Minix

MINIX
The MINIX 3.3.0 login prompt
The MINIX 3.3.0 login prompt
DeveloperAndrew S. Tanenbaum, et al.
Written inC
OS familyUnix-like
Working stateAbandoned
Source modelOpen-source
Initial release1987; 37 years ago (1987)
Latest release3.3.0[1] / 16 September 2014; 10 years ago (2014-09-16)
Latest preview3.4.0rc6[2] / 9 May 2017; 7 years ago (2017-05-09)
Repository
Marketing targetTeaching (v1, v2)
Embedded systems (v3)
Available inEnglish
Update methodCompile from source code
Package managerN/A
PlatformsIBM PC compatibles, 68000, SPARC, Atari ST, Amiga, Macintosh, SPARCstation, Intel 386, NS32532, ARM, Inmos transputer, Intel Management Engine[3]
Kernel typeMicrokernel
UserlandBSD (NetBSD)
License2005: BSD 3-Clause[a][4]
2000: BSD 3-Clause[5][6][7]
1995: Proprietary[8]
1987: Proprietary[9]
Official websitewww.minix3.org

MINIX (from mini-Unix) is a Unix-like operating system based on a microkernel architecture. Since version 2.0, it has been POSIX compliant.[10][11]

Early versions of MINIX were created by Andrew S. Tanenbaum for educational purposes. Starting with MINIX 3, the primary aim of development shifted from education to the creation of a highly reliable and self-healing microkernel OS. MINIX 3 was developed as open-source software.

MINIX was first released in 1987, with its complete source code made available to universities for study in courses and research. It has been free and open-source software since it was relicensed under the BSD 3-Clause license in April 2000.[6]

  1. ^ Michael Larabel (16 September 2014). "Minix 3.3 Released With Cortex-A8 ARM Support, NetBSD Userland Compatibility". Phoronix. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. ^ "MINIX 3.4 RC6 Released - Phoronix". Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Intel ME: The Way of Static Analysis". Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  4. ^ "The MINIX license". Archived from the original on 24 November 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2005.
  5. ^ "MINIX license change". Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b "MINIX is now available under the BSD license". Archived from the original on 8 May 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Minix". Archived from the original on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2021. The Minix license changed in April 2000, and applies retroactively to all previous Minix distributions, even though they still carry the old, more restrictive license within.
  8. ^ "License (1.7.0 to 2.0.2)". Archived from the original on 26 July 1997. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Minix versions and their use in teaching". Archived from the original on 11 July 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  10. ^ Tanenbaum, Andrew S. (20 May 2004). "Some Notes on the "Who wrote Linux" Kerfuffle, Release 1.5". Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  11. ^ Tanenbaum, Andrew S.; Woodhull, Albert S.; Sambuc, Lionel (11 March 2015). "MINIX 3 FAQ". Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2016.


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