Q: Rebol Express? IOS?

We will define these things in more detail very soon. For now, in a nutshell: REBOL/IOS is an enabling technology, consisting of protocols, concepts, APIs, hierarchies, modules, security models and algorithms etc. REBOL/IOS (Internet Operating System) is not a traditional computer operating system. It is an Internet-wide operating system, providing Internet-wide services and a common framework for distributed, platform-independent applications. IOS is to the Internet what an OS is to a PC. IOS does not replace existing operating systems, but augments them, providing some OS-like services across networks. Products using IOS still need an operating system (or at least some BIOS or other kernel) on whatever machine they run on. IOS is independent of the OS in the sense that it is a separate layer, i.e. it can run on any OS and thus any type of machine, all the way down to hand-held devices with minimal kernels. REBOL/Express is a product consisting of REBOL/Link and REBOL/Serve, for secure file sharing, file exchange, communication and collaboration within companies or other communities. REBOL/Express uses a version of REBOL/IOS as its underlying engine, but contains additional features which are not strictly part of IOS, e.g. a particular desktop design in Link. REBOL/IOS in turn was derived from our experience with REBOL/Express. It is the core of REBOL/Express. -- Holger Kruse [holger--rebol--com]

Please wait for an explanation on our web site, or one posted here coming from Carl. -- Holger Kruse [holger--rebol--com]

No, they will remain the way they are, and possibly be functionally extended in future versions. Core, View and Command are for different markets and customers than Express and IOS, have different licensing models etc. They concentrate on the language, not on specific types of applications and application models, as Express and IOS do.

Sure.

It is, just like Express was an addition. -- Holger Kruse [holger--rebol--com]

[snip of a very useful overview] I find this kind of description very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write it. I hope I am not misunderstanding, but it seems to me that this is not far from suggesting that REBOL/IOS is a `BIOS' where the basic elements are Internet `Objects' rather than physical disks, physical ports, ... I can't tell yet whether this is an `evolutionary growth' or a `radical re-engineering' of REBOL inner structures, but will look forward to that becoming clear as more of the characteristics of this exciting new development become real.