I love seeing projects in this space! Non-big-corp OSSes have been limited to Linux etc; would love to explore the space more and have non-Linux, non-MS/Apple options. For example, Linux has these at the core which I don't find to be a good match for my uses:
- Multi-user and server-oriented permissions system.
- Incompatible ABIs
- File-based everything; leads to scattered state that gets messy over time.
- Package managers and compiling-from-source instead of distributing runnable applications directly.
- Dependence on CLI, and steep learning curve.
Haiku, plan9, redox, and Hurd comes to mind
Reactos if you need something to replace windows
Implementing support for docker on these operating systems could give them the life you are looking for
I don't think they will like Plan9 if file based everything is a turn off.
Did you know the Go language supports Plan9? You can create a binary from any system using GOOS=plan9 with amd64 and i386 supported. You might need to disable CGO and use libraries that don't have operating system specifics though. You can even bootstrap Go from it provided you have the SDK.
Incidentally 9Front is a modern fork of Plan9.
Linux is a big corp OS. Look at who the biggest contributors are and who funds the Linux foundation, ultimately paying Linus and friends' salaries.
> Package managers and compiling-from-source instead of distributing runnable applications directly.
Docker tries to partially address this, right?
> Dependence on CLI, and steep learning curve.
I think this is partially eased by LLMs.
They shouldn't have to. OS interfaces including commandline ones should be user oriented not bogged down by Unix dogma that was created wwhencomputerss used physical text terminals as their primary I/O device. It's not the 60s anymore and modern PC, servers, and embedded devices aren't ancient mainframes with physical terminal hardware where making everything appear to be a file and using convoluted scripting interfaces like the Unix shell made at least some sense.
But you can see the theme here: Adding more layers of complexity to patch things. LLMs do seem to do a better job than searching forum posts! I would argue that Docker's point is to patch compatibility barriers in Linux.
> Docker tries to partially address this, right?
Docker is a good way of turning a 2kb shell script into a 400mb container. It's not a solution.
Flatpak would be a better example.
BSD exists Also Open Solaris Minix etc...
I reckon each of these has at least 3/5 of the complaints the OP has about Linux, because they're all still Unix clones.
Fuchsia
Have you seen TempleOS?
Yep. Everyone in the OSDev community knows about it. RIP Terry.