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Rust Rewrite of Linux 0.11 Kernel Successfully Boots in QEMU
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Rust Rewrite of Linux 0.11 Kernel Successfully Boots in QEMU

WireByte Staff · July 13, 2026

A team of developers has successfully rewritten the 1991 Linux 0.11 kernel in modern Rust, allowing it to boot on emulated i386 hardware. The project, known as linux-0.11-rs, aims to preserve the original system's semantics while rethinking its expression in a more modern and idiomatic way. The rewritten kernel runs a full init → shell → coreutils stack and ships with tooling to build bootable images.

Key points

  • The linux-0.11-rs project has rewritten the 1991 Linux 0.11 kernel in modern Rust, preserving its original semantics.
  • The rewritten kernel boots on emulated i386 hardware and runs a full init → shell → coreutils stack.
  • The project ships with tooling to build bootable images in one command.
  • The rewritten kernel includes a Rust user-space 'std' and a real userland with over 80 coreutils and a hand-written POSIX-subset shell.
  • The project's goal is to rethink the expression of the original kernel in a more modern and idiomatic way.

Rust Rewrite of Linux 0.11 Kernel Successfully Boots in QEMU

A team of developers has made significant progress in rewriting the 1991 Linux 0.11 kernel in modern Rust. The project, known as linux-0.11-rs, has successfully booted the rewritten kernel on emulated i386 hardware.

Key Features of the Rewritten Kernel

The rewritten kernel preserves the original system's semantics while rethinking its expression in a more modern and idiomatic way. It includes a Rust user-space 'std' and a real userland with over 80 coreutils and a hand-written POSIX-subset shell.

Project Goals and Future Directions

The project's goal is to rethink the expression of the original kernel in a more modern and idiomatic way. The team behind linux-0.11-rs aims to continue improving the project and exploring new features and applications.

Related Information

For more information on the linux-0.11-rs project, please visit the GitHub repository at https://github.com/Poseidon-fan/linux-0.11-rs.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.