There are a lot of operating systems out there, but only a few have become household names. And even though you probably already know your way around Windows and MacOS, there are still plenty of interesting operating systems that few people have heard of. If you’re looking for something new and exciting to try, here’s a list of lesser-known operating systems.
ReactOS
If you’ve heard of ReactOS (or ROS), it’s probably been in the context of a Linux or BSD user asking why they can’t install ReactOS on their computer and run Windows applications natively. While this isn’t possible today, it could be in the future. ReactOS is an open-source operating system based on Windows NT architecture which aims to provide a free alternative for Microsoft Windows users. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures and is available for multiple platforms including x86/x64 processors.
Hurd
Hurd is the multiserver microkernel written as part of GNU. The Hurd is the basis for GNU/Linux, which you most likely use every day. Hurd isn’t a complete operating system by itself, but it’s more of a foundation upon which other servers run. For example, the Mach kernel sits below the Hurd and serves as its interface to hardware devices (such as your hard drive). A collection of servers then run on top of Mach, each providing their own functionality: nameservices server (for DNS), filesystem server (for sharing files across different computers), etc.
FreeDOS
FreeDOS is an open source OS that has multiple uses~ FreeDOS is a complete, free and open-source operating system that you can use to play classic DOS games or develop embedded systems like PDAs (personal digital assistants).
MenuetOS
MenuetOS is an operating system in development designed to be fast, simple, and powerful.
Written entirely in 32/64 bit assembly language, it can be compiled using either an Open Source or commercial assembler (i386, x86_64). MenuetOS features a simple yet powerful toolchain allowing you to build your own applications as well as a complete set of standard tools including a text editor (menuett), file manager (mv), web browser (netkit-fflush) and even games like TuxRacer.
MenuetOS was written from scratch by one person over the course of a year without any assistance from other developers so it’s not surprising that there are not many resources out there about this operating system—or any documentation at all really!
Minix
Minix is a POSIX-compliant Unix-like computer operating system based on a microkernel architecture. It was created by Andrew Tanenbaum in the 1980s to teach students about the workings of a Unix-like operating system. Minix has since been used as a base for other systems, such as Linux and Dragonfly BSD. It’s also been used as an embedded operating system in several industrial products, including routers and firewalls.
