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Porting OS/2 Software to Linux 25

Posted by timothy from the warped-minds dept.
A user writes: "IBM's Developer Domain is hosting an article on how to port software written for OS/2 over to Linux. Bottom line -- it's easy, as long as you use an abstraction layer. Hopefully this'll mean the huge amount of OS/2 software out there will start being ported, helping make Linux even more ready for the desktop. Lotus, are you reading?"
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Porting OS/2 Software to Linux More

Porting OS/2 Software to Linux

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  • I like and use OS/2, but c'mon - "huge amount of software"? You mean all the office, CAD, and financial apps, right?
  • "Lotus, are you reading?"

    I thought it was the general consensus that Lotus is the bane of end users.

  • Yeah right.

    In 1995, IBM tried to one-up Microsoft by releasing a new version of OS/2 before Windows 95 came out. I was looking for an alternative to The Evil Empire and seriously considered OS/2. However, I didn't go with OS/2, even though it was superior to Windows in several areas, because it flunked the "Best Buy" test.

    The Best Buy test:
    Walk into Best Buy (or Circuit City or any store that sells computer software) and count the number of native OS/2 programs sitting on the shelves. Number = 0. Stay away.

    Linux also fails the Best Buy test, which is why it will never pose a serious challenge to Windows (for general consumer use) and will continue to only be used as an OS for servers and computer geeks.

    • Well, OS/2 passed the "Egghead test" for me*. When I went to my local Egghead store (back in the day), they had two racks full of OS/2 software and a sign that indicated most Windows software ran fine on OS/2. The people working there were actually competent and could answer questions, too! I bought it and never regretted it. Amazingly, I could run DOS apps alongside Windows apps and when, not if, a Windows app crashed, it didn't take down the whole system!

      Of course, Egghead is no more, thanks to CrapUSA and some other computer superstore that went out of business while destroying local competition, and IBM gave up the "desktop war" to its comeptition. Sure, OS/2 still exists [ibm.com], but who's going to pay $284 for an OS when Windows comes pre-bundled with every computer you buy? This is the problem OS/2 faced when it was affordable ($99 for Warp, circa 1995). So they gave up trying to position it as a consumer OS. No more games, little productivity software, just vertical apps that businesses could afford. The superior OS just disappeared.

      That being said, we probably won't see anything interesting being ported from OS/2 to Linux. Most of the software out there is vertical apps, a few outdated office suites, games by companies that disappeared, shareware device drivers (SIO rocked), some ancient BBS software, and many neat little shareware helper programs, some of them written in REXX.

      * disclaimer: I once was a Team OS/2 booster.
      • Sure, OS/2 still exists [ibm.com], but who's going to pay $284 for an OS when Windows comes pre-bundled with every computer you buy?
        They will when you consider that you're already paying $200-300 for Windows. It is just "included" in the "cost."

        Remember the OS-less computer [walmart.com]? The reason it is so darn cheap is because they don't have to include the OS TAX.

        • They will when you consider that you're already paying $200-300 for Windows. It is just "included" in the "cost."

          Since when did Windows cost $200-300? Even the brand new XP Home costs $199 at most and nobody buys it at that price. OEMs pay much lower prices when bundling MS software (I'd estimate, something around $50 even though I have nothing to support this estimation) and consumers get it at a very low price as well. So, no FUD please...

    • According to your test (which is not totally invalid) Mac also fails the "Best Buy" test. I actually used this test when my dad was considering an Imac (his first ever computer). Knowing nothing about mac's, and knowing he'd be calling me for support, I was kind of on the fence as to whether he'd be better off with the supposed ease of use of "the computer for the rest of us" or with a Wintel box that I could talk him thru over the phone. While at Best Buy I pointed out the rows & rows of Windows s/w and the one tiny little section of Mac s/w (where a lot of folks seemed to have dropped of unwanted boxes of Windows s/w). He still bought the Imac and in retrospect I don't think it made much difference - he doesn't know how to use that and he probably would have had at least as many problems with the Wintel box. Still - there's a solid userbase of Mac's out there still going strong so I don't believe that the "Best Buy test" can be universally applied. Also - how much Linux software do you see at Best Buy (rhetorical question as I suspect the overwhelming majority of Linux s/w is obtained via download vs. store purchase)?
  • I can say:

    <flamebait>
    WHAT OS/2 SOFTWARE?
    </flamebait>

  • If anything is ported, I'd like to see the Workplace Shell (OS/2's desktop GUI). This is still easily the nicest desktop environment I've ever used.
    • I'd rather have it on NetBSD - Workplace shell on a Dreamcast ... ROFLMAO
    • WPS was and STILL is THE best desktop enviroment ever devised.

      On the other hand, I have no clue how would anyone be able to implement OO skeleton of WPS - regarding the OS-WPS integration. Remember those great ways to attach one object to another!? Document - and then just drag/drop a name (icon) form adr. book to mail it automatically!? Pure beauty!

      There was a basic port of WPS for Win3.11, but it didn't have any OO features.

      PORT WPS IBM! That would be the best DM on Linux!

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