# reactos/reactos

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17,661 stars · 2,135 forks · C · GPL-2.0

## Links

- GitHub: https://github.com/reactos/reactos
- Homepage: https://reactos.org/
- awesome-repositories: https://awesome-repositories.com/repository/reactos-reactos.md

## Topics

`c` `drivers` `gpl` `hacktoberfest` `kernel` `operating-system` `os` `osdev` `reactos` `win32` `win32api` `windows` `x86`

## Description

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 motherboard types.

The system covers the generation of bootable ISO images and media for installation on physical or virtual hardware. It includes capabilities for formatting system partitions and deploying the operating system to supported file system types.

## Tags

### Operating Systems & Systems Programming

- [Windows Compatibility Layers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/windows-compatibility-layers.md) — Provides a binary compatibility layer that enables the execution of Windows applications and drivers. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos#readme))
- [Binary Compatible OS Engineering](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/binary-compatible-os-engineering.md) — Engineers a system that executes Windows binaries by mimicking the Windows operating system environment.
- [Hardware Abstraction Layers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/hardware-interfacing-drivers/hardware-abstraction-layers.md) — Implements a layer that separates core operating system logic from physical hardware to support various processor types.
- [Binary Compatibility Interfaces](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/kernel-core-internals/system-calls/system-call-mapping/binary-compatibility-interfaces.md) — Implements low-level APIs and system calls to enable the execution of Windows software without modification.
- [Operating System Development](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/operating-system-development.md) — Implements a complete, open-source operating system from source code, including kernel and system binaries.
- [Operating System Kernel Build Tools](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/operating-system-kernel-build-tools.md) — Compiles source code into binary files and bootable images using standard build utilities. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/INSTALL))
- [Operating System Kernels](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/operating-system-kernels.md) — Features a low-level system kernel that manages hardware resources and provides core system services.
- [Windows-Compatible Operating Systems](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/windows-compatibility-layers/windows-compatible-operating-systems.md) — Provides a complete open-source operating system designed for binary compatibility with Windows applications and drivers.
- [Bootable Media Creation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/bootable-media-creation.md) — Prepares bootable disc images for deployment on physical or virtual hardware environments. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/README.md))
- [Disk Installers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/kernel-core-internals/boot-startup-management/disk-image-bootloaders/internal-disk-boot-configurators/disk-installers.md) — Formats system partitions and deploys the operating system onto supported file system types. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/README.md))
- [Cross-Compilation Toolchains](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/os-development-distributions/cross-compilation-toolchains.md) — Provides a build pipeline for generating operating system binaries across different hardware architectures.
- [Boot Image Generation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/system-administration-maintenance/base-image-distributions/customized-installation-media/boot-image-generation.md) — Generates full bootable OS images and ISOs tailored for specific architectures. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos#readme))
- [Disk Image Bundlers](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/operating-systems-systems-programming/system-administration-maintenance/disk-imaging-tools/disk-image-bundlers.md) — Packages the compiled kernel and system files into standardized ISO images for installation.

### Development Tools & Productivity

- [Binary Compilation Toolchains](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/build-tooling/build-orchestration-logic/build-orchestration-configuration/build-automation-systems/build-systems/binary-compilation-toolchains.md) — Utilizes coordinated compilation and linking stages to transform source code into executable machine code.
- [OS Binary Compilation](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/build-tooling/build-orchestration-logic/build-orchestration-configuration/build-automation-systems/build-systems/binary-compilation-toolchains/server-binary-compilers/hardware-specific-binaries/os-binary-compilation.md) — Compiles the operating system for specific hardware architectures to ensure compatibility with existing drivers. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/.gitpod.yml))
- [Cross-Compilation Toolchains](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/cross-compilation-toolchains.md) — Sets compiler and linker targets for different hardware architectures to ensure resulting binaries run on the target OS. ([source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/master/toolchain-msvc.cmake))
- [Kernel Build Systems](https://awesome-repositories.com/f/development-tools-productivity/cross-platform-build-systems/kernel-build-systems.md) — Includes a specialized build system for compiling the kernel and managing complex binary dependencies across architectures.