Has there ever been a large, community effort to convince companies like Microsoft and Apple to release their old, outdated operating systems (like... DOS) under an open source license? The companies don't profit much from them, and it would make projects like FreeDOS easier or even completely unnecessary. I mean, people work on emulators and stuff for years and even the best ones still can't run many programs correctly. Wouldn't it be simple if, you know, we asked them for the source code? Again, its not likely that they would lose any money from it.

FreeDOS does everything regular dos does and its GPL licensed.

In general, I've read several articles that in effect said releasing source for some closed products is near impossible due to previous licensing and copyright. In a number of cases, the problem is getting each and every contributor to give up their claim to the code and relicense it. Some are dead and gone. Others have disappeared from the public scene and tracking them down may be impossible. It's a similar reason as to why the linux kernel will probably never go GPL v3.

http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/directory.aspx

Apparently, Microsoft already has some FOSS projects; it's only a matter of time before they FOSS an old operating system like DOS, for example.

Also: Active Directory Utilities apparently already are FOSS, according to that list. Just give it some time; I'm sure M$ will eventually be FOSS-friendly.

LOL

well excuse my ignorance but what is deal with GPL v3 and/or the difference to the current GPL version that the linux kernel is licensed under ??

GPL 3 helps secure the GPL against loopholes that GPL 2 still has. Remember: The GPL has your freedom in mind. There are corporations that want it to take it away, and the GPL makes sure that doesn't happen.

Oh no, now it has turned into a debate of GPL 2 vs 3. Well, 2 is better, because it's more free, and it doesn't have a grandfather clause.

Back to the topic:

As said before FreeDOS is open-source, so it's that the answer to your question ?

No, M$ will NEVER EVER EVER EVER become truly open source. Even if they say it is open source, read the license carefully, and have a lawyer nearby, because there will be a clause at the end in small print and lawyer talk meaning: "All your base are belong to us".

The Ultimate Solution:

Make ReactOS work. That will make M$ unnecessary!

Teach people how to use Linux.

well that's easier said than done !

btw , has anybody heard of the linux unified kernel ?

well i'm not concerned about corps and other evil folks trying to copy open source into their closed source apps , let alone "taking away our freedom" . because as long as we have the source the freedom will follow automatically.

cheers

As others have said, it's got a few more restrictions (some say it is "less free"). You can read more at wikipedia. I wasn't trying to start a flame war, I was just trying to find a suitable example of a large piece of software that would show the difficulty of changing the license.

Around 15 years ago, Paragon Technology Systems (aka PTS) from Russia published the 'Dos Development Kit'. It was open source DOS. Full sources were included. 95% of the DOS was written in assembler. It sold for 30 dollars or something like that.

PTS-DOS was lightning fast and contained built in drivers for CD-ROMs, which was pretty unique in those days. And it had a bootmanager built in as well.
DR-DOS 7 would not run Windows 3.11, but PTS-DOS would. Blazingly fast.

I still got some copies of that CD-ROm lying around here.

Here http://www.paragon-software.com/products/home/ is their website. They might listen in to you and release all rights for PTS-DOS.

In assembly ? Well, what use is that ? It has to be portable.

DOS will never be portable. DOS is tailor made for the IBM PC and its clones.

LPT port addresses are to be found on 0000:0408, 040A and 040C
The keyboard buffer is in fixed memory.
The screen buffer is at A000:0000 (or was it?).

It was written in assembly since in those days, a 75 MHz Pentium was a luxury. Especially in the USSR (or what was left of it). Target machines were 386 and up. PTS DOS ran in Flat Real Mode. Full 4 GB addressing while still running in real REAL MODE. Not virtual real mode.

HOW?
I absolutely need that for smeezix