Releases/1.3/Issues

This list is a based on consensus from the freedos-devel email list, from a discussion thread started 25 July 2021 (by Jim Hall) as "What are the blocking bugs/issues for FreeDOS 1.3?" This list will be updated to indicate progress and other changes:

Need to have (blocking)

We need to have these issues addressed for a successful FreeDOS 1.3 distribution:

1. Fixed MBR detection

"Can we tame FDISK to no longer nuke existing MBR without asking triggered by the mere absence of the 55 aa magic?"

2. Updated packages

Will need to review all packages to ensure we are using the latest versions.
Include new FreeDOS Kernel with Windows support patches and latest FreeCOM build.

3. Fixed Codepage and time separator data errors in COUNTRY.SYS

Nice to have (not blocking)

We would like to have these issues addressed for FreeDOS 1.3, but consensus agrees that these are less critical to a successful FreeDOS 1.3 distribution:

1. Improved language and translation support ("none of these are showstoppers")

See the FD-NLS translation report and contribute to FD-NLS.
For example, when one chooses the French or Turkish (and possibly other) keyboard layouts on the installer, after the installation this is not taken into account (bug 282 and bug 306).
Missing translations for FreeCOM, diskcopy, fdnpkg, md5sum and mem.
Mistakes in Blocek translations, or other translation errors.

2. Program updates and bug fixes

FDAPM ("parse larger ACPI blocks")
CTMOUSE ("become 8086 compatible")
NGE NIBBLES ("improve documentation")
CDROM2 ("add STOP and UPC commands")
CDRCACHE ("remove messages about raw access")
MODE ("documentation is outdated, still mentions disk head parking, lacks CODEPAGE and text mode details")
Include XMGR and FDXMS in the BonusCD, "to give people alternatives in case of problems with HIMEM or JEMMEX."

Wishlist (may delay these to FreeDOS 2.0)

1. More compilers on the Full install (as space permits)

2. Replace HTML Help with AMB Help (both will be available in FreeDOS 1.3, will switch completely to AMB Help in next release)

3. New packages: We are trying to draw a "straight line" between FreeDOS 1.3 RC4 and FreeDOS 1.3. New packages may not be considered for FreeDOS 1.3 at this time, unless consensus on the freedos-devel email list.