POSIX Subsystem

Why a POSIX Subsystem?

Application compatibility is one of the main goals of ReactOS. This goal has reached beyond compatibility with Win32/WinNT applications, but also includes compatibility with programs designed for other Operating Systems, such as DOS, IBM OS/2, and UNIX's POSIX API standard. This page will discuss the proposed POSIX Subsystem for ReactOS.

What benefits would a POSIX Subsystem hold?

A POSIX Subsystem would allow POSIX compliant applications, or applications designed for UNIX/Linux, to run on ReactOS. This would be of great benefit, since the majority of free, open-source software is targeted towards Linux users. A POSIX implementation as a subsystem would have considerable advantages over the use of a Virtual Machine, or VM, running UNIX/Linux, as VMs tend to consume considerably more RAM and Processing Power.

When will this project begin? How will it get started?

The development of the POSIX subsystem has already begun, mainly by KJK::Hyperion (See his notes on the POSIX Subsystem). Development has since stalled and the previous work has been removed from the ReactOS SVN tree as of revision 21379 by Dr. Fred, at the request of KJK::Hyperion. Several options have been considered for the new POSIX Subsystem, including the ideas of building off of existing projects, such as coLinux or WINNT POSIX.

The POSIX Subsystem was the subject of a 2004 letter between Wine Developer Shachar Shemesh, and ReactOS/Wine Developer Steven_Edwards, which you can read here.