liberal than GPL).
If xwphelpers are using GPL (and not LGPL) they are useless for this project anyway. Nobody will (and should) use a GPLed library.

There should be some general libraries in there as well like:
* libxml
* rexxml (REXX interfaces for libxml)
* libpng (proposal by nickk IIRC)

(prokushev:) Don't think libpng is a required lib. PNG support planned to be included in next eCS version. Native solution is better in comparation of ported tools.
Cinc: this library is meant for porting stuff to OS/2 and it's available *now*.
prokushev: pngioproc available *now*.

We should add some functions extending PM/GPI to deal with unicode/locales. For example a unicode/locale/whatever aware WinDrawText() function. Maybe we even should patch WinDrawText() and friends to be unicode aware by default.

==New PM Controls==

PM lacks a number of controls which are common to the other platform and GUI toolkits.

A few examples are:
* toolbars
* status bars
* enhanced MLE (huge texts, syntax highlighting, multiple fonts/colors, etc.)
* ...

Every developer that has to face with the necessity of creating and using such controls reinvents the wheel.

We have multiple, often open source, implementations of these controls, but every implementation is in the form of source code that needs to be integrated in your application, or in some proprietary (e.g. VX-Rexx) format.

A really good project IMHO would be to scan the available implementations, take the code of choice (how to choose? a poll?) and implement a standard PM custom control to be distributed in a DLL. An even better choice would be to group all the new controls in a single DLL to be distributed as a new system DLL (-> with eComStation 2?)

I am starting here with a few helpful resources:
* toolbars ([http://es.os2.ru/cell.html Cell Toolkit] - [http://hobbes.nmsu.edu/pub/os2/dev/pascal/celltpas.zip Pascal interface to cell toolkit])
* status bars (same as above?)
* enhanced MLE
** there is the EMLE of EPM
** a (not complete) rich text control is included in the source code of XWP
** [http://scintilla.sourceforge.net/index.html Scintilla] (needs to be ported)
* ...

Yes, we have a few native toolkits ([http://dwindows.netlabs.org/ e.g. Dynamic Windows]) and a few ported toolkits (e.g. QT3, [http://www.wxwindows.org/ wxWidgets]) that include these types of controls and more.

These toolkits are great resources for developers, but I feel there are a few problems for more general use:
* there are a few controls that are by now considered standard, and that should be included in the OS rather than in a huge do-it-all toolkit
* if not included in the OS, these controls should at least be available through a small, easily available, stable runtime library, instead of the huge rtls of some of these toolkits, which are subject to frequent updates
* these tooklits are often too much oriented to a single language (especially C++)
* they are often overkill if you just need a toolbar or a split window

Moreover, if the base OS included an updated library of controls (well integrated, well debugged ans stable) the ported tookits could build upon the native controls instead of reimplementing them.