Freely distributed programs and systems. Linux - free OS Which operating system is freeware

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The bulk of software purchased or downloaded is distributed in compiled, ready-to-use form. Compiled - means that the code written by the programmer for this program, called the source code, is processed by a special program - the compiler, which translates this code into a language that the computer understands. It is extremely difficult to modify the compiled version of most software and it is almost impossible to determine exactly how the developer implemented the various parts of the program.

Of course, commercial manufacturers see this as a definite advantage, since the closed source code does not allow other companies to create and distribute new, competing products. In addition, it helps to keep the product in its original form, with all its functions.

For example, Windows is a closed-source operating system that is available only to a very narrow circle of people.

(Open source) is opposed to proprietary. The source code of the program is distributed along with the compiled version, which contributes to the modification and improvement of the program. When many users have access to the source code, errors are detected more quickly in the program, it is converted, new versions of it appear, which, in turn, quickly and free of charge. In general, user democracy is manifested, so to speak, due to which the rapid development of software is taking place.

Another important source code is the description of the program. According to the text of the program, you can restore the logic of its functioning.

Comments are used to facilitate understanding of the source code. Programmers often transfer source code (in the form of modules, in their present form or with a device) from one project to another, which is called code reuse. Source code is an essential component for the process of porting software to other platforms. Without the source code of any piece of software, porting is an extremely difficult or completely impossible task.

Gnu / Linux is an open-source operating system protected by its creator, Linus Torvalds, under the “GNU General Public License,” a free software license created as part of the GNU project in 1988, initiated by Richard Stallman. This license - provides the user with the right to copy, modify and distribute, guarantees that users of all derivative programs will also receive the above rights. By licensing the work under the terms of the GNU GPL, the author reserves the authorship, in addition, derivative programs can be distributed commercially (here the difference between open source software (Open source) and free (Free source) is pronounced). That is, this license allows everything that prohibits copyright law, while retaining, however, the authorship of the developer.

Thanks to the open source code, Linux has become what it is. Only 2% of the Linux kernel is currently compiled by Linus Torvalds himself. It was the openness that enables thousands of programmers to improve this OS that made Linux such a popular driving force, and made it extremely cost-effective in terms of competition and demand. Therefore, we can safely say that Linux is a much more flexible OS than Windows, since thousands of companies from the Linux community can find errors and inconsistencies much more quickly than programmers from the Microsoft bosom. In addition, for the same reason, there are far fewer Windows distributions than Linux, and Linux distributions are also mutually beneficial, easily mutable, adaptable.

But, in turn, closed OSs are more specific, their software contains more uniformity, and the interface is better developed and combined in all applications. This is of course a flaw in the Linux OS.

The need for accelerated development of the domestic software market, ensuring maximum independence from foreign developments in high technology and maintaining information sovereignty was first discussed at the highest level in 2014, when the sanctions of the United States and the European Union sharply increased the risks associated with the use of foreign software in business and government organizations . It was then that the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation was seriously puzzled by the decision of this strategically significant, according to officials, issue along with stimulating demand for national products and developing appropriate measures to support domestic developers. As a result, as soon as possible at the legislative level, restrictions were approved on the admission of foreign software in state and municipal purchases, as well as the rules for the formation and maintenance of a unified register of Russian programs. All this had a positive impact on the software market in Russia, which has recently been replenished with many interesting projects and developments. Including in the field of operating systems.

Alt Linux SPT is a unified Linux-based distribution for servers, workstations and thin clients with built-in information protection software that can be used to build automated systems of class 1B inclusive and personal data information systems (ISPD) of class 1K inclusive. The OS allows you to simultaneously store and process confidential data on one personal computer or server, provide multi-user work with differentiated access to information, work with virtual machines, and also use central authorization tools. A certificate issued by the FSTEC of Russia confirms the product's compliance with the requirements of the following guidelines: “Computer facilities. Protection against unauthorized access to information. Indicators of security against unauthorized access to information ”- for security class 4; "Protection against unauthorized access to information. Part 1. Software for information security. Classification by the level of lack of undeclared capabilities ”- by the 3rd level of control and technical conditions. Technical support for Alt Linux SPT users is provided by Free Software and Technology through its development partner Basalt SPO.

⇡

Developer: Basalt SPO company

The Alt platform is a set of enterprise-level Linux distributions that allow you to deploy a corporate IT infrastructure of any scale. The platform includes three distributions. This is a universal Alt Workstation, which includes an operating system and a set of applications for full work. The second is the Alt Server server distribution, which can act as an Active Directory domain controller and contains the most complete set of services and environments for creating corporate infrastructure (DBMS, mail and web server, authentication tools, team work, virtual machine management and monitoring, and others tools). The third - “Alt Education 8”, focused on everyday use in planning, organizing and conducting the educational process in institutions of general, secondary and higher education. In addition, the Basalt SPO product line features Alt Alt Linux SPT, the aforementioned certified distribution kit, and Simply Linux home operating system.

⇡

Developer: National Center for Informatization (part of the Rostec state corporation)

The Russian project to create an ecosystem of software products based on the Linux distribution designed for the integrated automation of workplaces and IT infrastructure of organizations and enterprises, including in data centers, on servers and client workstations. The platform is presented in the “OS.Office” and “OS.Server” versions. They differ in the sets of application software included in the distribution. The office edition of the product contains the operating system itself, information protection tools, a software package for working with documents, an email client and a browser. The server version includes an operating system, information security tools, monitoring and system management tools, an email server and a DBMS. Potential users of the platform include federal and regional authorities, local governments, state-owned companies and state corporations. It is assumed that the ecosystem based on "OS" in the near future will become a full-fledged alternative to Western counterparts.

The development of the RusBITech research and production association, presented in two versions: Astra Linux Common Edition (general purpose) and Astra Linux Special Edition (special purpose). Features of the latest version of the OS: developed means of ensuring information security of the processed data, a mechanism for mandatory access control and closed loop control of the software environment, built-in tools for document marking, event registration, data integrity control, as well as other components that protect information. According to the assurances of the developers, Astra Linux Special Edition is the only software platform that is simultaneously certified in the certification systems for information security systems of the FSTEC of Russia, the FSB, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and allows the processing of automated information of all ministries, departments and other institutions of the Russian Federation with limited access information containing state secret information with a signature stamp no higher than “top secret”.

⇡ RosaLinux

Developer: NTC IT ROSA LLC

The ROSA Linux family of operating systems includes an impressive set of solutions designed for home use (ROSA Fresh version) and application in a corporate environment (ROSA Enterprise Desktop), deployment of infrastructure IT-services of the organization (ROSA Enterprise Linux Server), processing of confidential information and personal data ( ROSA "Cobalt"), as well as information constituting a state secret (ROSA "Chrome" and "Nickel"). These products are based on the developments of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Mandriva and CentOS with the inclusion of a large number of additional components - including original ones, created by the programmers of the ROSA Scientific and Technical Center for Information Technology. In particular, the OS distributions for the corporate market segment include virtualization tools, software for organizing backups, tools for building private clouds, as well as centralized management of network resources and data storage systems.

⇡

Developer: Calculeite

Calculate Linux is available in editions of Desktop, Directory Server, Scratch, Scratch Server and was created with an eye on home users and small and medium-sized businesses that prefer to use open source software instead of proprietary solutions. Platform features: full-fledged work in heterogeneous networks, the mechanism of roaming user profiles, tools for centralized software deployment, ease of administration, the ability to install on portable USB drives and support for binary repositories of Gentoo updates. It is important that the development team is accessible and open to any comments, suggestions and wishes of the user audience, as evidenced by the huge number of ways to participate in the Calculate Linux community and the development of the platform.

⇡ “Ulyanovsk.BSD »

Developer: Sergey Volkov

An operating system that is built on the basis of the freely distributed FreeBSD platform and contains the necessary set of application programs for home users and office tasks. According to the only OS developer Sergey Volkov, Ulyanovsk.BSD is fully adapted to the needs of Russian-speaking users. “Our assembly is as lightweight as possible and ideally suited for use on home computers and at workstations by employees of various organizations, as well as for use in educational institutions,” says the author of the project, without going into details about how the product compiled by him differs from the original. The solidity of the project is added not only by the availability of a commercial distribution package and paid technical support, but also by an entry in the Russian software registry. This means that the Ulyanovsk.BSD software platform can legally be used by government organizations as part of projects to introduce import-substituting technologies.

A certified and secure operating system that allows you to process information in accordance with the Federal Law No. 152 “On Personal Data” and implement information processing systems with limited access that are not classified as state secrets. ICLinux includes remote administration tools, has a built-in firewall certified for compliance with RD ME on the 3rd security class, supports RDP, X-Windows System, SSH, Telnet, VNC, VPN, NX, ICA and other protocols. Also in the asset of the platform is compatibility with the means of authentication of the company Aladdin R.D. and a modular architecture that allows you to flexibly customize the operating system to customer requirements.

⇡ Alpha OS (Alfa OS)

Developer: ALFA Vision

Another Linux clone, equipped with a user interface a la macOS with a set of familiar office applications and filled with a deep philosophical meaning. No kidding, on the developer's site in the section "About the company", it says: " The operating system is a special phenomenon, the point at which technological, aesthetic and humanitarian concepts converge. A peak that is visible from all sides. For it to shine, to become what it should be, the most diverse meaningful experience is needed. And we have it". How much expression in these words, what a flow of information! You must admit that not everyone can expressively present their product to a wide audience. At the moment, Alpha OS is presented as a desktop version for x86-compatible systems. In the future, ALFA Vision intends to roll out to the market a mobile and server edition of the OS, as well as building a distribution kit for devices based on ARM processors.

A software platform designed specifically for computing systems with SPARC and Elbrus architecture. A feature of the system is the radically redesigned Linux kernel, in which special mechanisms for managing processes, virtual memory, interrupts, signals, synchronization, and support for tagged computing were implemented. " We have done fundamental work on converting the Linux OS into an operating system that supports the real-time mode of operation, for which we have implemented relevant optimizations in the kernel. In real-time operation, you can set various modes for processing external interrupts, scheduling calculations, exchanges with disk drives, and some other", - explain in the company" MCST ". In addition, a set of means of protecting information from unauthorized access is built into the core of the Elbrus software platform, which allows you to use the OS to build automated systems that meet the highest information security requirements. Also included in the system are archiving, job scheduling, software development and other tools.

⇡ "Red   OS "

Operating system based on the Linux kernel, designed with the aim of ensuring the security of the processed data. Red OS complies with domestic requirements for information security, has pre-configured configurations for each hardware architecture, uses GOST 34.11-2012 algorithms in ssh and NX protocols, and also supports access control lists. In addition, the OS supports network authentication using plug-in authentication modules (PAM, Pluggable Authentication Modules) and incorporates a specialized distributed audit subsystem that allows you to monitor critical security events on the corporate network and provides the IT administrator with the necessary tools to quickly respond to incidents IB.

⇡ GosLinux ("GosLinux")

Developer: Red Soft Company

GosLinux OS was created specifically for the needs of the Federal Bailiff Service of the Russian Federation (FSSP of Russia) and is suitable for use in all government bodies, state extra-budgetary funds and local authorities. The platform is based on the CentOS 6.4 distribution, which includes the achievements of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The system is presented in two editions - for servers and workstations, contains a simplified graphical interface and a set of pre-configured information protection tools. The developer of the operating system is Red Soft, which won the competition in March 2013 for the completion, implementation and maintenance of automated information systems of the FSSP of Russia. In 2014, the system received a certificate of conformity from the FSTEC of Russia, confirming that GosLinux has an estimated level of confidence of OUD3 and meets the requirements of the guidance document of the State Technical Commission of the Russian Federation on the 4th level of control of the absence of undeclared capabilities. The GosLinux OS distribution kit for public authorities is located in the National Algorithms and Programs Fund at nfap.minsvyaz.ru. Currently, the GosLinux platform is being actively deployed in all territorial bodies and units of the FSSP of Russia. Also, the operating system was transferred for trial operation to representatives of the authorities of the Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd and Yaroslavl regions.

⇡

Developer: LLC Almi

Product Website:

Another Linux build on our list that definitely does not suffer from a lack of laudatory epithets from developers. " Unique, ideal, simple, combining the convenience of the Windows operating system, macOS stability and Linux security»- with such phrases that lift AlterOS to heaven, the official website of the product is flashed along and across. What exactly is the uniqueness of the domestic platform, the site does not say, but the information on three editions of the OS is provided: AlterOS Volga for the public sector, AlterOS Amur for the corporate segment and AlterOS Don for servers. The system is reported to be compatible with many software solutions that are in demand in the business environment, including with 1C and Consultant Plus, as well as with domestic cryptographic protection tools (for example, CryptoPro). Separate emphasis is placed on the absence in the version of the platform for government organizations of software that interacts with foreign servers - everything is done according to the canons of maximum import substitution, developers say.

⇡ Armed Forces Mobile System (MSWS)

Developer: All-Russian Research Institute of Management Automation in Non-Industrial Spheres named after V.V. Solomatina (VNIINS)

A secure general-purpose operating system designed to build stationary and mobile secure automated systems in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Accepted for supply in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2002. MSWS is based on the Linux kernel and components, complemented by discretionary, credential, and role models for restricting access to information. The system operates on Intel (x86 and x86_64) hardware platforms, SPARC (Elbrus-90mikro), MIPS, PowerPC64, SPARC64 and is certified for information security requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The security measures implemented in MSVS allow creating automated systems on the basis of the platform that process information constituting state secrets with a degree of secrecy “SS” (top secret).

⇡ "Dawn"

Developer: Federal State Unitary Enterprise Central Research Institute of Economics, Informatics and Control Systems (TsNII EISU, part of the United Instrument-Making Corporation)

A family of software platforms based on the Linux kernel, which are an alternative to foreign OSs, which are now used by law enforcement agencies, the public sector, and defense enterprises. The desktop Zarya operating system is compatible with most traditional office applications and programs. Server platform "Zarya-DPC" allows you to organize an application server or database server. To build data centers, it offers a standard set of server software, virtualization tools, as well as the ability to work on the so-called "big hardware", including mainframes. For embedded systems that operate without human intervention, which must process information in real time, a special OS “Zarya RV” has been developed. The system corresponds to the third class of protection against unauthorized access and the second level of control of the absence of undeclared capabilities. The platform was developed by order of the Ministry of Defense of Russia and is expected to be in demand by law enforcement agencies, the defense complex, as well as commercial structures working with state secrets and personal data.

Operating system for terminal stations. Created on the basis of Linux and contains only the necessary set of tools for organizing jobs using thin clients. All functions that go beyond this are excluded from the distribution. Kraftway Terminal Linux supports many application-level network protocols (RDP, VNC, SSH, NX, XWindow, VMWare View PCoIP, etc.), allows you to configure access permissions for USB media transfer, provides the ability to use network and local printers, and contains configuration recovery tools OS at reboot, as well as tools for remote group management of terminal stations and workplace administration. A feature of the system is high security. Kraftway Terminal Linux also supports user authentication hardware: eToken PRO and eToken PRO Java USB keys from Aladdin RD CJSC, as well as RuToken S and RuToken EDS from Aktiv-soft CJSC. Updating the OS can be done by the administrator via a local network or from a USB drive. It is possible to configure auto-update both from the local server of the customer, and from the server of the company Kraftway.

⇡ Wtware

Developer: Andrey Kovalev

Another software platform for deploying jobs in the IT infrastructure of an enterprise using inexpensive terminal solutions. The WTware distribution includes services for downloading over the network, tools for working with printers, barcode scanners, and other peripheral equipment. Supported redirection of COM and USB ports, as well as authentication via smart cards. To connect to the terminal server, the RDP protocol is used, and for the prompt resolution of questions arising during the configuration of the operating system, the distribution is accompanied by detailed documentation. WTware is commercially available and licensed for the number of workstations. For the Raspberry Pi mini-computer, the developer offers a free version of the OS.

⇡ KasperskyOS

Developer: Kaspersky Lab

A secure operating system designed for use in mission-critical infrastructures and devices. Kaspersky Lab platform can be used in automated process control systems (ICS), telecommunications equipment, medical devices, cars and other gadgets from the world of the Internet of things. The OS was created from scratch and, due to its architecture, guarantees a high level of information security. The basic principle of KasperskyOS operation is reduced to the rule “everything that is not allowed is prohibited”. This eliminates the possibility of exploiting both already known vulnerabilities and those that will be discovered in the future. At the same time, all security policies, including prohibitions on the execution of certain processes and actions, are configured in accordance with the needs of the organization. The platform will be delivered as pre-installed software on various types of equipment used in industrial and corporate networks. Kaspersky Lab’s secure operating system is currently implemented in the L3 routing switch developed by Kraftway.

Real-time operating system (RTOS), written by AstroSoft programmers from scratch, without borrowing other people's code, and intended primarily for the Internet of things and embedded devices. In addition, it is suitable for robotics, medical equipment, “smart home” and “smart city” systems, consumer electronics, etc. For the first time, the MAKS real-time OS (the abbreviation stands for “multi-agent coherent system”) was demonstrated to a wide audience in January 2017 year. The platform not only implements all the classical functionality of products of this type, but also has a number of unique capabilities for organizing the interaction of many devices, which simplify the creation of the mechanisms needed in embedded systems: redundancy, hot swapping of equipment, etc. One of the features of MAKS is support for shared memory at the device level. This mechanism provides automatic synchronization of information between nodes of a distributed system that is resistant to failures of individual components. OSRV "MAKS" is included in the register of domestic software. In addition, the product is registered with the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) and is currently being certified by the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC of Russia) for the fourth level of control of undeclared capabilities (NDV).

⇡ In conclusion

There are two approaches to creating Russian software. The first is to write the source code of products from scratch, completely by domestic experts. The second option involves the creation of national software based on the refinement of borrowed source codes. It is he who is adhered to by the Russian software companies working in the field of import substitution for software. Our top 20 operating systems with the “Made in Russia” label are a clear confirmation of this. For better or worse, this is a big question, a subject for a separate discussion.

S. Kuznetsov The report describes the current status of the free (free) redistributable software. This topic is almost endless, and any story about it objectively is absolutely subjective. On the other hand, being obviously important for all mankind, free software is especially important for Russia and other states formed on the shards of communism. Too often, we don’t have enough money to get the right software. You need to understand that very often this should not cause unsolvable problems. Yes, we are not very rich (alas!), But we are not too stupid not to cope with the development of software products with the status of public domain.
  We will discuss a small fraction of the freely available software products available today, based mainly on personal sympathies, personal experience, and also based on the feedback of friends and acquaintances. The report is based on freely distributed materials and can be completely or partially reprinted, copied or distributed in any other way.

1. Free Software Foundation and GNU Project

The Free Software Foundation (FSF - Free Software Foundation) is a very interesting and in many respects an exceptional phenomenon in the modern world of programming. Many domestic programmers had to deal with programs from the FSF (the GCC programming system is especially well known), however, the insufficient number of publications in Russian makes it difficult to understand the ideology and goals of the FSF, and also complicates the assessment of the existing backlog. One of the goals of the report is to at least partially fill this gap.
  FSF is a programming organization founded and led by Richard Stallman. In the most general setting, the task of the FSF is to remove restrictions on the copying, distribution, study and modification of computer programs. To achieve this common goal, FSF encourages the development and use of free software targeted at a wide class of applications.
In his GNU Manifesto, written back in 1985, R. Stallman, as the main idea that led to the emergence of the FSF and the GNU project, puts forward his rejection of the ownership of the programs. Relationships in the community of programmers often confront people with the choice of following the natural sense of friendship and mutual assistance, or subordinating them to this property law. When using free software, the need for such a burdensome choice disappears.
  Creating an integrated free software system avoids the duplicate work of programmers (which is often required only because of the availability of programs in one's ownership). The free distribution of the source code of the programs facilitates their maintenance and adaptation to the needs of a particular user (it is not necessary to resort to the services of only companies that own licenses for the source texts). There is an additional and very important opportunity to use good software for educational purposes.
  According to R. Stallman, when switching to free software, programmers will not die out of starvation (although, apparently, they will earn a little less). The restriction on copying programs is not the only way to make money. Stallman's main idea is that you need to sell not programs, but the work of a programmer. In particular, the source of income may be the support of software systems or their setup for use on new computers and / or in new conditions, teaching, etc.
  Stallman's “Manifesto” is written very emotionally and in some places too utopian. Nevertheless, it seems that the ideas of free software are historically close to traditional (with the exception of the most recent years) relations among Soviet programmers. Perhaps the FSF line is the most natural way to deeply integrate the domestic and global community of programmers.
  More specifically, the FSF is developing programs under the GNU project (the GNU abbreviation is recursive - GNU "s Not Unix). The goal of the GNU project is to create a complete integrated software system that is compatible with the capabilities of the Unix OS environment (typically GNU software has wider capabilities features of Unix environment analogues).
FSF software is “free” in two ways. Firstly, any program can be freely copied and transferred to anyone. Secondly, the availability of the source code of the programs provides the opportunity for free study of the programs, their improvement and the distribution of the modified options.
  Just as the rights of ordinary software companies are protected by their copyright sign, the “freedom” of FSF software systems is protected by “copyleft” - a combination of copyright and a document with the title “GNU General Public License” in all FSF texts. This document refers to the rights that any current owner of this text has and the impossibility of withdrawing these rights from any other entity.
  FSF's core business is the development of new components of free software as part of the GNU project. For the most part, the GNU project is developing in a planned manner, but the FSF accepts for free distribution programs developed by firms and individuals on their own initiative. In addition, FSF produces and sells free software tapes, prepares, publishes and distributes manuals for various GNU software components, and also maintains and distributes a service guide — a list of companies and individuals that provide paid services to users of GNU programs and systems .
  The financial foundation of FSF is the sale of magnetic tapes and compact discs with GNU software texts, electronic and paper documents, and sponsorship of commercial firms and individuals.
  Almost all of the GNU project software components are currently ready. FSF distributes many programs, some of which were written directly by FSF programmers, and some were transferred to FSF for free distribution by other organizations and individuals. Briefly describe the most interesting software products distributed by FSF.
Emacs is an extensible, customizable editor for different terminal types and user needs. The extensibility of the editor is based on the use of the Lisp language interpreter built into the editor (Common Lisp dialect). At the same time as the source code of the editor, a manual for using Emacs and a reference for programming in Lisp in Emacs are distributed. The main version of Emacs currently supplied and supported by FSF is Emacs V.19. This version of the editor retains the properties of all previous versions, including the ability to use on the simplest alphanumeric terminals. However, Emacs V.19 works very well on graphical X terminals. In fact, only after moving to using Emacs on X terminals can you truly appreciate the capabilities of this editor.
  Some time ago, there was a difficult problem of localizing Emacs in relation to the peculiarities of the national language. Most likely, there will be people who remember how much trouble the work on the first Russification of Emacs brought. A few years ago, the suddenly invigorated Japanese created their own version of the Emacs editor called MULE (MULtilingual Enhancement to GNU Emacs - Don’t Think Anything Bad). This version uses an extended multibyte character encoding, which allows using symbols of different alphabets in one editing session (in particular, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Greek, etc.). MULE is currently integrated into Emacs and there are no serious localization issues. Apparently, today, Emacs is the best word processor running in the Unix environment (in fact, this program is much more than a simple word processor).
  Bison is a replacement for the standard Yacc parser generator with some extensions. The manual is also distributed. People who used Bison to develop compilers really praise the program. Recently, the FSF has eased requirements for the use of Bison, allowing it to be used legally in the development of commercial products.
  There are two implementations of the simplified dialect of the Lisp language - Scheme: one from MIT (written in C), the second from Yale University (written in Scheme).
  A set of texiinfo utilities is provided that generates printed and hypertext documents, in the form of which the GNU project documentation is mainly supplied.
GCC is a portable optimizing compiler. Starting with the second version, the compiler supports C languages \u200b\u200b(ANSI C, traditional C, GNU C extended dialect), C ++ and Objective C. Among the optimizations performed by GCC, there are automatic register allocation, detection of common subexpressions, removal of invariant expressions from the loop body and etc. The compiler contains tools for the semi-automatic construction of code generators for new computers.
  A number of function libraries for the C language and class libraries for C ++ and Objective C are available.
  The GDB debugger can be used to debug programs written in C, C ++, and Fortran.
  For working with software versions, large software projects support RCS (Revision Control System) and CVS (Concurrent Version System) systems.
  A huge number of X11 programs are distributed, the implementation of MIT X-Windows (version 11, release 6). The volume of the report does not allow us to dwell on this in more detail.
  Basically, all programs distributed by FSF are designed to work in a Unix environment and are used with various versions of this system, but there are versions of some programs for working with VMS, Windows NT, and even MS-DOS.
  One of the most important but still incomplete FSF project is the Hurd project. This is a free implementation of a UNIX-compatible operating system based on the freely available version of the Mach microkernel developed at Carnegie Mellon University. In accordance with Mach technology, a number of servers have been developed that reproduce the basic functions of the UNIX kernel. The UNIX system call interface is rendered using a specially designed C-function library. Hurd servers and library functions were originally developed on the PC 396 platform, but are easily ported to other hardware platforms. The main current problem is the mass porting of Mach to various platforms.
  Among the GNU programs, there are a large number of other products that deserve attention, but we will not discuss them in this report.

2. Other Most Common Public Domain Products

Probably the most popular Public Domain software product today is the UNIX-compatible Linux OS, created by the young Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds and supported by the Internet by thousands of enthusiasts. Linux OS is based on the traditional principles of building the kernel of the UNIX OS, which did not stop enthusiasts from porting it to several popular hardware platforms.
Linux is one of the most suitable operating systems for a home computer, if a person is not going to use it only for writing texts and climbing on the Internet. According to practitioners, a program neatly written in the Linux environment is easily transferred to the environment of any other version of the UNIX OS (unless, of course, this option meets the standards). On the other hand, there are known examples of the industrial use of Linux, in particular in telecommunication systems.
  An alternative to Linux is Free BSD, developed and distributed by the University of Berkeley. This is one of the branches of BSD UNIX, a project developed over many years at the University of Berkeley. Free BSD is an efficient and economical operating system, the only drawback of which is its absolute orientation to Intel platforms. I know many people who prefer to use Free BSD at home rather than Linux.
  At the same University, Berkeley developed the wonderful Tcl / Tk package - a tool for developing graphical user interfaces. This is a freeware product, well documented and very easy to learn. Many real-world projects implemented using Tcl / Tk are known, for example, the Linux-based administration package based on the graphical interface.
  As stated at the beginning of the report, the theme of free software is truly inexhaustible. On this occasion, we can talk endlessly. But it’s better to keep track of new programs yourself.

Many
  users by the words "free" and "open source software" mean
  GNU / Linux operating system. But there are several dozen
  free OS, among which there are both successful and popular products
  (FreeBSD, Solaris, Darwin), and well-known to narrow circles of specialists
  projects (Haiku OS, React OS). Each of them has its own history and future.

In the world there are several dozen free OS, and some
  of which every IT specialist needs to know. Most famous after Linux
  operating system - BSD. It was developed in 1978 in
  Berkeley University based on UNIX. Of the most common
  distributions of this open system can be called FreeBSD, PC-BSD and
  DesktopBSD.

Due to the technical features of UNIX, fragments and variations of this OS
  widely used in various equipment, often in network. Servers on
  based on FreeBSD are highly stable and also actively
apply. Desktop versions of BSD use the KDE graphical shell
  and externally almost indistinguishable from Linux. Moreover, these systems
  received native support for software created for Linux.

  BSD - The Most Famous Free Linux Operating System After Linux

Another offshoot from UNIX is Sun's operating system.
  Microsystems called Solaris, created in 1991. Free
  a variant of this OS is Open Solaris, supported by the company. Despite
  the presence of certain traits inherent in GNU / Linux (graphical
  Gnome user interface, installing software packages from
  repositories, native Linux ABI support, booting the system from LiveCD),
  this OS is designed to be used as a development platform
  for Sun Microsystems server products. Fundamental difference from
  Linux is the core of the system. Earlier versions of Sun Microsystems OS
  used Unix and were called SunOS.

  Open Solaris Externally Shared Like Linux

In 1992, the release of SunOS 5 was renamed Solaris 2, in her
  The distribution has additional proprietary components. By this
  the same reason OpenSolaris is no longer distributed under the GPL, but under CDDL
  license assuming the distribution of files licensed
  according to other principles, including proprietary.

The most famous free OS after Linux

In the late 1980s and first half of the 1990s in the development of Unix systems
  another stage has begun, associated with the release of the NEXTSTEP OS. At the heart of this
  the proprietary system was the Mach core with Unix source code.
  After the actual cessation of the development of this OS in 1995 and after
  Apple's NeXT purchases, virtually all of its major components
  (user interface, OpenStep / Mach and system libraries) were
  used in Rhapsody OS, the successor to the future Mac OS, released in 1998
  year. However, in 2000, Apple stopped developing Rhapsody OS and
  began to develop another branch from UNIX and BSD - Darwin.

This operating system is based on the XNU kernel (used by
  microkernel Mach and standard BSD services). Product licensed by
  APSL, which is free software, and its options are PureDarwin and
  OpenDarwin (merged with PureDarwin in 2006) use LGPL. From BSD to
  Darwin core processor model, network stack and
  virtual file system plus Apple added
  Object Oriented Device Drivers API I / O Kit. Summary
  option allows you to compile most Unix applications under Darwin
  without interfering with the source code.

Free OS for users

UNIX systems and various branches differ from them quite
  strict orientation on use in servers or for development
  applications. Use them as a replacement for your existing desktop
  decisions in most cases does not make sense. In addition to the lack of
  support in the basic delivery of drivers for multimedia devices, some
  media formats, tools for customization
  interface, these systems are difficult for ordinary users to perceive,
  despite the fact that they often have the same shells as
  Linux distributions (KDE, GNOME, and other X-Windows variants).

How is Linux different from other freeOS?

Despite some similarities between Linux and other free
  OS, between them there are several serious differences. First and most
  important thing: Linux uses the Linux kernel, which is different from Unix and
  Unix-based systems both in their architecture and in principles
  licensing (GPL). Second difference: using the X Window System, on
  the base of which is built a graphical user interface
  most Linux distributions. In free OSs are more often used
  own interface design. The third difference is the use
  utilities and libraries from the GNU Linux project.

But there are open source OS for desktops. Pioneers in this
  the direction was Be, which released in the early 1990s
  proprietary BeOS, as well as BeBox computers. Developers
  positioned it as a competitor to Windows and Mac OS, primarily by
  the reason for adapting the system to multimedia tasks. Nonetheless,
  the active development of this development stopped already in the early 2000s
  years in connection with the acquisition of Be Palm. Sole open source
  BeOS option is Haiku OS, which is a ported
  BeOS kernel, API and file system with open source distributions, for example,
  Firefox, VLC, SeaMonkey. Unlike Linux, it is not used
X-Windows graphical shell, different port and library system
  (however, from the end of January 2009 the situation began to change, and in HaikuOS
  Now you can run modern programs like Firefox 3).
  It is noteworthy that this OS is still in a deep state
  development, and the timing of the second technical release is still unclear.

HaikuOS Can't Get Out of Deep Development

Another Haiku OS-like project is Syllable OS, existing
  in the form of two distributions - a server based on the Linux kernel, and
  desktop, using its own development. By and large, in
  Syllable programmers decide to combine open best practices
  source systems, borrowing the GCC compiler from GNU / Linux, the subsystem
  SDL, as well as interface elements from BeOS and applied POSIX standards,
  Also known by UNIX systems. However, support work
  most modern hardware at Haiku OS is extremely
  slowly, which affects the availability of release versions.

Minimum Custom

Another little-known representative of free OS are
  real-time operating systems (RTOS). Among similar projects
  you can select pico] Os (BSD license), eCos (own license for
  GPL based) and FreeRTOS (modified GPL). Listed
  operating systems are used in devices in which to use
  Linux or BSD is impractical. RTOS undemanding to technical
  device capabilities and are actively used in terminal clients,
  in BIOS, in video surveillance and control systems, in industrial
  equipment.

And again Windows

However, the camp of supporters of open source software was not without presence
  Microsoft Windows fans. It is known that many system
  architects and programmers still consider the most successful version
  Windows 2000

ReactOS developers have a similar opinion. Basis here
  taken Windows API, and additional proprietary removed from the distribution
  tools and software (what remains is licensed under the GPL / LGPL).

Types of licenses used in free OS

It is assumed that the user will download the necessary
  him components after installing the system. Another open source
  Microsoft-based development is a well-known system
  FreeDOS, which can often be found as a pre-installed OS
  on Dell and HP laptops. At the heart of this GPL licensed system
  lies close to the functionality of MS-DOS kernel, an interpreter command
  strings, as well as a set of additional utilities and drivers (in particular,
  FreeDOS runs on NTFS, unlike MS-DOS).

ReactOS - a free analogue of Windows, supports the same drivers and programs.

The list of operating systems considered in the material, this class of software
  collateral is not completely exhausted. There is still enough
  the number of different amateur projects being developed as per
  own account by enthusiasts (Menuet OS, Kolibri OS and others), and
  at the expense of companies (for example, various options for Plan 9 from Bell
  Labs). In addition, a number of projects are in a “frozen” state, and
  their creators do not release new versions of existing developments or
  still have not submitted prototypes in the public domain.

Mikhail Demidov