“This Isn’t Emulation
Odin enables 32-bit Windows applications to run in OS/2. The
technology, which borrows heavily from WINE(Windows on Linux), and
the Open32 libraries developed jointly by IBM and Lotus (back when
they were separate companies) does not rely on a virtual machine.
Such solutions (like Connectix’s Virtual PC on the Macintosh or
WinOS2 under OS/2) run the Windows operating system, with all its
license, support and memory requirements. Odin runs a Windows
application by converting the EXE and DLL files into OS/2’s format,
executing the application as a native OS/2 program. Windows isn’t
running. Source code isn’t necessary. Instead, the Windows APIs are
replicated by Odin’s conversion tools, and the API calls are mapped
to the OS/2 equivalents.”
“…all the work has been accomplished by a couple of dozen
volunteers working on the open-source project in their spare time.
That business model is currently changing. The core team of the
Odin Project is beginning to work with large corporations who need
to run one or two enterprise Windows applications. If Odin can run
those applications under OS/2, those corporations can avoid costly
operating-system migrations. Plus, the consulting fees will fund
further community development.”