DOS Navigator (DN) is an orthodox file manager for DOS, OS/2, and Windows.

Influence

DOS Navigator is an influential early implementation of orthodox file manager (OFM). By implementing three additional types of virtual file systems (VFS): XTree, Briefcase and list-based, DN launched a new generation of OFMs. It offers unlimited panels and many new important features, making it one of the most powerful (and complex) OFMs. and Linux port attempt "dn2l".

Disadvantages

The original DN contains a large amount of assembler code, complicating ports to other platforms. The cross-platform version, DN OSP, in turn, is tied to the Virtual Pascal compiler and runtime library, which are no longer supported. No version of DN as of January 2022 supports Unicode on platforms other than Windows, although cross-platform implementation of Turbo Vision for Pascal with Unicode support exists. The source code license is compromised.

Source code license

DN source code was published under the 3-clause BSD license. However, the code included an implementation of the Turbo Vision library based on the version from the Turbo Pascal distribution, and the latter was never released under a license that allows creation of derivative works. In addition, DN OSP contains modified parts of the Virtual Pascal runtime library, while the license for Virtual Pascal itself prohibits distribution of modified versions, however, it is not clear whether this applies only to the compiler or to the runtime library too.

Legacy

thumb|Spreadsheet in DOS Navigator

Other groups release software based on the DN open source code, including features such as support for long filenames, and support for Linux.

  • DN 1.51 650 KB for Win32 & OS/2 - Sources (Virtual Pascal) (972,655)
  • DOS Navigator Open Source Project (ODN)
  • dn2l Linux port based on DN OSP source code
  • DN OSP 6.4.0 1 MB for DOS/DPMI (Windows 9x)
  • Necromancer's DOS Navigator (NDN)
  • DN 4.9.0 2004 for DOS included in Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) v3.4

See also

  • Orthodox file manager
  • Comparison of file managers

References

  • https://archive.today/20130416012156/http://www.softpanorama.org/OFM/Paradigm/Ch03/dos_navigator.shtml --> DN Line - a Breakthrough in VFS, Softpanorama
  • https://archive.today/20130102123329/http://www.dnosp.com/ --> DOS Navigator Open Source Project
  • DOS Navigator/2 Open Source Project ver. 2
  • Necromancer's DOS Navigator, branch of the original DOS Navigator which runs on DOS, Windows and Linux
  • Necromancer's DOS Navigator new versions also for 64-bit DOS and Windows