Difference between revisions 565394748 and 593871891 on enwiki

{{Infobox software|
  name = SharpEnviro |
  logo = <!-- [[Image:Sharpe.JPG]] --> |
  screenshot = |
  caption = |
  developer = SharpEnviro Development Team |
  latest_release_version = ---|
  latest preview version = 0.8 RC3 |
  operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] XP/Vista/7 (32/64-bit) |
  programming_language = [[Object Pascal]] ([[Embarcadero Delphi]]) |
  genre = [[Windows shell replacement]] |
  license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL]] |
  website = [http://sharpe.sourceforge.net/ sharpe.sourceforge.net/] |
}}

'''SharpEnviro''', previously known as SharpE and also shortened as '''#E''', was an [[open-source]] [[Shell (computing)|shell]] replacement for [[Microsoft Windows]] XP and later versions, released under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL). The goal of the project was to create a user friendly desktop environment that provides advanced and modern desktop features but remains easily configurable. As for any windows shell replacement, it is still possible to run any native Windows application when SharpEnviro is used.

Started in 19979 by members of Low Dimension International (LDI), SharpEnviro underwent several rewrites and development team changes, split off LDI in 2005, and was discontinued in November 2011.

== History ==
SharpEnviro started its life as '''SharpOS''' back in '99 by the two Swedish developers Andreas W (Lowspirit) and Joakim N (Langor) under the software company name Conspiracy Software, it was programmed for Windows in the free Personal Edition of Delphi and was meant to replace the regular Explorer interface of Windows.

Conspiracy Software later changed name to Low Dimension International and SharpOS was renamed SharpE since it never was an Operating System and only got that name because it sounded cool, and the developers were fans of BeOS.

In its early life SharpE was not skinnable as part of its motto to be clean and instantly usable, it did however support color themes much like Windows did and much of the inspiration for the UI come from fellow shell replacement geoShell and the operating system BeOS, neither which was skinnable.

As SharpE grew in functionality more and more members joined the ranks with talent such as Pixol, Delusional, Viper, Malx and later on many more during its later days.

SharpE was released in five public betas before changing name to SharpEnviro together with some changes to the devteam, due to school, work and life in general the founders Andreas and Joakim left development in the capable hands of the remaining developers and SharpE changed its name to SharpEnviro.⏎
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== User Interface ==
A key improvement the SharpEnviro shell has over Microsoft Windows Explorer shell is that it does not limit the desktop to a single or fixed setup of the [[taskbar]]. Therefore, any number of toolbars (called a SharpBar) may be created and customized with any module the user desires. The range of modules available span from standard system functionality like a taskbar or start menu button to advanced features such as a CPU monitor, notes or media player controls. By April 2010, more tha(contracted; show full)

* The absence of any free/personal version of Delphi 2007 (or later) available is a discouragement for third party developers to create new modules or contribute source code patches to the shell.

* Unicode support was planned for future releases, but will remain unavailable due to the project’s discontinuation.


== SharpE2 ==
Before SharpE became SharpEnviro and the devteam changed there were early plans and drafts for the next generation of SharpE which was called SharpE2 or SharpE v1.0, it was developed side-by-side with PB5 by Andreas W and featured ideas and a new user interface inspired visually by Apples OSX and designed to be as clean as possible.

<big>Some of the planned features :</big>

* '''Alpha transparent shadow''' - <small>Functional</small>.
With Windows drivers starting to get hardware acceleration for alpha transparency it opened the door for some cool effects like drop shadow.

* '''Notification system''' - <small>Semi-functional</small>.
Meant as a discreet notification system much like Growl for Mac or the bubble tray popuphints for Windows, it popped down / up from the SharpBar in a transparent rounded box with text, the code was there but no framework was ever finished to send info to it.

* '''Easy Skins''' - <small>Functional</small>.
Meant to provide a beautiful customizable interface without the risk of clutter, no .ini or .xml file eiditing was needed and certain elements was shared between skins to provide a unified look whilst still looking unique.

* '''Auto evolve''' - <small>Functional</small>.
Were SharpE previously had a separate application called SharpUp to deal with updates SharpE2 updated / evolved automatically, the feature worked perfect during development and used much of the code from SharpUp together with some visual tricks to make the actual replacement of the .exe seamless to the user.

* '''New plugin format''' - <small>Not functional</small>.
Not being able to retain compatibility with the previous version due to the completely new look a new format was planned which was supposed to feature some things that was tinkered with in some of the last versions of SharpE PB5, like per plugin memory usage and plugin standard conformance. During development some test plugins for memory, disk and winamp control was made but they were all loaded internally.⏎
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== See also ==
{{Portal|Free software}}

* [[Shell (computing)]]
* [[Windows shell]]
* [[Windows shell replacement]]

==External links==
* [http://sharpe.sourceforge.net/ Main SharpEnviro site]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/sharpe/ SharpEnviro Project Page on SourceForge.net]
* [http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/sharpe/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1 Discontinuation topic on the SharpEnviro Forums]

[[Category:Desktop shell replacement]]