PumpkinOS, a Re-Implementation of PalmOS

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A new open-source project called PumpkinOS re-implements PalmOS, reviving classic PDA-era software, Graffiti input, and event-loop–driven apps on modern hardware. Commenters explore PalmOS’s quirky memory model, its design lineage from classic Mac and Newton systems, and how tools like emulators and web-based ports are keeping old apps and games alive. The exchange also reflects on why Palm and webOS ultimately lost to iOS and Android, despite early smartphones like the Treo and strong ideas that were ahead of their time.

PumpkinOS Project & Scope

  • Re-implementation of PalmOS, impressive given the need to support many legacy system calls and Palm’s unusual memory model.
  • Some debate whether it’s a full OS or more of a program/runtime that could sit on top of Linux or similar.
  • Author has experimented with making it bootable via a minimal kernel and QEMU; in principle could be adapted to ARM.
  • Uses SDL, so posters note it should be relatively straightforward to port to Android or WebAssembly.

PalmOS Architecture, Memory & Input

  • PalmOS used movable memory blocks that the OS could rearrange, requiring apps to “lock” handles before use.
  • Several posters say this is trivial to emulate on modern hardware by never moving blocks and turning locks into no-ops.
  • Discussion compares this handle-based, shared-heap design to classic Mac OS, Win16, and AmigaOS, including difficulties with fragmentation and MMU support.
  • Graffiti text input and alternatives like Fitaly are fondly remembered and considered highly efficient.

Palm Hardware, Ecosystem & Decline

  • Early devices had very little RAM (kB to single-digit MB) and used it as both storage and working memory.
  • Later Treo and Centro smartphones are cited as real “pre-iPhone” smartphones with rich app ecosystems, but PalmOS became obsolete (16‑bit legacy, no real multitasking, non-VM).
  • Posters blame Palm’s split into hardware/software companies, the never-adopted PalmOS 6/Cobalt, late and underpowered webOS devices, and carrier control.
  • Some argue Palm was trapped by backward compatibility; others think Apple showed such transitions are possible with enough resources.

Emulators, Ports & Related Projects

  • rePalm and CloudpilotEmu are mentioned as other ways to run PalmOS or its apps on modern hardware and in browsers.
  • People enjoy replaying classic games like Space Trader and Vexed; nostalgia for Palm game ecosystem is strong.

Nostalgia vs. Modern Needs

  • Many express emotional nostalgia (battery life, physical keyboards, simple PIM apps, page-up/down buttons).
  • Some doubt PalmOS would satisfy as a daily driver today; modern OSes offer far more connectivity, multitasking, and app ecosystems.
  • “Killer feature” for a revival is unclear; main appeal seems to be simplicity, responsiveness, and long battery life rather than capabilities.