Bharat Operating System Solutions

BOSS (Bharat Operating System Solutions)

BOSS Linux 6.0 running on a Laptop
Developer NRCFOSS / CDAC, India
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Open source
Initial release January 10, 2007 (2007-01-10)
Latest release 6.0 (Anoop) / September 2015 (2015-09)
Marketing target General purpose
Available in Multilingual (more than 18)
Package manager dpkg
Platforms x86[1]
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux)
Userland GNU
Default user interface GNOME and KDE
License Free software licenses
(mainly GPL)
Official website www.bosslinux.in

Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS) is a free and open source Linux distribution developed by the National Resource Centre for Free/Open Source Software (NRCFOSS) of India. BOSS GNU/Linux is also known by the acronym BOSS. The latest version is 6.0 .[2][3]

This software package has been described as "India's own PC operating system" and "the most meaningful product to come out of the Indian software industry in decades — and let’s recognise it, this is work that a government department had to do."[4]

The software has also been endorsed by the Government of India for adoption and implementation on a national scale.[5] It was developed at Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Chennai INDIA. 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.[6] BOSS GNU/Linux is derived from Debian GNU/Linux.

Versions

BOSS GNU/Linux has had six major releases till March 2015[7]

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 2007-01-10[8]
BOSS GNU/Linux v2.0 Anant 2.6.21-1-486 GNOME 2.18 2007-09-17[8]
BOSS GNU/Linux Server 2.6.21 2008-01
BOSS GNU/Linux v3.0 Tejas 2.6.22-3-486 GNOME 2.20 and KDE 3.5 2008-09-04[8]
BOSS GNU/Linux v4.0 Savir 2.6.32-5-686 GNOME 2.30.2 and KDE 4.4.5 2012-08-02[8]
BOSS GNU/Linux v5.0 Anokha 3.10 GNOME 3.4.2, KDE 4.8.4 and Xfce 4.8 2013-12-23[8]
BOSS GNU/Linux v6.0 Anoop 3.16 GNOME 3.14 2015-03-04[7]

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. 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.

BOSS 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.

BOSS 5.0 codenamed anokha, comes with many new applications mainly focused on enhanced Security and User friendliness.The distribution includes over 12800 new packages, for a total of over 37493 packages. Most of the software in the distribution has been updated: over 20160 software packages (this is 70% of all packages in savir). BOSS 5.0 supports Linux Standard Base (LSB) version 4.1 The new version features XBMC Media center to allow the user to easily browse and view videos, photos, podcasts, and music from a hard drive, optical disc, local network, and the internet.[9]

BOSS 6.0 (Anoop)

The latest Release of BOSS GNU/Linux Version 6.0 – codenamed as Anoop, is coupled with GNOME Desktop Environment 3.14 version with wide Indian language support & packages, relevant for use in the Government domain. This release aims more at enhancing the user interface with more glossy themes and Tab like look and feel on the desktop by coupling latest applications from the community.

BOSS Linux 6.0 has Linux kernel 3.16, supports Intel 32-bit and 64-bit architectures, a 3D desktop environment, Graphic installer, Office application software suite Libreoffice, Internet access software (Firefox, email, chat etc.), and file sharing / converter and multimedia applications. This release comes with improved Desktop appealing features that includes Contacts, Documents, Maps, Photos and Music. The All-in-one Notification area notifies the user about Brightness, Networking, System settings all under the same menu.

The desktop comes with an on-screen keyboard with Indian language support. The Smart Common Input Method tool provides input mechanism for Indian languages with Unicode 7.0 support. The Orca Screenreader and Magnifier & E-Speak applications helps people with visual impairments for using the BOSS desktop. The Bulk document converter helps people to easily migrate from other Operating system to BOSS GNU / Linux.

Currently BOSS GNU/Linux Desktop supports all Official Indian Languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Bodo, Urdu, Kashmiri, Maithili, Konkani and Manipuri. This enables the mainly non-English literate users in the country to be exposed to ICT and to use computers more effectively.

References

  1. ↑ "Quick Guide For Using BOSS" Archived September 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved on 1 November 2008)
  2. ↑ "C-DAC launches BOSS Version 5.0" Archived September 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "C-DAC launches BOSS version in Indian languages", The Hindu dated 26 February 2011 for 4.0 (Retrieved on 26 February 2011)
  4. ↑ "At last, a desi PC software system", Anand Parthasarathy, The Hindu dated 26 October 2008 (Retrieved on 31 October 2008)
  5. ↑ "Make In India: Now government to have its own operating system, may replace Microsoft Windows in future", Manan Kumar, DNA India dated 14 September 2015 (Retrieved on 15 September 2015)
  6. ↑ The Product Directory of The Linux Foundation, LSB Certification Management System. Retrieved on 31 October 2008
  7. 1 2 "BOSS GNU/LInux". cdac.in. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "BOSS GNU/Linux". http://distrowatch.com. Unsigned Integer Limited. Retrieved 15 September 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-18. Retrieved 2015-12-05.

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