Commodore OS (full name: Commodore OS Vision) is a community driven free-to-download

Linux distribution A Linux distribution, often abbreviated as distro, is an operating system that includes the Linux kernel for its kernel functionality. Although the name does not imply product distribution per se, a distro—if distributed on its own—is oft ...

for Commodore enthusiasts purchasing Commodore licensed computer equipment. First developed by

Commodore USA Commodore USA, LLC was a computer company based in Pompano Beach, Florida, with additional facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Commodore USA, LLC was founded in April 2010. The company's goal was to sell a new line of PCs using the classic ...

, it was intended for use on their range of PCs, particularly the Commodore 64x and Vic Slim computers. The first public beta version was released on 11 November 2011. It was based on

Linux Mint Linux Mint is a community-developed Linux distribution. It is based on Ubuntu and designed for x86-64 based computers; another variant is based on Debian which is named Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) and has both 64-bit and IA-32 support. T ...

, and used the

GNOME 2 GNOME 2 is the second major release of the GNOME desktop environment. Building upon the release of GNOME 1, development of GNOME 2 focused on a greater design-oriented approach that simplified and standardized elements of the environment. It als ...

desktop environment. The company became defunct in 2013 before version 1.0 of the OS could officially come out of beta. In 2021, Commodore USA's spiritual successor, My Retro Computer Ltd., announced a

Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

campaign to bring back the Commodore 64x. The following year, it was announced by Leo Nigro, former CTO of Commodore USA and who is originally responsible for the OS, that a new release would be made for the return of the Commodore 64x. Version 2.0 officially came out of beta and was released on the 13 December 2023. Available to download via a

Torrent file In the BitTorrent file distribution system, a torrent file or meta-info file is a computer file that contains metadata about files and folders to be distributed, and usually also a list of the network locations of trackers, which are computers ...

on the Commodore OS official website, it is based on

Debian Debian () is a free and open-source software, free and open source Linux distribution, developed by the Debian Project, which was established by Ian Murdock in August 1993. Debian is one of the oldest operating systems based on the Linux kerne ...

and is an unofficial

MX Linux MX Linux is a Linux distribution based on Debian stable and using core antiX components, with additional software created or packaged by the MX community. The development of MX Linux is a collaborative effort between the antiX and former MEPIS c ...

re-spin using the

Compiz Compiz () is a compositing window manager for the X Window System, using 3D graphics hardware to create fast compositing desktop effects for window management. Effects, such as a minimization animation or a cube workspace, are implemented as loa ...

window manager. There is also an online forum, dedicated to the OS itself and to the new C64x, where people can read the latest news/updates, request help with issues they are encountering, and discuss many things Commodore.

History

Version 1.0

The first beta of the OS was released on 12 November 2011 by Commodore USA, announced as an operating system for "pre-installation on all future Commodore USA hardware". Version 1.0 never officially came out of the beta phase as Commodore USA went defunct in 2013. The company's website hosting the OS shutdown, and its last release was beta 9 on 9 July 2012. However, it continued to have small community support - with an unofficial 32 bit version of the operating system released on 22 February 2012. The software and drivers have continued to be available through a page set up by ex-Commodore USA employees who run the still active Commodore USA Facebook page.

Version 2.0

Following the demise of Commodore USA, My Retro Computer Ltd. purchased the company's domain name and C64x molds/stock. On December 21 of 2021, it was announced on My Retro Computer's YouTube channel that a

campaign was going to launch to bring back the Commodore 64x in all new colors and case designs. In May 2022 Leo Nigro, former CTO of Commodore USA, who was responsible for the OS announced he would make a new release in time for the return of the Commodore 64x. Version 2.0 officially came out of beta and was released on the 13 December 2023. It is currently available to download via a

on the Commodore OS official website. Unlike Version 1.0, Version 2.0 is based on

and is an unofficial

re-spin using the

window manager.

Version 3.0

In Version 3.0 of Commodore OS, a modern BASIC implementation is included as Commodore OS BASIC V1 with modern 3d graphics, built in sprites, tile maps and 2D and 3D physics and user types. In the Version 3.0 release, it includes a new settings manager for configuring ROMs and emulation, and basic theming options for the system such as animated backgrounds.

Compatibility

Commodore OS is not compatible with

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...

software. However, it does contain

VICE A vice is a practice, behaviour, Habit (psychology), habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhe ...

, an

open-source Open source is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution. Products include permission to use and view the source code, design documents, or content of the product. The open source model is a decentrali ...

program which emulates Commodore systems.

Design

Commodore OS was designed as a way to imitate the look and feel of Commodore's legacy systems, and as a complement to the all-in-one-keyboard style of the personal computer. Commodore OS includes a collection of software intended to imitate classic Commodore software.

References

External links

Commodore OS official websiteCommodore OS original website (Defunct)

Commodore OS archive

Customize Linux Mint in Commodore OS Vision [Italian
/nowiki>">talian">Customize Linux Mint in Commodore OS Vision [Italian
/nowiki> {{Linux distributions 2011 software 2023 software Commodore 64 Debian-based distributions Ubuntu derivatives Linux distributions