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openlinux ========= A lightweight Linux distribution for x86_64 and aarch64 processor architectures. Philosophy ---------- The core philosophy behind openlinux is to redefine the role of the C standard library (libc) as a lightweight, stable, and portable interface between user code and the kernel — not as a duplication of the kernel’s headers and definitions. In many existing implementations, the libc layer attempts to replicate or shadow kernel interfaces, leading to inconsistencies, ABI divergence, and maintenance challenges across UNIX-like systems. In openlinux, we intentionally avoid such redundancy. The system headers provided by the kernel should remain the single source of truth for kernel-level programming. The libc’s role is to bridge, not to emulate, the kernel. For this reason, openlinux/libc does not provide redundant kernel definitions, nor does it attempt to mimic every aspect of the kernel’s API. Similarly, the library does not yet implement full locale support — although the necessary symbols and user-space API definitions are in place to ensure compatibility with existing software. A future companion library is planned to allow developers to override standard libc functions with complete locale-aware implementations, without relying on weak symbol bindings. Our design goals are portability, clarity, and stability. Instead of assembling prebuilt components like modern Linux distributions often do, we are building a complete userspace stack from scratch, taking inspiration from the best design choices of established systems such as BSD, musl, and Bionic. The project was born from the lack of a BSD-style, monorepo-based Linux environment — one that provides consistent ABI, predictable rollouts, and a truly cohesive userspace. We aim for gradual, deliberate development rather than rushed releases. See the ROADMAP file for details on current progress and planned milestones. Special Thanks -------------- This project draws inspiration from the following excellent projects: Google Bionic libc, musl libc, GNU glibc, uClibc-ng, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Newlib, Linux, picolibc, Embedded Artistry libc, Clang and GCC source codes. COPYRIGHT --------- Copyright (c) 2025 Kacper Fiedorowicz All rights reserved. See LICENSE for more details.
