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

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Though Linux is the king of open-source OSes, there are alternatives.
• Right here you may discover just a few open-source OSes to toy round with.
• Do not count on any of those to be viable choices for every day use.

If you consider open-source working programs, probably just one possibility springs to thoughts: Linux.

That makes good sense, on condition that Linux is the preferred open-source OS on the planet (and beginning to meet up with non-open-source OSs). 

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However Linux is not the one open-source recreation on the town. In reality, there are a number of open-source choices that you would be able to attempt. I discovered 5 particularly which can be fascinating sufficient to share with you, together with 4 that reimagine an working system from the previous and one constructed by a single developer (take that, Linus).

Let’s have a look at what there’s to see inside the realm of non-Linux open-source working programs.

1. Haiku

The primary time I attempted

Haiku was two-thousand-two

It was in alpha.

A long time later, Haiku has lastly reached beta. Yup, that is one gradual growth course of. What attracted me to Haiku was its slight resemblance to the Afterstep Window manager that I as soon as used and cherished. Why the resemblance? Haiku is a reimagining of the late BeOS, impressed by NeXTSTEP (which in flip impressed AfterStep). 

In addition to the nifty UI, the craziest factor about Haiku is that it installs in seconds. On prime of that, you in all probability will not discover an OS the place the apps run as quick as they do on Haiku. The trade-off is that you just may not discover the app you want. The excellent news is that there is the Haiku Depot, the place you possibly can set up loads of apps (even the likes of LibreOffice). 

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One other cool characteristic present in Haiku is the Deskbar, which supplies you fast entry to minimized purposes and system tray gadgets.

I would not suggest Haiku for every day use, but it surely’s definitely enjoyable to play with.

2. BSD

BSD stands for Berkeley Software program Distribution and is the closest factor to Unix that you need to use on the desktop. Created at UC Berkeley by the Laptop Techniques Analysis Group and started as a spinoff of the unique AT&T UNIX that was created at Bell Labs.

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BSD lives on in a number of derivatives, equivalent to FreeBSD, GhostBSD, MidnightBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly BSD, and extra. At first blush, you may assume that no matter BSD you choose to make use of is definitely Linux, as a result of it in all probability makes use of one of many many Linux desktops, equivalent to FreeBSD with KDE Plasma. 

I’ve toyed round with a number of of the BSDs, and one of the vital essential issues I at all times come away with is how remarkably steady they’re. This could come as no shock, on condition that BSD was based mostly on an working system used on mainframe computer systems worldwide.

The excellent news is that the BSDs are appropriate for on a regular basis desktop computing. In reality, if you need the one most dependable and steady working system on the planet, attempt FreeBSD or OpenBSD.

3. ReactOS

ReactOS is what Home windows would appear like if it have been open supply and caught with the Home windows XP/7 UI. Though ReactOS is not Home windows, it does goal for Home windows compatibility. You’ll be able to even select between a barely extra fashionable UI or the basic Home windows (95/98) possibility. It lets you be a part of Workgroups and even set up Home windows apps.

The set up of ReactOS even resembles that of Home windows (although it would not take almost as lengthy). There is a model of Web Explorer you need to use, too. 

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Though ReactOS seems to be and looks like Home windows, do not count on it to have all the identical options, as this OS suffers from a really gradual growth course of. Additionally, needless to say you are utilizing an OS based mostly on one other, older OS, so there are specific options you will not discover right here (equivalent to a common search bar within the browser). It is also susceptible to not working as anticipated.

Regardless, ReactOS is a enjoyable experiment to attempt.

4. AROS

AROS is a recursive acronym that stands for AROS Analysis Working System. This specific OS is a reimaging of the Amiga OS, a single-user OS that noticed its last launch in 2025 — 40 years after its preliminary launch. AROS is a full GUI OS with preinstalled apps, together with the OWB internet browser. 

Though AROS seems to be fairly user-friendly, do not be fooled — it is not. This must be thought-about a novelty or one thing of a analysis undertaking. Putting in AROS is a bit difficult as a result of it is completely different from different installs, and it would not present a lot assist.

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When you get AROS put in, you may discover that it is also a single-user working system, which means you do not log in. If you boot AROS, it goes immediately (and rapidly) to the desktop, the place you can begin opening the preinstalled purposes and seeing what’s what. Do be warned, you may see lots of software errors and apps that merely will not open.

Perhaps sometime, AROS will probably be a viable possibility.

5. TempleOS

I place TempleOS on this checklist for one cause and one cause solely — it was created by a single individual. Think about that: A single individual is writing a whole working system alone. Though Linus Torvalds began writing Linux on his personal, he wound up with loads of assist alongside the way in which. 

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Now, TempleOS is not an working system that you’d truly use. In reality, after set up (which takes seconds), you boot into what seems to be like a text-based file supervisor. Consider it or not, that is truly a GUI desktop, the place you possibly can entry your private menu and open apps like video games.

One factor to remember is that TempleOS could be very a lot a biblical-themed OS, and it ought to actually solely be thought-about for a one-time expertise after which walked away from. However given {that a} single individual created this OS, it is spectacular.