50os

50os is a hypothetical open-source operating system used to illustrate principles of modular design, security, and educational experimentation in operating system research. The project is described as a small, portable base intended to be extended with user-space services and drivers rather than a monolithic kernel.

Architecture in 50os centers on a microkernel or service-based core that provides essential abstractions such as interprocess communication, memory management, and basic I/O. Most system services run in user space and communicate through message passing and capabilities. This design aims for a small, auditable trusted computing base and clearly defined interfaces. Hardware portability is pursued through architecture-specific layers for common targets like x86-64, ARM64, and, in some variants, RISC-V.

Features commonly associated with 50os include a POSIX-compatible environment and a sandboxed package ecosystem. It offers a built-in package manager to install and isolate software components. The system supports secure boot, basic virtualization, and optional graphical interfaces managed by a simple window manager. Networking, file systems, and device drivers are modularized so they can be replaced or extended without altering the kernel.

Development and governance for the project are described as community-driven and open-source, with code released under a permissive license and hosted on public repositories. Contributions typically follow collaborative guidelines, including code reviews and continuous integration as part of the workflow.

Usage and reception: in academic settings, 50os is used to teach concepts such as kernel design, IPC, and security models. In practice, it sees limited deployment outside lab environments; reviewers value its clarity and modularity but note immaturity and limited hardware support as drawbacks.

Version history: since its first public release in the mid-2010s, 50os has undergone several major revisions focused on modularity and portability, with ongoing efforts to expand device support and refine security.