<p>Thank you very much for checking out Haiku! This is our fourth public release. We hope to attract new developers to our project and give future users a chance to check out Haiku. We realize that this <i>alpha release</i> does not yet fully live up to the goals that we have set for ourselves and doesn't offer all the features and well-rounded end-user experience planned for the final R1 version. However, we hope that this release lets you discover Haiku's great potential and that you share our excitement.</p>
<divclass="box-warning">We discourage using alpha versions as a production system. Your data could very well be altered, mangled or downright destroyed.</div>
<p>One of the main reasons for releasing an alpha version is to attract more people to test the system and discover bugs or provide suggestions for future enhancements. Please file bugs and enhancements in our bug tracker after using its search function to avoid duplicates.</p>
<aid="system"name="system">Getting to know the system</a></h2>
<p>The first release(s) of Haiku will be very much like the BeOS R5, the operating system it is reimplementing. If you never experienced it, have a look at these links:</p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="../userguide/pt_PT/contents.html">Haiku User Guide</a></li>
<li><ahref="http://www.haiku-os.org/community/"class="printurl">List of BeOS/Haiku websites</a></li>
<p>Most of the available software can be downloaded and installed with the application HaikuDepot that comes with Haiku.<br/>
Because of our binary and source compatibility, most BeOS applications run on Haiku. Many of those have been re-packaged for Haiku or still run unmodified. You'll find more information on installing new programs in the user guide's chapter on <ahref="../userguide/pt_PT/applications.html">Applications</a>.</p>
<li><ahref="http://haikuports.org"class="printurl">HaikuPorts</a> - maintains patches for ported software</li>
<li><ahref="https://github.com/HaikuArchives"class="printurl">HaikuArchives</a> - hosts native BeOS and Haiku open source software projects in a github</li>
<p>Haiku supports wireless networks that are WPA/WPA2 or WEP encrypted and of course open, unencrypted connections. Due to several different licensing policies of different hardware vendors, a manual installation process for the firmware may be required. You'll find more information on supported hardware, firmware installation and how to join a wireless network in the Haiku User Guide's <ahref="../userguide/pt_PT/workshop-wlan.html">Workshop: Wireless networking</a>.</p>
<p>Since Haiku is a reimplementation, the API is still the same as for BeOS R5 (with some additions). Therefore the documentation in the Be Book is still a valid resource. Thanks to ACCESS, who owns the rights to former Be Inc. property, we are allowed to provide a copy of the Be Book.<br/>
Deviations from the BeOS API and Haiku specific additions are collected in the Haiku Book.</p>
<p>Get in contact with other developers and users and join the discussions on IRC (<ahref="http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=haiku">#haiku</a> on webchat), in our forums or the mailing lists. When many different people come together, rules have to established to keep communication effective. Please respect our <ahref="http://www.haiku-os.org/community/ml/etiquette">Mailing List Etiquette</a>.</p>
