SerenityOS: Remarkable project with its own JS-capable web browser
- Reference: 1648745885
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/03/31/serenityos/
- Source link:
Even writing a browser completely from scratch is a substantial task, but to support the DOM and Javascript is astonishing
This is a remarkable achievement for a very small, hobbyist project. [3]Acid3 is relatively old now – it dates back to [4]2008 . However it [5]was and is quite demanding , testing Javascript, the Document Object Model and more.
Its creator and lead developer, [6]Andreas Kling , started the project as a distraction while coping with substance withdrawal, a [7]growing issue in the tech industry even before COVID-19. Its name is a tribute to the "Serenity Prayer" used in several 12-step programs. Last year, though, he was [8]able to quit his job to work on it full time.
Kling is no rookie: he's worked at both Nokia and Apple, and as he [9]puts it, "There's a pretty good chance you're reading this in a browser that's slightly faster because of me. ;)"
Even writing a browser completely from scratch is a substantial task, but to support the DOM and JavaScript is astonishing. It's still beyond some niche browsers such as NetSurf or Dillo, and just [10]getting a modern browser is a challenge for [11]other niche OSes .
[12]
The SerenityOS desktop showing a browser window, a terminal, and a couple of demo apps
SerenityOS is not the only project of its kind: there are so many Unix-inspired hobby OSes out there that it's hard even to count them all. There are even [13]multiple different [14]lists of hobby OSes to choose from, and the [15]OSDev community to help you craft your own. Many have got as far as a usable GUI.
[16]After four years, Rust-based Redox OS is nearly self-hosting
[17]Happy birthday, you lumbering MS-DOS-based mess: Windows 98 turns 20 today
[18]What will you do with your Raspberry Pi 4 this week? RISC it for a biscuit perhaps?
[19]Chromium-adjacent Otter browser targets OS/2
What distinguishes SerenityOS is just how far it's got and how well it works. It's a blend of a simple, from-scratch, Unix-like kernel, plus a desktop that's reminiscent of NT 4 – before the rot started to set in with [20]Windows 98's Active Desktop .
No, it doesn't have any enterprise relevance. No, it's not ready to replace Linux, and probably never will be. No, you can't download a ready-to-install ISO image; you have to compile it yourself, from source. In other words, it's not yet reached the [21]significant step of self-hosting – an achievement that the Haiku project justly [22]celebrated when it got there.
[23]
But if that doesn't put you off, we suggest giving it a try. After all, Linux was at a stage like this once, and it too [24]was "Just For Fun" . ®
Get our [25]Tech Resources
[1] https://serenityos.org/
[2] https://twitter.com/awesomekling/status/1508953394836353024
[3] http://wpt.live/acid/acid3/test.html
[4] https://www.webstandards.org/press/releases/2008-03-03/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2011/09/22/acid3_test_updated/
[6] https://awesomekling.github.io/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2018/08/08/infosec_professionals_alcohol/
[8] https://awesomekling.github.io/I-quit-my-job-to-focus-on-SerenityOS-full-time/
[9] https://awesomekling.github.io/about/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/18/chromium_based_otter_browser_targets_os2/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/27/risc_os_5_28/
[12] https://regmedia.co.uk/2022/03/31/serenity_os_screenshot.jpg
[13] https://github.com/nikitavoloboev/knowledge/blob/main/operating-systems/operating-systems.md
[14] https://github.com/jubalh/awesome-os
[15] https://wiki.osdev.org/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2019/11/29/after_four_years_rusty_os_nearly_selfhosting/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2018/06/25/windows_98_at_20/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/27/risc_os_5_28/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2022/02/18/chromium_based_otter_browser_targets_os2/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2018/06/25/windows_98_at_20/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2019/11/29/after_four_years_rusty_os_nearly_selfhosting/
[22] https://www.freelists.org/post/haiku/Haiku-selfhosting
[23] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YkYkkcvhrCF-J7nx-h-RyAAAAEc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[24] https://www.theregister.com/2001/04/06/macos_x_is_crap_torvalds/
[25] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "Just for fun"
Holy shit. Are you like the biggest Grinch this side of Christmas, or what?
Yes, there are loads of things that could count as being more deserving. To that end, what are we all doing buggering around poking keyboards? Go train as a nurse, there's a pretty good chance that your health service really needs you...
Otherwise, some projects are done simply because they can be, because they bring enjoyment, or allow one to put their thoughts in line (you did read the article, right?) and if all that effort is only really of use to them . . . so fucking what? Come back when you've single-handedly written a browser. Because, man, I wouldn't even know where to start. I'd imagine "wrote my own OS, wrote my own browser" might not look too bad on a CV, eh? And as the article says at the end, this sort of thing is how Linux started. Hell, probably a lot of stuff. Somebody has an idea and gets to work, then... magic happens.
Re: "Just for fun"
"I do wonder, however, whether that time would've been better spent, improving the offerings we already have."
I nominate that as the new slogan for Microsoft's entire development division.
Otherwise, meh, people do what they do. I build guns for fun - some people (and not just my wife) would find that pointless, possibly even offensive. Some people watch massive amounts of TV every day. Some people raise venomous snakes or bugs. Some people keep up with politics like their life depends on it. I know all those other people are wrong, and should do something useful with their time, but my voice carries no weight in their worlds.
Re: "Just for fun"
But why not? It's true that the landscape is a bit different from when Linus started. OSs then we're rubbish (MS, Mac) and proprietary (I was using SunOS4 professionally, never did move to Solaris), so there was a lot of pull to get something better.
Now we have Linux which has penetrated all fields except the desktop, so it's a big mountain to climb to think about replacing even a minor part of its user space. Nevertheless there must be areas where even Linux isn't optimal so there is room for innovation. Whether that comes from a happy accident hobbyist off the wall thing or a focussed commercial project who's to know?
"plus a desktop that's reminiscent of NT 4 – before the rot started to set in with Windows 98's Active Desktop."
So bloomin true! Since the Windows UI has rotted into dust by now, SerenityOS is probably now decades ahead in terms of usability and intuitivity.
Creativity is King
This is what FOSS was all about when it started - making something new 'just for fun'.
I doubt Linus was shooting for the commercial possibilities of Linux and I don't doubt Linux would look different if he had.
Good creatives, developers, writers, artists, musicians actors,, whatever, start doing what they do 'just for fun' (and often hear the advice 'don't quit your day job').
So kudos (but not a pint) for Andreas who has not only reached a creative milestone but also quit his day job.
"Just for fun"
... I guess that depends on what you count as being "fun".
I'm sure it's an incredible achievement - but hell, its "just for fun" for the creator - the idea of dicking about compiling this and getting it running, to end up with an OS about 90% less capable than what I currently use, is not something I would call "fun".
I mean, I get it - working with code can be cool - just the achievement in terms of the hours of sweat and horror spent, when you finally make a breakthrough, is often worth it - because developers are masochists.
For the developer, the learning process has almost certainly increased their skill set dramatically - for most of the rest of us, "That's nice, well done. Moving on now...."
Unless, of course, you are into making your own OS - in which case, if you are in that niche market, this is probably the most exciting project ever.
I do wonder, however, whether that time would've been better spent, improving the offerings we already have.
But hell, people spend their time in all sorts of incredibly weird ways, so who am I to judge?
/me heads off to sort collection of gravel by size, date and appealing textures...