------------------------------ WarpCast ------------------------------
Source: Loren Bandiera, http://catbert.istar.ca/os2/
Reply-to: lorenb@inforamp.net
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[11/20/97] - Win32-OS/2 Project Update 

     Some of the news coming out of last nights IRC chat with the
Win32-OS/2 Project team is: 

         The final application will be available to all users FREE of
charge. Though no source code will be made available. This is entirely
a volunteer effort. 
         The application will convert an existing win32 .exe to a
native OS/2 .exe, so there is no question of license infringement or
reverse engineering. As long as you have a valid license for the win32
app, you are just making a copy that will run under OS/2. 
         This project relies heavily on IBM's OPEN32 code, but they
will not be modifying any OS/2 system code. It is done with existing
code and new code they are writing. Timur said that the existing code
fits on a floppy. 
         Since you are running native version, not emulation, they
don't expect much in the way of performance problems. According to
Peter Fitzsimmons "open32 is damn good! Some open32 apps run faster on
OS/2 than win95/nt." 
         They don't expect Windows98 to cause much if any problems if
and when it comes out. According to Timur "until there are Win98-only
apps out there, it should not be a problem." 
         They are gradually working up to larger apps, but have
successfully converted smaller win32 utilities like Notepad, Freecell,
etc. They plan to concentrate on non-game applications, but if there is
time they will work on DirectX to help with converting games. 
         There is no current timetable, but they expect an open beta
when it is ready 

     The offical log of the chat will be posted on the VOICE web site
(http://www.os2voice.org/transcripts.html). However in the mean time,
you can read this transcript
(http://catbert.istar.ca/os2/misc/win32-os2.txt).

     Source: Mark Dodel (madodel@ptdprolog.net)




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