Awesome GitHub RepositoriesOperating System Kernels

ReactOS is an open-source operating system designed to be binary compatible with Windows applications and drivers. It consists of a low-level system kernel that manages hardware resources and a binary compatibility layer that enables the execution of software designed for the Windows binary interface. The project implements a cross-platform build system and toolchain for compiling and deploying bootable operating system images across different hardware architectures. This includes the use of cross-compilation toolchains and a hardware-abstraction layer to support various processor and motherb

XNU ist ein hybrider Betriebssystemkern, der eine Mikrokernel-Architektur mit einer monolithischen Schicht für Systemdienste kombiniert. Er bietet eine Grundlage für die Betriebssystementwicklung und integriert standardisierte Systemaufruf-Schnittstellen, ein modulares Gerätetreiber-Framework und eine obligatorische Zugriffskontrollsicherheit. Die Architektur verfügt über einen Mach-basierten Mikrokernel und eine BSD-basierte monolithische Schicht. Sie nutzt einen nachrichtenbasierten Inter-Prozess-Kommunikationsbus für den sicheren Datenaustausch zwischen isolierten Kernel-Komponenten und Benutzerprozessen, neben einem objektorientierten Treiber-Framework, das hardwarespezifische Logik vom Kern-Kernel entkoppelt. Das System enthält eine Engine für obligatorische Zugriffskontrolle zur richtlinienbasierten Sicherheitsdurchsetzung und einen Remote-Kernel-Debugger zur Inspektion von Live-Speicher und zur Analyse von System-Panics. Zusätzliche Fähigkeiten decken die Multiprozessor-Planung, die Koordination von Hardwareressourcen und ein Build-System zur Generierung bootfähiger Images über verschiedene Architekturen hinweg ab. Das Projekt bietet Tools für das Kernel-Build-Management, die Generierung von Debug-Symbolen und ein Framework für die Systemaufruf-Verifizierung.

This project is a Linux kernel designed for Windows Linux integration, providing the underlying operating system kernel required to execute binary files and applications within the Windows Subsystem for Linux. It utilizes hypervisor-based virtualization to run a full kernel within a lightweight utility virtual machine managed by a Windows host. The repository enables the customization and compilation of the kernel from source. This allows for the modification of system behavior, the addition of specific drivers, and the tailoring of hardware compatibility for virtualized environments. The sy

Flipper-Xtreme is a custom firmware for the Flipper Zero that modifies the operating system to unlock additional hardware capabilities and integrate unofficial features. It functions as a hardware protocol manager and a device interface customizer. The firmware includes a Bluetooth keyboard emulator that allows the device to masquerade as a wireless keyboard by spoofing device identities to send payloads. It also features an experience-based leveling system that gates specific animations and system capabilities behind user interaction milestones. The project provides tools for hardware proto

This repository provides the Android device kernel and the corresponding Linux kernel source tree. It serves as the foundational codebase for managing the hardware architecture and power management of mobile devices. The project includes a comprehensive mobile hardware driver set designed to manage device-specific components, such as CPUs, GPUs, and cellular modems. The source code supports activities including Android kernel customization, custom ROM development, Linux kernel auditing, and mobile driver development.

This project is a Linux distribution build system and deployment framework designed to compile tailored Debian and Ubuntu server images for Amlogic ARM hardware. It functions as an operating system deployer and kernel builder, providing the tools necessary to flash system images to internal or external storage and manage boot configurations on ARM boards. The system includes a specialized build pipeline for compiling Linux kernels with hardware-specific patches and out-of-tree driver modules. It also features a dual-boot partition manager that enables the backup and restoration of original An

The Intel RealSense SDK is a software development kit providing drivers and libraries for interfacing with depth cameras to capture color, depth, and infrared data streams. It includes a depth camera driver for device discovery and sensor configuration, a stereo vision library for computing depth maps and aligning frames, and a 3D point cloud generator to transform depth and infrared frames into spatial representations. The SDK distinguishes itself through on-chip depth calculation and stereo calibration, using internal vision processors to reduce host CPU load. It supports hardware-level str

CppGuide is a curated collection of educational resources and practical guides focused on C++ server development, Linux kernel internals, concurrent programming, network protocols, and security exploitation. It provides structured learning paths for backend developers, covering everything from interview preparation to building high-performance network servers and understanding operating system fundamentals. The guide distinguishes itself by offering in-depth, hands-on tutorials that walk through real-world implementations, including building a Redis-like server from scratch, designing custom

TencentOS-tiny ist ein Echtzeitbetriebssystem für Mikrocontroller, das für die Verwaltung von Task-Scheduling und Ressourcenallokation über verschiedene Hardware-Module hinweg entwickelt wurde. Es fungiert als Embedded-Plattform und modularer Kernel für die Bereitstellung von Echtzeit-Software auf unterschiedlichen Chip-Architekturen. Das System enthält integrierte Protokoll-Stacks für eine sichere Datenübertragung und Konnektivität zwischen IoT-Endgeräten und Cloud-Plattformen. Das Projekt umfasst Echtzeit-Task-Management, Embedded-Software-Deployment und Mikrocontroller-Administration. Es nutzt eine modulare Microkernel-Architektur und eine Hardware-Abstraktionsschicht, um den Kernel von spezifischen Chipsätzen zu entkoppeln.

seL4 is a formally verified microkernel whose C implementation is backed by machine-checked mathematical proofs of correctness, confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It enforces strict isolation between processes through hardware-enforced address space separation and a capability-based access control system, where each process holds explicit rights only to the resources it has been granted. The kernel exposes hardware resources through a minimal API of system calls that manage threads, address spaces, and inter-process communication, with synchronous IPC supporting sender-identifying b

This repository contains the pre-compiled firmware, bootloader binaries, device tree overlay files, and Linux kernel modules that power Raspberry Pi single-board computers. It provides the foundational system firmware that initializes the hardware and loads an operating system. The boot architecture relies on a proprietary VideoCore GPU that co-processes early initialization, memory partitioning, device tree overlay loading, and mailbox-based peripheral configuration before handing control to the main CPU. This multi-stage boot process uses a chain of small binary stages and loads a raw kerne

This repository is the Armbian build framework — an embedded Linux build system for generating custom operating system images tailored to single-board computers, primarily targeting ARM and RISC-V architectures. The build process is orchestrated by GNU Makefiles and relies on a chroot-based environment to assemble the root filesystem, manage cross-compilation toolchains, and aggregate binary firmware blobs for hardware compatibility. Kernel and bootloader source trees are fetched via git, with structured patches applied in a controlled sequence, while each supported board is described by a ded

This repository contains the complete source code for the OpenBSD operating system and its base utilities. It is a Unix-like operating system focused on a secure, portable, and multi-user environment, featuring a C-based system kernel that manages hardware resources and provides essential services. The project provides a source-based system construction model to compile the core kernel and base utilities from raw files. It includes a cross-compilation toolchain for generating the tools and headers necessary to build binaries for target architectures different from the host machine. The codeb

KernelSU-Next is a kernel-level framework designed to provide administrative privileges and granular access control on the Android operating system. By integrating directly into the kernel during the build process, the project enables superuser management and system-wide modifications through kernel-level patching and system call interception. The framework distinguishes itself by utilizing non-persistent file system overlays, which allow for system partition modifications and module injection without altering underlying read-only storage blocks. This approach facilitates dynamic functionalit

rCore is a Rust-based operating system kernel and microkernel designed for Linux compatibility. It functions as a self-hosted development kit that implements a system call interface to support the execution of standard Linux userspace applications. The system is designed for modularity, featuring a mechanism for loading and integrating kernel modules into the active environment without requiring a system reboot. The kernel provides core operating system capabilities, including virtual memory mapping for process isolation, a disk-based file system for data persistence, and a layered network p

XNU is an operating system kernel designed to manage system hardware and process execution across different processor architectures. It utilizes a hybrid microkernel design that combines microkernel message passing with monolithic kernel performance by embedding critical subsystems into a single address space. The project implements a port-based asynchronous messaging system for communication between kernel tasks and userspace processes. It manages hardware interactions through a layered driver architecture and enforces system-wide security policies via a mandatory access control interface.

This project is an OpenWrt firmware builder and specialized Linux router distribution designed to repurpose Amlogic S9xxx series hardware into functional routers. It provides a hardware adaptation layer consisting of kernel modifications and drivers that enable the operating system to run on Amlogic ARM SoC devices. The project features an automated firmware pipeline for scheduling, building, and distributing custom images. It includes a device recovery toolkit for bootstrapping, flashing, and restoring factory images, and supports the conversion of devices previously running different mobile