[Blink]

OS Review #0
Sailfish OS

Intro:
Sailfish OS is a smartphone operating system made by the Finnish company, Jolla Ltd.  It is based on Mer, which is based on Nokia's MeeGo, which was discontinued.  Unlike Android, Sailfish app development is done in C++ and Python, with QT for GUI development.  At the time of writing, Sailfish OS is at version 2.1.0, the version I tested was version 2.0.5.6.

First Impressions:
Sailfish looks quite nice, but the black background of the app drawer doesn't look that great, it should've been a darkened transparency or something.  Setup was simple, not much different from android or iOS setup, maybe a bit faster than iOS (the iOS activation time can go on for a bit, but is otherwise fine). It took me a bit of time to get GSM internet working, as it was disabled by default (enabling was easy, but it took a while realize it was disabled by default).  The Jolla App store seems small, even smaller than F-Droid, but that's expected considering the number of users.

UI/UX:
The use of gestures allows for maximum use of screen space, which is great, and easy to get used too.  When you swipe from the top, instead of seeing notifications, you see a stupid page witch lets you set your theme, or mode of use.  When a theme is switched on, it runs a set of actions that can include the changing of ringtones and volume level.  This is just plain dumb, as swiping from the top for notifications is much more convenient.  On the default home page, there is no icons, but it shows your open windows.  I like the lack of icons, but the windows should be a "swipe to the right" thing, like Google Now is on Android. Similar to Google now, it has a notifications and quick settings page that can be accessed by swiping left from the home screen.  In my opinion, the theme page and quick-settings/notifications page should be swapped. There's an over-usage of transparency, as all apps are transparent.  From any app except for the web browser, you can see your wallpaper.  Even sliders and buttons are transparent, they are just darker than the background.  The app drawer should also be transparent, considering that the rest of the OS is, but they made it black for no good reason.  Overall, the UI is nice, but needs a lot of work.

Functionality:
The themes should allow you to do more functions on switch, such as setting alarms, and changing display brightness.  The web browser needs more configurability, you can't even change the default search engine.  Wallpapers are automatically cropped in a really weird way when you set them, so you need to try a bunch before you will find one that works.  Otherwise, most functionality is fine.  Not much more could be said, everything worked well.  My phone didn't support the Android app layer, so I couldn't run Android apps on it; this is the main reason why I won't be using it permanently.  Battery life actually improved from Android, and was good.  Installation was easy, it was similar to installing a custom ROM.  

Bonus mini-section - Development:
Sailfish apps are made in C++, or Python.  GUI work is done with QT, and can be done in a nice XML-based-language called QML.  The environment setup process is tedious enough for me not to want to do it, but it believe that it is similar in Android.  It's great that Java isn't used.  Nobody needs another Java-centered mobile OS.  I can't say much more, as I didn't go farther than some quick doc reading.

Summery:
Sailfish is an OS with a lot of potential, but it needs some work before it is ready for widespread, or even niche usage.  It is capable of a lot of things, but the UI needs a lot of tweaking.  It would be nice to have a simpler environment-setup process for development (it's not terrible tbh, but could be better).  I'll check it out again once it hits 2.1, or 2.5, or at least when it gets a UI redesign, but until then I'll stay away.

My favorite things about Sailfish OS:
Non-Java app development, and the Reddit app Quickddit

VERDICT:

• TOTAL SCORE: 3.5/10
  
• UI: 2/10
  
• Functionality: 5/10
  
• Ease of use: 7/10
  
• Development setup: 3.5/10
  
• POTENTIAL: 9/10 (needs to support C# or something like Swift or Go)
  

Hope you guys enjoyed this!  I would've liked to write a bit more, but couldn't think of much else.  This was also released a bit late, as I was busy until now and wrote most of this in the last few minutes.  
Keep an eye out for my next one!

[Blink]

I can't get a bunch of things working in Haiku, so it won't be next. (unlike original plan)

I might try ReactOS, MenuetOS, TempleOS, or Gentoo.

[protonrotuing]

Very interesting, I find it interesting that it has its own "apps" that are only C++ and Python rather than standard deviation of conversion which many other OSes have the capability of doing although.

[Blink]

Very interesting, I find it interesting that it has its own "apps" that are only C++ and Python rather than standard deviation of conversion which many other OSes have the capability of doing although.

Android apps are written in Java. iOS apps are written in Objective C or Swift.

I have no idea what you mean.

[Exiled]

Thanks for the review, you've made my decision easier.

[zorrophreak]

I can't get a bunch of things working in Haiku, so it won't be next. (unlike original plan)

I might try ReactOS, MenuetOS, TempleOS, or Gentoo.

please do TempleOS next.

[Blink]

I can't get a bunch of things working in Haiku, so it won't be next. (unlike original plan)

I might try ReactOS, MenuetOS, TempleOS, or Gentoo.

please do TempleOS next.

I mean... I can also try @phyrrus9's "BrainFuck OS" (BFOS)

[Ecks]

Very good review and I look forward to your next one. I do have to add that their app store is a branch store of aptoide, here is the link to their app store https://jolla.store.aptoide.com/ or the main one https://www.aptoide.com/ for anyone else interested in building their own mobile OS and needing an app marketplace.

[Blink]

Very good review and I look forward to your next one. I do have to add that their app store is a branch store of aptoide, here is the link to their app store https://jolla.store.aptoide.com/ or the main one https://www.aptoide.com/ for anyone else interested in building their own mobile OS and needing an app marketplace.

That's their Android app store.

My phone didn't support android apps over sailfish, so I could only use the default app store (not that one).

[Bish0pQ]

This is a very nice, detailed review. It's short, clear and very easy to understand for everyone. I will be looking forward to the rest of these series (assuming you continue this).

Overall, not an OS I want to try, regarding this information.

If you have time, could you maybe also review/recommend an OS for extremly low spec systems. (RPI 1B, thin clients, embedded devices...). This would of a great interest to me.