Calmira

infobox Software
name=Calmira |
| caption=Screenshot of a PC running the Calmira shell
developer=Calmira.de | latest_release_version=3.31 (original), 4.0b (Calmira XP), 3.32 (Calmira LFN), 3.6 (Calmira Longhorn)| latest_release_date=March 6 2006 (Calmira XP), December 19 2006 (Calmira LFN), March 31 2008 (Calmira Longhorn) | operating_system=Windows 3.1 | genre=Operating System Shell | license=Open Source | website= [http://calmira.de Calmira Germany] / [http://calmira.net Calmira Intl]

Calmira is an alternate shell available for Windows 3.1x and up that has an appearance resembling Windows 95. A version named Calmira Longhorn is not compatible with Windows Vista, but emulates some of the visual features of that operating system.

The shell is more than a simple cosmetic upgrade, however. Much of the functionality of later 32-bit shells has been incorporated into the Calmira software. The shell has a start menu, a task bar and a desktop that all function in a similar manner to those found in the Explorer Desktop of later 32-bit Windows operating systems.

Development

Initially, the Calmira shell was developed on Delphi 1.0, a free programming environment by Borland. Thus, while the Calmira shell is freeware, in a move that placed it around as close to 'free software' as existed in the Windows world in 1995, it was also "developed" on freeware. Calmira is in constant development and is loosely maintained by the Calmira community. Because the Windows 3.x environment is nearly extinct as of 2008, additions of new features and addons to Calmira are few and far between.

The latest official update as of writing is from March, 2008.

Source code

The source code for the Calmira shell is publicly available under GNU GPL license, thus allowing software developers to participate in the project. However, as the Calmira shell was initially developed on the 16-bit Delphi 1.0 programming environment, active contributors are more or less restricted to developing the shell on that platform. An attempt to port parts of Calmira to Windows NT 3.51 has been made, and the project has resulted in NT Shell [cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/alexanrsousa|title=Calmira NT Shell|date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26] .

Modified versions

Being open source, some people developed their own version of Calmira, adding other features and customizations. Here is a list of the most used ones:

*Calmira LFN: Modified version that supports Long File Names, better icon shading, a 'My Documents' icon and a dialog to change the wallpaper. The last version (released in December 19 2006) also has custom window borders that mimic Windows 95 ones [cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/alexanrsousa|title=Alex Sousa on Calmira|date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26] .

*Calmira XP: Modified version that tries to mimic the Windows XP interface. Version 4.0 Beta also includes modifications from Calmira LFN, but has been released in March 6 2006, meaning that some bugs fixed in Calmira LFN since then are still there, and that there are no custom window borders [cite web|url=http://www.abzone.be/calmira|title=In the Abandoned Zone|date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26] .

*Calmira Longhorn: Modified version that tries to mimic the Windows Longhorn (or Vista) interface. Version 3.5 still have some bugs around dialog buttons (they are showed in french language). After very long time (2 years) Calmira Longhorn 3.6 was released. There is new stuff like vista logon screen, "X" button in upper-right corner of window(s) & LFN Support. Also "Frenchbutton bug" is now fixed [cite web|url=http://www.calmira.co.nr/|title=Calmira Longhorn homepage|date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26] . On August 19 2008 Peter Protus, developer of Calmira Longhorn, announced that he stops the developement of the software, and support also.

Other versions and the original one can be found at Calmira Online [cite web|url=http://www.calmira.net/|title=Calmira Online!|date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26]

References