Announcing WinBatchX 20 Release Candiate 1, Build 1999, Version 2306

WinBatchX 20 Release Canidate 1, Version 2306 is being rolled out to all releaes in the 'canary' channel. The build number has been incremented to 1999.1.

WinBatchX 20 is not a build in the canary channel. It is used for quick testing. WinBatchX 20 will be released later this week with minor changes from WinBatchX 19.

WinBatchX installations will always follow the unlicense license.

2 Improvements/Changes:

• Fixed a bug where the widgets panel was not working properly in WinBatchX 19, both versions, and possibily WinBatchX 18. The fixes were applied, but this build tests its functionality.
• A major bug was fixed in the startup of WinBatchX 19 in WinBatchX 20. It does not affect WinBatchX 19, both versions, but may be a concern in the future.

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Current bugs: (Some of the bugs have existed before 23.0.10000.100)

• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• File Explorer is not set up for theme-aware support yet.

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bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 19, Version 2305

Today WinBatchX is releasing WinBatchX 19, Version 2305 to the general release channel. This release was not released with any pre-release builds or revisions listed in the releases channel.

For a complete list of changes to the unstable pre-release builds before this release, check back on these revisions:
https://github.com/bes-ptah/winbatchOS/commits/master/src/19.0.2305/WinBatchX.bat

Our next release for WinBatchX after this release will be WinBatchX 20, Version 2306. (Will be released June 2023)

First Official Installer for WinBatchX!
After several months of creating, recoding, debugging and fixing issues, WinBatchX 19 now has an official installer! You can install WinBatchX anywhere you like in a folder, or upgrade it. The installer looks like a normal Windows 10/11 ISO installer, but with a background and few recovery tools. You can download the main installer with the .bat file extension and WinBatchXTempInstaller.zip for the installer.

• Note: There are a few dozen minor bugs that should not affect your installation! You can opt to download the entire WinBatchX 19 build below if the installer is buggy too!

The source code for WinBatchX 19, Version 2305 is also uploaded, like the previous releases. You can easily unzip and start WinBatchX 19, but in future versions they'll need to be some configuration via the installer before you can use them.

A small preview of the installer:

Improvements & Changes:
All changes were done only on the main file: winbatchOS.bat.
There were (again) minor changes, including:

• Less disk usage
• Faster UI feature load
• Quicker startup time and safer updates
• Build bumped to 1900.251

Current bugs:

• WinBatchX sometimes crashes when typing from the keyboard.

• When finishing the terminal prompt, the desktop will stop working due to the last key typed letter on the keyboard from the prompt.

• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).

• A message named 'A file is currently being used by another process' may pop up when restarting WinBatchX from a previous session.

• There are a few bugs in the taskbar when alligning the taskbar icons to the left.

WinBatchX 19, Version 2305, will be supported until WinBatchX 20, Version 2306 is released.

bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchOS 11, Canary Build 10008

Today WinBatchOS is releasing Build 10008 in the alpha channel.

Quick Notes- New dark/light mode responsiveness, introduction of hibernation/sleep mode, built-in app fixes, Taskbar UI Changes- taskbar alignment and size- and introduction of new apps.

Read the new security exploit found in this build! (and also fixed in this build)

We are also not releasing a changelog with the build right away for each release, but the changelog release will or might be delayed past the build release.

We recently changed our license to the Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL) on all WinBatchOS devices and is effective March 1st, 2023. This does not effect WinBatchX installations- they will always follow the unlicense license.

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Whats new in this build..

Start Menu Taskbar Alignment Fix
The start menu can now be opened in the left side of the taskbar on the desktop! Other features on the taskbar UI will change to meet the left taskbar alignment soon.

Introduction of Hibernation Mode
This build introduces Hibernation Mode, which will be used in place for the normal sleep mode in Windows.
Hibernation Mode on winbatchOS saves all your apps's status and memory but not your other input data or other services. The linux container will be shut down before hibernation mode sets in. Try it out today!

Taskbar Alignment Fixes
We have re-enabled taskbar alignment officially in this build! You can switch your taskbar icon alignment in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.

Light-Dark Color Modes
This build introduces a new settings page (Personalization > Color) that allows you to switch your theme color in winbatchOS Settings! Click on the button on the right of 'Choose your color' (as you usually do in windows 11) and it will switch your entire operating system texts, UI, and apps to that color. It will stay with you, even if you shut down or restart winbatchOS.

All Apps on WinbatchOS that are built-in are now theme-aware! The text, background, and most icons that are displayed will be displayed correctly each time when you choose between the light and dark theme.

Settings App Revamp - Part 3
In this build, there are new buttons that you can turn on and off, including notifications and color modes. The Privacy & Security Section is half-finished in development and will be finished by the next build.

The Update Page in Settings has also been fixed! The update page is also fixed with a new preview build section that you can open up!

API Kernel Development
We have added a new sling of app API requirements to our built-in apps so they run more efficiently and reuse more code in the file. New API calls like :SETTINGS.CLEARPAGE and :KERNEL.API.BUILTIN.APPSTART are being added to each app and is the 'overhead' for these apps. More development will kick in the next build, as this build is more of shifting the code to API calls.

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Improvements/Changes:

• Fixed the windowed buttons on all the built-in winbatchOS apps.
• We improved UI Responsiveness on the start menu in this build.
• The File Explorer App was fixed up.
• Fixed up a bug with the outdated 'ButtonBorder' executable- they were still kept while transfering winbatchOS Built-in Apps. They should be able to find the approperiate API made when ButtonBorder was superseeded by Text.
• "The RESET.EXE could not be found around line 1310" bug was fixed.
• We made the login process more faster than the first released beta version of WinBatchOS 23.
• The Boot Process was redesigned visually and recoded for a faster experience.
• The annoying 'Please Wait' messages were removed because we are not allowing multiprocessing in winbatchOS 23. (Only the boot shows that now) Our version of 'multiprocessing' WinBatchOS experienced in builds 10002-10004 proved an unstable experience on the desktop.
• The Taskbar UI should now be more responsive and transparent when representing it's state of use on the desktop. (For example: when opening settings from the start menu, the start menu should not be marked visually as active after the settings app has started.)
• We removed data-variables.bat to fix and improve the window manager in this build.
• Fixed a bug where apps would not open after being active with a feature from the taskbar UI. (Example: Open an app, then open the Start Menu. After closing the Start Menu, the app would not re-appear.
• We renamed the variable '_sysbuild' to '_build' due to compitability issues with recent builds that have an app SDK from 16.0.
• removed compitability issues on DESKTOP.ICON from recent 16.0 switchover builds
• removed compitability issues on DESKTOP.TASKBAR also from recent 16.0 switchover builds
• At least 200 other changes (possibly bug fixes or performance fixes) that can be found between this build and the last build.

---

Current bugs: (Some of the bugs have existed before 23.0.10000.100)

• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• File Explorer is not set up for theme-aware support yet.
• The Paint App is broken in this build.
• The Settings App navigation icons are not set up for theme-aware support yet.
• Some parts of the Taskbar UI are not showing up when it is active.
• The Search UI on top of the start menu is not theme-aware yet.
• The Power Icon on the start menu is not theme-aware yet.
  -The Settings Startup Time- SST- is too slow in this build. We're working on a fix.
• The power menu 'Sleep Button' does not actually represent sleep; it represents the sign out button as of this build. fixed

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Security bugs:
We have not set up a way to identify security issues on WinBatchX, but winbatchOS will have a security policy in place soon.
WinBatchOS does have one security bug on users in all builds after 19.x.1808.1000: (Build 1808) but before 23.0.10010.100:

• Autologin allows attackers to use the default password (NONE) listed in the configuration when the autologin variable _WBX_SETPASSWD is set to 1. This causes others to bypass the password set by the user. We have disabled autologin in this build until a fix is released.

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bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 23 Build 10006

Today WinBatchOS is releasing Build 10006 in the alpha channel.

Quick Notes- There are no major changes in this build. We reverted the build back to 10000.100 after some multitasking testing on builds 10002-10004.

We recently changed our license to the Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL) on all WinBatchOS devices and is effective March 1st, 2023. This does not effect WinBatchX installations- they will always follow the unlicense license.

Current bugs:

• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• The power menu 'Sleep Button' does not actually represent sleep; it represents the sign out button as of this build.
• The time and date for the taskbar does not work in this build.

Shortest changelog!

bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 23 Build 10004

Today WinBatchOS is releasing Build 10004 in the alpha channel.
Note: Builds will now be usually released frequently or weekly in the alpha branch until we merge on to the beta branch.

Quick Notes- Build 10004 has many unstable code in this release, so we are also releasing 10000.212 with no changes.

WinBatchX's generation is now leaving- going ahead by WinBatchX 23, we will have a revisied name- WinBatchOS.

Whats new in this build..

Major changes to system files
WinBatchX 23 also comes with major changes to the system files that are being used by WinBatchX, again. The Desktop, Kernel, and Apps have now been taken out of the main file and now in their respective directories in the WINBATCHX folder. There are tons of bugs that we have now with this release, so we also placed in build 23.10000.200 in there for other users who can't use build 10002 (this build).

Improvements/Changes

• No visual improvements or changes in this build (execpt lots of code changes not listed)
• The graphics are very 'buggy,' so it's not meant to be used. Use build 10000.212 instead.

Current bugs:

• We're trying to fix all the bugs within the next build.
• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• The power menu 'Sleep Button' does not actually represent sleep; it represents the sign out button as of this build.
• The time and date for the taskbar does not work in this build.
• If you open and close the start menu too fast, or click the desktop, apps, and other GUI-only things too fast, the command line will crash.
• The first input click you put in will spam 'Invalid operation.' twice to the command line. It is used by the new SDK-23 context menu, but has no affect or bugs on it's usage.
• There are a few dozen other bugs not listed in this changelog.

The alpha channel in WinBatchX is meant as a A/B testing channel for features and new security fixes. We might add those features that work into a newer release, but other features can be pulled out at any time that might need tweaking or bug fixes. We released WinBatchX 17.1, 18.1, and 19, and they're based on WinBatchX 18, not WinBatchX 23's current build (like how we released 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, and almost 15.6, but they are based on the latest developers build back then). The next WinBatchX builds (20, 21, 22) are also be based on WinBatchX 18 with many stability changes and fixes. Some of the features anticipated in WinBatchX 17 and 18 may be released by WinBatchX 23. By the time WinBatchX 22 gets released, we'll make a decision to either release WinBatchX Desktop 2023 as a release, or drop it. If we don't release it, then the releases that were based on WinBatchX 18 (19, 20, 21, etc.) overlap this branch and development resets back to WinBatchX 22.
(We will definitely update this paragraph above later)

bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 23, Build 10002 and Build 10000.200

Today WinBatchX is releasing Build 10002 in the alpha channel. We're also releasing build 10000.200 with no changes but as a stable build guide to this 'buggy' release.

Note: Builds will now be usually released frequently or weekly in the alpha branch until we merge on to the beta branch.

Quick Notes- This build includes major changes to the start menu and mouse driver input, and major changes. Read 2 new bugs in the desktop that can affect your usage for this build.

Whats new in this build..
Custom Background is now available on 10002 and higher
In this build, we updated the Quantum Kernel to 1.0- release canidate test 18. This includes enabling the features that were pre-built into WinBatchX in the first build- including multitasking and windowed mode apps!

Major changes to system files
WinBatchX 23 also comes with major changes to the system files that are being used by WinBatchX, again. The Desktop, Kernel, and Apps have now been taken out of the main file and now in their respective directories in the WINBATCHX folder. There are tons of bugs that we have now with this release, so we also placed in build 23.10000.200 in there for other users who can't use build 10002 (this build).

Updated Context Menus for WinBatchX 23
We didn't mention in build 10000 that there are new context menus for the desktop and the start menu. The Desktop Context Menu now uses a new type of SDK- known as WBX's 23 SDK. More details to come later.

Improvements/Changes
We cleared up the space between the taskbar and the bottom of the sized display for the desktop.
We stopped using the 4 background images used for compositing the desktop image. The full image is now used with a scale size of 77, with an image of 1920 by 1200. If you want to use a custom background image, try to fit it to those statistics. If you can't, then adjust it to it's actual settings.
We updated some apps, like settings, from the latest developer build in 18.1- 1816.
There are no apps in WinBatchX 23, Build 10002 except the Settings App. Use the other build in the main folder where WinBatchX.bat is located to use the more stable build. It's name is 23.0.10000.200 at this time.

Current bugs:

• We'd like to note that we will try to fix every bug within the next build(s).
• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• The power menu 'Sleep Button' does not actually represent sleep; it represents the sign out button as of this build.
• The time and date for the taskbar does not work in this build.
• If you open and close the start menu too fast, or click the desktop, apps, and other GUI-only things too fast, the command line will crash.
• The first input click you put in will spam 'Invalid operation.' twice to the command line. It is used by the new SDK-23 context menu, but has no affect or bugs on it's usage.

The alpha channel in WinBatchX is meant as a A/B testing channel for features and new security fixes. We might add those features that work into a newer release, but other features can be pulled out at any time that might need tweaking or bug fixes. We released WinBatchX 17.1, 18.1, and 19, and they're based on WinBatchX 18, not WinBatchX 23's current build (like how we released 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, and almost 15.6, but they are based on the latest developers build back then). The next WinBatchX builds (20, 21, 22) are also be based on WinBatchX 18 with many stability changes and fixes. Some of the features anticipated in WinBatchX 17 and 18 may be released by WinBatchX 23. By the time WinBatchX 22 gets released, we'll make a decision to either release WinBatchX Desktop 2023 as a release, or drop it. If we don't release it, then the releases that were based on WinBatchX 18 (19, 20, 21, etc.) overlap this branch and development resets back to WinBatchX 22.
(We will definitely update this paragraph above later)

bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 19, Version 2302

Today WinBatchX is releasing WinBatchX 19, Version 2302 to the general release channel. This release is mainly stable after main fixes and kernel updates. This release was not released with any pre-release builds or revisions.

Major changes:

Many files that were from the NI era (New Interface Kernel) were removed to increase smart disk storage and security within WinBatchX.

Current bugs:

• WinBatchX sometimes crashes when typing from the keyboard.

• When finishing the terminal prompt, the desktop will stop working due to the last key typed letter on the keyboard from the prompt.

• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).

• A message named 'A file is currently being used by another process' may pop up when restarting WinBatchX from a previous session.

• There are a few bugs in the taskbar when alligning the taskbar icons to the left.

WinBatchX 19, Version 2302, will be supported until WinBatchX 19 2303 is released.

bes-ptah

Introducing the first Alpha Build of WinBatchX Desktop 2023

EDIT: We edited this page to clearify confusion over the alpha channel. It's at the bottom of the article.

Today WinBatchX is releasing Build 10000 in the alpha channel. WinBatchX Desktop 2023 has started development!

As this build starts a new release development cycle, we just announced WinBatchX 19, but WinBatchX Desktop 2023 may not ever get released. This release and it's builds have a major upgrade from the previous release, WinBatchX 18 and 19. WinBatchX's latest release is still WinBatchX 19 as of Feburary 2023.

WinBatchX 19 also will have 4 versions that will be released with bug fixes, app improvements, and more-

• WinBatchX 19 2302 Update
• WinBatchX 19 2303 Update
• WinBatchX 19 2304 Update
• WinBatchX 19 2305 Update (Final)
  Those act as cumulative updates, so we can update WinBatchX on the go.

WinBatchX 23 will also follow that same principle of updates if it gets released.

We also decided to bump up the build numbers and 'reset' it to 10000. We are still releasing builds by even numbers. Some builds may be skipped or put in another channel for testing.
It's full name for this operating system is now officially 'WinBatchX Desktop 2023'. We are aiming to release WinBatchX Desktop 2023 around October 2023, but it may be released earlier or later than expected. WinBatchX 23 will actually be a LTS release and will be the first one since WinBatchX 16- released in 2021.

Quick Notes- This build includes major changes to the start menu and mouse driver input, and major changes. Read 2 new bugs in the desktop that can affect your usage for this build.

Whats new in this build..
Quantum Kernel Update - 1.0-RCT1
In this build, we updated the Quantum Kernel to 1.0- release canidate test 1. This includes the introduction of services and major multitasking updates pre-built into WinBatchX. Those and other changes are listed below in the following sections.

More efficient mouse input
WinBatchX 23 (and WinBatchX 19) have new mouse cursor input programs that is more efficient than the older 'driver' for mouse input. It can't actively track the mouse cursor in realtime like in the older mouse driver, but the newer driver is more responsive and efficient.

Major changes to system files
WinBatchX 23 also comes with major changes to the system files that are being used by WinBatchX. Nearly half of all the GUI files used back in the NI era (New Interface Kernel) were removed while other files were upgraded or retained. The folders are static- the names mostly represent the files that are stored in them.

Important, but quick updates to system files:

• Changed 'ButtonHeight0' to 'Text.bat.' Don't use Button, ButtonBorder or ButtonHeight0.
• memory.bat; it is pre-built but not ready yet
• RECOVERY.bat; it is pre-built but is not ready yet
• LIST1.bat; it is the old 16.0 techology menu, while list.bat is the newer one

Start Menu Revamp
WinBatchX 23 comes with a new start menu that is more like Windows 11 and not the ChromeOS design that was accidently used in WinBatchX 17, 18, 18.1, and 19-Version 2302 Update. There is a 6 apps per row design and a taller and wider menu than the older one. The text on here is more light than the older one.

Other features are updated, but are only for concept reasons, like search and task view.

Improvements/Changes

• There's a new settings fix for WinBatchX Update: The version listed will show now say 'WinBatchX' as a prefix to '19.0 Beta 2.'
• Some configuration settings have not changed.
• Boot settings have changed and almost all have moved to Services, but are not being used on startup yet.
• There is a new boot variable: %_sysbuild%. This holds all the information on WinBatchX, while the rest of the variables hold specific info about the current WinBatchX build.
• If there is an error with the desktop, it will go to :ERROR.EXE and do a cooldown of 100 loops and return back to the desktop. It's like a blue screen in Windows, but does not restart the operating system.

Current bugs:

• WinBatchX sometimes crashes when typing from the keyboard. This bug was squashed
• When finishing the terminal prompt, the desktop will stop working due to the last key typed letter on the keyboard from the prompt. This bug was squashed
• When opening file explorer, then using a feature on the taskbar and closing it, the top bar of the app will not appear (it shows the desktop background instead).
• The power menu 'Sleep Button' does not actually represent sleep; it represents the sign out button as of this build.
• The time and date for the taskbar does not work in this build.

_The alpha channel in WinBatchX is meant as a A/B testing channel for features and new security fixes. We might add those features that work into a newer release, but other features can be pulled out at any time that might need tweaking or bug fixes. We released WinBatchX 17.1, 18.1, and 19, and they're based on WinBatchX 18, not WinBatchX 23's current build (like how we released 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.5, and almost 15.6, but they are based on the latest developers build back then). The next WinBatchX builds (20, 21, 22) are also be based on WinBatchX 18 with many stability changes and fixes. Some of the features anticipated in WinBatchX 17 and 18 may be released by WinBatchX 23. By the time WinBatchX 22 gets released, we'll make a decision to either release WinBatchX Desktop 2023 as a release, or drop it. If we don't release it, then the releases that were based on WinBatchX 18 (19, 20, 21, etc.) overlap this branch and development resets back to WinBatchX 22.

(We will definitely update this paragraph above later)_

bes-ptah

Announcing WinBatchX 17.1 Build 1814

Today WinBatchX is releasing WinBatchX 17.1 to the general release channel. This release updates to the currently latest WinBatchX Development Release- 18.1. We released 17.1 because the Quantum Kernel was unsupported in WinBatchX 17, and most of the development made WinBatchX 18 possible.

There is a lot that isn't covered in this article (and actually only the big changelog), so look toward WinBatchX 18's release page for detailed releases.

Improvements/Changes Since 18.0:

• WinBatchX Desktop Updates to 18.0
• Quantum Kernel number is set at 0.8
• The settings app was changed, and other apps were adapted

Improvements/Changes Since 17.0:

• At least roughly about 500 fixes

Announcing WinBatchX 18 Build 1812

Today WinBatchX is releasing Build 1812 in the beta channel. We released WinBatchX 17.1, build 1814 to users today to support 17.0 users coming from an unsupported release.

Quick Read: This build introduces the Run App, introducing curved text, and some Widget Improvements.

Whats new..
The Run App
We added the Run App, which is expermential in WinBatchX 18.1 right now. This will be included in the full release of WInBatchX 18.1, not 17.1. It's incomplete right now in this build, and will be completed in the next build!
Hint: Click Start while on the Run App to exit the app.

Introducing Curved Text (Expermential!)
We're also introducing a new expermential feature; curved text! 'Curved Text' makes the text 'responsive' and moves text that has gone past the app or frame's maxinium screen limit for drawing.
You can compare the curved text feature in WinBatchX to word wrap! It's currently in WinBatchX Widgets, where the widgets' text is curved automatically. It's still not working right now.

Improvements/Changes:

• Settings: We made a typo on 'Advanced App Settings'. We fixed it in this build.
• Settings: We updated the apps section in WinBatchX settings.

Current bugs:

• WinBatchX sometimes crashes when typing from the keyboard.
• When finishing the terminal prompt, the desktop will stop working due to the last key typed letter on the keyboard from the prompt.
• Settings: We forgot to mention in Build 1802 that the search bar on top in the navigation section is not active at this time. It's a placeholder until we develop it.
• Widgets: WinBatchX Github Links are also word wrapped to the next line.

bes-ptah