Going Beyond Linux
Going Beyond Linux
We all love Linux, but there are many other free software operating systems out there that are worth exploring.
How many open source operating systems (OSs) can you name? GNU/Linux is obviously the first thing that comes to mind, and if you've been around in the FOSS world for a while you've probably come across (or even tried) one of the BSD flavors as well: FreeBSD, OpenBSD, and NetBSD. These are all Unix-like OSs, each with their own sets of strengths and benefits, but there's a whole world of other OSs out there. Many of them aren't well known right now and have smaller communities compared with Linux, but some hold plenty of potential and could become big names in a few years.
So over the next few pages, we'll look at what's going on in the "alternative OS" scene. Best of all, because these OSs are all free software and open source, you can try them out after you've read about them. If you have an old PC sitting around doing nothing useful, you can try running these OSs on real hardware – or you can simply install a PC emulator such as VirtualBox or Qemu on your main machine and take them for a spin.
ReactOS
Thanks to Wine, it's possible to run many Windows applications on Linux – at least, predominantly older applications, and often with a few glitches here and there. Wine does an impressive job of intercepting Windows system calls and rewiring them for their Linux equivalents; as a compatibility layer; however, it can only do so much. Instead of using this layer on top of an unrelated OS like Linux, wouldn't it make more sense to basically write a Windows clone from the ground up?
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
First Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.14 Now Available
Linus Torvalds has officially released the first release candidate for kernel 6.14 and it includes over 500,000 lines of modified code, making for a small release.
-
System76 Refreshes Meerkat Mini PC
If you're looking for a small form factor PC powered by Linux, System76 has exactly what you need in the Meerkat mini PC.
-
Gnome 48 Alpha Ready for Testing
The latest Gnome desktop alpha is now available with plenty of new features and improvements.
-
Wine 10 Includes Plenty to Excite Users
With its latest release, Wine has the usual crop of bug fixes and improvements, along with some exciting new features.
-
Linux Kernel 6.13 Offers Improvements for AMD/Apple Users
The latest Linux kernel is now available, and it includes plenty of improvements, especially for those who use AMD or Apple-based systems.
-
Gnome 48 Debuts New Audio Player
To date, the audio player found within the Gnome desktop has been meh at best, but with the upcoming release that all changes.
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
-
Firefox 134 Offers Improvements for Linux Version
Fans of Linux and Firefox rejoice, as there's a new version available that includes some handy updates.
-
Serpent OS Arrives with a New Alpha Release
After months of silence, Ikey Doherty has released a new alpha for his Serpent OS.