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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) | Standard calculator for basic arithmetic. | |
| CALENDAR | Desktop calendar for viewing dates and appointments. | |
| CARDFILE | Electronic index card database for organizing information. | |
| CHARMAP (pure API) | Utility for viewing and inserting special characters. | |
| Clipboard Viewer (pure API) | Viewer for inspecting the current clipboard content. | Done |
| Clock (pure API) | Analog or digital clock displaying the current time. | Done |
| Control Panel | Main panel for adjusting system settings and hardware. | |
| DRWATSON | Diagnostic tool for capturing system information and errors. | |
| EXPAND | Utility for decompressing files from distribution disks. | Done |
| FASTOPEN | Utility for speeding up file access by caching directories. | Done |
| MPLAYER | Media Player for playing multimedia files. | |
| MSD | Microsoft Diagnostics tool for detailed hardware analysis. | |
| Notepad (pure API) | Simple text editor for plain text files. | Done |
| PACKAGER | Object Packager for embedding and linking documents (OLE). | |
| PBRUSH (ATL) | Paintbrush graphics editor for creating bitmap images. | |
| PIF Editor (pure API) | Editor for creating Program Information Files (PIFs) for DOS. | |
| PRINTMAN | Print Manager for print jobs and printer queues. | |
| Program Manager (pure API) | Main shell for organizing applications and documents into groups. | |
| REGEDIT | Registration Info Editor for the Windows registration database. | |
| SETUP | Windows Setup program for changing system configuration. | |
| SOL (pure API) | The classic Solitaire card game. | |
| Sound Recorder | Recorder for playing and editing sound files (.WAV). | |
| System Configuration Editor (pure API) | Editor for modifying system files (AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS). | Done |
| Task Manager (pure API) | Manager for switching between running applications and tasks. | Done |
| WINFILE (pure API) | File Manager for managing files, directories, and disks. | |
| WINHELP (pure API) | Windows Help engine for displaying application help files. | |
| Minesweeper (pure API) | The classic Minesweeper puzzle game. | Done |
| WINSHELD | ||
| Windows Version (pure API) | Dialog box displaying Windows version and copyright information. | Done |
| WRITE | 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