onPOSIX

onPOSIX is a software project that provides a POSIX-like API surface to environments that do not natively implement POSIX, with the aim of enabling portable software development. By offering wrappers and emulation of common POSIX interfaces, onPOSIX allows developers to write code that can be compiled on multiple platforms with minimal changes.

The project focuses on standard library calls, process and thread management, signals, file and filesystem semantics, and basic I/O operations, striving to cover the most widely used POSIX interfaces while remaining practical for real-world applications.

Architecture and implementation: onPOSIX is typically distributed as a library or runtime layer that applications link against. It provides headers that mirror POSIX prototypes and internal adapters that map calls to the host platform's native APIs. On platforms with native POSIX support, onPOSIX may defer to the system libraries.

Usage and compatibility: developers include onPOSIX headers and link the onPOSIX library; code remains POSIX-like and can rely on facilities such as file descriptors, pthreads, and signals. Programs are often written to be portable across POSIX- and non-POSIX environments.

Development status and reception: The project is maintained by an open-source community with ongoing work to expand API coverage and improve performance. Adoption is modest and typically appears in experimental, educational, or portability-focused projects rather than as a drop-in replacement for native POSIX on supported platforms.

Limitations and scope: Not all POSIX features are fully implemented; some semantics may vary across host systems, and performance can incur overhead. Users are advised to evaluate suitability for their target platforms and desired POSIX compatibility level.

Further information about onPOSIX is typically found in its documentation and public repositories, where ongoing updates and contributions are tracked.