My 5 favorite open source operating systems that aren't Linux - ZDNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Tech > Services & Software > Open Source Looking for non-Linux open-source options? From ghosts of past operating systems to fascinating works in progress, here are my top picks. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. When you think of open-source operating systems, most likely only one option springs to mind: Linux. That makes perfect sense, given that Linux is the most popular open-source OS on the planet (and starting to catch up with non-open-source OSs). Also: Ready for a Linux laptop? I recommend a Tuxedo to beginners and pro users alike But Linux isn’t the only open-source game in town. In fact, there are several open-source options that you can try. I found five in particular that are interesting enough to share with you, including four that reimagine an operating system from the past and one built by a single developer (take that, Linus). Let’s see what there is to see within the realm of non-Linux open-source operating systems. Decades later, Haiku has finally reached beta. Yup, that’s one slow development process. What attracted me to Ha

Apr 28, 2026 → Apr 28, 2026