My 5 favorite open source operating systems that aren't Linux

3 days ago 23

Follow ZDNET: Add america arsenic a preferred source connected Google.

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

Although Linux is the king of open-source OSes, determination are options.
Here you'll find a fewer open-source OSes to artifact astir with.
Don't expect immoderate of these to beryllium viable options for regular use.

When you deliberation of open-source operating systems, astir apt lone 1 enactment springs to mind: Linux.

That makes cleanable sense, fixed that Linux is the astir fashionable open-source OS connected the satellite (and starting to drawback up with non-open-source OSs).

Also: Ready for a Linux laptop? I urge a Tuxedo to beginners and pro users alike

But Linux isn't the lone open-source crippled successful town. In fact, determination are respective open-source options that you tin try. I recovered 5 successful peculiar that are absorbing capable to stock with you, including 4 that reimagine an operating strategy from the past and 1 built by a azygous developer (take that, Linus).

Let's spot what determination is to spot wrong the realm of non-Linux open-source operating systems.

1. Haiku

The archetypal clip I tried

Haiku was two-thousand-two

It was successful alpha.

Decades later, Haiku has yet reached beta. Yup, that's 1 dilatory improvement process. What attracted maine to Haiku was its flimsy resemblance to the Afterstep Window manager that I erstwhile utilized and loved. Why the resemblance? Haiku is simply a reimagining of the precocious BeOS, inspired by NeXTSTEP (which successful crook inspired AfterStep).

Besides the nifty UI, the craziest happening astir Haiku is that it installs successful seconds. On apical of that, you astir apt won't find an OS wherever the apps tally arsenic accelerated arsenic they bash connected Haiku. The trade-off is that you mightiness not find the app you need. The bully quality is that there's the Haiku Depot, wherever you tin instal plentifulness of apps (even the likes of LibreOffice).

Also: You tin usage Linux 7.0 connected these 7 distros contiguous - here's what to expect

Another chill diagnostic recovered successful Haiku is the Deskbar, which gives you speedy entree to minimized applications and strategy tray items.

I wouldn't urge Haiku for regular use, but it's surely amusive to play with.

2. BSD

BSD stands for Berkeley Software Distribution and is the closest happening to Unix that you tin usage connected the desktop. Created astatine UC Berkeley by the Computer Systems Research Group and began arsenic a derivative of the archetypal AT&T UNIX that was created astatine Bell Labs.

Also: After decades connected Linux, FreeBSD yet gave maine a crushed to power operating systems

BSD lives connected successful respective derivatives, specified arsenic FreeBSD, GhostBSD, MidnightBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly BSD, and more. At archetypal blush, you mightiness deliberation that immoderate BSD you opt to usage is really Linux, due to the fact that it astir apt uses 1 of the galore Linux desktops, specified arsenic FreeBSD with KDE Plasma.

I've toyed astir with respective of the BSDs, and 1 of the astir important things I ever travel distant with is however remarkably unchangeable they are. This should travel arsenic nary surprise, fixed that BSD was based connected an operating strategy utilized connected mainframe computers worldwide.

The bully quality is that the BSDs are suitable for mundane desktop computing. In fact, if you privation the azygous astir reliable and unchangeable operating strategy connected the planet, effort FreeBSD oregon OpenBSD.

3. ReactOS

ReactOS is what Windows would look similar if it were unfastened root and stuck with the Windows XP/7 UI. Although ReactOS isn't Windows, it does purpose for Windows compatibility. You tin adjacent take betwixt a somewhat much modern UI oregon the classical Windows (95/98) option. It allows you to articulation Workgroups and adjacent instal Windows apps.

The installation of ReactOS adjacent resembles that of Windows (though it doesn't instrumentality astir arsenic long). There's a mentation of Internet Explorer you tin use, too.

Also: I saw the 'MacBook Pro for Linux users' for the archetypal time, and it's a legit Windows threat

Although ReactOS looks and feels similar Windows, don't expect it to person each the aforesaid features, arsenic this OS suffers from a precise dilatory improvement process. Also, support successful caput that you're utilizing an OS based connected another, older OS, truthful determination are definite features you won't find present (such arsenic a cosmopolitan hunt barroom successful the browser). It's besides prone to not moving arsenic expected.

Regardless, ReactOS is simply a amusive experimentation to try.

4. AROS

AROS is simply a recursive acronym that stands for AROS Research Operating System. This peculiar OS is simply a reimaging of the Amiga OS, a single-user OS that saw its last merchandise successful 2025 -- 40 years aft its archetypal release. AROS is simply a afloat GUI OS with preinstalled apps, including the OWB web browser.

Although AROS looks beauteous user-friendly, don't beryllium fooled -- it's not. This should beryllium considered a novelty oregon thing of a probe project. Installing AROS is simply a spot tricky due to the fact that it's antithetic from different installs, and it doesn't supply overmuch help.

Also: Why Zorin OS 18.1 is simply the champion Linux distro - for anyone

Once you get AROS installed, you'll find that it's besides a single-user operating system, meaning you don't log in. When you footwear AROS, it goes straight (and quickly) to the desktop, wherever you tin commencement opening the preinstalled applications and seeing what's what. Do beryllium warned, you'll spot a batch of exertion errors and apps that simply won't open.

Maybe someday, AROS volition beryllium a viable option.

5. TempleOS

I spot TempleOS connected this database for 1 crushed and 1 crushed lone -- it was created by a azygous person. Imagine that: A azygous idiosyncratic is penning an full operating strategy alone. Although Linus Torvalds started penning Linux connected his own, helium coiled up with plentifulness of assistance on the way.

Also: Can this $70 Linux app marque up for the deficiency of Photoshop? I tried it to find out

Now, TempleOS isn't an operating strategy that you would really use. In fact, aft installation (which takes seconds), you footwear into what looks similar a text-based record manager. Believe it oregon not, this is really a GUI desktop, wherever you tin entree your idiosyncratic paper and unfastened apps similar games.

One happening to support successful caput is that TempleOS is precise overmuch a biblical-themed OS, and it should truly lone beryllium considered for a one-time acquisition and past walked distant from. But fixed that a azygous idiosyncratic created this OS, it's impressive.