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SkyOS

SkyOS is a discontinued graphical operating system designed for the x86 architecture, primarily developed by Austrian programmer Robert Szeleney as an independent project starting in 1996. Initially conceived as a simple , it evolved into a full-featured, POSIX-compatible OS with a custom written from scratch, avoiding any GPL-licensed code in its core components. The system emphasized a modern, intuitive and capabilities, supporting multitasking, multithreading, (SMP), , , and networking. Key to SkyOS's design was its SkyGI graphical interface, a C++-based API that provided advanced visual effects including alpha blending, transparent windows, OpenGL acceleration, anti-aliasing, and hardware-accelerated rendering, without relying on X11 or similar frameworks. The SkyFS file system, a 64-bit journaling implementation inspired by OpenBFS, offered robust handling and with formats like FAT16/32, BeFS, /, and ISO9660. Multimedia features were integrated via the Integrated Sound System (ISS), enabling playback of videos, DVDs, Audio CDs, and files, while the innovative tool provided instant access to media, images, and web streams even before the full desktop loaded. Development milestones included the first public release (version 0.1) on December 15, 1997, featuring a 16-bit and basic , followed by significant updates like version 3.1 in 2001, 3.6 in 2002, and 3.9.7 in 2003, culminating in the beta series from 2005 to 2008. The final build, 5 Beta 6947, was released on August 3, 2008, incorporating enhancements such as an integrated , a new (), and extended APIs. Pre-compiled applications like , , , the GNU Compiler Collection, and were supported, distributed via Live CDs for public betas. Although a small team of business, software, and graphics contributors joined Szeleney over time, the project remained largely a solo effort and was intended as a product. halted in 2009 amid challenges from rapid evolution, events (including the birth of Szeleney's child), and shifting market dynamics, with no further development or new releases since. In 2013, Szeleney made the final beta build publicly available for free download. Experimental ports to and kernels were explored as proofs of concept but did not revive the project. Today, SkyOS survives primarily through archival efforts and enthusiast communities, representing an ambitious example of independent OS innovation in the late 1990s and early .

History

Origins and Early Development

SkyOS was conceived by Robert Szeleney, a solo developer with a background in , who envisioned creating a lightweight and efficient graphical operating system as an alternative to the dominant Windows and platforms of the era. Motivated by the need for a user-friendly desktop OS that prioritized speed and simplicity without the bloat associated with larger systems, Szeleney began the project as a personal experiment in operating system design. His goal was to build a from-scratch system that could deliver high performance on standard hardware, drawing inspiration from the efficiency of Windows while aiming to offer a more streamlined experience. Development commenced in 1996 with the creation of a free , serving as the foundational component for the on x86-compatible hardware. By 1997, this evolved into a full graphical operating , incorporating basic elements and core functionality to demonstrate its potential as a complete . The project remained under Szeleney's primary control, with him handling the majority of coding and architecture decisions during this formative phase. A key milestone arrived on December 15, 1997, with the release of the first public alpha version, which introduced an initial graphical interface and targeted x86 architecture exclusively. This alpha emphasized a design for efficient resource management. The development environment relied on toolchain for compiling and building components, enabling compatibility with standard open-source tools while fostering rapid iteration. Subsequent releases built on this foundation, with version 3.1 released in February 2001, introducing improvements in stability and . Version 3.6 followed in February 2002, adding enhanced support. By April 2003, version 3.9.7 provided further refinements, and version 4.0 was released on September 6, 2003, marking the last freely available major update before the shift to paid betas. These efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent enhancements, leading toward structured beta testing in later years.

Beta Phases and Commercialization

The beta development phase of SkyOS marked a significant shift from its earlier freely available releases, beginning with the launch of version in late 2003. This iteration introduced the first paid program, requiring users to pay US$30 for access to downloads and updates, transitioning the project to a , closed-source commercial model while still in experimental stages. The initial releases, starting with alpha builds in December 2003, incorporated early support for (SMP), enabling better utilization of multi-core hardware. Subsequent beta builds progressed incrementally, with key releases including in , in March , and in April , focusing on enhancements and . Development continued through the mid-2000s, with notable updates such as Build 6179 in September 2006 and Build 6796 in October 2007, addressing fixes and performance optimizations reported by the user community. The beta program relied heavily on an online hosted on the skyos.org , where paying users submitted detailed reports to aid the primarily solo development efforts led by Robert Szeleney, though contributions from external developers remained limited due to the closed-source nature. The final public beta build, numbered 6947, was released on August 3, 2008, representing the culmination of five years of iterative commercialization without a full stable release. Downloads for these were exclusively available through the skyos.org , which served as the central hub for the paying user base until its sudden disappearance in 2013. Following the site's outage, Szeleney made Build 6947 publicly available for free download in August 2013, allowing broader access to the last official version amid unresolved issues. This commercialization approach, while enabling sustained development, drew criticism for charging users to test an unfinished product.

Discontinuation and Aftermath

In early 2009, SkyOS development was officially halted by its primary developer, Robert Szeleney, primarily due to limited resources as a solo project and the operating system's inability to achieve sufficient market traction against established competitors. The project's official website shut down in March 2013, marking the end of any formal support channels. In August of that year, Szeleney released the final version, SkyOS 5.0 build 6947, as a public download in the form of a image, allowing broader access without prior purchase requirements. Since discontinuation, SkyOS has been preserved through community-driven archival initiatives, with beta builds and hosted on platforms such as ArchiveOS and BetaWiki, ensuring availability for historical study and . These efforts have facilitated downloads via mirrors, including the , where users can obtain the final beta without cost. As of 2025, Szeleney has made no announcements regarding revivals or further work on the original SkyOS, leaving it in a state of permanent discontinuation. Projects bearing the name SkyOS, such as a 2024 GitHub-based simulation, are unrelated homonyms and not derivatives of Szeleney's work. While the software originated as , the freely released betas remain available for non-commercial distribution and use through these archives, with no active enforcement of licensing restrictions.

Technical Architecture

Kernel and Core Components

SkyOS employs a custom monolithic kernel architecture designed for efficiency on x86 (IA-32) processors, incorporating preemptive multitasking and modular elements that allow dynamic loading of drivers into kernel space via a proprietary extension API. This hybrid Unix-like design integrates core services such as device drivers directly into the kernel for reduced overhead, distinguishing it from microkernel approaches while enabling extensibility without full recompilation. The kernel, developed entirely from scratch by Robert Szeleney without reliance on Linux or BSD codebases, supports 32-bit operation and emphasizes stability, with reported crashes primarily attributable to user-space applications rather than kernel faults. Core components include robust process management featuring multi-user capabilities, introduced in Beta 7, which encompass process and thread isolation alongside a login system for concurrent access. Symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) support extends to multi-core systems and Hyper-Threading, allowing efficient utilization of multiple processors through advanced CPU handling and x86 extensions. Memory management relies on paging mechanisms to handle virtual memory allocation and protection, ensuring isolation between processes while optimizing performance on limited hardware typical of its era. The boot process originates from development efforts dating to 1996 and utilizes a minimal bootloader that initializes kernel modules, transitioning to kernel-mode VESA graphics for early display output without a pre-installed bootloader in standard distributions—users typically boot from CD-ROM, with options to install GRUB for subsequent loads. Security is implemented through a basic model centered on user permissions and rights management, supporting multi-user environments via simple access controls but lacking advanced features like access control lists (ACLs).

Filesystem and Storage Management

SkyFS serves as the native filesystem for SkyOS, designed as a fork of OpenBFS, the open-source implementation of the Be File System (BFS). This architecture enables journaling to ensure during power failures or crashes, while its 64-bit structure supports large files and volumes exceeding traditional 32-bit limits. Additionally, SkyFS incorporates extended attributes, indexes, and query mechanisms that facilitate metadata-based organization and real-time file searches, akin to a lightweight database for efficient data retrieval. Storage management in SkyOS emphasizes compatibility with common PC hardware, including support for IDE/ATA drives through kernel-level drivers that handle disk I/O operations. The system provides a graphical partitioning assistant during installation, allowing users to select and configure partitions for SkyFS or supported foreign filesystems like FAT12/16/32, BFS, ext2/ext3, and ISO 9660. Software-based RAID is not natively implemented, focusing instead on straightforward single-drive and USB mass storage configurations via the USB 1.1 stack. File operations in SkyFS adhere to multi-user principles with POSIX-like permissions, enabling , , and symbolic links for flexible directory navigation. with the kernel's resource manager provides caching for open files through a hash-indexed , optimizing runtime performance by reducing disk accesses. However, SkyFS lacks native read/write support for , prioritizing its proprietary extensions for efficiency in indexing and multithreaded operations over broad foreign filesystem . Later betas, such as version 5.0 Beta 8.2, introduced incompatibilities with earlier OpenBFS implementations due to these enhancements.

Graphics and Input Systems

SkyOS featured a custom graphical subsystem designed to deliver smooth visuals through advanced rendering techniques. The GUI subsystem was entirely rewritten in 2006 to incorporate desktop compositing, enabling flicker-free drawing during window operations. This included support for double buffering to ensure seamless animations and full alpha transparency for effects such as drop shadows and layered windows. Additionally, the graphics engine supported anti-aliased fonts to improve text readability and overall visual quality. Display capabilities in SkyOS emphasized compatibility with standard hardware, supporting VESA modes. During its beta phases, the system utilized VESA drivers for graphics output, with integration providing hardware-accelerated rendering for both 2D operations and advanced visual effects, including freeform windows. Input handling in SkyOS integrated intuitive mechanisms for user interaction, including configurable gestures managed through the System Manager's "Gesture" . Users could define gestures to trigger actions such as maximizing or minimizing windows, closing applications, or launching programs, with recognition enabled as a background service. input supported customizable mappings and full handling for multilingual text entry, introduced to enhance localization. Basic support was available for peripheral compatibility, though primarily oriented toward simple input rather than gaming-specific features. Window management leveraged the engine for efficient handling, supporting flicker-free resizing and movement alongside for overlapping elements. The system allowed both floating windows for flexible positioning and tiled arrangements to optimize screen space, with plugable effects extending customization options. These features provided the low-level rendering foundation upon which the higher-level and were built.

Key Features

User Interface and Desktop Environment

SkyOS employed a proprietary desktop environment centered on SkyGI, its kernel-integrated graphical interface system developed with a complete C++ API independent of X Window System implementations. This custom shell emphasized simplicity and efficiency, aiming to deliver an intuitive experience for average users through features like a program bar serving as a for application launching and switching, alongside a built-in for navigation. The interface supported standard interactions such as drag-and-drop operations within the file manager and across applications, facilitating seamless file handling and multitasking workflows. SkyGI introduced several innovations to enhance everyday , including real-time file indexing via the SkyFS filesystem, which enabled instant search across files and such as ID3 tags for media. A prominent feature was the Crossbar, an always-on overlay interface that loaded rapidly—even before the full desktop—and provided quick access to indexed content like images, music, videos, feeds, weather updates, and system metrics through simple queries. Customizable themes allowed users to adjust the visual appearance of desktop elements, with community forums encouraging input on designs for components like the Crossbar to tailor the overall . The prioritized accessible multi-tasking, supporting window management with animations, shades, and transparent effects to maintain visual clarity during concurrent application use. Basic accessibility options included support for multilingual interfaces and high-contrast modes inherent to its theme customization, though advanced tools like screen magnifiers were not prominently featured. Gesture-based navigation was limited, relying primarily on and inputs, while enhancements encompassed a for copy-paste operations to improve screen real estate utilization. Briefly referencing the underlying graphics subsystem, SkyGI leveraged and rendering for smooth anti-aliased visuals in its composited .

Networking and System Services

SkyOS implemented a full TCP/IP networking stack, supporting essential protocols such as Ethernet, IP, ARP, ICMP, UDP, and TCP, complemented by a Berkeley-compatible socket interface for application development. This stack was introduced in version 2 of the operating system, though its TCP layer was identified as needing a complete rewrite to enhance reliability and performance. By later development stages, including the 3.9.6a release, a new TCP/IP stack was incorporated, alongside drivers for Ethernet adapters like the 3COM 3c509 and AMD PCnet, enabling wired connectivity. Wi-Fi drivers were absent in the beta releases, limiting wireless support. The networking subsystem facilitated basic , with bundled tools like the KHTML-based SkyKruzer browser and the text-based browser for web browsing, file downloads, and protocol interactions. In beta versions such as 8 and 8.6 alpha 2, the underwent significant rework for improved stability, though early implementations remained experimental and occasionally buggy during testing. No built-in functionality was documented in available releases. System services in SkyOS included time synchronization services, such as NTP, were not explicitly featured in . Remote desktop capabilities, including VNC-like tools, were not implemented or reported in the available builds. configuration features like DHCP client support and DNS resolution were implied by the TCP/IP foundation but lacked detailed verification in public sources, with handling also undocumented. Development of networking occurred amid the dial-up and early DSL era, with testers noting reliance on connections for evaluation due to limited high-speed options at the time. Early , including 5.0 5 and 7, omitted network drivers entirely or disabled the stack for stability reasons, postponing full functionality until later iterations like 8. support was not present in any releases, aligning with the IPv4-centric focus of the project's active period in the early .

Multimedia and Peripheral Support

SkyOS featured the Integrated Sound System (ISS) as its primary framework for audio handling, enabling playback of files, Audio CDs, and DVDs through software-based processing. The ISS supported complex audio applications by allowing multiple simultaneous streams without limitations, dynamic sampling rate adjustments, and application of effect filters such as equalization and reverb. Introduced as a new framework in later development builds, the ISS was updated in beta 8 to include enhanced video integration, facilitating seamless access to audio services across applications. Video capabilities in SkyOS relied on the Integrated Video System, completed for beta 8 with an emphasis on simplicity and OS-wide integration. This system provided software decoding for basic video playback, supporting formats like MPEG through CPU-based processing without . Native media players handled general video content, though advanced features were limited by the era's development focus on core stability. Peripheral support in SkyOS encompassed USB connectivity and common input/output devices, with the USB stack—added in 4 and refined in subsequent s—supporting UHCI controllers, hub management, and transfer modes including , , and . This enabled compatibility with USB 1.1 devices such as HID keyboards, mice, and units like external hard drives. In 8, USB ports were recognized but functionality was disabled for stability, with broader hardware enumeration planned for later releases.

Software and Compatibility

Bundled Applications

SkyOS installations came bundled with a modest set of native applications aimed at delivering essential functionality for everyday use, emphasizing integration with the operating system's core components like the SkyFS filesystem and . These tools were primarily developed in-house by the SkyOS team to ensure seamless performance and consistency with the OS's architecture, evolving across beta releases to support basic productivity, media handling, and system administration without reliance on extensive third-party ports. The System Manager acted as the primary control panel, providing a unified for configuring , network settings, user accounts, and plugins for subsystems such as audio output via the ISS and mouse . It centralized preferences that were previously scattered across separate applications, streamlining user access to options like display themes and device management. For file management, SkyOS included a native designed to handle navigation, querying, and manipulation of files on the SkyFS volume, supporting features like real-time content searches and extended attributes. This tool integrated directly with the , allowing drag-and-drop operations and visual representation of storage volumes. Web browsing was handled by SkyKruzer, a lightweight native browser built on the KHTML rendering engine, offering basic rendering, tab support, and integration with the OS's networking stack for simple . It served as a to demonstrate SkyOS's and connectivity capabilities, though it lacked advanced features found in contemporary ports like . Media and multimedia support centered on the ISS, which powered native tools for audio and video playback. An included MP3 player enabled streaming and playlist management for audio files, while a general media player and integrated video viewer handled formats like MP3, DVD, and image files, with configurable output for supported sound cards. These applications leveraged the ISS's plugin architecture for extensibility, such as equalizer settings via the System Manager. Utility applications rounded out the bundle, including a for tracking resource usage and processes, and a basic for partitioning and maintenance tasks on SkyFS volumes. Development-oriented users benefited from SkyDeveloperStudio, a native supporting C, C++, , and projects, complete with debugging and build tools tailored to SkyOS's . The bundled applications evolved significantly from early betas, starting with rudimentary tools in Beta 5 (around 2003) focused on core system stability, to a more comprehensive suite by Beta 8 in 2004, incorporating media viewers and utilities as hardware support matured. By the later builds in 2008, the collection had grown to approximately 20 native tools, prioritizing conceptual simplicity and OS integration over breadth.

Ported Software and Development Tools

SkyOS facilitated the porting of through targeted compatibility efforts, enabling developers to adapt applications from and other ecosystems. The GNU toolchain, including the compiler, was ported starting with version 2.95 and progressing to discussions around GCC 3.x in 2004, allowing straightforward compilation of C and C++ programs with minimal modifications for command-line applications. Additionally, Mono 1.1.13 was successfully ported in 2006, supporting .NET 1.1 and 2.0 assemblies and enabling the execution of managed Windows applications on the platform. By 2008, several prominent applications had been ported, including Mozilla Firefox and for web browsing and email, as well as for image editing. These ports were bolstered by the integration of the GTK+ toolkit in 2004, which allowed GTK-based software like , , and Gaim to be recompiled and run natively. However, the proprietary foundation of SkyOS restricted broader adoption, as it lacked source-level or compatibility with major ecosystems, necessitating custom recompilation for most ports rather than direct execution. Development tools on SkyOS emphasized POSIX compliance to ease Unix porting, with enhancements in 2004 making the system more aligned with standards and enabling the port of for improved scripting capabilities. A custom shell provided native scripting support, while the transition from to executable formats by 2006 further simplified cross-compilation from environments. Later builds, such as 6947 in 2008, introduced an integrated for developing SkyOS-specific applications, supporting extensions and framework integration. Porting challenges stemmed primarily from binary incompatibility with and Windows, as SkyOS's unique APIs and initial format diverged from standard binaries and required extensive adaptation for dependencies and system calls. This, combined with the proprietary base, limited the volume of ports compared to open platforms, though incentives like the 2005 SkyOS Code Ransom encouraged community contributions for select packages.

Hardware Compatibility and Drivers

SkyOS primarily targeted 32-bit x86 processors, with compatibility spanning 80386 and later models up to the series, as demonstrated in beta releases running on 1 GHz systems and contemporary hardware of the early . The operating system supported standard PC buses including and for expansion cards, enabling integration with common consumer desktop components from that era. Graphics hardware compatibility focused on and -based cards, such as models with full across known variants, i810/i830/i855 chipsets offering analog/digital display support and dual-head configurations, and older TNT2 cards. Audio support included legacy SoundBlaster cards via ISA interfaces, as well as PCI-based options like Ensoniq ES1370, Sound Blaster Live!/Audigy series, and Intel 810 integrated audio, allowing basic playback and recording on compatible systems. Peripheral integration covered Ethernet adapters such as the Intel PRO/100, USB via a custom stack with UHCI host controller support for keyboards, mice, hubs, and mass storage devices, and ATA/ATAPI drives with optimized drivers for hard disks and optical media. The driver model employed modular loading directly into the at , permitting a minimal base of approximately 70 KB that dynamically incorporates filesystem, , and drivers as needed, which facilitated easier updates and reduced bloat. Community contributions played a key role, with developers submitting drivers for peripherals like accelerators and USB during phases, often shared via the official forums to expand compatibility. Despite these efforts, SkyOS exhibited significant limitations in hardware support, particularly for components released after , as development stalled around with no updates for emerging standards like PCIe 2.0 or modern chipsets. The system lacked 64-bit architecture support, confining it to 32-bit x86 environments, though it could run on later processors in . Laptop compatibility proved challenging, with issues such as reliance on PS/2 ports when USB drivers conflicted and incomplete ACPI implementation leading to problems on mobile . Beta testing emphasized consumer desktops, with releases like and validating performance on standard Pentium-era setups but offering minimal accommodation for server-grade , such as limited configurations or high-end network interfaces. In modern contexts, SkyOS can be run in virtual machines on current , bypassing some original limitations.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reviews and Community Feedback

Contemporary reviews of SkyOS during its active development period from the late 1990s to 2008 highlighted its lightweight performance and stability, particularly in beta releases. A 2005 review of Beta 9 described the operating system as "solid and responsive," capable of booting from to desktop in approximately 15 seconds and scaling well under load by running multiple applications, including demos, , and Gaim, without stability issues. Similarly, a 2004 assessment of the seventh beta emphasized SkyOS's overall stability, noting that crashes were primarily attributable to third-party applications rather than the core OS itself. These qualities were often praised in the context of its "all-in-one" design, integrating the , drivers, and into a cohesive system that prioritized efficiency on x86 hardware. Critics, however, pointed to significant limitations in the app ecosystem and hardware support, which hindered broader adoption. Reviews frequently noted the scarcity of native applications, as the proprietary model restricted easy porting of open-source software like GPL-licensed tools, rendering the OS less practical for without extensive user effort. compatibility was another common complaint, with incomplete driver support for peripherals and chipsets limiting functionality compared to established systems like Windows. The closed-source, paid beta-testing approach further alienated open-source enthusiasts, who viewed it as contrary to community-driven development norms and a barrier to wider contribution. The , which expanded to include hundreds of active testers by the mid-2000s after initially being capped at 100, maintained vibrant forums where users shared feedback on , often comparing its intuitive favorably to Windows while lamenting the lack of a robust software . These discussions remained engaged until around , focusing on practical experiences like performance in daily tasks and suggestions for improvements, though the small scale reflected the challenges of a solo-developer project. Media coverage, such as a 2009 Root.cz article titled " for the SkyOS Operating System," encapsulated these sentiments by praising the innovative features achieved by lead developer Robert Szeleney but underscoring the inherent constraints of individual-led development in building a sustainable .

Reasons for Discontinuation

SkyOS's development was predominantly a solo effort by its creator, Robert Szeleney, which imposed severe resource limitations and contributed to developer burnout over its 13-year span. Personal circumstances, including the birth of his first child around , drastically reduced Szeleney's daily development time from more than six hours to significantly less, further straining progress. The project relied almost entirely on revenue from beta sales for funding, without attracting external investment or grants, making it unsustainable for long-term expansion. Market dynamics played a critical role in SkyOS's halt, as it competed against free alternatives like distributions and , which provided extensive software ecosystems and hardware compatibility without purchase costs. By 2009, the computing industry was transitioning to 64-bit architectures, rendering SkyOS's 32-bit design increasingly obsolete and limiting its appeal to users seeking modern performance. The proprietary model isolated the project from broader open-source communities, preventing code reuse and collaborative momentum that characterized successful contemporaries. Technical challenges compounded these issues, particularly the burden of maintaining drivers and porting applications in a custom environment. Szeleney grew frustrated with repeatedly adapting major software updates, such as new releases, to SkyOS's unique interface and kernel, which demanded extensive rewriting without shared resources. As hardware evolved rapidly—faster than anticipated—the lack of a large contributor base made driver development for new peripherals and graphics cards untenable for a single developer. Economically, SkyOS achieved only limited adoption, insufficient to build a viable market or draw additional developers. This small user base, combined with stalled beta sales, prevented the project from scaling, ultimately leading Szeleney to officially halt development on January 30, 2009, with no resumption plans.

Influence on Other Projects

SkyOS has inspired developers, particularly in demonstrating efficient and feature implementation within constrained environments. Its development as a from-scratch, non-Linux OS by a single highlighted practical approaches to building a graphical desktop system, influencing discussions on solo-driven projects in communities and educational . For instance, recent of alternative OS histories reference SkyOS as a notable example of 1990s-era outside dominant ecosystems. As of 2025, SkyOS continues to be referenced in articles on alternative operating systems, such as TechRadar's of non-Windows options. The system's archival role underscores its value in preserving examples of early 2000s designs, where core services like the and drivers were tightly integrated for performance. Although licensing prevented direct forks or open-source adaptations, SkyOS binaries and have been maintained in digital , allowing researchers and enthusiasts to study its without active support. These efforts ensure accessibility for analysis of its unified subsystem approach, distinct from modular designs in contemporary systems. SkyOS, the x86 desktop operating system, is unrelated to several modern projects sharing the name, avoiding confusion in technical contexts. Skyryse's , introduced in the early , is an aviation-focused operating system for aircraft controls, emphasizing and automated flight safety rather than general-purpose computing. Similarly, NIO's , launched in 2023, serves as a full-domain vehicle operating system for electric automobiles, integrating AI-driven , , and autonomous functions. On , a Python-based SkyOS project represents an open-source, educational operating system simulator, built from scratch in a for learning purposes, with no connection to the original desktop OS. As of , SkyOS remains relevant in operating system preservation communities, offering lessons on the challenges of solo , such as sustaining long-term progress without collaborative resources. Its incomplete journey illustrates the limitations of individual efforts in competing with established platforms, yet it contributes to broader appreciation for archiving niche OS projects to inform future hobbyist and academic explorations.

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