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 will discover a couple of open-source OSes to toy round with.
• Do not anticipate any of those to be viable choices for every day use.

Once you consider open-source working programs, more than likely just one choice springs to thoughts: Linux.

That makes excellent sense, provided 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 sport on the town. In truth, there are a number of open-source choices which you could attempt. I discovered 5 specifically 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 may be 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.

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

Moreover 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 simply may not discover the app you want. The excellent news is that there is the Haiku Depot, the place you’ll be able to set up loads of apps (even the likes of LibreOffice). 

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

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 should use on the desktop. Created at UC Berkeley by the Laptop Methods Analysis Group and started as a by-product of the unique AT&T UNIX that was created at Bell Labs.

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

I’ve toyed round with a number of of the BSDs, and probably the most vital issues I all the time come away with is how remarkably steady they’re. This could come as no shock, provided 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 truth, in order for you 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 had 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 traditional Home windows (95/98) choice. It permits you to be part of Workgroups and even set up Home windows apps.

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

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Though ReactOS seems to be and looks like Home windows, do not anticipate it to have all the identical options, as this OS suffers from a really sluggish growth course of. Additionally, remember that you are utilizing an OS based mostly on one other, older OS, so there are specific options you will not discover right here (corresponding to a common search bar within the browser). It is also vulnerable 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 explicit OS is a reimaging of the Amiga OS, a single-user OS that noticed its closing launch in 2025 — 40 years after its preliminary launch. AROS is a full GUI OS with preinstalled apps, together with the OWB net browser. 

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

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

Possibly sometime, AROS will probably be a viable choice.

5. TempleOS

I place TempleOS on this listing for one cause and one cause solely — it was created by a single individual. Think about that: A single individual is writing a complete 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 really use. In truth, after set up (which takes seconds), you boot into what seems to be like a text-based file supervisor. Imagine it or not, that is really a GUI desktop, the place you’ll be able to entry your private menu and open apps like video games.

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