Review: Redox OS 0.9.0
Quoting: DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD. —
Redox OS is unusual in that it has attracted more developers, people have fleshed out its documentation, and it has added new components such as a package manager and some modern desktop elements. It's not just an interesting collection of concepts (a microkernel, Rust-based, and using modern resource path names), it actually seems to be, well, going somewhere. The project looks polished, well thought out, and there is some practical collaboration happening between Redox and COSMIC.
Despite its strong efforts over the past few years, Redox (despite all of its achievements) hasn't reached a point yet where it is practical to use on a regular basis. The key sticking point is hardware support, which is almost always an issue for any non-Linux open source operating system. Driver support is tricky, on a technical level, and expensive, and there are thousands of devices in the world to support. As I discovered, there are also limitations when it comes to using the terminal, running games, and using the package manager.
I will say the existing web browser is impressive. It really showcases what Redox can accomplish. The working file manager and text editor are also running smoothly and show off Redox's capabilities as a desktop operating system. There is still a long way to go, especially with hardware/USB support, but there is also a lot here for the Redox team to be proud of.
Redox isn't ready yet to be a daily driver, but it is worth looking at. It has some neat design concepts which could, along with its source-compatibility with Linux, make it a capable project in a few years.