Open Source Operating Systems

[Opensourceopsys]

Does anyone have a good link for a comprehensive open source operating system list?

[localzuk]

Do you mean individual distributions, or more high-level, like 'Linux', 'FreeBSD' etc...?

[GrumbleDook]

Are you also talking about in an educational environment?

[Opensourceopsys]

Yes educational and yes high level. Thanks

[localzuk]

In an educational environment, you'll only really see Linux and Android (which is also Linux). You *may* have a BSD implementation somewhere, on an appliance such as a proxy server etc...

 

A more complete list would be:

 

NetBSD

FreeBSD

OpenBSD

Darwin

Linux

Android (which is built on Linux)

Haiku

 

etc... Comparison of open source operating systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia has more.

[Opensourceopsys]

Haiku is new to me, thanks.

[jinnantonnixx]

There's a Firefox OS coming early next year.

 

Mozilla Gains Global Support For a Firefox Mobile OS | The Mozilla Blog

 

It's for phones and netbooks in the first instance, but it may wind up on desktops.

 

http://gadgetmix.com/mozilla-firefox-os.html

Edited July 18, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[rich_tech]

DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. for Linux and bsd links to distros

[dhicks]

Yes educational and yes high level.

 

I understand RiscOS is being ported to the Raspberry Pi:

 

RISCOS.org.uk | Home page

Raspberry Pi | An ARM GNU/Linux box for $25. Take a byte!

 

I'm not sure if it is actual, official Open Source or whether it is released under some other license, but it might be worth a check on. I think BBC BASIC was ported to the Pi too, I don't know if that counts as an OS by itself.

 

There are also the various operating systems that run on LEGO's assorted robotics kits - both the older and newer hardware. I seem to remember there's a complete replacement OS around somewhere for the original LEGO Mindstorms brick, and I think the newer version was designed on a more open principle (although, again, I'm not sure exactly what license it was relased under).

 

For operating systems that get used in an educational environment, there are the various operating systems that get used in networking hardware, such as RouterOS, DD-WRT and Tomato. There are also the operating systems that get embedded into thin client devices, although the open source ones will be cut-down Linux-based distributions rather than separate, self-contained OSes in their own right. I don't know if the various virtualisation systems count as their own separate OS under your definition, but something like XenServer is Linux-based with propriatory bits added on and you could look at KVM.

[Opensourceopsys]

Thanks. I have plenty to go on now. Thanks again.

[GrumbleDook]

I'd also strongly recommend that you have a look at Open Source Schools and get in touch with a number of folk there too. It is a bit quiet but folk are really helpful. Edited July 19, 2012 by GrumbleDook

[Opensourceopsys]

Thanks. I did spot that one in passing, but following your recommendation I've given it another look and found some great background information. Thanks.

[ricki]

Hi

 

You need to be a bit more specific about what you want the distro to do.

 

I like ubuntu as a server but hate the new gui as a desktop.

 

There are 100's of distros that are specific to needs like virus scanning to hacking. They are all strong in the specific area they are designed for.

 

Richard