Intro/TLDR - OSWars is a team-based competition on Scratch where many teams each create their own operating system (OS) on Scratch. After 5 rounds a committee of judges votes for the best OS, which wins the current iteration of OSWars. What's an OS? - An OS, or Operating System, is a piece of software on a computer that manages a computer's software and hardware resources so a computer can work properly. Think of it as an orchestra conductor. It makes sure each and every part works in harmony so that you can use your phone, laptop, tv, or even gaming system! An OS also acts like a bridge between the user, programs, and the physical machine. Without an OS, none of the parts of your computer would know what to do, and you would not have any viable way of using your computer. History - The first iteration of OSWars was created in 2014, and it was called OS War. It had 3 teams that each created a unique OS and was judged by @DudMasterUltra and @UltraCode. By OS War 3, a pattern was created: a RedOS, a BlueOS, and a GreenOS. In later years to come, an OrangeOS and a VioletOS. In OSWars25 (11th iteration of OSWars), these team names were changed to RubyOS, AmberOS, EmeraldOS, SapphireOS, and AmethystOS. Unlike previous iterations of OSWars, the latest OSWars allows custom teams. Structure - Every OSWars has a very simple set of rules and a structure it follows. OSWars happens annually and begins around 5-6 months after the last iteration of OSWars. It begins with a signups phase. Every team can put up projects and recruit up to 10 players (this number has changed over the years). After the signup phase is completed, the rounds begin. Throughout OSWars history, the content of these rounds have changed drastically, but to round it all up: Round 1 includes a basic desktop, dummy apps, and a power off button. Round 2 fleshes out a few apps and overall quality-of-life upgrades. Round 3 introduces a sign-in and sign-out procedure and a better desktop. Round 4 adds more settings and more apps. Round 5 polishes up the whole OS and gets it ready for judging. The judging team takes a few weeks to look at every OS and give it points and comments. After the results come out, some players and team leaders of certain OS's are invited to host or judge the next iteration of OSWars. Right Now (need new name for paragraph maybe) - The 12th iteration of OSWars, OSWars26, just ended! Many teams placed great, but who won? You'll just have to check it out! @OSWars26
use arrow keys to see photos (there are 10 but no need to use all of them) backgrounds are optional but i think might be cool photo links: MaOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1376615909/ https://scratch.mit.edu/users/MaOS-26/ AstralOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1372705390 https://scratch.mit.edu/users/AbyssFire/ CloudOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1378131276 https://scratch.mit.edu/users/CLOUDOS-26/ EvolvusOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1377965182 https://scratch.mit.edu/users/EvolvusOS/ XenonOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1378109799 https://scratch.mit.edu/users/XenonOS26/ CobaltOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1378121011 https://scratch.mit.edu/users/CobaltOS-26/ PolarOS: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1377801243/ https://scratch.mit.edu/users/PolarOS_/ OSWars Info project: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1331699977/ https://scratch.mit.edu/users/OSWars-26/ side note - because OSWars26 is ongoing even at the current moment, this info can become outdated quickly. if you want me to update it before the next issue of Scratchzine comes out then i can do that. and if scratchzine issue 3 comes out after october 25th then thats when OSWars26 ends so i can do a full historical piece on OSWars26 if you want. side note 2 - if it's too short or too long i can fix that too and if there are any other changes to make i can do that too side note 3 - i didn't come up for a name for the full article itself so you can do that :)
