386BSD

386BSD
386BSD Release 0.1 installer ("Tiny 386BSD")
DeveloperWilliam Jolitz
Lynne Jolitz
OS familyUnix
Working stateHistorical
Source modelOpen source
Initial release0.0[1] March 12, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-03-12)
Latest release2.0 / August 2016; 8 years ago (2016-08)
Repository
Platformsx86
LicenseBSD license
Succeeded byFreeBSD, NetBSD
Official website386bsd.org

386BSD (also known as "Jolix"[2]) is a discontinued operating system based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) that was developed by couple Lynne and William Jolitz.[3] Released on March 17, 1992, it was the first fully operational Unix operating system to be completely free and open source.[4]

386BSD ran on PC-compatible computer systems based on the 32-bit Intel 80386 ("i386") microprocessor, thus marking the first Unix on affordable home-class hardware.[5] Its innovations included role-based security, ring buffers, self-ordered configuration and modular kernel design. Although 386BSD was short-lived, it served as the base for FreeBSD and NetBSD which began shortly afterwards.

  1. ^ "386BSD 0.0 Release Notes".
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference foldoc was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Chalmers, Rachel (2000-05-17). "The unknown hackers". Salon. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  4. ^ "The creators of open-source 386BSD mark 15 year anniversary". The creators of open-source 386BSD mark 15 year anniversary. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  5. ^ Bentson, Randolph. "The Humble Beginnings of Linux". dl.acm.org. Retrieved 2023-11-24.