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Operating Systems

Linux, Windows, macOS and BSD, mobile, real-time and embedded, container-focused and network operating systems, with learning resources.

47 topics•7 categories•Updated November 2026

Linux Distributions & Kernel

10 entries

The most widely used operating system family for servers, cloud and developers.

01Linux kernelHome of the Linux kernel, with source releases and documentation. 02UbuntuCanonical's popular Debian-based distribution for desktops, servers and cloud. 03DebianCommunity-run universal operating system and the base for many distributions. 04FedoraCommunity distribution sponsored by Red Hat, often the first to adopt new technology. 05Red Hat Enterprise LinuxCommercial enterprise Linux with long-term support. 06SUSE Linux Enterprise ServerEnterprise Linux from SUSE for servers, SAP and edge workloads. 07Rocky LinuxCommunity enterprise Linux compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. 08AlmaLinuxCommunity enterprise Linux compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. 09Arch LinuxRolling-release distribution for users who want to configure their own system. 10NixOSLinux distribution with declarative, reproducible configuration.

Windows, macOS & BSD

5 entries

Proprietary desktop and server systems and the BSD family.

11Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft's desktop operating system; the site may not respond to automated checks. 12Windows ServerMicrosoft's server operating system; the site blocks automated checks. 13macOSApple's desktop operating system. 14FreeBSDBSD operating system used in servers, networking and storage. 15OpenBSDBSD system known for security and code correctness.

Mobile Operating Systems

4 entries

Systems for phones and tablets.

16AndroidGoogle's open-source based mobile operating system. 17Android Open Source ProjectSource code and documentation for Android. 18iOSApple's operating system for iPhone. 19HarmonyOSHuawei's operating system for phones and connected devices.

Real-Time & Embedded

7 entries

Operating systems for microcontrollers, devices and safety-critical systems.

20Zephyr ProjectOpen-source real-time operating system for resource-constrained devices, hosted by the Linux Foundation. 21FreeRTOSWidely used open-source real-time operating system kernel for microcontrollers. 22RTEMSOpen-source real-time operating system for embedded and space systems. 23VxWorks (Wind River)Commercial real-time operating system for safety-critical systems. 24QNXMicrokernel real-time operating system used in automotive and industrial systems. 25Yocto ProjectToolkit for building custom embedded Linux distributions. 26seL4Formally verified microkernel, with proofs of its implementation.

Container-Focused & Immutable OS

5 entries

Minimal operating systems built to run containers and Kubernetes.

27Talos LinuxMinimal, immutable Linux built for Kubernetes and managed through an API. 28BottlerocketAWS's Linux-based operating system purpose-built for running containers. 29Flatcar Container LinuxCommunity-supported immutable Linux for containers. 30Fedora CoreOSAutomatically updating minimal operating system for running containers. 31Network Operating SystemsThis site's directory of network operating systems such as Arista EOS, Junos, SONiC and NX-OS.

Learn Operating Systems

8 entries

Textbooks, courses and kernel documentation.

32Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces (OSTEP)Free textbook on virtualisation, concurrency and persistence. 33MIT 6.S081 / xv6MIT operating systems course built around the xv6 teaching kernel. 34The Linux Kernel documentationOfficial documentation for the Linux kernel. 35Rust for LinuxProject bringing Rust to the Linux kernel. 36Linux From ScratchStep-by-step guide to building a Linux system from source. 37OSDev WikiCommunity wiki on writing hobby operating systems; the site blocks automated checks. 38DistroWatchNews and rankings of Linux distributions; the site blocks automated checks. 39Desktop App DevelopmentElectron, Tauri, Qt, .NET, Flutter, packaging and guidelines.

Related Pages

8 entries

Related pages on this site.

40Network Operating SystemsArista EOS, Junos, SONiC and NX-OS. 41Linux Monitoring ToolsZabbix, Prometheus, Datadog and other tools for monitoring Linux. 42Computer ScienceHub of computer science directories. 43Computing ParadigmsCloud, edge, serverless, quantum and HPC. 44Programming LanguagesC, C++, Go, Rust and more. 45Distributed ComputingConcepts, consensus and frameworks. 46Container Orchestration PlatformsKubernetes and other platforms for running containers. 47CybersecuritySecurity tools and practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an operating system?

Software that manages a computer's hardware and provides services to programs: process and memory management, file systems, device drivers, networking and security.

What are the main types of operating systems?

Desktop and server systems such as Linux, Windows, macOS and the BSDs, mobile systems such as Android and iOS, real-time and embedded systems such as Zephyr and FreeRTOS, and specialised systems such as container-focused and network operating systems.

What is the Linux kernel?

The core of Linux operating systems, which handles hardware, processes and memory. Distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian and Red Hat Enterprise Linux package the kernel with other software.

Which Linux distribution should I choose?

Ubuntu and Debian are common general choices, Fedora for current technology, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE, Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux for enterprise servers, and Arch Linux or NixOS for people who want to control configuration.

What is a real-time operating system?

One designed to respond to events within guaranteed time limits. Zephyr, FreeRTOS, VxWorks and QNX are used in devices, vehicles and industrial systems.

What is an immutable or container-focused OS?

A minimal operating system, such as Talos Linux, Bottlerocket or Flatcar, with a read-only base and automatic updates, built mainly to run containers and Kubernetes nodes.

What is a network operating system?

The software that runs on switches and routers, such as Arista EOS, Junos, SONiC and Cisco NX-OS. See the Network Operating Systems page.

How do I learn how operating systems work?

Read Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces, follow a course built on the xv6 teaching kernel, and read the Linux kernel documentation.

How were these entries chosen?

They are widely used or widely studied systems, linked to their official sites and not ranked. Check each project for current releases and support dates.