Redox
A Rust operating system built on a microkernel, with its own build system, desktop, and tools.
- Stars
- 16.7k
- Forks
- 1k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- Rust
- Last update
- 1 months ago
- Type
- Other
What it is
Redox is an open-source operating system written in Rust, designed around a microkernel architecture that aims to be reliable, secure, and free. It is a full system rather than just a kernel, with components such as a filesystem, display server, and core utilities. This repository is the build system used to assemble Redox OS.
- Build a Redox OS image from source using the build system
- Run Redox in a virtual machine, as described in the Redox Book
- Explore the components that make up a microkernel-based OS, such as the kernel, filesystem, and shell
- Contribute code or documentation to one of the Redox GitLab repositories
Great for
- Developers interested in operating system design and microkernels
- Rust programmers who want to explore or contribute to a systems project
- Students studying how operating systems are structured
- People who want to experiment with a non-Linux, non-BSD OS
Not ideal for
- Everyday users who need a stable daily-driver desktop, since the README describes the project as under active development
- Users who need broad hardware support, since the README links a separate hardware compatibility page rather than promising wide support
- People who need a mature ecosystem of drivers and apps, as the README only says Redox provides source compatibility with many Rust, Linux and BSD programs
How to get it
- 1
Clone and build from source
You'll need: Podman (the README links a podman build guide)
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/redox-os/redox - 2
Run it
- Read the Build Instructions in the Redox Book linked from the README
- Build Redox following the podman build guide
- Run the resulting image in a virtual machine, following the VM guide in the Redox Book
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the Redox Book as the primary guide for setup and building
- Read the Build System Documentation to understand how the build system is organized
- Check the Hardware Compatibility page before trying real hardware
- Join the Redox chat for help and discussion, as linked in the README
Downloads
Strengths
- Written in Rust, which the README describes as focused on safety, efficiency and high performance
- Uses a microkernel architecture, with an explicit goal of reliability and security
- Released under the MIT license
Trade-offs
- The README describes the project as under active development, so features may change or be incomplete
- This repository is a build system; the main components live in separate repositories on the Redox GitLab
- The README does not give installation commands here, so setup details must come from the external Redox Book
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| redox (this) | 16.7k | Other | advanced | 1 months ago | Developers interested in operating system design and microkernels |
| atom | 60.7k | App | beginner | 3.8 years ago | Developers who want a desktop code editor they can customize with packages |
| hyper | 44.8k | App | beginner | 3 months ago | Developers who want a terminal they can customize with extensions or themes |
| yazi | 43.2k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | People who already spend time in a terminal and want a faster way to browse folders |
| wails | 36.9k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Go programmers who want a desktop app with a web-style interface |
| nativefier | 35.2k | CLI | beginner | 3.1 years ago | People who want a site like WhatsApp Web or Gmail in its own window |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.