New web Chromium based for OS/2 getting closer!
- Details
- Written by Roderick Klein
- Category: Software
This posting is to inform you QT is making a lot of headway but we are not at the point we can deliver you a browser, yet. The goal of the QT port is to port a Chromium based browser such as the Falcon browser to OS/2 and ArcaOS. As explained before Firefox long term is no longer an option for OS/2. For more updates posted since Oktober 2017 about this funding campaign visit our Bitwise Works QT report archive.
- We need your donations to keep coming in. You can become Bitwise Works Patreon member and donate each month.
- But you can also donate a one time amount via the OS/2 VOICE donation page.
These two screenshots, while textmode, where taken in November 2018. As posted before updates from me where slow the last couple of months duo to health issue's.
Dnslookup compiled with the latest QT version on ArcaOS.
A Downloadmanager compiled with the latest QT version on ArcaOS as textmode applications.
Its currently estimated that within the next 6 to 8 weeks (half way or end of May 2019), the first graphicall OS/2 applications can be compiled. The QT library framework delivers on average 80% of the program code required to run a QT based browser. The port of the browser it self is expected to take 6 months.
Other applications that need QT on Arca/OS2 are for example:
Update 8 from OS/2 VOICE/BWW QT/browser funding campaign, QT partly working!
- Details
- Written by Roderick Klein
- Category: Software
Dear OS/2 community,
The Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation (referred as “VOICE”) send out a status update about the funding campaign to support bww bitwise works GmbH (referred as "bitwise") company. Bitwise is working on a port of the QT library to OS/2 and is making a lot of progress. As I have written in the Update 7 I have not written an update about the status of the funding campaign f duo to health issue's.
In update I had forgotten to report a very important detail. Next to that the current QT port passes all 70.000 tests build into the QT framework. QT text mode command line applications can already be compiled. While grapgicall applications is what we want as community it shows we are making a lot of progress1
You can see how much money is donated here. We are currently at about 23.310 Euro. We need your help as a community to make this important port QT from Bitwise move forward. All source code is provided free of charge to the world and is always checked in here. Bitwise works counts on YOUR donations to make this happen. You can read here how you can donate money to Bitwise here: www.os2voice.org/membership.html. A lot of people in the community download software from the Netlabs server without fully releasing a lot of that work is being performed by Bitwise. So please continue to donate!
Another new way to sponsor Bitwise monthly is by using Patreon. Each month you donate an amount, you decide.
This is a statement that was jointly written by the Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation and bww bitwise works GmbH.
Best regards,
Roderick Klein & The "bitwise" team
Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation Silvan, Herwig and Dmitriy
Update 7 from OS/2 VOICE/BWW QT/browser funding campaign
- Details
- Written by Roderick Klein
- Category: Software
Dear OS/2 community,
It has been about 6 months ago since the Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation (referred as “VOICE”) send out a status update about the funding campaign to support bww bitwise works GmbH (referred as "bitwise") company. Bitwise has are working on porting the latest version of the QT platform to OS/2. The reason you have not heard anything from VOICE is because I had some medical issue's. I am recovering and slowly picking up on some OS/2 stuff again, such as Warpstock Europe that will be held in Utrecht in de The Netherlands on the 18 and 19th of May. For more information please visit www.warpstock.eu.
Bitwise has however not stopped working on the QT project and a lot of progress has been made. Please check this old posting for the roadmap that was published jointly by VOICE and Bitwise. Currently Dmitriy Kuminov, the developer from Bitwise is working one of the most important DLL's. This is the QT DLL that provides the graphics in applications.
Of the QT port about 60 to 70% of the project is finished now. The QT test suite has also been used to make certain the QT port works correctly. You can read more about it here. This was posted on the 31st of December 2018: "The debug build passes 68572 tests (with only 2 failures as well, for the same reason). This is quite a number. Apparently, Qt5 is going to be the best Qt for OS/2 port ever."
In some cases however work is not performed directly on the QT project itsekf. Like with the previous big project Bitwise worked on, such as the Firefox browser, updates where made to many libraries to make it possible to deliver Firefox on ArcaOS/OS/2. All the Linux software ported to ArcaOS/OS/2 use a couple of core DLL's. One of these sets of DLL's are called LIBC. In order to make QT work updates had to be made to the LIBC DLlL's. You can read more on the details here. So your donation is put to good use!
You can see how much money is donated here. We are currently at about 22.000 Euro. We need your help as a community to make this import port of Bitwise move forward. All source code is provided free of charge to the world and is always checked in here. Bitwise works counts on YOUR donations to make this happen. You can read here how you can donate money to Bitwise here: www.os2voice.org/membership.html. A lot of people in the community download software from the Netlabs server without fully releasing a lot of that work is being performed by Bitwise. So please continue to donate!
Another new way to sponsor Bitwise monthly is by using Patreon. Each month you donate an amount, you decide.
This is a statement that was jointly written by the Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation and bww bitwise works GmbH.
Best regards,
Roderick Klein & The "bitwise" team
Dutch OS/2 VOICE foundation Silvan, Herwig and Dmitriy
Remote OS/2 desktop support via the internet!
- Details
- Written by Roderick Klein
- Category: Software
For people running another operating systems such as Windows, MacOS or Linux, remote control software has been a normal tool to use for years already. A lot of helpdesks for example use Teamviewer. We however do not have a tool that enables people to provide suppor to OS/2 user. Older software remote control packages such as Netop OS/2 from Danware or older software such as PolyPM is no longer sold or the software is insecure.
So for who is this webpage?
People who need OS/2 support:
If you are an OS/2 user of OS/2, eComStation or ArcaOS and you have an issue you want resolved with OS/2, the Dutch OS/2 foundation might be able you to help you. Other options you have is to contact Arca Noae or a ticket here (you need to have an account created here). You can also discuss your issue here on the forum OS2WORLD forum or OS2.org for example.
Another option that OS/2 VOICE now offers with this new remote control software, if you have a working internet connection under OS/2, we can login into your OS/2 system with your help! If you have an OS/2 issue you are really stuck with it send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and if needed we can set up a remote control session. The service is free of charge. and if we resolve your issue any donation to OS/2 VOICE foundation is welcome. Any donations made to OS/2 VOICE will be used to hire OS/2 developers to develop open source software for OS/2. Note: None of the OS/2 VOICE board members will be hired to perform any of this work!
You do not have to modify anything on your network or OS/2 system to run this software. We send it via email, you can at any moment of the support session, close the remote control support session if you want. The current version of the remote control software does not provide file transfer or a chat support. However we can access your desktop. The connection is also encrypted so other parties can not break in.
Companies providing remote OS/2 support (last updated 7th of October 2018) are:
If you want to be listed service provider using this tool to provide OS/2 support to customers, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
People who want to provide support to OS/2 users/companies.
If you want to provide support to OS/2 users or companies you can download the remote control tool here. The sources can be downloaded here.
- Inside the ZIP is a document called helpdeskt.txt with instructions how to setup the server portion of the software.
- You will need to setup a port forward in your router or cable/ADSL modem
- For each customer you help you create a new package.
- When you send the "client" package to the customer via email, you might need to rename the file extension from .EXE to for example .EXQ. This is to prevent that certain email providers such as Gmail (Google) that do not except emails with attachements that contain a file name with the file extension .EXE.
Credentials
The remote control software is based on SSH and VNC server + client. Rich Walsh put the software in this single package. If you encounter any issue's with the software or you have any suggestions please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Disclaimer/License:
The disclaimer is very simple. This software is provided to anybody who wants to use it at no cost. For this reason the developer Rich Walsh, the VOICE foundation and/or its board members can not be held accountable in any way for any damages. Its provided free of charge to the world and support is provided on a best effort basis.
The fuil license can be found in the "remote control tool", in the ZIP file is a file called helpdesk.txt. See the section "License and Acknowledgements" .