Much of this section by: Andreas Koch
Other contributors: Mathy van Nisselroy, Kathleen Ferrante

- G.O.S. by Total Control Systems (David Sullivan), 1986, public domain

- RAOS (Rat Actuated Operating System) by Zobian Controls, 1986/1987
   o  Z-DOS desktop DUP.SYS replacement
   o  For use with SuperRAT mouse by Zobian Controls
   o  Released?

- GOE, developed by Total Control Systems (David Sullivan)
(co-marketed by Merrill Ward & Assoc. / Shelly Merrill as "ST Jr." early 1988)
Demo disk version(s?) released 1988, full cartridge version unreleased.

- Diamond GOS, developed by Reeve Software / ReeveSoft (Alan Reeve)
   (co-marketed by USA Media / Shelly Merrill as "ST Jr." Aug 1988 - Apr 1989)
   - Supports: DOS 2.5 and compatible, SpartaDOS, DOS XE
   o  Diamond GOS version 1 (1988)
      - Diamond DeskTop 1.0 (disk) DUP.SYS replacement
   o  Diamond GOS version 2 (1989) package:
      - Diamond DeskTop 2.0 (cartridge) + Utility Diskette
      - Diamond Programmer's Kit (Programmer's Manual)
      - Diamond Paint (disk)
   o  Diamond GOS version 3 (1991) package:
      - Diamond DeskTop 3.0 (cartridge) + utility diskette
      - Diamond Paint (disk)
      - Diamond Write (disk)

- Screen Aided Management (SAM) by RaindorfSoft for Power Per Post (Germany)
  - It is available in two different versions: 
    a) Type-in listing from Atari magazin and/or the Lazy finger disks (PD) 
    b) the commercial version 2.0 which has many add-ons
  - Supports: Atari DOS 2.5
  - V1.25i, 1994 is available from DGS, http://www.dgs.clara.net/
    DGS SAM page: http://www.dgs.clara.net/sam.htm

- BOSS-XL by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
  - Requires 64K XL/XE
  - Supports: ATARI-DOS, Turbo-DOS
  - Current Version: v4.5 Edition 2000 (primary development 1993-1997)
  - System Software:
    - File Manager (Desktop was the BOSS-XL V2.0)
    - BOSS-font editor (XE-version) 
    - Icon Editor (XL-/XE-Version)
  - Written in Turbo-BASIC
  - Available: http://www.atarixle.de/

- BOSS-XE by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
  - Requires 64K XL/XE, 128K or more recommended
  - Supports: ATARI-DOS, Turbo-DOS
  - Current Version: v8.1 Edition 2000 (developed 1997-2000)
  - Written in Turbo-BASIC
  - System Software:
    - BOSS parameter 
    - BOSS-font editor (XE-version) 
    - Icon editor (XL / XE version)
  - Available: http://www.atarixle.de/

- BOSS-X by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
  - Requires 128K XL/XE, 256K or more recommended
  - Supports: MYDOS 4.50 and above; Atari ST Mouse
  - Current Version: 10:33, 2003 (developed 2000-2003)
  - Written in Turbo-BASIC
  - System Software:
    - File Manager 
    - BOSS parameter 
    - BOSS-font editor (X version) 
    - Icon editor (X version for colored symbols) 
    - BOSS-X framework 
    - multiple screen savers
  - Available: http://www.atarixle.de/

- XL-TOS a small and "cheap" GUI version from Atari magazin (i.e. a type-in
listing; the BASIC file, which consists of many data lines creates a short
object code file); unfortunately this GUI only looks good, it loads almost
nothing... PD;

- ST-TOS a small BASIC program, that looks like a GUI; it can merely load
BASIC files and do a few DOS commands, like lock, unlock, delete and such...
(PD)

- BASIC desktop, a GUI written in BASIC just as a sample, what can be done
with an 8-bit computer; this one loads BASIC and text files (maybe also ML
files); PD;

- DCS, the desktop construction set from Tom Hunt; there are 3 different
versions available, a) for DOS 2.5, b) for MyDOS and c) for Sparta-DOS; I have
tested the Sparta DOS version, which worked with batchfiles and could easily
load some ML files, text files and BASIC files (which were already on the DCS
disk); it also works with high densities and/or hard disk partitions up to
16MB and supports subdirs of course; hmm, freeware or shareware ?!?

- ATOS - GUI by Tom Hunt/Closer To Home.
  1) Lets you use any demo or intro as a screen saver!!
  2) Works with all Atari hardware, BB, MIO and Hard drives, SpartaDOS support
  3) Lets you run files like full games and demos and then
     return back to the desktop.  It uses Overlays.

- Atari Desktop by ABC software (Poland), includes editors, converters,
file copiers, sector copy, tape+turbo tape copy, small games, CMC finder
and player and much much more; works with 64k RAM and keyboard input;
disk manuals only in Polish language...

- Windows XL a Turbo-BASIC GUI with some nice add-ons, like calculator, editor
and other things. written in 1986-1988 by Joerg Forg.

- TRS Desktop by Tristesse.  A graphic user interface for SpartaDOS X to be
used with hard drives.
http://www.atari8.info/trsdesktop.php
http://trub.atari8.info/sdx_files/TRS_desktop_v09d_alfa.zip

- there are a lot more GUI programs, however many of them are written in BASIC
or Turbo BASIC and are very restricted; most of them merely look like a GUI
but need too much memory for everyday use. That's why most users still prefer
those DOS or Gamedos (Gameloader, Multiloader, etc.) programs...