Last week the license for the SMSQ/E operating system was changed to a BSD-style free license.
SMSQ/E can be considered the evolution of QDOS and while it cannot run the older Sinclair QL games, it offers many additional features like file system support for sub-directories, high resolution graphics and improved windowing system.
Q-emuLator has been able to run the Gold Card version of SMSQ/E for about ten years, although typically only users that already had purchased that version of SMSQ/E took advantage of this feature.
In 2010 I did a small experiment, modifying SMSQ/E to allow a 1024 x 768 display resolution when running on Q-emuLator. It was not possible, however, to publish the results. The SMSQ/E license at the time allowed free access to the sources, but distribution of binaries was restricted.
The new license finally allows distribution of that modified version of SMSQ/E, although it should still be considered experimental. On the software page of the Q-emuLator web site you can now download:
- A demo QLPAK with a short SuperBASIC program that draws colored circles under SMSQ/E, using a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and 16 bit color.
- A variant of SMSQ/E 3.13 modified to allow the 1024 x 768 resolution when running on Q-emuLator.
- The Gold Card version of SMSQ/E.
Screenshots from the circles demo QLPAK.
