In a significant stride for the ReactOS project, the much-anticipated version 0.4.15 has been unveiled, marking the first major update since 2020. While the transition from version 0.4.14 might appear modest at first glance, the enhancements introduced are anything but trivial. This release encompasses extensive modifications that span the kernel, user interface, audio systems, and driver support. For those who have been utilizing the nightly builds over the past years, many of these advancements will already be familiar.
<figure id="attachment769174″ aria-describedby=”caption-attachment-769174″ class=”wp-caption alignright”><figcaption id="caption-attachment769174″ class=”wp-caption-text”>Japanese input with MZ-IME and CJK font (Credit: ReactOS project)
Key Enhancements in Version 0.4.15
Among the standout features is an upgraded plug-and-play support system, which facilitates the integration of more third-party drivers and allows for booting from USB storage devices. The compatibility with the Microsoft FAT filesystem driver from the Windows Driver Kit has been significantly improved, alongside the introduction of registry healing and enhanced caching mechanisms. The implementation of kernel access checks means that numerous ReactOS modules can now seamlessly operate within a Windows environment.
On the user interface front, the update boasts a refined input method editor (IME) feature, enhanced native ZIP archive support, and a variety of graphical improvements that elevate the overall user experience.
Since the branching of version 0.4.15 from the master branch six months ago, the latter has continued to evolve, incorporating additional features such as:
- SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing) enhancements
- UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) support
- A new NTFS driver
- Improvements in power management
- Enhanced application support
This ongoing development has been accompanied by numerous bug fixes, underscoring the value of regularly exploring the nightly builds for those eager to stay at the forefront of ReactOS advancements.