Syllable Desktop

{{short description|Operating system}} {{Infobox OS | name = Syllable | screenshot = 250px|Syllable | caption = Syllable 0.6.5 | developer = Kristian Van Der Vliet, Kaj de Vos, Rick Caudill, Arno Klenke, Henrik Isaksson | family = Unix-like | source_model = Open source | released = 0.4.0 / {{Start date and age|2002|07}}<ref>[https://syllable.metaproject.frl/documentation/FAQ.html#1_2 Syllable Documentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107003333/http://web.syllable.org/documentation/FAQ.html#1_2 |date=2011-01-07 }}</ref> | latest_release_version = 0.6.7 | latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2012|04|12}} | kernel_type = Hybrid | license = GNU General Public License | working_state = Alpha | website = {{URL|syllable.metaproject.frl}} | supported_platforms = IA-32 }}

'''Syllable Desktop''' is a discontinued free and open-source lightweight hobbyist operating system for Pentium and compatible processors. Its purpose was to create an easy-to-use desktop operating system for the home and small office user. Its development began in 2002 as a fork of AtheOS.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Pearce |first=Rohan |date=2011-08-30 |title=Developer Q&A: Syllable OS |url=http://www.techworld.com.au/article/398892/developer_q_syllable_os/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123023529/http://www.techworld.com.au/article/398892/developer_q_syllable_os/ |archive-date=2011-11-23 |website=TechWorld}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Niemeyer |first=Jan |date=2011-11-09 |title=Das freie Desktop-Betriebssystem Syllable |url=https://www.pro-linux.de/artikel/2/377/das-freie-desktop-betriebssystem-syllable.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Pro-Linux |language=de}}</ref>

The same group produced Syllable Server, for server computers, based on Linux core.<ref name=":0" /><ref>http://syllable.metaproject.frl/pages/about.html#Server</ref>

== History == Syllable Desktop is a fork of AtheOS, a free and open source operating system that was discontinued. AtheOS was originally developed to be an Amiga clone for x86 processors, and also took inspiration from BeOS for the file system it used.<ref name=":1" /> Syllable was started around July 2002 because the sole developer of AtheOS went inactive for nine months.<ref name=":0" /> Syllable Desktop aimed to be a successor to AtheOS and expand on it, such as adding additional hardware support.<ref name=":1" /> Further development aimed at porting additional software and libraries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=de Vos |first=Kaj |date=2012-07-16 |title=Syllable gets Enlightenment graphics engine |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/26189/syllable-gets-enlightenment-graphics-engine/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=OSNews |language=en-US}}</ref> The last source code commit was in 2012, but the developer is working on restarting the project according to information on the website.

== Features == Syllable Desktop has a native Webkit-based web browser named Webster (formerly ABrowse), an email client named Whisper, a media player, an IDE, and other applications.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Saunders |first=Michael |date=2004-08-02 |title=Syllable – The Little OS with a Big Future |url=https://www.osnews.com/story/7900/syllable-the-little-os-with-a-big-future/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=OSNews |language=en-US}}</ref>

Features according to the official website include: * Native 64-bit journaled file system, the AtheOS File System (AFS)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Culka |first=Martin |title=Syllable |url=https://www.root.cz/clanky/syllable/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Root.cz |language=cs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-14 |title=Four alternative operating systems |url=https://www.linux.com/news/four-alternative-operating-systems/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=Linux.com |language=en-US}}</ref> * C++ oriented API * Object-oriented graphical desktop environment on a native GUI architecture * Mostly POSIX compliant<ref name=":3" /> * Software ports, including Vim, Perl, Python, Apache, others. * GNU toolchain (GCC, Glibc, Binutils, Make) * Preemptive multitasking with multithreading * Symmetric multiprocessing (multiple processor) support * Device drivers for most common hardware (video, sound, network chips) * File system drivers for FAT (read/write), NTFS (read), and ext2 (read) * Rebol as system scripting language

== Reception == OSNews gave a positive review of Syllable, calling it "astoundingly complete for a hobbyist OS at version 0.5" and praising the speed of the OS, but noting that some features and subsystems were not yet implemented, the limited range of apps, and the occasional stability issues.<ref name=":2" /> Linux.com noted similar points in their review.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Jeff |date=2006-08-23 |title=Syllable: A different open source OS |url=https://www.linux.com/articles/56315 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221224401/https://www.linux.com/articles/56315 |archive-date=2008-02-21 |website=Linux.com}}</ref> pro-linux.de stated that Syllable was a promising upcoming operating system.<ref name=":1" /> A review by Root.cz was negative, stating that "for now, Syllable is just one of the less successful alternatives to Linux or *BSD."<ref name=":3" />

==See also== {{Portal|Free and open-source software }} * Haiku (operating system)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * ''Linux Format'' 78 (April 2006) * ''Linux Format'' 105 (May 2008)

==External links== {{Commons category|Syllable (OS)}} * {{Official website|https://syllable.metaproject.frl/}}

Category:Free software operating systems Category:Hobbyist operating systems Category:Unix variants Category:X86 operating systems Category:Software using the GNU General Public License