lnxk

lnxk is an open‑source operating system kernel that traces its ancestry to the Linux kernel but has been developed as a separate branch since 2018. The project was initiated by a team of security researchers who sought to create a kernel with increased isolation capabilities and stricter audit controls. The name lnxk is an abbreviation of “Linux Kernel” but stylized to emphasize the project’s focus on kernel security.

The core design goal of lnxk is to provide a minimal kernel surface while retaining compatibility with most userland applications that run on traditional Linux distributions. To achieve this, the lnxk developers have removed or modularized several legacy subsystems, replaced them with lightweight alternatives, and introduced a hardened memory allocator. The project also implements a policy framework that allows fine‑grained control over inter‑process communication, file system access, and device drivers.

Development of lnxk is coordinated through a public GitHub repository under the GPLv3 license. The community comprises volunteer developers, security auditors, and corporate sponsors who focus on embedded and containerized environments. Regular releases are scheduled quarterly, with the current stable version (4.21.0‑lnxk) having been released in October 2025. The kernel is tested against a suite of regression tests and security benchmarks, and it has been adopted by several small‑to‑medium enterprises for high‑assurance use cases. While lnxk remains a niche project compared to mainstream Linux distributions, it offers a compelling alternative for systems that demand stricter security guarantees and a leaner kernel footprint.