China releases its first open-source computer operating system

CHINA has released its first home-grown open-source desktop operating system (OS), named OpenKylin, state media said, as the country steps up efforts to cut reliance on US technology.

Released on Wednesday (Jul 5), and based on the existing open-source Linux OS, China’s version was built by a community of about 4,000 developers, and is used in its space programme and industries such as finance and energy, they added.

China’s massive market for OSs was worth 15.5 billion yuan (S$2.9 billion) last year, state media said, citing an industry report.

Developing an OS independent of US technology has been an important goal for China’s tech industry in recent years, with many companies and organisations having contributed to the development of the OpenKylin system. Its most notable backer is the China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team under the purview of the industry and information technology ministry.

More than a dozen Chinese companies are trying to develop operating systems that could replace Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s MacOS. One such company, UnionTech Software Technology, has been developing what it calls the “Unity operating system”. REUTERS