ReactOS: the open source Windows

Entering an alternative universe, Michael Reed takes a look at an open source stand-in for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

- Michael Reed

Quick Tip

ReactOS currently targets compatibility with Microsoft Windows versions from the early 2000s, specifically Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. By then, Microsoft didn’t use the Windows NT branding, but this era of Windows operating system is sometimes referred to as NT 5.x.

ReactOS is an open-source operating system that replicates the functionality of the Microsoft Windows series of OSes while offering a considerable level of application compatibility. The current version is described as being at the alpha stage of development, and the developers recommend against using it as a day-to-day operating system for general computer tasks. That said, it’s a reasonably complete implementation of Windows XP/ Windows Server 2003-era core functionality and it can run quite a bit of software.

On Linux, we tend to use either Wine or a complete version of Windows running in a VM when we have to run a Windows program, but ReactOS can do some things that Wine can’t do, such as running hardware drivers intended for Microsoft Windows. Apart from running software, ReactOS is also useful to developers who want to learn more about creating software for the Microsoft family of operating systems.

Installation 

The install procedure will evoke an immediate flashback for those who have installed Microsoft operating systems in the past, as the colour scheme and layout is much the same. Following prompts, one navigates the white-on-blue text mode interface to select localisation features and create the installation partition. It’s always good to see an alternative OS that can carry out the install procedure without resorting to the use of external tools.