OS2 World Community Forum

OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical => Applications => Topic started by: Martin Iturbide on October 16, 2025, 11:18:20 pm

Title: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on October 16, 2025, 11:18:20 pm
Hello

This is my typical brainstorm question where there is no right or wrong answers.

The question is: Which OS/2 software that is close source (Shareware, Freeware, Commercial, Abandonware, etc) do you think it is so good we should offer money to the author to open source it ?

Let's do not worry if it can be possible to open source it, or we have or not the money to offer something, just dream away on the brainstorm.

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: MPJ on October 17, 2025, 07:18:45 am
Stardock ObjectDesktop, Maul Publisher
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on October 17, 2025, 08:26:54 am
Hello

This is my typical brainstorm question where there is no right or wrong answers.

The question is: Which OS/2 software that is close source (Shareware, Freeware, Commercial, Abandonware, etc) do you think it is so good we should offer money to the author to open source it ?

Let's do not worry if it can be possible to open source it, or we have or not the money to offer something, just dream away on the brainstorm.

Regards

Interesting. My personal choices:

1 - NotaMusica 2.7 (beta release) - possibly the best music engraving software written for OS/2 PM. Pretty much intuitive once you grasp its working, uses EmTeX as rendering engine so you're pretty sure it just works GOOD. One might expect many things to be added to that, just like it happens on MuseScore.
On a side note, porting MuseScore 4 on OS/2 would be a blast.
2 - MAUL Publisher. DTP is something different from Word processing, even if current software is much more evolved than in the past, but still I'd choose a good DTP software instead of an office suite to write something bigger than an essay or a booklet.
3 - Some good CAD software - even the old PMDraw/2 EWS software would be good to have updated.
4 - CERES SoundStudio - it was a good beginning, it would need a lot of rewriting since it uses the IBM OpenClass library which is rather old and broken here and there, but with a lot of space to improve.
5 - MainActor - THE video editor for OS/2. Pretty useful when I used it, but limited to MMPM/2 architecture.

There's surely a lot more, but I think this would be a good stard.
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on October 17, 2025, 04:26:41 pm
I would love for the Visual SlickEdit to be released. The OS/2 version is soooo old that honestly I can't imagine (even remotely) the possibility of such code base impacting any of their current commercial products.

Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Thomas M. on October 17, 2025, 07:29:52 pm
I would like to see Mesa and MoneyPlex being open sourced
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Craig Miller on October 19, 2025, 02:30:28 pm
Object Desktop 2.0 by far!
FTP Browser
ZOC

Great Question!
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on October 19, 2025, 06:45:40 pm
Thanks for sharing.

My personal choice is also "Object Desktop". I think that the Workplace Shell can benefit of some of the code/ideas of it.

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on October 20, 2025, 08:16:24 am
I would love for the Visual SlickEdit to be released. The OS/2 version is soooo old that honestly I can't imagine (even remotely) the possibility of such code base impacting any of their current commercial products.

YES.
Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on October 20, 2025, 03:25:30 pm
There is a nice article on Wikipedia about SlickEdit. Apparently it's author also wrote the E editor while at IBM. This is a good choice for at least some support for OS/2 users, because the author will know what OS/2 is.
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on October 20, 2025, 04:00:11 pm
Hi Neil
There is a nice article on Wikipedia about SlickEdit. Apparently it's author also wrote the E editor while at IBM. This is a good choice for at least some support for OS/2 users, because the author will know what OS/2 is.
That's a good tip:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SlickEdit
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on October 21, 2025, 08:20:51 am
Hi Neil
There is a nice article on Wikipedia about SlickEdit. Apparently it's author also wrote the E editor while at IBM. This is a good choice for at least some support for OS/2 users, because the author will know what OS/2 is.
That's a good tip:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SlickEdit


I'm having a look at the SlickEdit website... Guess I may try to send them an e-mail. I fear though that, without a good number of subscribers, a petition would be left without success. Who wants to put his name in a list?

I'll go first, of course 8)

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on October 21, 2025, 03:22:43 pm
Hello
...Who wants to put his name in a list?
Me also for sure.

I haven't tried to contact J. Clark Maurer in the past, so I have no idea what he will think.

Since this is a current product that is still marketed for Windows, my approach idea would be:
- Ask to open source Visual Slicked only for OS/2. It is an old and outdated version, so it will not affect his current business.
- Tell him that even if the OS/2 version is open source, he will keep all the copyright of the code open source at that moment. (as usual with open source software)
- The brand "Slick" will be completely removed from the OS/2 code version to don't reference the software and don't produce a confusion in the market. Only the copyright notice to the company will remain there.
- We will not market that SlickEdit for OS/2 got open sourced. We will recompile it with a different name... "WarpEdit".. "FinalEdit"... "CoolEdit"...

If he don't want to open source it. Ask him to get the OS/2 software released as "AS IS Freeware".

...sorry for dreaming ahead of time..

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 03, 2025, 09:12:45 am
Hello
...Who wants to put his name in a list?
Me also for sure.

I haven't tried to contact J. Clark Maurer in the past, so I have no idea what he will think.

Since this is a current product that is still marketed for Windows, my approach idea would be:
- Ask to open source Visual Slicked only for OS/2. It is an old and outdated version, so it will not affect his current business.
- Tell him that even if the OS/2 version is open source, he will keep all the copyright of the code open source at that moment. (as usual with open source software)
- The brand "Slick" will be completely removed from the OS/2 code version to don't reference the software and don't produce a confusion in the market. Only the copyright notice to the company will remain there.
- We will not market that SlickEdit for OS/2 got open sourced. We will recompile it with a different name... "WarpEdit".. "FinalEdit"... "CoolEdit"...

If he don't want to open source it. Ask him to get the OS/2 software released as "AS IS Freeware".

...sorry for dreaming ahead of time..

Regards

Hiya all,
I've sent an email at support @ slickedit. Let's see how this goes.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 03, 2025, 05:39:09 pm
I've sent an email at support @ slickedit. Let's see how this goes.
Thanks for giving it a try.

XAct showed up on a different thread, I had sent an email to "Arnd Beissner".

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 03, 2025, 11:52:10 pm
I've sent an email at support @ slickedit. Let's see how this goes.
Thanks for giving it a try.

XAct showed up on a different thread, I had sent an email to "Arnd Beissner".

Regards

Bad news:

Hi,

We don't still have the OS/2 source code. Too many transitions since then. Might have had it prior to 2023 when we still had our CVS repository (switched to git). We don't even have any OS/2 installers any more.

Sorry we can't help more


I switched the request asking for VSE latest OS/2 incarnation to be considered as open source. It seems they don't even have the installation package.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 03, 2025, 11:56:43 pm
Hello Mentore

Can you reply asking if they agreed to turn it "as is freeware", if they agree, we can get at least the binaries to be available for free at hobbes.

Regards.
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 04, 2025, 08:39:13 am
Hello Mentore

Can you reply asking if they agreed to turn it "as is freeware", if they agree, we can get at least the binaries to be available for free at hobbes.

Regards.

Actually I did ask again to state it as public domain - they just answered they don't have the source code anymore. Going to write them again, being more specific.

BTW I'm back porting software and I'm trying to do something interesting in emulation, electronic and music. Keep fingers crossed 'cause I'm experiencing some problems with CMake.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 04, 2025, 01:53:53 pm
BTW I'm back porting software and I'm trying to do something interesting in emulation, electronic and music. Keep fingers crossed 'cause I'm experiencing some problems with CMake.
That's great. Just create a new thread and post the software if you want me to help with some testing.

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 04, 2025, 04:03:14 pm
BREAKING. Answer from SlickEdit staff:

Can you send us an installation of the OS/2 version via a cloud link like google drive?

If so, we will figure out a way to make it freely available. We should be able to add a link to our website which references the installer and indicates it's free. It will ultimately be uploaded to dropbox which we currently use for all installers.


Please can someone share an installation package for VSE OS/2 latest version? I don't have access to my commercial software archive and, for the life of me, I seem unable to find it online.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 05, 2025, 10:56:12 am
should probably confirm this makes it onto their website before making it generally available. i couldn't find martin's email so here we go

Thanks everyone.
I've got an installation package yesterday from Martin (thanks @Martin) and sent a google drive link to the support email at SlickEdit.
Now let's cross our fingers and see what will happen.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: fusion on November 05, 2025, 11:29:04 am
ok i removed the copy i posted for now
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Martin Iturbide on November 05, 2025, 03:52:24 pm
Thanks Mentore

Let's hope it can be turn into "AS IS Freeware" !! Good luck !!

Regards
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 06, 2025, 08:15:33 am
Thanks Mentore

Let's hope it can be turn into "AS IS Freeware" !! Good luck !!

Regards

Support team is working on simplifying the installation package in order to remove the need for a key. They'll let me know.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mike Engle on November 18, 2025, 04:50:05 pm
I have zipped the OS/2 English files for Xact.  Where should I send the .zip file?

I could install from the CDROM without the serial number.  Hopefully someone can give the installation a go from the zip file.  Xact is installed on all my OS/2 machines.

ME
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mike Engle on November 18, 2025, 04:55:14 pm
Another piece of OS/2 software I use (at least now and then) is TrueSpectra Photo Graphics Pro.  Back then is the distant past I heard the developers moved from PC software to server based software for web graphics and discontinued development for the personal computer.

Heck, I even have a copy of Micrografx Designer 3.1 for OS/2.  This software used Micrografx Mirrors to convert a Windoze programing to OS/2.  I must admit that with OpenOffice drawing I rarely use Designer 3.1 anymore.

ME
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: MPJ on November 18, 2025, 05:39:33 pm
I have zipped the OS/2 English files for Xact.  Where should I send the .zip file?



Do you also have the German version?

VG
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mike Engle on November 19, 2025, 04:26:13 am
Yes.  The CD contains a Deutsch folder.  Subfolders (like the English folder) include: acro, xos2, xwin_16, and xwin_32.

ME

Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 19, 2025, 08:09:51 am
Another piece of OS/2 software I use (at least now and then) is TrueSpectra Photo Graphics Pro.  Back then is the distant past I heard the developers moved from PC software to server based software for web graphics and discontinued development for the personal computer.

Heck, I even have a copy of Micrografx Designer 3.1 for OS/2.  This software used Micrografx Mirrors to convert a Windoze programing to OS/2.  I must admit that with OpenOffice drawing I rarely use Designer 3.1 anymore.

ME

PGPro has been long released as public domain, with a user key from TrueSpectra. A good gift, if I may say so - it's a really good piece of software, albeit "spartan" on the UI.
As per Designer, I happen to have a copy too - did fetch it from an abandonware site. Didn't use it though.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mike Engle on November 25, 2025, 06:35:42 pm
Any comment of Colorworks for OS/2?  I have a copy of the CD and the hardback book.  I guess I never was creative enough to really use the software.  I only touched minor parts of the program.

ME
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mike Engle on November 25, 2025, 06:42:45 pm
If I think about the Best Classic OS/2 software, I have to input what I still use daily.  I agree with Object Desktop.  I install it every time.  I like the roll up windows and the 'look'.
I also use, just about every day, the word processor DeScribe.  I know it does not have colored text (a purposeful decision by the developers for speed) and their keyboard shortcuts were poor (but they can be changed).  What I really like that it is styles based.  Styles make it so easy to change so many things so simply.  I am surprised DeScribe has not been mentioned before.

ME
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: fusion on November 26, 2025, 01:28:39 am
Let's hope it can be turn into "AS IS Freeware" !! Good luck !!

Support team is working on simplifying the installation package in order to remove the need for a key. They'll let me know.


any word on this?
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Dariusz Piatkowski on November 26, 2025, 02:40:33 am
Hello Mentore!

should probably confirm this makes it onto their website before making it generally available. i couldn't find martin's email so here we go

Thanks everyone.
I've got an installation package yesterday from Martin (thanks @Martin) and sent a google drive link to the support email at SlickEdit.
Now let's cross our fingers and see what will happen.

Mentore

I'm sorry this response is so late (recently away from home for some business travel), but catching up now I want to state the following:

1) I had originally purchased the fully licensed VSE product, so the original installation media is here and I'd be happy to dump that out to some sort of an archive for you

2) There was a V4.0b 'fix-pack' release made in 1999, where several bugs were addressed and a few extra features were added
- take a look at the attached file

Again, would be happy to make that available for an official distribution as this was never available through the official VSE channel(s).
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 26, 2025, 08:07:22 am
Hello Mentore!

should probably confirm this makes it onto their website before making it generally available. i couldn't find martin's email so here we go

Thanks everyone.
I've got an installation package yesterday from Martin (thanks @Martin) and sent a google drive link to the support email at SlickEdit.
Now let's cross our fingers and see what will happen.

Mentore

I'm sorry this response is so late (recently away from home for some business travel), but catching up now I want to state the following:

1) I had originally purchased the fully licensed VSE product, so the original installation media is here and I'd be happy to dump that out to some sort of an archive for you

2) There was a V4.0b 'fix-pack' release made in 1999, where several bugs were addressed and a few extra features were added
- take a look at the attached file

Again, would be happy to make that available for an official distribution as this was never available through the official VSE channel(s).

Hi Darius, here's the latest I know:

SlickEdit support team emailed me asking for a fully installed package together with some instructions via a cloud service, so I packed what I have and sent 'em. The reason why is that they didn't want to be bothered with registration keys requests, I feel. Also - they don't have the source code anymore (hard drive crash before they swapped their development on cloud, as per their communication).

I'm at office now so I have my VM available - will move it on an USB drive so that I have everything available any time, since at home my only machine hasn't got enough drive space. I will look at VSE settings to check if there are entries in OS2.INI, CONFIG.SYS or whatever, and these additional instructions will eventually go into the description file. ISTR there's nothing else needed, apart from a program object, but let's check first.

For what I know, the SlickEdit guys should already be able to distribute VSE 4.0b as public domain, without the need for a registration key. I'll check on them later this morning, if I have some time.

Mentore
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on November 26, 2025, 03:35:42 pm
FWIW I made an installer for Vslick as a part of my Suntan Special product. It wasn't much. I unzipped a saved installation, modified vslick.sta to reflect the new installation directory, and inserted my license file.

We could hack together a decent WarpIn installation program.
Title: Re: BrainStorm: Best Classic OS/2 Software
Post by: Mentore on November 27, 2025, 08:37:45 am
FWIW I made an installer for Vslick as a part of my Suntan Special product. It wasn't much. I unzipped a saved installation, modified vslick.sta to reflect the new installation directory, and inserted my license file.

We could hack together a decent WarpIn installation program.

Really an interesting idea, Neil. We may propose that to the support team at SlickEdit.

Mentore