Clone (computer science)
Encyclopedia
In computing
, a clone is a hardware
or software system that is designed to mimic another system. Compatibility
with the original system is usually the explicit purpose of cloning hardware or low-level software such as operating system
s (e.g. AROS
and MorphOS
are intended to be compatible with AmigaOS
). Application software can be cloned simply by providing similar functionality (all word processor
s have the same basic purpose), but may also be designed to support specific file format
s (e.g., OpenOffice.org
is intended to supplant Microsoft Office
).
Clones are created for various reasons, including competition, standardization, and availability across platforms.
in 1981, other companies such as Compaq
decided to offer clones of the PC as a legal reimplementation from the PC's documentation or reverse engineering
. Because most of the components, except the PC's BIOS
, were publicly available, all Compaq had to do was reverse-engineer the BIOS. The result was a machine with better value than the archetypes that the machines resembled. The use of the term "PC clone" to describe IBM PC compatible
computers fell out of use in the 1990s; the class of machines it now describes are simply called PCs.
While the term has fallen mostly into commercial disuse, the term clone for PCs still applies to a PC made to entry-level or above standard (at the time it was made) which bears no commercial branding (e.g., Acer, IBM, HP, Dell). This includes, but is not limited to, PCs assembled by home users or Corporate IT Departments. (See also White box (computer hardware)
.)
Distinct from clones are home computer remakes. Clones are made during a product's initial commercial run, intentionally competing with the original. Remakes are revivals of old, obsolete, or discontinued models.
allows programmers to clone the public functionality of a program without infringing its copyright
.
The Clone Computer replicates, runs, and is always available through a series of Cloud servers. The main difference between Clone Computing and Remote Management software is the Clone's lack of any dependency on the Host computer.
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, a clone is a hardware
Computer hardware
Personal computer hardware are component devices which are typically installed into or peripheral to a computer case to create a personal computer upon which system software is installed including a firmware interface such as a BIOS and an operating system which supports application software that...
or software system that is designed to mimic another system. Compatibility
Computer compatibility
A family of computer models is said to be compatible if certain software that runs on one of the models can also be run on all other models of the family. The computer models may differ in performance, reliability or some other characteristic...
with the original system is usually the explicit purpose of cloning hardware or low-level software such as operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s (e.g. AROS
AROS Research Operating System
AROS Research Operating System is a free and open source multi media centric implementation of the AmigaOS 3.1 APIs. Designed to be portable and flexible, ports are currently available for x86-based and PowerPC-based PCs in native and hosted flavors, with other architectures in development...
and MorphOS
MorphOS
MorphOS is an Amiga-compatible computer operating system. It is a mixed proprietary and open source OS produced for the Pegasos PowerPC processor based computer, PowerUP accelerator equipped Amiga computers, and a series of Freescale development boards that use the Genesi firmware, including the...
are intended to be compatible with AmigaOS
AmigaOS
AmigaOS is the default native operating system of the Amiga personal computer. It was developed first by Commodore International, and initially introduced in 1985 with the Amiga 1000...
). Application software can be cloned simply by providing similar functionality (all word processor
Word processor
A word processor is a computer application used for the production of any sort of printable material....
s have the same basic purpose), but may also be designed to support specific file format
File format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
s (e.g., OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice.org, commonly known as OOo or OpenOffice, is an open-source application suite whose main components are for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases. OpenOffice is available for a number of different computer operating systems, is distributed as free software...
is intended to supplant Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...
).
Clones are created for various reasons, including competition, standardization, and availability across platforms.
Hardware
When IBM announced the IBM PCIBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
in 1981, other companies such as Compaq
Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation is a personal computer company founded in 1982. Once the largest supplier of personal computing systems in the world, Compaq existed as an independent corporation until 2002, when it was acquired for US$25 billion by Hewlett-Packard....
decided to offer clones of the PC as a legal reimplementation from the PC's documentation or reverse engineering
Reverse engineering
Reverse engineering is the process of discovering the technological principles of a device, object, or system through analysis of its structure, function, and operation...
. Because most of the components, except the PC's BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....
, were publicly available, all Compaq had to do was reverse-engineer the BIOS. The result was a machine with better value than the archetypes that the machines resembled. The use of the term "PC clone" to describe IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
computers fell out of use in the 1990s; the class of machines it now describes are simply called PCs.
While the term has fallen mostly into commercial disuse, the term clone for PCs still applies to a PC made to entry-level or above standard (at the time it was made) which bears no commercial branding (e.g., Acer, IBM, HP, Dell). This includes, but is not limited to, PCs assembled by home users or Corporate IT Departments. (See also White box (computer hardware)
White box (computer hardware)
In computer hardware, a white box is a personal computer or server without a registered brand name. For instance, the term is applied to systems assembled by small system integrators and to homebuilt computer systems assembled by end users from parts purchased separately at retail. In this latter...
.)
Distinct from clones are home computer remakes. Clones are made during a product's initial commercial run, intentionally competing with the original. Remakes are revivals of old, obsolete, or discontinued models.
Software
Software can be cloned by reverse engineering or legal reimplementation from documentation or other sources, or by observing a program's appearance and behavior. The reasons for cloning may include circumventing undesirable licensing fees or acquiring knowledge about the features of the system. In the United States, the case of Lotus v. BorlandLotus v. Borland
Lotus Development Corporation v. Borland International, Inc., 516 U.S. 233 , is a United States Supreme Court case that tested the extent of software copyright...
allows programmers to clone the public functionality of a program without infringing its copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
.
Desktop
Clone Computing has taken on a new meaning since 2010. Clone Computing is a way to duplicate the Host (a user's computer) by replicating the entire session in a virtual instance in the Cloud. The Clone in the Cloud allows the user to have access to their PC's Desktop on any other computing device including an iPad, a PC, WebOS, Blackberry, Android Tablets in addition to smartphones and the iPhone.The Clone Computer replicates, runs, and is always available through a series of Cloud servers. The main difference between Clone Computing and Remote Management software is the Clone's lack of any dependency on the Host computer.