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Unix and Unix-like distributions that are not Linux

Unix (UNiplexed Information Computing System)

  • Unix was a software project started in 1969 at Bell Labs to build a multitaskting, multi-user, operating sytem.
  • Unix System V was the first commercial version of the Unix operating system

Unix implementations that are still in use as of 2022

  • HP-UX (Hewlett Packard Unix) by HP
  • Solaris by Oracle, Sun originally, for x86 and SPARC
  • AIX (Advanced Interactive eXecutive) by IBM for Power Architecture
  • z/OS UNIX by IBM (certified UNIX) for IBM z/Architecture mainframes
  • OpenServer by Xinuos, formerly SCO

Unix implementations that were EOL by 2022

BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution)

BSD implementations

  • FreeBSD
    • #1 Most popular BSD distro
    • The most forked BSD distro
    • Used for desktops, servers, and appliances
  • OpenBSD
    • #2 Most popular BSD distro
    • Focused on highly secure servers
  • NetBSD
    • Focused on supporting many CPU architectures
  • DragonFly BSD
    • For the desktop
    • Some very interesting development is happening on this project
  • GhostBSD
    • For the desktop
  • TrueNAS
    • For the NAS (network-attached storage)

Apple Computer

  • Every modern OS at apple is descended from BSD by way of NeXTSTEP

Apple operating systems

  • Darwin
    • The open-source base OS for Apple MacOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS
    • Derived from NeXTSTEP and OpenSTEP
  • MacOS *** POPULAR ***
    • #2 most popular desktop OS globally
    • Derived from NeXTSTEP and OpenSTEP
    • Uses the XNU Kernel
    • Uses traditional BSD userland
    • The Homebrew package manager is a necessary add-on
    • My experience with MacOS
      • I have used MacOS (the modern version) since 2015.
      • This OS feels like a modern BSD/UNIX, it is not stuck in the past
      • MacOS is very stable and very secure
      • Apple is spies on customers less than Microsoft, but can still be quite draconian
  • [iOS] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS)
    • Very similar to MacOS, but is mobile

Other interesting UNIX-like operating systems

  • Redox OS
    • Redox is a Unix-like Operating System written in Rust
    • Implements a Micro-kernel similar to MINIX but written in Rust
    • Offers the Cosmic Rust Desktop
    • This project has a promising future
  • MINIX 3
    • Microkernel
    • BSD compatible, X86 and ARM support
    • Useful to learn how operating systems work