Calmira

Calmira
DeveloperLi-Hsin Huang
Stable release
3.31 / October 15, 2003 (2003-10-15)
Operating system
TypeShell
LicenseGNU General Public License
Websitewww.calmira.de
Repository

Calmira (originally released as Calmira II[1]) is an alternative shell for Windows 3.1x that replaces its shell with one resembling that of Windows 95. The original version of Calmira was developed by Li-Hsin Huang. Released under the GNU GPL, it has received a number of forks over the years by other developers seeking to update its functionality.[2]

The shell is more than a simple cosmetic upgrade, however. Much of the functionality of later 32-bit shells has been incorporated into the Calmira software.[3] The shell has a Start menu, a taskbar and a desktop that all function like those found in the Explorer-based desktop environments of later 32-bit Windows operating systems, including support for shortcuts and the Recycle Bin.[3][4]: 256  The software also works under OS/2 Warp, IBM's competitor to Windows, giving that operating system a Start menu on top of other Windows-exclusive GUI features.[1][5]

Development

The Calmira shell was originally developed by Li-Hsin Huang.[2][5]: 260  He wrote the software in Borland Delphi 1.0, an Object Pascal–based programming environment by Borland Software.[4] Because the Windows 3.1x environment is virtually extinct as of 2023, additions of new features and addons to Calmira are few and far between.[2]

Source code

The source code for the Calmira shell is publicly available under the GNU GPL license, thus allowing software developers to participate in the project. However, as the Calmira shell was initially developed on the 16-bit Delphi 1.0 programming environment, active contributors are more or less restricted to developing the shell on that platform. An attempt to port parts of Calmira to Windows NT 3.51 has been made, and the project has resulted in NT Shell.[6]

Forks

Being open source, some people developed their own forks of Calmira, adding other features and customizations. Here is a list of the most popular ones:

  • Calmira LFN: Fork developed by Alexandre Rodrigues de Sousa[2] that supports long filenames, better icon shading, a My Documents icon, and a dialog to change the wallpaper. The final version, 3.32 (released on December 19, 2006), also has custom window borders that mimic Windows 95.[7]
    • Calmira Reborn: Fork of Calmira LFN developed by Hunter "Lilia" Turcin that addresses a number of bugs present in version 3.32.[2]
  • Calmira XP: Fork developed by ABZone that aims to mimic the Windows XP interface.[8] Version 4.0 Beta added support for long filenames and a login screen, among other features.[9][10] Development ceased in November 2006.[11]

Other versions, as well as the original version of Calmira, can be found at Calmira Online!.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Relf, Christopher (March 2000). "OS/2 shareware". Australian Personal Computer. Vol. 21, no. 3. p. 146 – via the Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b c d e Holwerda, Thom (February 8, 2023). "Calmira, the Windows 95-like desktop for Windows 3.x, returns". OSNews. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Duble, Bill; Dave Schluto (September 14, 1998). "Get some new Windows for an old house". The Rutland Daily Herald. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Georghiades, Panicos; Gabriel Jacobs (July 1998). "Windows 3.1 Hands On: Cosmetic surgery". Personal Computer World. Vol. 21, no. 7. Incisive Media. pp. 255–257 – via the Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b Green, Terence (August 1998). "OS/2 Hands On: Skinny dipping". Personal Computer World. Vol. 21, no. 8. Incisive Media. pp. 259–260 – via the Internet Archive.
  6. ^ Rodrigues de Sousa, Alexandre (August 26, 2008). "Calmira NT Shell". GeoCities. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  7. ^ Rodrigues de Sousa, Alexandre. "Calmira LFN 3.32". GeoCities. Archived from the original on July 29, 2009.
  8. ^ Loli, Eugenia (March 2, 2004). "Calmira XP 3.32; shell for Windows 3.11". OSNews. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025.
  9. ^ Holwerda, Thom (March 6, 2006). "Calmira XP 4.0 Beta Released". OSNews. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Staff writer (March 9, 2006). "Windows3.11をXPみたいにするフリーソフト「Calmira XP」" [Calmira XP: Free software that makes Windows 3.11 look like XP]. Gigazine (in Japanese). Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  11. ^ Holwerda, Thom (November 26, 2006). "Calmira XP Is No More". OSNews. Archived from the original on November 6, 2025.
  12. ^ "Calmira Online!". Calmira Shell Archive. August 26, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2026.
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