brutal-org/brutal
Free🏢 An operating system inspired by brutalist design that combines the ideals of UNIX from the 1970s with modern technology and engineering
FreeFree tier
About brutal-org/brutal
BRUTAL is an open-source operating system built entirely from scratch using modern C. It is designed around a capability-based micro-kernel architecture, combining the principles of 1970s UNIX with contemporary engineering. The OS supports multiple architectures including x86_64, i686, RISC-V, and ARM, and provides clean APIs along with a rich C library featuring fibers, custom allocators, and generic data structures. The project is inspired by brutalist design aesthetics and aims to run Doom as a milestone. Licensed under MIT, it is intended for educational and experimental use in OS development.
Key Features
Built from scratch in modern C
Capability-based micro-kernel architecture
Multi-architecture support: x86_64, i686, RISC-V, ARM
Clean APIs for developers
Rich C library with fibers, custom allocators, and generic data structures
MIT licensed open-source
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Clean and modern API design
- Rich C library with advanced data structures
- Multi-architecture support from the start
- Capability-based security model
- Open source with permissive MIT license
Cons
- Early-stage development with limited real-world usability
- Primary goal is to run Doom, indicating not yet production-ready
- Small community and limited documentation beyond GitHub README
Best For
Hobbyist operating system developmentLearning and teaching OS design principlesExploring micro-kernel architecturesExperimental platform for modern C systems programming
FAQ
What is BRUTAL?
BRUTAL is an operating system built from scratch in modern C, inspired by brutalist design and combining UNIX ideals with modern technology. It is a capability-based micro-kernel OS.
Which architectures does BRUTAL support?
BRUTAL supports x86_64, i686, RISC-V, and ARM architectures.
What are the main features of BRUTAL?
It features a capability-based micro-kernel, clean APIs, and a rich C library with fibers, custom allocators, and generic data structures.
What is the current goal of the project?
The main goal of BRUTAL is to run Doom.
Is BRUTAL free and open source?
Yes, BRUTAL is licensed under the MIT License and is free to use, modify, and distribute.