Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is GenOS?
GenOS is a free operating system for x86_64 PCs, written from scratch in Rust. Its loader starts the kernel, which manages memory and devices. Ordinary programs run outside the kernel, in a CPU mode called Ring 3. Our glossary explains these terms. It is an independent system, not a Linux distribution. See the project overview.
Can I use it as my everyday operating system?
No — this is Experimental / ALPHA software, still under heavy development! Please try it only in a controlled VM, at your own risk. We have not verified a release for everyday use. Program interfaces and saved-file formats may change, and the security work is incomplete. Do not use it for important data, secrets, hostile workloads or production services. Read the known limitations.
Does it run Linux or Windows applications?
No. We do not support existing Linux or Windows applications. We have a native SDK demonstration and a limited set of native utilities. Running arbitrary native programs, connecting their input and output, and keeping old programs working across changes still need work. We do not promise full POSIX compatibility.
What hardware should I use?
Start with the pinned x86_64 QEMU/UEFI candidate with its one supported kernel CPU. We have not qualified a list of supported physical machines. A test with several virtual CPUs does not mean the kernel can use them together; it still uses one CPU.
Where is the desktop?
We are working on the serial console first; there is no framebuffer UI on this path. Userspace graphics is Deferred until R3 and the required application, security and device work. You may see screenshots or older graphical experiments, but our present plan is the console-first roadmap.
Can I put it on the Internet?
Some networking works through a virtual network card. We have limited support for IPv4 addresses and TCP connections, plus test results for some IPv6 setup messages and UDP datagrams handled by the kernel. We cannot claim general Internet, TLS or production server support. Ordinary programs cannot yet use IPv6 sockets, and broader standards testing remains open. See networking and IPv6 scope.
Is it faster or safer than Linux?
We make no claim that GenOS is faster, safer or free of bugs. A useful comparison needs the same named workloads, exact configurations, raw results and their variation, and a list of missing features. Rust and passing tests do not establish whole-system security or reliability. See the comparison policy.
Where can I download it?
You can get the source from our source repository. Use the build instructions to create a local QEMU image. You may see the baseline name 0.56 in the documentation; it is not a qualified stable release.
How can I help or send a bug report?
Read CONTRIBUTING.md, the roadmap and the known limitations before changing how the kernel works. Please keep changes focused and explain ownership, failure handling, cleanup and how you tested them. Send ordinary bug reports to GenOS on GitHub (issues). Follow SECURITY.md for private security reporting.
What is the license?
GenOS is released under the MIT License.