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Table of Contents
This is part of Win16 API which allow to create versions of program from one source code to run under OS/2 and Win16. Under OS/2 program can be running under Win-OS/2 if program is Windows NE executable, and with help on Windows Libraries for OS/2, if it is OS/2 NE executable. Here is a WLO to OS/2 API mapping draft
Win16 Personality: A Windows 3.x Compatibility Layer
The Win16 Personality is a project to create a free, open-source reimplementation of the 16-bit Microsoft Windows 3.x operating environment. It aims to provide compatibility with Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1, and Windows 3.11 for running classic Win16 applications.
Project Goals
- Provide binary compatibility for a range of applications built for Windows 3.1/3.11.
- Reimplement core system components: KERNEL.EXE, USER.EXE, GDI.EXE.
- Serve as a research and educational platform for the classic Windows 3.x architecture.
- Integrate the Win16 environment as one of the “Personalities” within the osFree microkernel OS, and ensure it can also run on pure DOS.
Current Status
The project is in early development (alpha stage). Current work focuses on the core 16-bit KERNEL. Critical GUI subsystems USER and GDI, required to run most Windows 3.x programs, are not yet implemented. The first practical milestone is to correctly run simple system utilities like WinVer.
Components and Applications
As part of the project, clones of classic Windows 3.x applications are also being developed:
| Name | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CALC (pure API) | A clone of the standard Windows Calculator for basic arithmetic. | |
| CALENDAR | A clone of the desktop Calendar for viewing dates and scheduling appointments. | |
| CARDFILE | A clone of the Cardfile, a simple electronic index card database for organizing information. | |
| CHARMAP (pure API) | A clone of the Character Map utility for viewing and inserting special characters. | |
| Clipboard Viewer (pure API) | A clone of the Clipboard Viewer for inspecting the current content of the clipboard. | Done |
| Clock (pure API) | A clone of the analog or digital Clock for displaying the current time. | Done |
| Control Panel | A clone of the main Control Panel for adjusting system settings and managing hardware. | |
| DRWATSON | A clone of the Dr. Watson diagnostic tool for capturing system information and errors. | |
| EXPAND | A clone of the Expand utility (EXPAND.EXE) for decompressing files from Microsoft distribution disks. | Done |
| FASTOPEN | A clone of the FASTOPEN utility for speeding up file access by caching directory locations. | Done |
| MPLAYER | A clone of the Media Player (MPlayer) for playing multimedia files like sound and video. | |
| MSD | A clone of the Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD) tool for detailed system hardware and software analysis. | |
| Notepad (pure API) | A clone of the simple Notepad text editor for creating and editing plain text files. | Done |
| PACKAGER | A clone of the Object Packager for embedding and linking objects into documents (OLE). | |
| PBRUSH (ATL) | A clone of the Paintbrush graphics editor for creating and editing bitmap images. | |
| PIF Editor (pure API) | A clone of the PIF Editor for creating and modifying Program Information Files (PIFs) for DOS applications. | |
| PRINTMAN | A clone of the Print Manager for managing print jobs and printer queues. | |
| Program Manager (pure API) | A clone of the Program Manager, the main shell for organizing applications and documents into groups. | |
| REGEDIT | A clone of the Registration Info Editor (REGEDIT) for editing the Windows registration database. | |
| SETUP | A clone of the Windows Setup program for changing system configuration and installing components. | |
| SOL (pure API) | A clone of the Solitaire card game. | |
| Sound Recorder | A clone of the Sound Recorder for recording, playing, and editing sound files (.WAV). | |
| System Configuration Editor (pure API) | A clone of the System Configuration Editor (SYSEDIT) for modifying critical system files (AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, etc.). | Done |
| Task Manager (pure API) | A clone of the Task Manager for switching between running applications and monitoring system tasks. | Done |
| WINFILE (pure API) | A clone of the File Manager (WINFILE) for managing files, directories, and disk operations. | |
| WINHELP (pure API) | A clone of the Windows Help (WINHELP) engine for displaying application help files. | |
| Minesweeper (pure API) | A clone of the Minesweeper puzzle game. | Done |
| WINSHELD | ||
| Windows Version (pure API) | A clone of the About Windows (WinVer) dialog box, displaying system version and copyright information. | Done |
| WRITE | A clone of the Write word processor for creating formatted documents. |
The main project source code is available in the repository: https://github.com/osfree-project/WIN16 osfree-project/WIN16