Syllable (operating system) - Definition and Overview

Syllable 0.5.3 with the new desktop

Syllable is a free software hobby operating system for Intel x86 Pentium and compatible processors. Its purpose is to create an easy-to-use desktop operating system for the home and small office user. It was forked from the stagnant AtheOS in July 2002.

It has a native web browser (ABrowse), email client, media player, IDE, and many more apps.

Features include:

• A native 64-bit journaled file system, the AtheOS File System (usually called AFS)
• C++ oriented API
• Legacy-free, object-oriented graphical desktop environment on a native GUI architecture
• Mostly POSIX compliant
• Many software ports (Emacs, Vim, Perl, Python, Apache etc.)
• GNU toolchain (GCC, Binutils, Make)
• Pre-emptive multitasking with multithreading
• Symmetric multiprocessing (multiple processor) support
• Drivers for most common hardware (video, sound, network chips)

The latest version is 0.5.5, released on December 11, 2004.

Related Links:

• Syllable OS homepage (http://www.syllable.org)
• Syllable software (http://kamidake.other-space.com/)
• Introduction to Syllable's features, and the 0.5.3 release (http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=7900)
• June 2003 Interview with Syllable's Kristian Van Der Vliet (http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=3802)
• Syllable Development Newsletters (http://msa.section.me.uk/sdn/)