Windows Long-Horn

[VBD]

I have heard a little bit about Windows Long-Horn(Next Version). First, off, even if Developers aren't crazy about a new version, lots of people would. It has a very differen't interface from WinXp/NT/9X. I think we should make a shell that resambles Windows Long-Horn. We would need a few people to do it though. I have experience shell-Programming so I can write all the backbone stuff(Find Minimized Apps, Minimize/Maximize apps, etc.). I think we should make it so that it can have a multi-user interface. We will make it smaller+more stable than EXPLORER. I know, you say its the OS But Explorer is blamed for the majority of crashes. To make such a good shell we would need a few people:
1. An Artist: Find pictures of Longhorn, redo-them to put in program
2. A Programmer to help make it look nice/program the GUI(I will program most of the Back-Ground stuff that does the work)
3. Someone who is good at subclassing so that we can skin the shell.
4. Someone who can make a website for it.

Does anyone want to help/is interested in making a long-horn shell?

[aafuss]

Iagree-I can help you-as I have been doing a Mac OS style shell replacemwnt since last April. It's a good, useful project-VBD-I'll join. Why not also do one that resemblles windows XP-in fact-we could share code (from my shell replacements) for use in your idea of a windowws xp/longhorn style shell replacement-maybe I'd suggeest for users without XP(so 95-ME/NT 4 -Windows 2000).

[VBD]

What if we made it so that, you would have plug-ins with the ability to put plug-ins in plug-ins. It would be accomplished the following way: We could call it blue shell, and make long-horn the main part of it:
Blue Shell Launcher would start and run:
Bar1.EXE
Bar2.EXE
Bar3.EXE
Bar4.EXE
etc

Than, Each one bar would have a differen't function, and they wouldn't just be bars. Each bar would have a default script. It would have backbone stuff built in to do the actuall work, but every component would have its gui controlled by VBScript. That way, you could go beyond skins. Than without re-programming it, you could have a script arange the bars and make them funciton like long-horn. Another script could make it look like XP. And than, if a user didn't want to get dirty in VBScript to make a skin, they could just choose existing scripts, and reskin them by changing the bitmaps.

The shell would include a few bars(Start bar, tray icons, desktop, etc). Than, origanlly we would include 2 scripts, a long-horn script, and a 9X/XP/NT/2000 script. Than, for a skin, you would just copy the scripts and change the bitmaps. Basically, once we got the basic shell done, it would be easy to play around with. To make it look like a whole NEW os, you wouldn't need to rewrite, just rescript and reprogram the GUI..

Just my 2 cents, what do you think? We still need an artist and such though...

[VBD]

If each thing was scriptible to look that way, you could even program a MacOS script into it. Than, Mini-Shells(Scripts) would be very small. You could also, probably transfer most of your GUI Code into VB-Script. Also, having soom good working background stuff(From your MacOS shell) will be a help. Thank you for joining...

[stickman373]

let me know if you need a website i could do something for ya

[VBD]

That would actually be a help because once we finish it, it will need a pretty big website(News,Downloads,Forum(Support, Chit-Chat,Development),Skin Uploads,Skin Downloads, etc. I will contact you once we have something to put on a website or if you want you can start now....
Thank you very much . I will need all the help I can get.

[VBD]

I think before we start making beutifull skins/scripts, we should make the shell and make shure it runs correctly.

[aafuss]

OK,I uploaded a accessory program (BasicOffice Cardfile) and code for putting Blueshell into the systemtray, and the start of a window like the windows 'run' dialog. I agree with the way the shell will work-I can do a OEM edition to replace my exsisting shell project (bDesktop).

[VBD]

I didn't download it yet(ERrors I PM'd you about). Do you have any other IM's?(MSN/AOL/etc)? That we can talk on and send files in realtime? That would help a lot I think...

[stickman373]

i'll start on some basic layouts and you can decide how you would like the site, then i will start coding some php for the site for various things and setup a forum, i think i can get us some nice space too

[stickman373]

hey VBD, what would u prefer for a forum when i set it up?

I like invisionboards www.invisionboard.com

but aafuss said he like phpbb www.phpbb.com so what would you like me to setup?

[VBD]

I have to admit, I do like invisionboards a little better... Whatever you choose :-)

[stickman373]

heres a start for us then, we can work on the skin and forums later but will work right now for general chat i suppose

http://evasive.fileblitz.net/blueshell/forum/index.php

[VBD]

Thats sweet for like 3 minutes. It gave me an idea, we can do the whole site as a big forum with skins in a forum, downloads in a locked forum, etc. What do you think or was that your idea

[stickman373]

well it it could be done that way or better yet we could integrate it with a portal system

Or I could code a site in php, but i suppose a portal would do for now

[VBD]

Since you seem to be doing fine on design sofar, I think you should just do what you think will do good because what you've done so far is good

[VBD]

Does aafuss know? I think he should register so all 3 of us can be registered.

[stickman373]

i'm sure he will see the thread and i see there is a guest that is not you on the board so i think he is aware :P

[VBD]

Stop posting here: go here:
http://vbforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208975