[Fresco-devel] Syllable & Berlin

Hi!

First of all, I have to point out, that I'm NOT a programmer. I'm 
just interested in what's going on in the free software scene. So 
don't laugh at my ideas.

I've got to make a proposal, concerning two open-source projects. The 
one is the "Berlin windowing system", the other is the "Syllable 
Operating system". IMHO these two projects have it in oneself to 
conquer the mainstream computer market, some days. But I think only 
if they act in concert:

First let me say some words about the two projekts for those, who 
don't know one of then. (The most i took from the current homepages 
(http://syllable.sourceforge.net/; http://www.berlin-
consortium.org/): 

The Berlin-Project:
-------------------

Berlin is a windowing system derived from Fresco, a powerful 
structured graphics toolkit originally based on InterViews. Berlin 
extends Fresco to the status of a full windowing system, in command 
of the video hardware (via GGI, SDL, DirectFB or GLUT) and processing 
user input directly rather than peering with a host windowing system. 
Additionally, Berlin's extensions include a rich drawing interface 
with multiple backends, an upgrade to modern CORBA standards, a new 
Unicode-capable text system, dynamic module loading, and many 
communication abstractions for connecting other processes to the 
server. It is developed entirely by volunteers on the internet, using 
free software, and released under the GNU Library General Public 
License.

Berlin offers several advantages to the X Window System: 

Consistent user interface policy 
Alpha transparency integrated solidly into the server 
Resolution independence 
Programming language independence 
Network transparency 
Advanced text features 
Display independence 
Threading

Under Berlin you will not have to struggle with hundrets of toolkids 
or window-managers.

Syllable:
---------

The goal of Syllable is to create a reliable and easy to use Open 
Source Operating System for the home and small office user. We also 
want to encourage developers to create an Operating System that is 
intuitive, easy to use, and powerful.


Now my proposal:
----------------

Both projects should work together in the way, that there will be a 
common programming interface and even a common desktop. Berlin will 
mainly run under Linux and Syllable will be a small, handy operating 
System for people, who don't like to install a system as complex as 
Linux. Just think about Windows XP an 2000 (formerly  Windows 95 and 
NT). If the two projects work together as I propose, then it will be 
very easy to port a programm from Berlin to Syllable and conversely. 
That means for both: More applications. And applications are the 
crucial think in gaining users for a system. The users advantage is, 
that he (or she) don't have to learn a new desktop environment, if 
the system is changed from Syllable to Linux or so.

So think about my proposal and tell me your oppinion!


Wätzold
---------------------------
Wätzold Plaum
[email protected]