[Atomos-discuss] Atomic OS Manifesto

[Scott E. <ps...@gm...>]

Here is the first draft of the Atomic OS Manifesto, as posted on
www.psema4.com with minor modifications (sections are numbered for
clarity in text-only format).

Comments and thoughts would be appreciated.  TIA!
- Scott


The Atomic OS Manifesto

1.0 - What is AOS or Atomic OS?

In a nutshell, "Atomic OS is a responsive Web 2.0 operating
environment & development platform. Based on AJAX techniques, it
emulates/provides standard operating system features including a
command-line shell, interpreter, filesystem, database access and GUI
services."

2.0 - What it isn't!

Atomic OS is not a program. By itself, Atomic OS isn't capable of
doing anything. Developers use AOS as a library to make web-based
applications.

Atomic OS is not an Operating System! Instead, it is a library that,
when combined with custom JavaScript code and executed within Mozilla
Firefox, simulates an OS-like environment that web developers can
leverage.

The base AOS "distribution" comes with a set of tools (such as the
WASH shell) that allow developers to interactively explore Atomic OS
and it's features. This doesn't make it an OS. A desktop-interface /
window-manager does not change things either. The reference to
"Operating System" in the project's name is nothing more than a
convenient metaphor.

3.0 - Why write it?

As a web administrator (/master/developer) I was frequently frustrated
by the limitations imposed by browser and WWW programming
technologies. Creating intuitive (and responsive) User Interfaces for
end-users was very difficult. DHTML (AJAX without the server
interaction) applications are capable, but they can become very
complex very quickly.

Atomic OS aims to make things a little more clear by following the
examples of data organization (file systems) and user interfaces
(shells and desktops) used by virtually every modern Operating System.

The complete AOS library, the filesystem, supporting tools and
utilities, custom application(s), and end-users' data are all stored
within one HTML file =96 providing an extremely flexible solution to
several difficult issues I've faced with developing web-based
applications.

4.0 - Why everyone will benefit.

Programmers benefit from the OS-like API. Programmers may also find
the embedded development tools useful. Although preferred, it is not
necessary to "open-source your applications." The GNU LGPL license
allows for linking to non-free software; this feature may be useful
for some businesses.

Administrators benefit from enhanced organization, self-containment of
run-time data and logs, and improved management interfaces.

End-users benefit from lower learning curves. By mimicking the look
and feel of modern desktop Operating Systems and applications, users
find themselves in a familiar and intuitive environment.

5.0 - How will Atomic OS be available?

Atomic OS is available from SourceForge.

Please visit http://sourceforge.net/projects/atomos for more
information and downloads.

6.0 - How you can contribute.

If you are a JavaScript programmer, consider helping out by porting
GNU utilities.

If you are a graphics designer, we could use your help in creating
desktops and themes.

If you are a technical writer, we could really use more concise documentati=
on.

Any monetary donations will be put towards paying developers for their
time and efforts. Depending on resource availability and
circumstances, such funding may also be used towards creating and/or
maintaining an Atomic OS Foundation.


Please send inquiries, broken links, other corrections and/or
suggestions to psema4@...

Copyright (c) 2007 Scott Elcomb

Revision: 0.1 - 07/18/2007

--=20
Scott Elcomb  [ http://www.psema4.com/ ]

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