OpenBSDderived

OpenBSDderived is an informal term used to describe software projects, distributions, or components that originate from the OpenBSD codebase or follow its design philosophy. It is not an official designation, and there is no overseeing body that authorizes or certifies such a label. In practice, an OpenBSDderived project reuses OpenBSD code or adopts its guiding principles—chiefly a focus on security, correctness, and simplicity—while maintaining its own governance, branding, and release schedule.

Licensing principles are central to OpenBSDderived work. OpenBSD uses a BSD-style license that permits broad reuse. Derivative projects may incorporate OpenBSD code under those licenses and must preserve copyright notices and attribution. Depending on how extensively OpenBSD code is used, a derivative may be fully open source, partially open, or, in some cases, use original components alongside borrowed elements.

Security and reliability are commonly emphasized in OpenBSDderived efforts. OpenBSD is noted for proactive security features, code auditing, and secure defaults. Derivative projects that align with OpenBSDderived goals often strive to maintain similar security postures, implementing strict privilege separation, careful input validation, and minimal trusted code paths. However, divergences are possible, especially in areas like kernel development, hardware support, or userland tooling, where different project goals or resource constraints lead to changes.

The relationship between OpenBSDderived projects and the OpenBSD project itself is typically informal. Derivatives may borrow concepts or code, contribute patches back, or diverge to meet distinct objectives. The term serves more as a descriptive category than an official class of software.