xref: /reactos/README.md (revision 8361200d)
1<p align=center>
2  <img src="https://reactos.org/wiki/images/0/02/ReactOS_logo.png">
3</p>
4
5---
6
7<p align=center>
8  <a href="https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-047-released">
9    <img alt="Release 0.4.7 Release" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/release-0.4.7-0688CB.svg">
10  </a>
11  <a href="https://reactos.org/download">
12    <img alt="Download ReactOS" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/download-latest-0688CB.svg">
13  </a>
14  <a href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos">
15    <img alt="SourceForge Download" src="https://img.shields.io/sourceforge/dm/reactos.svg?colorB=0688CB">
16  </a>
17  <a href="https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/COPYING">
18    <img alt="License" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/license-GNU_GPL_2.0-0688CB.svg">
19  </a>
20  <a href="https://reactos.org/donating">
21    <img alt="Donate" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/%24-donate-E44E4A.svg">
22  </a>
23  <a href="https://twitter.com/reactos">
24    <img alt="Follow on Twitter" src="https://img.shields.io/twitter/follow/reactos.svg?style=social&label=Follow%20%40reactos">
25  </a>
26</p>
27
28## Quick Links
29
30- [Website](https://reactos.org)
31- [Wiki](https://reactos.org/wiki)
32- [Forum](https://reactos.org/forum)
33- [JIRA Bug Tracker](https://jira.reactos.org/issues)
34- [ReactOS Git mirror](https://git.reactos.org)
35- [Testman](https://reactos.org/testman/)
36
37## What is ReactOS?
38
39ReactOS™ is an Open Source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with applications and drivers written for the Microsoft® Windows™ NT family of operating systems (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Seven).
40
41The ReactOS project, although currently focused on Windows Server 2003 compatibility, is always keeping an eye toward compatibility with Windows Vista and future Windows NT releases.
42
43The code of ReactOS is licensed under [GNU GPL 2.0](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/COPYING).
44
45## Building
46
47[![appveyor.badge]][appveyor.link] [![travis.badge]][travis.link] [![rosbewin.badge]][rosbewin.link] [![rosbeunix.badge]][rosbeunix.link] [![coverity.badge]][coverity.link]
48
49To build the system it is strongly advised to use the _ReactOS Build Environment (RosBE)._
50Up-to-date versions for Windows and for Unix/GNU-Linux are available from our download page at: http://www.reactos.org/wiki/Build_Environment.
51
52Alternatively one can use Microsoft Visual C++ (MSVC) version 2010+. Building with MSVC is covered here: https://www.reactos.org/wiki/Building_with_MSVC.
53
54### Binaries
55
56To build ReactOS you must run the `configure` script in the directory you want to have your build files. Choose `configure.cmd` or `configure.sh` depending on your system. Then run `ninja <modulename>` to build a module you want or just `ninja` to build all modules.
57
58### Bootable images
59
60To build a bootable CD image run `ninja bootcd` from the
61build directory. This will create a CD image with a filename `bootcd.iso`.
62
63See ["Building ReactOS"](http://www.reactos.org/wiki/Building_ReactOS) for more details.
64
65## Installing
66
67ReactOS currently can only be installed on a machine that has a FAT16 or FAT32 partition as the active (bootable) partition.
68The partition on which ReactOS is to be installed (which may or may not be the bootable partition) must also be formatted as FAT16 or FAT32.
69ReactOS Setup can format the partitions if needed.
70
71To install ReactOS from the bootable CD distribution, extract the archive contents. Then burn the CD image, boot from it, and follow the instructions.
72
73See ["Installing ReactOS"](https://www.reactos.org/wiki/Installing_ReactOS) Wiki page or [INSTALL](INSTALL) for more details.
74
75## Testing
76
77If you discover a bug in ReactOS search on JIRA first - it might be reported already. If not report the bug providing logs and as many information as possible.
78
79See ["File Bugs"](https://www.reactos.org/wiki/File_Bugs) for a guide.
80
81__NOTE:__ The bug tracker is _not_ for discussions. Please use `#reactos` Freenode IRC channel or our [forum](https://reactos.org/forum).
82
83## Contributing  ![prwelcome.badge]
84
85We are always looking for developers! Check [how to contribute](CONTRIBUTING.md) if you are willing to participate.
86
87You can also support ReactOS by [donating](https://reactos.org/donating)! We rely on our backers to maintain our servers and accelerate development by [hiring full-time devs](https://reactos.org/node/785).
88
89## More information
90
91ReactOS is a Free and Open Source operating system based on the Windows architecture,
92providing support for existing applications and drivers, and an alternative to the current dominant consumer operating system.
93
94It is not another wrapper built on Linux, like WINE. It does not attempt or plan to compete with WINE; in fact, the user-mode part of ReactOS is almost entirely WINE-based and our two teams have cooperated closely in the past.
95
96ReactOS is also not "yet another OS". It does not attempt to be a third player like any other alternative OS out there. People are not meant to uninstall Linux and use ReactOS instead; ReactOS is a replacement for Windows users who want a Windows replacement that behaves just like Windows.
97
98More information is available at: https://www.reactos.org.
99
100Also see the [media/doc](/media/doc/) subdirectory for some sparse notes.
101
102## Who is responsible
103
104Active devs are listed as members of [GitHub organization](https://github.com/orgs/reactos/people).
105See also the [CREDITS](CREDITS) file for others.
106
107## Code mirrors
108
109The main development is done on [GitHub](https://github.com/reactos/reactos). We have an [alternative mirror](https://git.reactos.org/?p=reactos.git) in case GitHub is down.
110
111There is also an obsolete [SVN archive repository](https://svn.reactos.org/svn/reactos?view=revision) that is kept for historical purposes.
112
113[travis.badge]:     https://travis-ci.org/reactos/reactos.svg?branch=master
114[appveyor.badge]:   https://ci.appveyor.com/api/projects/status/github/reactos/reactos?branch=master&svg=true
115[coverity.badge]:   https://scan.coverity.com/projects/205/badge.svg?flat=1
116[rosbewin.badge]:   https://img.shields.io/badge/RosBE_Windows-2.1.5-0688CB.svg
117[rosbeunix.badge]:  https://img.shields.io/badge/RosBE_Unix-2.1.2-0688CB.svg
118[prwelcome.badge]:  https://img.shields.io/badge/PR-welcome-0688CB.svg
119
120[travis.link]:      https://travis-ci.org/reactos/reactos
121[appveyor.link]:    https://ci.appveyor.com/project/AmineKhaldi/reactos
122[coverity.link]:    https://scan.coverity.com/projects/205
123[rosbewin.link]:    https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/files/RosBE-Windows/i386/2.1.5/
124[rosbeunix.link]:   https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/files/RosBE-Unix/2.1.2/
125