nonWindows

nonWindows is an informal label used to refer to any operating system, environment, or platform that is not running Microsoft Windows. It covers Linux- and BSD-based systems, macOS, Unix-family systems such as Solaris, and mobile or embedded platforms such as Android and iOS.

Because it is not a formal standard, the scope of nonWindows is broad and evolving. In practice, the term is often used when discussing software compatibility, deployment, or tooling that must work on systems other than Windows.

Market and usage: Windows dominates personal desktop computing in many regions, while nonWindows platforms are prevalent in servers (Linux and BSD), mobile devices (Android and iOS), and embedded environments. macOS occupies a niche in desktop computing with strong media and creative software support.

Technical aspects: different families use different kernels, file systems, and security models. Linux and BSD systems commonly use POSIX-compatible interfaces, with ext4, ZFS, or UFS-like file systems; macOS uses APFS; Windows uses NTFS. Software interoperability is aided by cross-platform toolkits and standards, though some applications remain Windows-first.

Development and administration: developers targeting nonWindows may rely on cross-platform languages and frameworks (C/C++, Java, Python) and toolchains (Qt, GTK, Electron). Virtualization, containers, and dual-boot configurations are common ways to work across platforms.

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