NikiWiki - User contributions [en]

Ideas

2007-03-17T00:30:36Z

StevenHL:

[[Category:Ideas]]
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.

==Documentation==

Create os/2 executables project as companion to config.sys documentation project. The goal would be to at least know the purpose of every installed executable and dll.

Compiling XWP

2006-12-09T20:42:57Z

StevenHL:

''Please note that this is not the "official" how-to, but just a collection of suggestions an tips harvested from progref.inf file included in the XWP's sources, from [http://www.xworkplace.org/cvs.html Ulrich's page] about setting up CVS and from the XWP mailing lists. The "official" how-to remains the progref.inf file included in the XWP's sources.''

----

== Getting sources from CVS ==

To compile XWP you need to retrieve both the XWP Sources and XWP Helpers from the Netlabs' CVS server.

Supposing that you already have a [http://www.xworkplace.org/cvs.html working CVS setup], do this:

1) Create the CVS root folder (e.g. x:\CVS) and then do:

SET CVSROOT=:pserver:guest@www.netlabs.org:/netlabs.cvs/xworkplace

This is the location of the XWP Sources repository at Netlabs.

2) Create a subdirectory in your CVS root directory named "xworkplace" (e.g. x:\cvs\xworkplace), change to this subdirectory.

3) If this is first time you have used the XWP Sources respository, you need to log in. Do:

SET USER=guest
CVS login

and enter "readonly" when you are prompted for password. Cvs remembers your login information in %HOME%\.cvspass, so you only need to login if this information is not already recorded for this repository.

4) Do:

cvs checkout -r '''branch-1-0''' .

Don't forget the last dot! This command will retrieve the most recent XWP sources from the CVS repository for the XWP 1.x branch into the current subdirectory. Cvs calls subdirectory tree and its contents a ''sandbox''. More on branches and tags below.

Now you need to retrieve the XWP helpers:

1) First, do:

SET CVSROOT=:pserver:guest@www.netlabs.org:/netlabs.cvs/xwphelpers

This is the location of the XWP Helpers repository.

2) Create a subdirectory in your CVS root directory named "xwphelpers" (e.g. x:\cvs\xwphelpers), change to this subdirectory.

3) If this is first time you have used the XWP Sources respository, you need to log in. Do:

SET USER=guest
CVS login

and enter "readonly" when you are prompted for password. Cvs remembers your login information in %HOME%\.cvspass, so you only need to login if this information is not already recorded.

4) Do:

cvs checkout -r '''branch-1-0''' .

You have now downloaded all the files you need to compile the latest XWP branch stuff.

===Branch, trunk, tags...===

As you sooner or later will like to play with the trunk, or compile a specific XWP version, maybe because you are working on translating it, a good idea is to maintain different ''sandboxes'' for each version you are working with. This will save you time. A good directory organization could be:

* Your CVS root folder
** XWP Sources branch
** XWP Sources trunk
** XWP Helpers branch
** XWP Helpers trunk

If disk space is a problem, you can use a single set of sandboxes and switch the sandbox content as needed. More on this below.

To checkout the '''trunk''', checkout with no tag using:

cvs checkout .

in both the XWP Sources and the XWP Helpers sandbox directories.

To checkout the '''1.0 branch''', use the "branch-1-0" tag:

cvs checkout -r branch-1-0 .

in the XWP sources and the XWP helpers sandbox directories.

To checkout '''version 1.0.6''' (the latest released version):

cvs checkout -r pr_0004_1-0-6

in the XWP sources directory and

cvs checkout -r pr_0015_xwp1-0-6

in the XWP helpers directory.

Once you have done an initial checkout from CVS, you can use the ''cvs status -v filename'' command to determine which tags exist. For example, run:

cvs status -v -l makefile

from the x:\cvs\xworkplace directory to see the existing tags for the XWorkplace package. This works because the developers always tag makefile for every release even if this file has not changed.

All the above samples are for an intiial checkout from the CVS server. This means that you are downloading from CVS into an empty directory.

Once you have done an initial checkout of a branch or the trunk, you usually want to use the "update" command to download files modified by others instead of the "checkout" command. The update command is faster than the checkout command because it generally does a lot less work. Run the command:

cvs upd

in each subdirectory to be updated. It is safe to use this command even if you have changes in progress. Cvs will not overwrite your uncommited changes.

When working with an existing sandbox, there's no need to set CVSROOT or USER. Cvs records this data in control files within the sandbox.

You can switch the content of an existing sandbox to a different release or branch.
To switch your sandbox directories to the 1.0.6 release, the commands would be:

cvs upd -A -r pr_0004_1-0-6

in the XWP sources directory and

cvs upd -A -r pr_0015_xwp1-0-6

in the XWP helpers directory.

Tags can be confusing to those new to CVS. There are revision tags and branch tags. They often look the same, but they do not work the same. A revision tag refers to a specific file. A branch tag refers to the newest file on the branch. XWP releases are tagged with revision tags.

If you checkout using a revision tag, you can not commit changes. If you checkout using a branch tag, you can commit changes, if you have permission to do commits. The trunk is effectively an unnamed branch. The XWP naming convention is that branch tags always contain the word branch in the tag name. If you are not sure if a tag is a branch tag or a revision tag, use the cvs status command.

== Compiling the beast ==

* IBM VisualAge C++ 3.0 with fixpak 8 is recommended (and it is also the only environment currently supported.
* OS/2 Developer's Toolkit for all the SOM header files and the SOM compiler: the ones included in eCS 1.2 CD #2 seems good. If you are using some other Toolkit, be sure to backlevel emitc.dll to the OS/2 Warp 4.0 Toolkit version.

Now, you have on your computer all what is needed to compile XWP.

1) first of all, adjust x:\CVS\xworkplace\config.in to your needs;
2) then, from x:\CVS\xworkplace\ run

nmake dep

If you have never built XWorkplace before, "nmake dep" will give you lots of warnings that headers could not be found. This is normal.

3) After that, run either "nmake all" or "nmake really_all". "nmake all" will only rebuild XFLDR.DLL, XWPDAEMN.EXE and XWPHOOK.DLL while "nmake really_all" will produce the full set of XWorkplace executables plus the NLS files.

You have good chance to get an error like:

E:\netlabs_CVS\xworkplace\bin\modules\xwphook.dll => E:\programs\xworkplace\binxwphook.dll
SYS0032: Process can't access file...

This means that you have XWorkplace running and you have to UNLOCK the files first if you are copying over your running files. Put XWP_UNLOCK_MODULES = YES in CONFIG.IN. It's down near the bottom. The Unlock utility from the LxLite package is required.

==Notes for contributors==

If you modify something in the source and you want to send the developer the diffs, you can easily create them with CVS with the following command:

cvs -z3 diff -u >description_of_changes.diff

from the root of the sandbox is my preference. gnupatch will accept these
without issues. Attach the .diff file in an email and send it to Paul Ratcliffe, the code maintainer.

You should ideally do this for both the branch and the trunk, but currently Paul will take only branch diffs. Often they will be the same anyway.

You need to remember to do the diffs for the XWP Helpers as well if you modify something there.

===Notes for translators===

As a sample for people interested in translating XWP to their own language, here is explained how the Italian translation of XWP is maintained.
The following is the folder structure I use:

\Netlabs_CVS
\Netlabs_CVS\xwphelpers
\Netlabs_CVS\xworkplace_branch
\Netlabs_CVS\xworkplace_105
\Netlabs_CVS\xworkplace_106

(I don't need different "sandboxes" of xwphelpers repositories). I routinely update the branch. When version xyz of XWP is released, I copy the \xworkplace_branch directory as \xworkplace_xyz, then do:

cd \xwp_work
set R=:pserver:guest@www.netlabs.org:/netlabs.cvs/xworkplace
cvs -d %R% checkout -r pr_0002-1-0-4 .
cd 039
cvs update -A -r branch-1-0

This way I check out XWP sources using the release tag while keeping the Italian NLS subdirectory tree at branch level.

I then compare (with ddiff and gfc) \xworkplace_xyz\001 directory with the content of \xworkplace_branch\001, and update \xworkplace_xyz\039 as needed. Once everything has been updated and tested, I commit my changes with

cvs commit

from \xworkplace_xyz\039 directory and then, from the same directory, create a release tag for the Italian NLS subdirectory tree:

cvs tag ggamba_0002-1-0-6

If I need to make some additional updates, this tag allows me to recreate the sandbox.

Finally, after editing the config.in file in the appropriate way, I compile the translated resource with the command:

nmake nls

In addition, "nmake wpi_nls" will create the archive in the release directory.

===Checkouts for translators (SHL version) ===

Since you can not commit changes if you have checked out a release, translators need to do a bit of extra work to set up their sandboxes. They need to checkout the branch and then backout any changes that were made since the version was released.

To does this for the '''1.0.6 release''', use:

cvs checkout -r branch-1-0 .
cvs update -j pr_0004_1-0-6

in the XWP sources directory and

cvs checkout -r branch-1-0 .
cvs update -j pr_0015_xwp1-0-6

in the XWP helpers directory.

Mr2ice

2005-07-08T16:28:51Z

StevenHL: /* MR/2 ICE */

= MR/2 ICE =

[http://68.9.35.104:8080/ MR/2 ICE] is a full featured OS/2 native mail and news client.

== Installation and Upgrading ==

== User Profiles ==

== Filters ==

== Watch/Kills ==

== Command Line Switches ==

== User Exit Scripts (msgutil.cmd newsutil.cmd) ==

== Resources ==

Odin

2005-07-05T19:17:20Z

StevenHL: /* Real Player */

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

Great idea, but let's wonder what such a manual would cover?
Installation, some issues like INI ODIN files (system.ini and win.ini iirc), installation problems?
I admit I use ODIN just to view some video files with WVgui, so I'm not really up-to-date with ODIN's world. I used some Win32 applications with it and they worked really great - so well that I added them to the app database.

So, what an ODIN manual should explain? I could contribute to it, provided some spare time :-)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser crashes at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashes after connect.
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more trouble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 crashes after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]
Programs with sound (e.g. RealPlayer 8) does not play via soundcard.

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new postings, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Building Odin =

If you want to build Odin, you want to read [[BuildingOdin]].

= Windows Application Notes =

This section contains hints and tips on running apps under Odin.

== Real Player ==

=== Downloading the binary ===

=== Install tips ===

=== Settings tips ===

After installing Real Player, open up the setting dialog and turn off the following features

* TBD

=== Common problems and workarounds ===

* Crystal Sound cards

=== Debugging ===

Debugging Real Player problems under Odin is no different than any other app. You are probably going to have to install a debug build and work with someone that can interpret the resulting large log files.

== On Rainlendar: ==

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relies on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the program's
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy

=Multimedia Plugins in Firefox=
There is an extension for Firefox called MediaPlayerConnectivity
http://membres.lycos.fr/sethnakht/index.php
https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=MacOSX&category=Entertainment&numpg=10&id=446

MediaPlayerConnectivity 0.3.1

Allow you to launch embed video/audio/radio of website in an external player with a simple click !

Functionalities :

* Replace the stream by a simple button (see sample above)
* Works with RealMedia, QuickTime et WindowsMedia streams
* Allow the use of any capable media player
* Support Media Metafiles (ram, rpm, wmv, wm, wma, asx, asf, ...)
* Activable per media format
* Support PLAYLIST (MP3)
* AutoPlay feature : automaticatlly start to play the first media
* Access, if available, to Media Metafiles for embed media (see + icon in screenshot)
* Contextual menu
* Quiet mode (Don't replace the media, only access via contextual menu)
* Configuration wizard
* SmartPlay : automatically search and choose the best source using metafile ('+' icon) if exist

This allows configuring what external app to use. Warpvision is simple enough, just point to video.exe. Realplayer can be used too (via Odin) but requires a wrapper script that cannot exist in a directory with spaces. I placed realplay.cmd in the root of my drive but as long as there are no spaces in the directory it should work.
If you have a script that initializes Odin (path, libpath, etc.) then place it in there or if it is not set in your config.sys you will need to set these in here:
<code>
call odin.cmd
or
path=%path%;e:\odin\system32
set beginlibpath=%BEGINLIBPATH%;e:\odin\system32
then
e:\odin\system32\pe.exe "e:\program files\real\realplayer\realplay.exe" %1
</code>

Correcting for path as necessary.
Andy

=General Win32 Plugin=
==Idea==
Instead of writing an dedicated plugin for lets say Flash an generic Plugin should be written.

<Cris>

A generic Win32 wrapper plugin already exists. IMHO we should put focus on this one, instead of reinventing the wheel.

The generic plugin can be found at http://www.os2site.com/sw/internet/browser/plugins/NpWrap-PR1_.zip

The code is by Yuri Dario, and is NOT freeware. It stopped working on 2004/10/31 (intentional limitation).

In the "readme", Yuri writes:

"If you like to see more developement and bug fixing, consider donating some
money. Please check http://www.os2power.com/yuri for details."

</Cris>

==Design==
It would provide a config Dialog/Application to add Win32Plugins which it should provide.
The general Information about an plugin f.i. which MIME Types, file extensions it support is stored in the Resources of an Win32 or OS/2 DLL. 
So the plugin of configuration application would need to patch the info from the real win32dll into the wrapper dll and write the name and mime type of the DLL into an config file in the plugins dir. 
Mozilla/Firefox would then find an DLL which Supports Java (application/x-java-applet) and lets say Flash (application/x-shockwave-flash). 
The wrapper DLL will load the win32DLLs listed in the config file when the init function is called and call their init function.
Whenever a plugin instance is needed the mimetype is passed to creation function based on the mimetype stored in the config file it can forward the call to the correct dll. The returned instance can later be used to route/forward the other function calls to the correct win32 DLL.

Odin

2005-07-05T19:16:38Z

StevenHL: /* Real Player */

Odin

2005-07-05T18:54:59Z

StevenHL:

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

Great idea, but let's wonder what such a manual would cover?
Installation, some issues like INI ODIN files (system.ini and win.ini iirc), installation problems?
I admit I use ODIN just to view some video files with WVgui, so I'm not really up-to-date with ODIN's world. I used some Win32 applications with it and they worked really great - so well that I added them to the app database.

So, what an ODIN manual should explain? I could contribute to it, provided some spare time :-)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser crashes at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashes after connect.
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more trouble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 crashes after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]
Programs with sound (e.g. RealPlayer 8) does not play via soundcard.

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new postings, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Building Odin =

If you want to build Odin, you want to read [[BuildingOdin]].

= Windows Application Notes =

This section contains hints and tips on running apps under Odin.

== Real Player ==

=== Downloading the binary ===

=== Install tips ===

=== Settings tips ===

=== Common problems and workarounds ===

== On Rainlendar: ==

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relies on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the program's
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy

=Multimedia Plugins in Firefox=
There is an extension for Firefox called MediaPlayerConnectivity
http://membres.lycos.fr/sethnakht/index.php
https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=MacOSX&category=Entertainment&numpg=10&id=446

MediaPlayerConnectivity 0.3.1

Allow you to launch embed video/audio/radio of website in an external player with a simple click !

Functionalities :

* Replace the stream by a simple button (see sample above)
* Works with RealMedia, QuickTime et WindowsMedia streams
* Allow the use of any capable media player
* Support Media Metafiles (ram, rpm, wmv, wm, wma, asx, asf, ...)
* Activable per media format
* Support PLAYLIST (MP3)
* AutoPlay feature : automaticatlly start to play the first media
* Access, if available, to Media Metafiles for embed media (see + icon in screenshot)
* Contextual menu
* Quiet mode (Don't replace the media, only access via contextual menu)
* Configuration wizard
* SmartPlay : automatically search and choose the best source using metafile ('+' icon) if exist

This allows configuring what external app to use. Warpvision is simple enough, just point to video.exe. Realplayer can be used too (via Odin) but requires a wrapper script that cannot exist in a directory with spaces. I placed realplay.cmd in the root of my drive but as long as there are no spaces in the directory it should work.
If you have a script that initializes Odin (path, libpath, etc.) then place it in there or if it is not set in your config.sys you will need to set these in here:
<code>
call odin.cmd
or
path=%path%;e:\odin\system32
set beginlibpath=%BEGINLIBPATH%;e:\odin\system32
then
e:\odin\system32\pe.exe "e:\program files\real\realplayer\realplay.exe" %1
</code>

Correcting for path as necessary.
Andy

=General Win32 Plugin=
==Idea==
Instead of writing an dedicated plugin for lets say Flash an generic Plugin should be written.

<Cris>

A generic Win32 wrapper plugin already exists. IMHO we should put focus on this one, instead of reinventing the wheel.

The generic plugin can be found at http://www.os2site.com/sw/internet/browser/plugins/NpWrap-PR1_.zip

The code is by Yuri Dario, and is NOT freeware. It stopped working on 2004/10/31 (intentional limitation).

In the "readme", Yuri writes:

"If you like to see more developement and bug fixing, consider donating some
money. Please check http://www.os2power.com/yuri for details."

</Cris>

==Design==
It would provide a config Dialog/Application to add Win32Plugins which it should provide.
The general Information about an plugin f.i. which MIME Types, file extensions it support is stored in the Resources of an Win32 or OS/2 DLL. 
So the plugin of configuration application would need to patch the info from the real win32dll into the wrapper dll and write the name and mime type of the DLL into an config file in the plugins dir. 
Mozilla/Firefox would then find an DLL which Supports Java (application/x-java-applet) and lets say Flash (application/x-shockwave-flash). 
The wrapper DLL will load the win32DLLs listed in the config file when the init function is called and call their init function.
Whenever a plugin instance is needed the mimetype is passed to creation function based on the mimetype stored in the config file it can forward the call to the correct dll. The returned instance can later be used to route/forward the other function calls to the correct win32 DLL.

Mr2ice

2005-07-05T18:47:34Z

StevenHL:

= MR/2 ICE =

[[http//:www.mr2ice.com MR/2 ICE]] is a full featured OS/2 native mail and news client.

== Installation and Upgrading ==

== User Profiles ==

== Filters ==

== Watch/Kills ==

== Command Line Switches ==

== User Exit Scripts (msgutil.cmd newsutil.cmd) ==

== Resources ==

Main Page

2005-07-05T18:40:59Z

StevenHL: /* Programs */

Welcome to the Wiki at netlabs.org. You will find a lot of interesting information about OS/2 and [http://www.ecomstation.com eCS] on this page. 
If you are interested in joining the '''community mailinglist''' please have a look [[Mailinglists | here]]!

== Roadmap ==
Where are we now and where could we go. Open for discussions.

*[[Ideas]] - This is so far a random collection of ideas and stuff we have in our heads and which probably is worth creating a project for.

* [[Community]] - Discussions about the netlabs.org community, website, and so on. Complain here :)

*[[Fundraising campaign]] - Projects that could be realized, support your favourite one!

*[[XWorkplace]] - XWorkplace Future Plans and Ideas

*[[DOSBox Port]] - DOSBox Port for OS/2-eCS Project

*[[Odin]] - ODIN Project todo and Ideas

*[[eSchemes]] - eComStation WPS-based look&feel system

== Shop ==
We do have a shop for shirts and more ... [http://shop.netlabs.org shop.netlabs.org]! Prices include a small extra to support netlabs.org's future... (Does anyone know how to add an image here :-P ?)

== New Logo and Redesign ==
* [[Redesign]] - The new logo is choosen and a first and hopefully final draft for the new site layout has been created - check it out ;)

== Development ==

NOTE: This section should not be extended anymore. We reloaded the [http://www.edm2.com EDM/2 magazine] and we recommend to put all developer stuff in there. This wiki is a mess at the moment and we will clean that up one day and migrate the stuff that makes sense to EDM/2. Thanks!

This section contains hints and tricks and descriptions of undocumented
stuff. Undocumented means there's no official documentation or the
documentation (for example included on DevCon CDs) isn't available to
the public anymore. But DON'T JUST COPY any documentation you may have into the Wiki. Keep in mind it's copyrighted!

* [[Undocumented stuff]]
* [[Mozilla]] - some stuff regarding building Mozilla on OS/2
* [http://www.edm2.com/index.php/SDL SDL] - some tips & tricks about how to port applications using SDL to OS/2
* [http://www.edm2.com/index.php/How_to_program_for_the_WPS WPS] - how to program for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_Shell WPS]. Note: the german Wikipedia may have more information about the WPS. Go [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_Shell here].

==netlabs.org Community==
===Resources===
* [http://www.netlabs.org netlabs.org] itself, the main page :-)
* [[IRC server settings]] - chat with netlabs.org coders
* [[Mailinglists]] - support for our projects per mailinglist or news-reader

===Developers===
We also hire a developer at the moment, to show you what he does we provide a small weekly list of his progress on various projects.
*[[Vladest]]
*[[Samm]]

===Publicity===
* [[Presentations]] about netlabs.org (prepared for Warpstock Europe)
* [[Logos]] in different resolutions, free to use

==OS/2 and eCS resources==
===Drivers===
*Visit http://www.os2warp.be if you want to know if your hardware is supported.
*See a [http://www.ecomstation.it/pido2/home/mircomir/fixpak.php?lang=en driver list] generated from eCSoft/2 database.

===Software===
For software have a look here:

* http://hobbes.nmsu.edu
* http://en.ecomstation.ru/apecs.php
* http://www.ecomstation.it/ecsoft2/
* http://www.unixos2.org - ported *nix tools. A little bit cumbersome to find stuff there but nevertheless worth the effort

===Programs===
How to use specific programs, HowTos, FAQs etc.

MR/2 ICE [[mr2ice]] is a full featured OS/2 native mail and news client.

==netlabs.org Servers==
===ToDo's & History===
This is the list of tasks for netlabs.org Webservers & the history of what I (ktk) did
*[[netlabs.org]]

===Mail account===
Some information for those who own a mailbox at netlabs.org
*[[netlabs.org Mailing]]
===Admin Guide===
So far it's more or less just me who does all the work on netlabs.org webpages and this somewhat sucks because like this a lot of stuff depends on my lazyness. The following document explains the tasks necessary to create a new project at netlabs.org, including setting up CVS repositories, creating webpages and so on. I hope that I will find some volunteers one day who help me on doing that.
*[[Admin Guide]]

== What is a Wiki ==
*If you don't know the concept of a Wiki yet we recommend you to have a look at the [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide MediaWiki User's Guide].
*If you just want to add some content without much reading read the [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide:_Editing_overview#The_wiki_markup Markup Overview].
*If you have no clue about Wiki you might first check [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:How_to_edit_a_page how to edit a page].

Odin

2005-07-05T18:20:27Z

StevenHL:

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

Great idea, but let's wonder what such a manual would cover?
Installation, some issues like INI ODIN files (system.ini and win.ini iirc), installation problems?
I admit I use ODIN just to view some video files with WVgui, so I'm not really up-to-date with ODIN's world. I used some Win32 applications with it and they worked really great - so well that I added them to the app database.

So, what an ODIN manual should explain? I could contribute to it, provided some spare time :-)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser crashes at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashes after connect.
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more trouble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 crashes after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]
Programs with sound (e.g. RealPlayer 8) does not play via soundcard.

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new postings, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Building Odin =

If you want to build Odin, you want to read [[BuildingOdin]].

= Windows Application Notes =

== Real Player ==

=== Downloading the binary ===

=== Install tips ===

=== Settings tips ===

=== Common problems and workarounds ===

== On Rainlendar: ==

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relies on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the program's
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy

=Multimedia Plugins in Firefox=
There is an extention for Firefox called MediaPlayerConnectivity
http://membres.lycos.fr/sethnakht/index.php
https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=MacOSX&category=Entertainment&numpg=10&id=446

MediaPlayerConnectivity 0.3.1

Allow you to launch embed video/audio/radio of website in an external player with a simple click !

Functionalities :

* Replace the stream by a simple button (see sample above)
* Works with RealMedia, QuickTime et WindowsMedia streams
* Allow the use of any capable media player
* Support Media Metafiles (ram, rpm, wmv, wm, wma, asx, asf, ...)
* Activable per media format
* Support PLAYLIST (MP3)
* AutoPlay feature : automaticatlly start to play the first media
* Access, if available, to Media Metafiles for embed media (see + icon in screenshot)
* Contextual menu
* Quiet mode (Don't replace the media, only access via contextual menu)
* Configuration wizard
* SmartPlay : automatically search and choose the best source using metafile ('+' icon) if exist

This allows configuring what external app to use. Warpvision is simple enough, just point to video.exe. Realplayer can be used too (via Odin) but requires a wrapper script that cannot exist in a directory with spaces. I placed realplay.cmd in the root of my drive but as long as there are no spaces in the directory it should work.
If you have a script that initializes Odin (path, libpath, etc.) then place it in there or if it is not set in your config.sys you will need to set these in here:
<code>
call odin.cmd
or
path=%path%;e:\odin\system32
set beginlibpath=%BEGINLIBPATH%;e:\odin\system32
then
e:\odin\system32\pe.exe "e:\program files\real\realplayer\realplay.exe" %1
</code>

Correcting for path as necessary.
Andy

=General Win32 Plugin=
==Idea==
Instead of writing an dedicated plugin for lets say Flash an generic Plugin should be written.

<Cris>

A generic Win32 wrapper plugin already exists. IMHO we should put focus on this one, instead of reinventing the wheel.

The generic plugin can be found at http://www.os2site.com/sw/internet/browser/plugins/NpWrap-PR1_.zip

The code is by Yuri Dario, and is NOT freeware. It stopped working on 2004/10/31 (intentional limitation).

In the "readme", Yuri writes:

"If you like to see more developement and bug fixing, consider donating some
money. Please check http://www.os2power.com/yuri for details."

</Cris>

==Design==
It would provide a config Dialog/Application to add Win32Plugins which it should provide.
The general Information about an plugin f.i. which MIME Types, file extensions it support is stored in the Resources of an Win32 or OS/2 DLL. 
So the plugin of configuration application would need to patch the info from the real win32dll into the wrapper dll and write the name and mime type of the DLL into an config file in the plugins dir. 
Mozilla/Firefox would then find an DLL which Supports Java (application/x-java-applet) and lets say Flash (application/x-shockwave-flash). 
The wrapper DLL will load the win32DLLs listed in the config file when the init function is called and call their init function.
Whenever a plugin instance is needed the mimetype is passed to creation function based on the mimetype stored in the config file it can forward the call to the correct dll. The returned instance can later be used to route/forward the other function calls to the correct win32 DLL.

Odin

2005-04-12T06:40:28Z

StevenHL:

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser crashes at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashes after connect.
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more trouble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 crashes after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new postings, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Building Odin =

If you want to build Odin, you want to read [[BuildingOdin]].

= Windows Application Notes =

===On Rainlendar:===

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relies on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the program's
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy

BuildingOdin

2005-04-12T06:35:08Z

StevenHL:

To build Odin, as of today, you are going to need VisualAge C 3.08 or v3.65 and gcc 3.2.x.

The DDK is useful, but not required. The DDK will allow you to build the optional win32k drivers.

You are also going to need a CVS client.

You are also going to need to pull a copy of the OdinXP CVS repository into your local sandbox.

See the [http://odin.netlabs.org/ Netlabs Odin page] for instructions on how to access the OdinXP CVS repository.

Since much of the Odin code is based on Wine, it can be helpful to pull a copy of the Wine sources from the [http://www.winehq.com/site/cvs Wine CVS repository].

The current OS/2 cvs client does not support the compression methods used the cvs Wine CVS server, so you will need to use the -z0 global cvs parameter to suppress the compression.

Once you have pulled a copy of the Odin sources, see doc\Readme.txt for build instructions. The readme is old but accurate. See also, doc\GCCBuildInstructions.txt for additional instructions for gcc 3.2.x.

More coming...

Odin

2005-04-12T06:16:04Z

StevenHL:

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser crashes at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashes after connect.
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more trouble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 crashes after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seems solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new postings, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Building Odin =

To build Odin you want to go here:

[[BuildingOdin]]

= Windows Application Notes =

===On Rainlendar:===

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relies on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the program's
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy

Odin

2005-03-29T18:27:36Z

StevenHL:

=Manual=
If someone could start with a description & Howto about Odin I would be grateful :)

=Todo:=

* MysqlQuerybrowser chrashs at some selections.
* FlashFXP 3.02 or higher crashs after connect.
------> Seams solved with 20050327-xp build
* Irfanview makes more truble after ????
* Agent 2,.0 chrashs after selecting group->default Properties->Posting->Messages
------> Seams solved with 20050327-xp build
* Winston [http://www.felfri.de website]
* "Rainlendar" [http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar website]

= Mailing List =

The Odin Users mailing list is now [mailto://odin-users@netlabs.org].

The Yahoo groups mailing list has been closed to new posting, but the message archives and file archives are open for browsing and downloads.

= Windows Application Notes =

===On Rainlendar:===

I tried this one out. Hopes are not very good for making
this calendar function properly under ODIN, any build.
Using 20050306 debug, you first have to acquire from
Win2k or WinXP, files msvcp60.dll oleacc.dll and oleaccrc.dll
but even with these you will still get alot of N-E-A rc 127
failures as can be seen in the odin32_0.log. This Rainlendar
package relys on too many Windows functions that ODIN has not
been coded for. But anyway, I got it to come up to a point.
After replying IGNORE to the Non-Existing-API error:
oleacc.dll -> Hwnd-UserSize (loaded by OLE32.DLL) the
calendar appears in the upper left corner of your desktop in
the form of a 2 inch square BLACK block. At the same time the
Rainlendar icon appears in the systray. If you click on this
systray icon, the configuration panels will cleanly display
and you can 'play' with the various settings. If you click
on 'quit' the program will cleanly exit. The problem with
the Black Block situation, I feel, stems from the programs
use of a Windows transparency function which the program is
trying to cutely use to place the calendar alpha\numerics
onto the desktop. Try as I may, I could not find a way to
make the wanted data appear in the Black Block area. So,
I finally gave up. But, I installed in on WinXP and it
looks kinda kool.

Jimmy