为什么 ReactOS 的开发如此被低估？
1 分•作者: Waraqa•5 个月前
ReactOS 是一个开源操作系统，旨在成为 Windows 的二进制兼容替代品。尽管已经存在了二十多年，但它离主流应用还很遥远。这就引出了一个有趣的问题：为什么这样一个雄心勃勃且 potentially 有价值的项目，与其他开源操作系统相比，会如此不发达？
我们已经看到了几乎所有主要计算平台的开源实现——从 Unix 到 macOS，甚至包括像 AmigaOS、BeOS 和经典 Mac OS 这样 obscure 或过时的系统。DOS 有多个开源实现（如 FreeDOS），甚至像 DOSBox 这样的模拟器也被广泛使用和维护。
然而，Windows——历史上使用最广泛的桌面操作系统——却没有一个完整、可行的开源替代品。ReactOS 旨在填补这一空白，但其开发进展缓慢，只有少数活跃的贡献者。
如果我们考虑为 Windows 编写的软件数量、它对计算的影响以及它的历史统治地位，你可能会期望 ReactOS 拥有数千名贡献者。相反，它却难以维持一个小型开发团队。
是什么解释了这种差异？
是：
1. 技术复杂性
Windows NT 的架构确实很复杂，拥有数十年来积累的兼容性层、未公开的 API 和专有驱动程序模型。但这并不能完全解释它——其他复杂的系统也已经被成功克隆。
2. 法律问题
实现 Windows 兼容性需要逆向工程专有 API 和行为。虽然这通常是合法的，但它会带来不确定性，这可能会劝退贡献者。
3. 动态目标
Windows 仍在快速发展。与模拟一个固定的历史系统不同，ReactOS 必须追逐一个动态目标，同时保持向后兼容性。
4. 替代方案
Wine 提供了 Windows 应用程序兼容性，而无需完全替换操作系统。对于大多数程序员来说，Linux 提供了 superior 的开发环境。实际需求可能无法证明如此巨大的努力是合理的。
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ReactOS is an open-source operating system aiming to be a binary-compatible replacement for Windows. Despite being around for over two decades, it remains far from ready for mainstream use. That raises an interesting question: why is such an ambitious and potentially valuable project so underdeveloped compared to other open-source OS efforts?<p>We’ve seen open-source implementations of nearly every major computing platform — from Unix to macOS, and even obscure or obsolete systems like AmigaOS, BeOS, and classic Mac OS. DOS has multiple open-source implementations (like FreeDOS), and even emulators like DOSBox are widely used and maintained.<p>Yet Windows — the most widely used desktop OS in history — has no complete, viable open-source alternative. ReactOS aims to fill that gap, but its development moves at a glacial pace, with only a handful of active contributors.<p>If we consider the sheer volume of software written for Windows, the cultural impact it’s had on computing, and its historical dominance, you’d expect ReactOS to have thousands of contributors. Instead, it struggles to maintain a small team of developers.<p>What explains this discrepancy?<p>Is it:<p>1. Technical Complexity
Windows NT's architecture is genuinely complex, with decades of accumulated compatibility layers, undocumented APIs, and proprietary driver models. But this doesn't fully explain it—other complex systems have been successfully cloned.<p>2. Legal Concerns
Implementing Windows compatibility requires reverse engineering proprietary APIs and behaviors. While this is generally legal, it creates uncertainty that might discourage contributors.<p>3. Moving Target
Windows continues to evolve rapidly. Unlike emulating a fixed historical system, ReactOS must chase a moving target while maintaining backward compatibility.<p>4. Alternative Solutions
Wine provides Windows application compatibility without requiring a full OS replacement. Linux offers a superior development environment for most programmers. The practical need may not justify the enormous effort.