Client-server internal architecture

The client-server model increases performance and reliability and allows virtually all operations to be multithreaded -- even if an application doesn't explicitly create threads. Servers are modular and can be added and/or replaced in the OS as capabilities are expanded and improved.

64-bit file system

Be's 64-bit file system allows for extremely large files and volumes -- of terabyte size and larger. This greatly simplifies programming and increases performance when dealing with extremely large digital audio and video files.

Journaling

Journaling keeps constant track of changes in the file system, and speeds recover from conditions such as a power loss. The file system is always in a consistant state, and ensures a maximum boot time of only a few seconds.

Multithreaded

The Be File System is multithreaded, spreading processing over any number of processors.

Integrated attributes & indexing

The Be File System maintains file attributes and indexes which can be used by applications as the foundation for databases.

MIME-type based identification

MIME-type identification provides a generalized approach to file identification and association with applications, and ensures flexibility and a high degree of Internet-data identification and compatibility.

External file system support

The Be File System recognizes foreign file systems such as FAT16/32 (Windows), ISO9660, HFS (Mac OS), NFS and others. This capability is modular and can be extended by third parties.

Multithreaded, client-server architecture

The BeOS graphics system is handled in a client-server architecture, permitting a highly multithreaded approach and sharing of tasks between processors.

Direct access graphics

The Game Kit provides direct access to the graphics frame buffer in a protected manner for applications with high bandwidth video and specialized graphics algorithms or other needs.

Extensive 2D library

An extensive, floating-point based 2D library is provided in the Interface Kit.

Anti-aliased fonts

Outline fonts (TrueType and Type 1) are standard in the system, with anti-aliasing turned on by default, providing smooth text on screen, as well as on paper.

OpenGL®

Industry standard high-resolution 3D graphics and rendering is provided via the OpenGL® library.

Modular capabilities

Graphics capabilities are modular, and can be extended and modified through a flexible driver architecture.

Multithreaded

I/O drivers in the BeOS are multithreaded, allowing for the distribution of I/O tasks across multiple processors, and faster response on single processor systems.

Modular, dynamically loaded

I/O drivers are dynamically loaded as needed, without requiring a system restart. The architecture is modular, allowing developers to add new capabilities.

Object-oriented design

The foundation level services are based on C and C++ in an object-oriented design, allowing for subclassing and code reuse throughout the system.

Inherently multithreaded

Foundation level services are all designed to maximize the use of multiple threads, without complicating programming effort. Many components of the object-oriented programming framework provide multithreaded objects and classes, automatically.

"Simplicity" design criteria

Overall, the design of the foundation services is guided by a rule of "simplicity," maintaining a small set of powerful objects rather than a myriad of objects and complexity.

Multithreaded

BeOS networking is highly multithreaded, providing high-performance network access while taking full advantage of multiple processors.

TCP/IP native

BeOS networking is based on TCP/IP, the native protocol of the Internet.

File sharing

File sharing capabilities, based on the Internet FTP protocol, are built into the system, allowing you to share files with people on BeOS, Windows, Unix, Mac OS or any other system connected to the Internet.

Web server

Basic web serving capabilites are integrated in the BeOS, allowing you to publish web pages from the first day. These capabilities are modular and can be replaced by more powerful third party services.

Web browser

NetPositive, a BeOS native web browser, provides a lightening fast way to surf the Internet, or browse the BeOS documentation provided on the CD. NetPositive supports the HTML 3.2 spec, HTTP 1.0 and 1.1, FTP, SSL, and other Internet standards.

Integrated mail services

Internet mail client services, including a POP3 mail client, are integrated into the BeOS. These capabilites are modular and can be extended or replaced by third party developers.

Remote access

Internet standard Telnet services are integrated into the BeOS, allowing you to access your system from anywhere on the Internet.

AppleTalk printing support

The BeOS supports printing to AppleTalk-based printers over standard Ethernet networks, allowing access to standard AppleTalk laser printers. The BeOS also supports TCP/IP-based printers.

Format translation services

The BeOS Translation Kit allows applications to access standard, system-wide translation capabilities for standard data formats.

Media services

The BeOS Media Server provides services for all types of timed media, and is multithreaded and multiprocessor aware. The Media Server handles an extensive set of digital audio and video services, and a modular architecture which makes adding additional services extremely easy.

MIDI services

MIDI services are integrated through the MIDI Kit, including software MIDI synthesis of instruments and other sound samples.

Foreign file system support

The BeOS has file system add-ons which support accessing disks and partitions of the most popular operating systems, including Windows (FAT16 and FAT32) and Mac OS (HFS). In the BeOS, your Windows and Mac disks appear as normal volumes -- just like your BeOS disks.

Windows networking support

The BeOS includes the ability to access your Microsoft Windows shared disks, using Microsoft Networks client software.

Operating systems boot manager

An included operating systems boot manager allows you to choose which operating system to use when you start your hardware.

Integrated Unicode

The BeOS supports multibyte Unicode text throughout the system, permiting the use of multibyte languages, and serving as the basis for new localization capabilities. The encoding format used is UTF-8, the format also used by the Java language.

Unicode font support

Unicode fonts are supported throughout the system.

Unicode-based text utilities

Various utilities provide useful tools for managing in a multibyte character environment. BTextView, the basic text class within the BeOS, is also multibyte character-aware.

Input method architecture

The BeOS incorporates an input method architecture, to provide data input methods for languages such as Japanese and Chinese which are based on glyphs, rather than on the "standard" alphabet.

Japanese input method

BeOS-J includes a Japanese input method add-on designed by ERGOSOFT, a world leader in input method technologies for computer systems.

Messaging and scripting

The BeOS has an extensive messaging architecture which allows applications to send messages to each other -- and allows any part of an application to message any part of another application or process. This messaging provides the basis for system-wide scripting capabilities. Facilities for distributed messaging over the network also exist.

Replicant services

Replicant services provide a way for active data and code from one application to be "replicated" and stored in another application, document, or even the BeOS Desktop. Replicants are fully active and can be manipulated just as if they were part of the original application or document.

MIME type identification

Application messages and data are passed using the Internet standard MIME typing system.

Posix compatibility

The BeOS has a fully functional Posix integration layer, allowing a wide range of Posix compatible code to be compiled and run as-is, including the GNU library of command line tools, many of which are included in the BeOS.

Unix-style command line and bash shell

A Unix-style command line interface is also provided as an alternative method of manipulating the system, including scripting and bash shell support (bash is the same shell used by Linux). These capabilities can also be accessed remotely via Telnet (see Internet support).

Industry standard interface

The primary user interface of the BeOS is the industry standard Desktop metaphor, "files and folders" user interface, so users new to the BeOS feel immediately at home.

Tracker services

BeOS interface services are provided by the Tracker, a powerful library of functions that provide services to the user, as well as to applications directly, leading to a more pervasive and consistent user interface.

Print services

Multithreaded print services are integrated within the BeOS, and provide background printing services, PostScript and direct printing, and more.

Extensive preferences

The BeOS has an extensive set of preferences, allowing for the customization of virtually every aspect of the system.

Object-oriented framework

The application level services of the BeOS are based on an object-oriented application framework, rather than a remedial procedural design. This simplifies the overall architecture, speeds programming, and allows for extensive reuse of code and subclassing.

Modular software design

Software designed for the BeOS generally falls into four categories: Applications (graphical or command-line), shared libraries, add-on components (plug-ins), and device drivers.

Bundled development tools

The BeOS includes full development tools, including an IDE, compilers and linkers, programming libraries and documentation, etc. Everything needed to start writing BeOS software is on the CD.

Native development environment

The BeIDE is a native integrated development environment for the BeOS and makes use of BeOS features -- such as a fully multithreaded IDE and concurrent compilation on multiple processors.

Industry-leading compilers

The BeOS development environment includes industry-leading compilers for outstanding code generation: gcc on Intel Architecture-based systems and CodeWarrior on PowerPC-based systems.

Debugging capabilities

Be's development tools also provides extensive low-level and source-level debugging capabilities.

Source Code Included

The BeOS CD includes a tremendous amount of source code, including code for many (but not all) parts of the BeOS itself, including BeOS applications, drivers, the Bash shell, and development tools.

BeOS Architecture

The BeOS architecture is made up of three layers:

- Microkernel and device drivers
- BeOS Servers
- BeOS software Kits