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Jspa2 edited this page Feb 1, 2023 · 9 revisions

SphereOS GUI

SphereOS now includes a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be accessed by selecting the 'Graphical' option when prompted on boot.

Taskbar

The taskbar is a black bar located at the top of the screen. It features a start button on the left or middle, which can be clicked to open the start menu.

To the right of the taskbar, you will find a clock that displays the current time. Clicking on the clock will open a mini calendar, and clicking again will close it.

Start Menu

The start menu allows you to access and launch a variety of apps by clicking on their icons. When you open an app, it will appear in its own window. You can move the window by clicking and dragging the title bar, and you can close it by clicking the "X" button in the title bar. Some apps may also allow you to maximize the window by clicking the rectangle button in the title bar. If a window is maximized, you can restore it to its original size and location by clicking the restore button (the button with two squares) in the title bar.

At the bottom of the start menu, you will find the 'Shut down' and 'Reboot' buttons. Clicking the 'Shut down' button will power off your computer, and clicking the "Reboot" button will restart it.

To quickly access the start menu, you can press either the left or right Windows key (also known as the Super key). To close the start menu, simply click the start button again or open an app.

Apps

App icon Info

The Info app displays information about the version and the amount of system memory available in megabytes (MB).

App icon Settings

The Settings app allows you to modify various system settings. To access different settings categories, click on the list items on the left side of the window. The available settings categories are:

  • Appearance: Change the system's appearance settings.
  • Date and Time: Modify the system time format.
  • Display: Adjust the screen resolution.
  • Users: View information about the system's users.

App icon Clock

This app displays the current time and an analogue clock.

App icon Tasks

The Processes app shows a list of all running processes on the system. You can end a process by selecting it from the list and clicking the "End Task" button.

App icon Calculator

The Calculator app allows you to perform calculations involving long integers.

The result of your calculations will be displayed at the top of the app window.

App icon Notepad

The Text Editor is a basic app that allows you to create and edit text documents. You can move the cursor around the document using the arrow keys or by clicking on the desired location in the text.

App icon Calendar

The Calendar app provides a basic calendar that you can use to view dates and weekdays.

App icon Files

The Files app allows you to explore and navigate the files and directories on your hard drive. You can enter a directory by double-clicking on it, and you can open a file by double-clicking on it. The left side of the app window displays a list of shortcuts to common locations, such as your home directory. To move up a directory, click the up arrow icon in the top left corner of the app window.

App icon Logs

The Logs app shows a list of system log events. It will automatically update when new log events are emitted.

App icon Demos

The Demos app is a launcher for demos. The currently available demos:

  • Starfield: A 3D animation of a starfield.
  • Mandelbrot: Renders a Mandelbrot set.

Troubleshooting

The OS has frozen.

If your OS has frozen, it is likely that you have run out of memory. You can try increasing the amount of memory allocated to your virtual machine (VM) or rebooting the VM to free up memory.

I see a black screen or an error when I start the GUI.

If you encounter a black screen or error message when attempting to start the GUI, please check that your VM meets the hardware requirements for running SphereOS.


If you need additional help, please open a discussion.