BOSS 4.0 (Savir) |
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| Company / developer | NRCFOSS / CDAC, India |
|---|---|
| OS family | Unix-like |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Free and open source software |
| Initial release | January 10, 2007 |
| Latest stable release | 4.0 / February 26, 2011 |
| Marketing target | General purpose |
| Available language(s) | Multilingual (more than 18) |
| Package manager | dpkg |
| Supported platforms | i386, AMD64[1] |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | GNOME and KDE |
| License | GNU GPL and various others |
| Official website | www.bosslinux.in |
Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS) is a free and open source computer operating system developed by the National Resource Centre for Free/Open Source Software (NRCFOSS) of India. This software is also known by the acronym BOSS GNU/Linux or simply BOSS Linux. The latest version of this operating system, BOSS GNU/Linux Version 4.0, was released in February 2011.[2][3]
This software package has been described as "India's own PC operating system" the most meaningful product to come out of the Indian software industry in decades — and a work that a government department had done.[4].
The software has also been endorsed by the Government of India for adoption and implementation on a national scale.
BOSS GNU/Linux is an "LSB certified" Linux distribution: the software has been certified by the Linux Foundation for compliance with the Linux Standard Base standard.[5] BOSS GNU/Linux is derived from Debian. Debian uses the Linux kernel (the core of an operating system), but most of the basic operating system tools in Debian come from the GNU Project; hence the appendages GNU/Linux to Debian and BOSS.
The product is free software in the sense in which the term is used by the Free Software Foundation,[6] and it is distributed under the GNU General Public License.[7]
The latest desktop version of BOSS GNU/Linux is fully localised to eighteen Indian languages.
Contents |
BOSS GNU/Linux has had five major releases till February 2011.
| Version | Code name | Kernel number | Desktop | Date of release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSS GNU/LinuxEvaluation | Sethu | 2.6.14-2-smp | GNOME 2.8 | |
| BOSS GNU/Linux v1.0 | Tarang | 2.6.17-1-i386 | GNOME 2.14 | |
| BOSS GNU/Linux v2.0 | Anant | 2.6.21-1-486 | GNOME 2.18 | |
| BOSS GNU/Linux Server | 2.6.21 | Jan 2008 | ||
| BOSS GNU/Linux v3.0 | Tejas | 2.6.22-3-486 | GNOME 2.20 and KDE 3.5 | Sep 2008 |
| BOSS GNU/Linux v4.0 | Savir | 2.6.32-5-686 | GNOME 2.30.2 and KDE 4.4.5 | Feb 2011 |
BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions) GNU/Linux distribution developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) derived from Debian for enhancing the use of Free/ Open source software throughout India. BOSSGNU/Linux - a key deliverable of NRCFOSS has upgraded from entry-level server to advanced server. It supports Intel and AMD x86/x86-64 architecture. BOSS GNU/Linux advanced server has unique features such as web server, proxy server, database server, mail server, network server, file and print server, SMS server, LDAP server. BOSS GNU/Linux advanced server comprises administration tools such as webmin which is a web-based interface, Gadmin, PHP myadmin, PHP LDAP admin, PG admin.
BOSS GNU/Linux Version 4.0 is coupled with GNOME and KDE Desktop Environment with wide Indian language support and packages, relevant for use in the government domain. Currently BOSS GNU/Linux Desktop is available in almost all the Indian Languages such as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Bodo, Urdu, Kashmiri, Maithili, Konkani, Manipuri which will enable the mainly non-English literate users in the country to be exposed to ICT and to use the computer more effectively.
The accessibility of BOSS Linux will have a constructive impact on the digital divide in India as more people can now have access to software in their local language to use the Internet and other information and communications technology (ICT) facilities. Community Information centers (CICs) and internet cafes will also benefit from BOSS GNU/Linux as this software can be utilized to power these outlets and is affordable and easy to install, use and support.
The latest version Boss 4.0 was released recently in 26th of February 2011.
BOSS GNU/Linux is available in the following eighteen languages of India, among the twenty-two constitutionally recognized languages of India:
| Assamese | Bengali | Bodo | Gujarati | Hindi |
| Kannada | Kashmiri | Konkani | Maithili | Malayalam |
| Manipuri | Marathi | Oriya | Punjabi | Sanskrit |
| Tamil | Telugu | Urdu |
The languages that are not available are Nepali, Sindhi, Dogri
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