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]

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bharat Operating System Solutions.

• Official website