# win32 Win32 is a Windows platform and API for building native desktop applications in C/C++, providing direct access to Windows and hardware. This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## A custom virtual machine for the Stars! 4X game DevFeed: [A custom virtual machine for the Stars! 4X game]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2026-09-17T02:00:00Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Chris Wellons]() Topics: [Emulator](), [win32](), [Windows](), [x86](), [GitHub](), [releases]() Tags: [blog](), [c](), [emulator](), [game](), [github](), [releases](), [vm](), [win32](), [windows](), [x86]() ### AI overview The article presents Stars!VM, a custom virtual machine for running the 1995 16-bit Windows 3.1 game Stars! on modern systems. It combines an 80286 emulator with a Win16-to-Win32 bridge, embeds the original game in signed GitHub releases, and provides 32-bit builds with features such as a modern file chooser and 4K scaling. ### Source excerpt Stars! is a 1995 4X game (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) for 16-bit Windows 3.1 that I first played ~28 years ago. While Windows is famously backwards compatible, it's notoriously difficult to play Stars! today. Windows x64 cannot run 16-bit applications, and playing requires either retro hardware or emulation (otvdm, DOSBox), sometimes paired with Wine. My new, exciting solution, Stars!VM, or Stars! Virtual Machine, embeds a custom 80286 emulator and a Win16 to Win32 bridge. As native Win32, the game looks and feels exactly as it did originally, except sporting a modern file chooser and 4k scaling. It's indistinguishable from a genuine 32-bit or 64-bit port of the game, especially with the original 16-bit game embedded inside the VM executable. The signed releases on GitHub embed a compressed copy of the original 16-bit game, so that single EXE is ready to play out-of-the-box with no further setup or downloads. I'm distributing 32-bit builds (but requires SSE2) because there's no advantage to 64-bit here, and these builds work (almost) everywhere except 16-bit Windows. 32-bit Windows could run the original 16-bit game, but the VM-encapsulated version is better behaved. It doesn't dump a Stars.ini under C:\WINDOWS, it interacts properly with the task bar, and copy protection is neutralized via the OS bridge. If you ever been curious about Stars!, now's the time to try it. The game has a thorough, built-in tutorial, but also check out the wiki, the official strategy guide, and AutoHost (play-by-email service). The game predates the modern search engine concept, otherwise they might have chosen a better name. I suggest using "stars 4x" in your searches. If you want to build from source and hack on the VM yourself, the best tool for the job is w64devkit, of course, because it comes with everything you'll need. Plus the game itself: stars.exe from stars27jrc3.zip. Implementation details The emulator itself requires x86 or x86-64 because it does not implement x87 ## Codename One Compiles Java and Kotlin Apps to Native Windows Executables Without a JVM DevFeed: [Codename One Compiles Java and Kotlin Apps to Native Windows Executables Without a JVM]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Shai Almog Published: 2026-06-15T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [CodeName One]() Topics: [Java](), [Windows](), [win32](), [Arm]() Tags: [binaries](), [compilation](), [desktop](), [java](), [native](), [win32](), [windows]() ### AI overview Codename One's new Windows port uses the ParparVM pipeline to compile Java and Kotlin bytecode into standalone native Win32 executables without bundling or installing a JVM. The build targets both x64 and arm64 Windows systems. ### Source excerpt The new native Windows port compiles your Java to a standalone Win32 executable through ParparVM, Direct2D, and DirectWrite. No JVM, no bundled runtime, a 5MB hello world, and both x64 and arm64 from one build. ## Rapps Enhancement final report - GSoC 2020 DevFeed: [Rapps Enhancement final report - GSoC 2020]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2020-08-29T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [win32](), [Command-line interface](), [Refactoring](), [GUI]() Tags: [command-line](), [free](), [gsoc](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [refactor](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview A GSoC 2020 final report describes improvements to ReactOS RAPPS, including screenshot and icon support, UI and list-view refactoring, command-line options, settings storage changes, and remaining unfinished work. ### Source excerpt Hi, I'm He Yang (@kernel.bin), one of the GSoC-2020 students of ReactOS. How time flies, three months have passed and now GSoC is coming to an end. During the last three months, I've been working on rapps, and I've made some small progress on it: improving rapps by increasing it's functionality, stability, and make the code more well-organized. During GSoC, I've acquired a lot of coding skills and knowledge about Win32. ## Rapps Enhancement - GSoC 2020 DevFeed: [Rapps Enhancement - GSoC 2020]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2020-06-04T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [App](), [GUI](), [Utility Software](), [Software](), [win32]() Tags: [application](), [bug](), [features](), [free](), [gsoc](), [gui](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview A GSoC 2020 project describes planned enhancements to ReactOS's RAPPS application manager. The work focuses on fixing bugs, improving its graphical interface and functionality, and adding software snapshot, icon, list, detail, command-line, and concurrent-download support. ### Source excerpt Hello, I am He Yang (@kernel.bin) from China. This year, I signed up for GSoC, and I'm very glad to be given the chance to work with the ReactOS team. My mentors for the project are Mark Jansen and Ioannis Adamopoulos. It's a great honor to have two mentors to guide me. My project is "Application manager RAPPS". RAPPS is used by almost everyone using ReactOS, thus making it essential to get RAPPS easy-to-use, powerful and bug-free. ## Contribute to ReactOS DevFeed: [Contribute to ReactOS]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2020-03-22T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Development](), [C](), [Operating system](), [C++](), [PHP](), [win32](), [Google]() Tags: [c](), [c-plus-plus](), [contribute](), [contributors](), [designer](), [developer](), [editor](), [free](), [google-summer-of-code](), [matter](), [open-source](), [os](), [pull-requests](), [react](), [reactos](), [testing](), [win32](), [winapi](), [windows]() ### AI overview The ReactOS Project invites contributors of all skill levels and describes opportunities for developers, testers, editors, designers, and web developers. It highlights Google Summer of Code, mentoring, Hackfests, and requirements for kernel, application, web, and testing roles. ### Source excerpt The ReactOS Project always seeks new qualified contributors from all skill levels. No matter if you are a developer, tester, editor or designer, your contribution is highly appreciated. Please see below for all available positions and contact us via Mattermost or the mailing lists. Every year we participate in Google Summer of Code which is a program by Google that lets you work with us during the summer to work on a major project. ## ReactOS Architecture DevFeed: [ReactOS Architecture]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2020-02-08T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [Operating system](), [Windows](), [Open Source](), [win32](), [systems](), [C](), [C++](), [Processes]() Tags: [architecture](), [c](), [c-plus-plus](), [free](), [open-source](), [operating-systems](), [os](), [processes](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS is an open-source reimplementation of the Windows NT operating system. The article describes development opportunities, its build environment, and the project's applications and core processes, including C and C++ applications using base Win32 APIs. ### Source excerpt Interested in ReactOS development? Becoming a ReactOS developer is both simple and rewarding. The codebase allows developers of all different backgrounds and skillsets to find something that interests them, and allows them to get going quickly using our excellent build environment. The challenge of working on a mainstream operating system is something many people are interested in, however the opportunities to do so are rather limited. Linux and BSD are the obvious choices, but not everyone wants to work in a unix environment or are put off by the vast scale of unix communities and the large choice on offer. ## GSoC'17 : Project Taskbar Shell Extensions for ReactOS | Final Report DevFeed: [GSoC'17 : Project Taskbar Shell Extensions for ReactOS | Final Report]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2017-08-27T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Extension](), [Toolbar](), [win32](), [Windows](), [C++](), [Programming]() Tags: [battery](), [c-plus-plus](), [code](), [extensions](), [free](), [gsoc](), [open-source](), [os](), [programming](), [react](), [reactos](), [toolbar](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview A 2017 GSoC final report describes work on ReactOS taskbar shell extensions. The project implemented a Quick Launch Toolbar and added notification-area support for battery status and safely removing devices. It also discusses the Win32, COM, and ATL technologies used and the implementation of reusable toolbar-related classes and interfaces. ### Source excerpt Hello, everyone! It's me, Shriraj (a.k.a sr13). The time has come to summarize all the work I have done in this Summer of Code with ReactOS and complete this journey of my first ever GSoC, though my story with ReactOS is just beginning! TL;DR of Project Taskbar Shell Extensions: # Designed & Implemented the Quick Launch Toolbar for ReactOS. # Designed & Added support for Battery Status in notification area (System Tray). ## GSOC Project TSE Week 7 DevFeed: [GSOC Project TSE Week 7]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2017-07-20T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [Windows](), [win32](), [API](), [systems]() Tags: [api](), [battery](), [drivers](), [free](), [gsoc](), [open-source](), [os](), [project](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi](), [windows]() ### AI overview A GSOC project update describing work in Phase 2 to add battery status support to the notification tray. The author explains Windows IOCTLs, DeviceIoControl(), battery devices, and the initial use of SetupDiGetClassDevs() to enumerate local battery devices. ### Source excerpt Hello World!! ;D If you had read my last blog then you already know that we are in "Phase 2". And whats exciting is this phase zoomed past at such a speed that in the upcoming week I am starting "Phase 3". (Spoiler Alert! XP) But, let us hold our horses and let me describe what happened in Phase 2. For a TL;DR you can just check the Task 2. ## Building a legacy search engine for a legacy protocol DevFeed: [Building a legacy search engine for a legacy protocol]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: ben@benjojo.co.uk Published: 2017-05-21T12:26:48Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [benjojo blog]() Topics: [Protocol (disambiguation)](), [Crawler](), [search-engines](), [legacy](), [selectors](), [Windows](), [Bash](), [win32](), [Support]() Tags: [bash](), [crawler](), [css](), [http](), [implementation](), [legacy](), [protocol](), [search](), [search-engine](), [server](), [servers](), [software](), [tcp]() ### AI overview The article describes building a search engine for the Gopher protocol. It covers crawling Gopher servers, indexing menus and text files, and running an old AltaVista search engine on Windows 98 with a stunnel relay. ### Source excerpt Building a legacy search engine for a legacy protocol Translations are availa ## Google Summer of Code 2016 Conclusion DevFeed: [Google Summer of Code 2016 Conclusion]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2016-09-07T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Open Source](), [Operating system](), [win32](), [Hardware](), [Kernel]() Tags: [drivers](), [filesystem](), [free](), [google-summer-of-code](), [hardware](), [kernel](), [network](), [open-source](), [operating-systems](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [web-browsers](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview The ReactOS Project's Google Summer of Code 2016 concluded with four student projects focused on improving hardware and storage support, the USB stack, NTFS support, and networking. The projects completed their principal objectives, while merging and integration remained ongoing. ### Source excerpt It's been a long but ultimately rewarding journey to the completion of Google Summer of Code 2016 for the ReactOS Project. As a project that seeks to implement an open source operating system based off of the NT architecture and compatible with both NT device drivers and Win32 applications, ReactOS faces some rather distinct challenges compared to other open source OS projects. With an emphasis on compatibility and familiarity, interest in the project has increased substantially after the major revamps the other family of NT operating systems has underwent over the past few years. ## ReactOS 0.4.0 Released DevFeed: [ReactOS 0.4.0 Released]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2016-02-16T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [version](), [CMake](), [gcc](), [MSVC](), [gdb](), [Kernel](), [USB](), [Oracle-VM-VirtualBox](), [networking](), [win32]() Tags: [cmake](), [compiler](), [free](), [gcc](), [gdb](), [kernel](), [msvc](), [networking](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [release](), [toolchain](), [usb](), [version](), [virtualbox](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview The ReactOS Project announces the release of version 0.4.0, highlighting user-facing improvements such as ext2 read/write support, NTFS read support, a new explorer shell, SerialATA, sound, USB, virtualization, and wireless networking. Developer improvements include CMake support for GCC and MSVC, faster compilation, GDB remote kernel debugging, and WinDBG support. ### Source excerpt Nearly ten years ago the ReactOS Project released version 0.3.0. Today we are proud to announce the formal release of version 0.4.0. A great deal of work has gone into making this release happen and as we look back it is remarkable to consider how far the project has come since that release a decade ago. This release is both a celebration of and a testament to everything that the ReactOS team and community has achieved together. ## List of Modules loaded DevFeed: [List of Modules loaded]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Abhinaba Basu \[MSFT\] Published: 2015-03-31T11:41:53Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Abhinaba Basu]() Topics: [modules](), [Processes](), [Tool](), [Command-line interface](), [win32](), [GitHub]() Tags: [command-line](), [github](), [modules](), [process](), [tool](), [win32]() ### AI overview The article introduces a small native command-line tool for listing and filtering modules loaded in processes or across the system. It uses Win32 APIs and provides source code on GitHub. ### Source excerpt While working on the .NET Loader and now in Bing where I am right now working on some features... ## Use cases for ReactOS DevFeed: [Use cases for ReactOS]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2013-05-26T00:00:00Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Windows](), [win32](), [networking](), [Cloud]() Tags: [free](), [networking](), [open-source](), [os](), [pos](), [react](), [reactos](), [remote](), [thin-client](), [win32](), [winapi](), [windows]() ### AI overview This article examines business-oriented use cases for ReactOS, including remote desktop thin clients, point-of-sale and industrial systems, and remotely hosted applications. It argues that these narrower scenarios may be more attainable than replacing Windows XP or serving as a general-purpose Windows successor. ### Source excerpt Many people see ReactOS as a Windows XP successor, a way for them to avoid the changes Microsoft brought about in Windows 8. This is a somewhat idealized goal, as ReactOS would need to be much more complete before it could attempt to fill in that role. There are however other use cases for which ReactOS is much closer to being ready for. Many of these however are more business use cases than consumer use cases. ## ReactOS weighs the compatibility costs of adding Windows shell features DevFeed: [ReactOS weighs the compatibility costs of adding Windows shell features]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2013-05-21T00:00:00Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [win32](), [Microsoft PowerToys]() Tags: [free](), [improvements](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [shell](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview A ReactOS project article examines requests for Windows shell enhancements, focusing on fullscreen support and an alternate text-based Alt-Tab view. It argues that forcing fullscreen support could create behavior outside the Win32 API and increase compatibility responsibilities, while the alternate view appears more feasible. ### Source excerpt The project often gets suggestions for what people consider to be "improvements" over how Windows does something. Nothing wrong with that, save for the fact people rarely consider the implications of what they are asking for. The most recent spurt was in "enhancements" for the shell, some of it due to the renewed attention I started drawing to it. We'll take the request for "full screen" application support to start with. ## A perspective: developers vs Microsoft DevFeed: [A perspective: developers vs Microsoft]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2013-05-11T00:00:00Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [Microsoft](), [Windows](), [API](), [Development](), [win32](), [deprecated](), [C++]() Tags: [api](), [c-plus-plus](), [deprecated](), [developers](), [development](), [free](), [microsoft](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi](), [windows]() ### AI overview The article examines the tension between Windows developers and Microsoft. It explains that developers need APIs and platforms to evolve while preserving compatibility, but deprecated or unstable interfaces can require costly rewrites. It uses the aging, verbose, C-centric win32 API as an example of a platform that may eventually require a clean break because of technical debt and architectural limitations. ### Source excerpt Most people understand that Windows is used by a variety of people who have a variety of needs, ranging from corporate server to workstation to POS terminals to home PC and beyond. Most people accept that whenever Microsoft updates Windows, it has to balance the competing requirements to find some kind of workable compromise. There is however another set of competing requirements that many do not really register, even those that call themselves power users or are IT admins. ## New Developer Contract DevFeed: [New Developer Contract]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2012-09-07T00:00:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [win32](), [Development]() Tags: [added](), [announce](), [bugs](), [developer](), [development](), [features](), [free](), [instead](), [new-features](), [number](), [open-source](), [os](), [period](), [project](), [react](), [reactos](), [reduce](), [summary](), [time](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview The ReactOS Project announced a one-month development contract with James Tabor focused on fixing longstanding bugs in the Win32 subsystem. The contract covers 120 hours and is intended to address an initial list of bugs, with additional bugs added if time permits. ### Source excerpt The ReactOS Project is pleased to announce a new development contract with James Tabor, a long time ReactOS developer that has worked extensively on the Win32 subsystem. Jim intends to tackle many of the longstanding bugs and hopefully significantly reduce the number of outstanding issues in the Win32 subsystem. This particular contract will have a heavy emphasis on bugfixing instead of attempting to introduce new features. Time: 120 hours ## ReactOS Newsletter 92: Win32 Raster Operations and Low-Level Bug Fixes DevFeed: [ReactOS Newsletter 92: Win32 Raster Operations and Low-Level Bug Fixes]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2012-05-21T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [win32](), [Code generation](), [Kernel]() Tags: [assembly](), [c](), [code-generation](), [debugger](), [exceptions](), [floating-point](), [free](), [kernel](), [open-source](), [optimized](), [os](), [performance](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS Newsletter 92 describes Win32 improvements in GDI, including generated optimized raster-operation functions and expanded use of software floating-point operations. It also reports ARM low-level exception, interrupt, trap, and debugger-related bug fixes. ### Source excerpt Win32 Improvements Deep within GDI is code designed to carry out a series of raster operations that involve applying patterns to bitmaps. For performance reasons, it is desirable to have optimized versions of this code for the various bit depths. Formally, ReactOS only generated these optimized versions for the few ternary raster operations that were used often enough to be given a common name by Microsoft. The rest were handled in a single unoptimized version. ## ReactOS Newsletter 75: Bitmap Drawing and LiveCD Networking Updates DevFeed: [ReactOS Newsletter 75: Bitmap Drawing and LiveCD Networking Updates]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2010-08-07T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Network](), [networking](), [GUI](), [TCP/IP](), [DHCP](), [win32]() Tags: [compression](), [data-structures](), [dhcp](), [free](), [graphics](), [network](), [networking](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [tcp-ip](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS Newsletter 75 reports development progress on bitmap drawing and LiveCD networking. It describes work to improve device-independent and device-dependent bitmap conversion, address legacy data-structure support, and fix bugs affecting TCP/IP, NDIS, and DHCP device detection so the LiveCD can get online. ### Source excerpt Starcraft 2 came out. Enough said. Bitmap Drawing Bitmaps are more or less the primary medium through which the Win32 subsystem draws things. However, the term refers to more than just the widely used format for images and the like. That format is generally considered a device independent bitmap (DIB). With a device independent version there of course exists a device dependent one, which is the format that a particular graphics device supports for drawing. ## ReactOS Development Update: Driver Header Cleanup, Build Infrastructure Issues, and Yarotows DevFeed: [ReactOS Development Update: Driver Header Cleanup, Build Infrastructure Issues, and Yarotows]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2010-07-09T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [gcc](), [MSVC](), [cross-platform](), [win32](), [Graphics](), [Kernel]() Tags: [compilers](), [cross-platform](), [drivers](), [free](), [gcc](), [graphics](), [kernel](), [msvc](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [screen](), [syntax](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview This ReactOS newsletter reports progress cleaning up driver headers and adding checks for MSVC and GCC compatibility. It also covers DNS resolution, a failed build server, continued regression testing, a replacement IRC notification system, and the Yarotows branch's work on Win32 subsystem and display-driver issues. ### Source excerpt General Developments Amine Khaldi's effort in getting the driver headers cleaned up is starting to show results. Not only are a good portion of the driver headers sorted out, the necessary checks have been added to allow the headers to be used in both MSVC and GCC. Anyone who has had to write cross platform code will know that the two compilers have subtle differences at times in their allowed syntax so producing code that works with both can get nontrivial quickly. ## Newsletter 73 DevFeed: [Newsletter 73]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2010-06-23T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Firefox](), [bug](), [Kernel](), [win32](), [Security]() Tags: [bug](), [firefox](), [free](), [kernel](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [security](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS Newsletter 73 discusses a ReactOS timer bug exposed by Firefox downloads and describes a kernel-timer-based fix. It also reports problems with console screen-buffer bookkeeping, including cleanup issues that could cause a resource leak and create a potential security problem. ### Source excerpt A word of advice to everyone, traveling through six different cities in the span of two weeks requires a careful balance between changes of clothes brought and lightness of luggage, though a willingness to hand wash will also go a long way. Timers and Messages Several years back when I first joined the ReactOS team as a release engineer, which I technically still am, the team ran into an odd bug where when downloading something in Firefox they needed to move the mouse to see any progress. ## ReactOS Newsletter 72 Reports Regression Fixes and Server Upgrades DevFeed: [ReactOS Newsletter 72 Reports Regression Fixes and Server Upgrades]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2010-05-15T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Operating system](), [bug](), [win32](), [Server]() Tags: [bugs](), [free](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [upgrades](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS developers reduced accumulated regressions while limiting changes that could introduce new issues. The newsletter also reports server upgrades, downtime, and fixes to Win32 message handling, including six bugs addressed in one commit. ### Source excerpt Just a heads up, I'm out of the country for the next two months and will have unreliable net access, so do not expect any newsletters until late July. General Developments A few weeks back Aleksey Bragin directed the developers to take a look at a long list of regressions that had accumulated. Individually the problems were for the most part minor, though a few were near show stoppers. However, cumulatively they represented a major perception problem in ReactOS' progress. ## ARWINSS: A Parallel Win32 Subsystem Effort in ReactOS DevFeed: [ARWINSS: A Parallel Win32 Subsystem Effort in ReactOS]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2010-01-22T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [win32](), [WINE](), [Operating system](), [Graphics]() Tags: [architecture](), [free](), [implementation](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi](), [wine]() ### AI overview The article explains that ARWINSS is a parallel effort within ReactOS to address limitations in the existing Win32 subsystem through a different design. It describes an implementation based on Wine's architecture, including a Win32 graphics driver and reuse of ReactOS libraries and functions. ### Source excerpt ARWINSS, Third Time's the Charm, Maybe There has been increasing speculation on what ARWINSS is, on what it is for, and on what it does, despite several statements released by Aleksey Bragin. The speculation has reached the point where people with incomplete information are making assertions as if they were fact when often their assertions are incorrect. ARWINSS is not intended to 'replace' the current Win32 subsystem. It exists as a parallel effort to overcome the limitations in the current Win32 subsystem by applying a different design instead of duplicating the one in Windows NT. ## ReactOS Newsletter 64: Colored Cursors and Flood Fill Improvements DevFeed: [ReactOS Newsletter 64: Colored Cursors and Flood Fill Improvements]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2009-09-16T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Graphics](), [color](), [win32]() Tags: [free](), [graphics](), [open-source](), [optimized](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi](), [windows]() ### AI overview This ReactOS newsletter describes work to add colored cursor support, resolve related graphics issues, implement flood fill drawing in Paint, and improve its performance. ### Source excerpt Color and Filling Colored cursors aren't a feature used that often by regular applications, but games certainly make use of it and Winamp is a non-game example. When using Winamp, Gregor Schneider noticed the mouse turned into a black box when he tried to use it and dug into the code to see if he could fix it. In several places were comments noting the need for color support so Gregor had a few hints about where additional code was needed. ## ReactOS Newsletter 57: VirtualBox Video Driver Fixes and RosBE/RBuild Updates DevFeed: [ReactOS Newsletter 57: VirtualBox Video Driver Fixes and RosBE/RBuild Updates]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2009-04-30T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Oracle-VM-VirtualBox](), [win32](), [Graphics](), [gcc](), [screen](), [bug]() Tags: [bug](), [code](), [free](), [gcc](), [graphics](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [screen](), [virtualbox](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview ReactOS Newsletter 57 reports fixes that made the VirtualBox video driver more usable, including corrected mouse-cursor movement and screen-resolution updates. It also discusses RosBE and RBuild changes and a Windows GCC build issue involving compiler variables. ### Source excerpt VBox Video Driver A while back the VBox video driver started working in ReactOS, which meant people using VirtualBox could now get hardware acceleration for graphics. To make the driver usable, Timo Kreuzer fixed two things in the Win32 subsystem. While the driver ran before the fixes, its functionality was somewhat crippled and drawing often resulted in problems. The first fix was for the mouse pointer, or more specifically drawing the mouse pointer moving across the screen. [Next page]()