Open Source Operating System Kernels

Browse free open source Operating System Kernels and projects below. Use the toggles on the left to filter open source Operating System Kernels by OS, license, language, programming language, and project status.

  • Powerful small business accounting software Icon
    Powerful small business accounting software

    For small businesses looking for desktop accounting software

    With AccountEdge, business owners can organize, process, and report on their financial information so they can focus on their business. Features include: accounting, integrated payroll, sales and purchases, contact management, inventory tracking, time billing, and more.
  • Manage Properties Better For Free Icon
    Manage Properties Better For Free

    For small to mid-sized landlords and property managers

    Innago is a free and easy-to-use property management solution. Whether you have 1 unit or 1000, student housing, or commercial properties, Innago is built for you. Our software is designed to save you time and money, so you can spend more time doing the things that matter most.
  • 1
    Tools and patches for the Linux Diskquota system as part of the Linux kernel
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    Downloads: 16,656 This Week
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  • 2
    PrimeOS
    PrimeOS, the ideal Android based OS for mobile games on PC/Laptop.
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    Downloads: 21,821 This Week
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  • 3
    Wubuntu Operating System

    Wubuntu Operating System

    Wubuntu - Linux with Windows appearance and tools

    Wubuntu is an operating system based on Ubuntu LTS that has a similar appearance to Windows using the open-source themes from the KDE Store and Gnome Store. Wubuntu also comes with a set of advanced tools called PowerTools that allows you to use features such as Control Panel and Windows-style network and general settings, Android emulation interface with video acceleration, synchronization with OneDrive, improved Wine compatibility for applications .exe and .msi and is fully compatible with any hardware. It does not require TPM, Secure Boot, POPCNT or any other absurd requirements imposed by other operating systems. Wubuntu is already shipped with Copilot, Edge, Teams, PowerShell, Skype and much more!
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    Downloads: 13,707 This Week
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  • 4
    Squashfs is a highly compressed read-only filesystem for Linux. Squashfs compresses both files, inodes and directories, and supports block sizes up to 1Mbytes for greater compression. It is implemented as a kernel module under VFS.
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    Downloads: 7,129 This Week
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  • Automated RMM Tools | RMM Software Icon
    Automated RMM Tools | RMM Software

    Proactively monitor, manage, and support client networks with ConnectWise Automate

    Out-of-the-box scripts. Around-the-clock monitoring. Unmatched automation capabilities. Start doing more with less and exceed service delivery expectations.
  • 5
    Project's goal is to create better tools for diagnosing Linux systems. Diagnostics include first failure data capture, error log analysis, preventative testing, and system inventory gathering. You can now find Power System specific packages on github. libservicelog : https://github.com/power-ras/libservicelog servicelog : https://github.com/power-ras/servicelog lsvpd : https://github.com/power-ras/lsvpd libvpd : https://github.com/power-ras/libvpd ppc64-diag : https://github.com/power-ras/ppc64-diag sysfsutils is moved to github. New home for sysfsutils : https://github.com/linux-ras/sysfsutils
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    Downloads: 46,629 This Week
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  • 6
    ReactOS

    ReactOS

    An operating system based on the best Windows NT design principles

    ReactOS is an open source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with applications and drivers written for the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003).
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    Downloads: 3,227 This Week
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  • 7
    The goal of the project is now to develop a user library called libpfm4 to help setup performance events for use with the perf_events Linux kernel interface. The development of the perfmon kernel subsystem, libpfm and pfmon has now stopped.
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    Downloads: 4,765 This Week
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  • 8
    Linuxfx Operating System

    Linuxfx Operating System

    Linuxfx Operating System 11.4 codename "Red Sand"

    Linuxfx is an Ubuntu-based operating system that contains a powerful set of tools and an amazing look and feel. It has compatibility with Windows apps through Wine and also runs Android apps. It's super stable, solid as a rock and very secure. It also does not need TPM or any other requirement for its operation and is compatible with any computer that has 2 cores and 2GB of RAM memory. For Windows theme, please visit: https://sourceforge.net/projects/windows-ubuntu/
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    Downloads: 2,470 This Week
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  • 9
    CachyOS

    CachyOS

    Blazingly Fast & Customizable Linux distribution

    CachyOS - Arch Linux Based Distribution With Heavy Optimizations & Multi-Architectures For Ultimate Desktop Experience Filesystems: - btrfs - zfs - ext4 - xfs - f2fs Our installer will auto detect which micro architecture your machine got, if x86-64-v3 or x86-64-v4 is detected it will automatically use the optimized packages, which is around a 10 % performance improvement. Desktop Environments: - KDE - CuteFish - i3 - Gnome - Openbox - Wayfire - Xfce - LXQT - bspwm All packages are compiled with Full LTO and other optimization flags. Depending on the march your cpu have it is compiled against x86-64, x86-64-v3 or x86-64-v4. For the Desktop Environment we provide basic theming. In CachyOS-Hello can be also security related packages enabled, like: DNScrypt-proxy Firejail apparmor Security and Performance! https://discord.gg/qJqj94uFwE https://t.me/+zCzPX4cAFjk1MTY
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    Downloads: 2,763 This Week
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  • The Secure Workspace for Remote Work Icon
    The Secure Workspace for Remote Work

    Venn isolates and protects work from any personal use on the same computer, whether BYO or company issued.

    Venn is a secure workspace for remote work that isolates and protects work from any personal use on the same computer. Work lives in a secure local enclave that is company controlled, where all data is encrypted and access is managed. Within the enclave – visually indicated by the Blue Border around these applications – business activity is walled off from anything that happens on the personal side. As a result, work and personal uses can now safely coexist on the same computer.
  • 10
    WSL2-Linux-Kernel

    WSL2-Linux-Kernel

    The source for the Linux kernel used in Windows Subsystem for Linux 2

    The WSL2-Linux-Kernel repo contains the kernel source code and configuration files for the WSL2 kernel. If you discover an issue relating to WSL or the WSL2 kernel, please report it on the WSL GitHub project. It is not possible to report issues on the WSL2-Linux-Kernel project. Instructions for building an x86_64 WSL2 kernel with an Ubuntu distribution are provided. The number one way that we recommend you run Linux distributions is by installing Windows Terminal. Using Windows Terminal enables you to open multiple tabs or window panes to display and quickly switch between multiple Linux distributions or other command lines (PowerShell, Command Prompt, PowerShell, Azure CLI, etc). You can fully customize your terminal with unique color schemes, font styles, sizes, background images, and custom keyboard shortcuts.
    Downloads: 75 This Week
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  • 11

    Control Group Configuration

    https://github.com/libcgroup/libcgroup

    This page is deprecated - please go to https://github.com/libcgroup/libcgroup
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    Downloads: 3,345 This Week
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  • 12
    XanMod Kernel
    XanMod is a general-purpose Linux kernel distribution with custom settings and new features. Built to provide a stable, smooth and solid system experience. https://gitlab.com/xanmod/linux https://xanmod.org
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    Downloads: 2,699 This Week
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  • 13
    Calam-Arch-Installer.iso

    Calam-Arch-Installer.iso

    Current Release: Calam-Arch-Installer-2024-03 Kernel: 6.7.6

    Now you can easily install pure arch linux from my Arch Live Linux with Calam-Arch-Installer through video instructions, following the steps. Install Legacy-Bios or UEFI, Support Luks Yes There are also 9 selectable graphical environments for installation, Xfce, Gnome, Plasma,Cinnamon, Budgie, Openbox, I3, Mate, Deepin Good Luck!
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    Downloads: 1,306 This Week
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  • 14
    This project is a random collection of Linux kernel-related projects and source code.
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    Downloads: 1,578 This Week
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  • 15
    Ufficio Zero Linux OS

    Ufficio Zero Linux OS

    Linux Desktop OS for professionals

    Ufficio Zero Linux OS is a desktop operating system offered in many versions based on PCLinuxOS, Linux Mint and Devuan. We also have created Duplica, a Bare Metal Restore Solution. This distro has many packages for professional use. The project is managed by the Italian company SIITE SRLS. Ufficio Zero Linux OS is trademarked through the Linux Mark Institute. All rights reserved. Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. website https://ufficiozero.org forum https://forum.ufficiozero.org wiki https://wiki.ufficiozero.org video tutorial https://odysee.com/$/invite/@ufficiozero:f
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    Downloads: 1,743 This Week
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  • 16
    Super Grub2 Disk

    Super Grub2 Disk

    Boots into many systems and GRUB2 ones!

    Super GRUB2 Disk helps you to boot into most any Operating System (OS) even if you cannot boot into it by normal means.
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    Downloads: 2,160 This Week
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  • 17
    Rocket.Chat Desktop App

    Rocket.Chat Desktop App

    OSX, Windows, and Linux Desktop Clients for Rocket.Chat

    Secure and compliant communications platform. We use communication platforms on a daily basis to collaborate with colleagues, other companies, customers, and communities. Most of them give you very little in terms of control and customizations; except Rocket.Chat. Bring together messages, projects, and tasks in one place and watch your team’s productivity rise to new heights. Engage in contextual interactions with customers irrespective of how they contact you. Ensure long-term relationships and improved business outcomes. Create custom messaging experiences within your app or website by integrating and white labeling Rocket.Chat components and enterprise features. Extend and customize your workspace with custom apps, open APIs, powerful plugins, and webhooks. Own your conversations. Choose from self-hosted, air-gapped, or secure cloud deployment options that meet your security and compliance needs.
    Downloads: 42 This Week
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  • 18
    FreeRTOS Real Time Kernel (RTOS)

    FreeRTOS Real Time Kernel (RTOS)

    Market leading real time kernel for 40+ microcontroller architectures

    ************************************************************************************************************************ * The primary FreeRTOS repository is now in Git. Go to https://github.com/freertos for the latest FreeRTOS kernel and libraries. * Our support has moved to https://forums.freertos.org. ************************************************************************************************************************ FreeRTOS is a market-leading real-time operating system (RTOS) for microcontrollers and small microprocessors. Distributed freely under the MIT open source license, FreeRTOS includes a kernel and a growing set of libraries suitable for use across all industry sectors. Visit https://www.freertos.org for more information and other download options. Note about support/discussions forum: The FreeRTOS support forum has moved to https://forums.freertos.org. Please update your bookmarks and create new posts in the appropriate category in the new community forums.
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    Downloads: 685 This Week
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  • 19
    RebornOS

    RebornOS

    Made For You - Made With You

    RebornOS is a Linux distro based on Arch, focusing on bringing its configurability and power to you in an easy installer. With over 14 DE's to choose from upon installation and about 30 optional features, RebornOS is for you - whoever you may be.
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    Downloads: 1,511 This Week
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  • 20
    EmuTOS

    EmuTOS

    Free operating system for Atari computers, and more.

    EmuTOS is a TOS compatible operating system for Atari ST series computers, and more. It is made from Digital Research's GPLed original sources and is a free and open source alternative to Atari proprietary ROMs.
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    Downloads: 1,071 This Week
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  • 21
    lmbench is a suite of simple, portable, ANSI/C microbenchmarks for UNIX/POSIX. In general, it measures two key features: latency and bandwidth. lmbench is intended to give system developers insight into basic costs of key operations.
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    Downloads: 3,527 This Week
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  • 22
    Archcraft

    Archcraft

    Yet another minimal Linux distribution, based on Arch Linux.

    Archcraft is an arch-based rolling-release distribution aimed at users who cares more about minimalism and aesthetics of their desktop. It comes pre-configured with various lightweight applications which makes it super fast. It can run under 500Mb of memory. There's no desktop environment in (main) Archcraft, just two highly configured window managers - Openbox and Bspwm. The default username & password is 'liveuser' for live ISO. The installer can be found in the app launcher and in openbox menu under the Application > System category, namely 'Install Archcraft'. Archcraft uses two Installers, Calamares and ABIF
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    Downloads: 1,002 This Week
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  • 23
    ArcoLinuxB Editions

    ArcoLinuxB Editions

    All iso's created with the ArcoLinuxB project will be hosted here.

    At ArcoLinux we learn how to build our personal iso aka BYOI. This is Phase 4 in our learning path. We can reuse the ArcoLinux iso and build any desktop environment on it you want. You decide what applications to install. Then we build an iso. All the iso's created in Phase 4 of our learning path will be hosted here on Sourceforge. https://arcolinuxb.com/ We call iso's created with the BYOI scripts from github/arcolinuxb : ArcoLinuxB iso's. It is not our goal to maintain these iso's. We will update them ad hoc. Mainly to test if the scripts are still working. The goal is always to follow the BYOI articles and build the iso yourself. Then the last updates and improvements will be included. And that is the ideal way. Use the iso's to get a taste of what YOU can achieve/build by running the BYOI script.
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    Downloads: 1,200 This Week
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  • 24
    netboot.xyz

    netboot.xyz

    Your favorite operating systems in one place

    netboot.xyz enables you to boot into many types of operating systems using lightweight tooling to get you up and running as soon as possible. Discover new operating systems without having to download and rewrite media over and over again. Rescue operating systems from a single image. An essential for any sysadmin. netboot.XYZ uses the iPXE project to enable you to provision, rescue, or load into a live boot environment leveraging the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) on most systems. netboot.xyz is a convenient place to boot into any type of operating system or utility disk without the need of having to go spend time retrieving the ISO just to run it. iPXE is used to provide a user-friendly menu from within the BIOS that lets you easily choose the operating system you want along with any specific types of versions or bootable flags.
    Downloads: 24 This Week
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  • 25

    Linux Test Project

    Testsuite to validate the reliability, robustness, stability of Linux.

    Project moved to GitHub!
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    Downloads: 851 This Week
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Guide to Open Source Operating System Kernels

An open source operating system kernel is a type of computer operating system which can be accessed and modified by a wide variety of developers, who often work in an organized manner to improve the software. Unlike proprietary operating systems, like those developed by Microsoft or Apple, open source operating systems are free to use and can be adapted, redistributed and improved upon by anyone with the right programming knowledge. Open source kernels provide a powerful platform for all sorts of software applications and programs.

Open source kernels are built on certain principles. They are designed as modular, meaning they split off different tasks into distinct "modules" that can run separately from one another. This allows many different developers to work on separate parts of the same project at once, with each contributing their own improvements and updates in parallel. Because multiple people are working on the same code base simultaneously, users receive updated versions more quickly than they would with traditional closed-source software development models. Furthermore, since anyone has access to view and modify the core code in its entirety, developers have much greater freedom over how exactly they customize their software for particular applications or user needs. This makes it much easier for new users to learn about how open source works because all of its inner workings are visible - fostering greater innovation among those using it for technical tasks such as data analysis or coding projects.

In addition to being customizable and collaborative, open source kernels also have some key safety benefits compared to other OS types; bugs discovered in any part of the codebase become almost immediately exposed due to the visibility factor previously discussed - thus making it easier for them to be fixed before causing disruption or harm (as opposed to hidden security flaws that may take longer discover). Finally, because most modern internet technologies rely heavily on underlying Linux-based server components (which is an example of an open source kernel), businesses often use these platforms as reliable yet low-cost solutions when developing web apps or hosting services.

Features of Open Source Operating System Kernels

  • Interrupt Handling: Operating system kernels are responsible for handling hardware interrupts from the CPU. This allows the operating system to respond quickly and efficiently to changes in hardware state, such as a disk drive being ready for access or an I/O device needing attention.
  • Process and Thread Management: Operating system kernels provide support for managing processes, threads of execution, and their resources. This includes creating, destroying, scheduling, suspending and resuming threads or processes as well as allocating memory and other resources to them.
  • Memory Management: Kernels provide the abstraction layer between physical and virtual memory. A kernel will manage physical memory by paging and swapping it with secondary storage, while also providing a virtual address space per running process so that each process can access its own set of addresses relative to it alone.
  • Device Driver Interface: The kernel provides an interface between user-level applications and device drivers which manage various devices connected to the operating system such as keyboards, printers, modems etc. Kernel device drivers control these peripherals by sending commands directly to the appropriate hardware registers over a bus such as PCIe or USB.
  • File System Support: Operating systems rely on file systems to store persistent data in a structured format that is easy for applications to access efficiently. The kernel contains code for both mounting (making available) file systems stored on external media as well as managing filesystems internally which keep track of where files are located in RAM or on disks/removable media etc...
  • Network Stack:In order for computer systems to communicate over a network they must have software components like TCP/IP stack implemented within their kernels that handle network protocols necessary for networking operations such as IP routing, packet forwarding etc… Additionally some kernels contain code which provide advanced functionality like Quality Of Service (QOS) control mechanisms which prioritize traffic based on specific criteria specified by users or administrators.

What Types of Open Source Operating System Kernels Are There?

  • Linux Kernel: The Linux kernel is the core of the Linux operating system. It is an open source, monolithic kernel that is responsible for managing the computer's hardware and providing a secure interface between user space applications and hardware devices. It supports a wide range of architectures, including x86-64, ARM, PowerPC, s390x, alpha and ia64.
  • BSD Kernel: BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) kernels are derived from the original AT&T Unix codebase and released under both open source licenses and proprietary ones. They are commonly used in server deployments as well as embedded systems such as those found in routers or mobile phones. Popular BSD kernels include FreeBSD (which runs on many ‘embedded’ systems such as gaming consoles), OpenBSD (which focuses on security) and NetBSD (which is highly portable).
  • MINIX Kernel: The MINIX kernel was developed by Professor Andrew Tanenbaum at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam to demonstrate various principles of operating system design using a simpler base than modern commercial OSes like Windows or macOS. It has been actively maintained since 1987, with UNIX-like features such as protection rings, preemptive multitasking and TCP/IP networking support added over time. Today it is used primarily as an example operating system for universities teaching operating systems courses.
  • Mach Kernel: Developed at Carnegie Mellon University in 1985, the Mach kernel was funded by DARPA to be an extensible microkernel suitable for running multiple ‘servers’ simultaneously while providing high performance IPC mechanisms between them. Mach evolved over time into what is now known as the XNU hybrid microkernel—the primary component of Apple's macOS operating system since 2000.

Open Source Operating System Kernels Benefits

  1. Flexibility: Open source kernels are highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the operating system to their specific needs. This includes the ability to add, remove or modify code as needed, making it easier for developers to create unique solutions.
  2. Security: Because open source kernel code is available for anyone to view and modify, any potential flaws are quickly identified and fixed. Additionally, the large community of users surrounding open source projects helps ensure that security issues are solved quickly and efficiently.
  3. Cost Efficiency: Due to its open nature, an open source operating system can often be obtained without cost. This saves businesses money on expensive software licensing costs.
  4. Update & Support Availability: With a massive user base behind them, open source OSs get frequent updates from developers all around the world who keep them up-to-date with features and fixes. Additionally, due to its wide popularity, there is usually a great amount of support available, both online and within communities of fellow dedicated users which can help resolve issues quickly.
  5. Reliability & Stability: Open Source OSs tend to have longer lifespans than their closed counterparts typically because they’ve been tested by more people before reaching a stable version than proprietary ones have been subjected too. As such they generally remain reliable over extended periods of time with less overhead required in terms of maintenance costs compared with other products in this market space.

Who Uses Open Source Operating System Kernels?

  • Casual Home User: A casual home user may be someone who just wants to open their computer and quickly get access to their files, emails, the internet, etc., without having to worry about all the technical aspects of computing.
  • System Administrators: System administrators are those responsible for overseeing a company's or organization's entire computing system. They install, configure, monitor and maintain the network systems.
  • Developers: Developers use kernel source code to create custom solutions for users or organizations. The ability to customize an operating system kernel makes it attractive to software developers looking for specific performance tweaks for applications or hardware.
  • Scientists/Researchers: Scientists and researchers rely on open source operating system kernels due to their stability and flexibility in performing complex tasks related to scientific research projects.
  • Hobbyists/Enthusiasts: Hobbyists and enthusiasts often rely on open source operating system kernels because they can be tinkered with and customized according to individual preferences. This gives hobbyists more control over how their computers operate than if they were using proprietary operating systems like Windows or Mac OS X.
  • Power Users: Open source operating systems provide power users with advanced capabilities that allow them greater control over their computing experience than with other types of operating systems. This includes higher-level functions like overclocking components or adjusting memory allocations on the fly.

How Much Do Open Source Operating System Kernels Cost?

Open source operating system kernels such as Linux and BSD are completely free to use. They can be downloaded and installed without cost, giving users a complete open source environment that is secure, reliable, and stable. Additionally, users have the freedom to customize their systems as they see fit - modifying configurations or adding new software components with no additional cost. Open source operating system kernels also offer numerous benefits due to the collaborative nature of their development. By providing access to the source code, developers from around the world can identify security vulnerabilities, patch critical bugs and add new features quickly and efficiently in order to improve the overall quality of their systems. As a result, open source operating systems find themselves at the forefront of innovation while staying up-to-date with rapidly changing technologies. Furthermore, many organizations find that open source operating systems provide a viable platform for mission-critical operations due to their robustness and scalability which allows them to maintain reliability even under heavy load conditions without sacrificing performance or security.

What Do Open Source Operating System Kernels Integrate With?

Software that can integrate with open source operating system kernels typically includes applications like server services, web browsers and media players. These programs can be used to extend the functionality of an open source OS kernel by providing support in areas such as networking, audio/video playback, internet access, gaming and other multimedia tasks. Additionally, a wide variety of software development tools are available for developing custom-built programs that can also be integrated directly into an open source OS kernel. These include compilers, interpreters and linkers for languages like C++, Java and Python. Ultimately, any type of software which is compatible with the API supported by an open source OS kernel can be integrated with it.

Open Source Operating System Kernels Trends

  1. Linux: Linux is the most widely used open source operating system kernel, thanks to its open source nature and wide range of features and applications. It has become a major force in the technology industry and has been adopted by many companies and organizations as their primary operating system.
  2. Android: A modified form of the Linux kernel, Android is an open source operating system developed by Google and widely used on mobile devices. It provides a comprehensive range of features and applications, including access to the Google Play store.
  3. BSD: A variety of open source Unix-like operating systems, BSD is popular among developers for its highly configurable, customisable environment. It is used in many embedded systems and in some server-side applications.
  4. Windows NT: Windows NT is an operating system kernel developed by Microsoft that is used in both desktop and server operating systems. It is closed-source but offers some support for open source applications.
  5. Mac OS X: Developed by Apple, Mac OS X is based on a hybrid of BSD and Mach kernels. It offers robust security features and a range of applications designed specifically for Apple devices.

Getting Started With Open Source Operating System Kernels

Getting started with using open source operating system kernels can be a bit daunting for those who are new to the concept, but it can be done. The first step is finding an appropriate kernel for your project and learning how to compile it. Depending on where you download your kernel, that process could be different, so make sure to read the accompanying documentation and fully understand the steps involved.

Once you have downloaded and successfully compiled the kernel of your choice, usually into an installable file or package format, you’re ready to install it. This will also depend on your OS configuration. If you are running a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Redhat Linux then installation would require more than just copying files over as root; there will likely be some manual configuring necessary after installation to optimize all components of the system and get everything fully functional. Installation instructions should come along with the download; if none are included then check for tutorials online specific to occasion depending on what distributions you're using that might occur in setting up the new kernel correctly.

After installing and properly configuring your kernel, restarting may be required - if this is not specified during installation then always reboot after making system changes like a new OS kernel upgrade — this helps avoid potential errors due to