FAQ

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Haiku. Please, also see the Development FAQ.

What is Haiku?
Is Haiku based on Linux?
Why not Linux?
I’ve never seen Haiku. What does it look like?
Do you have a roadmap?
When do you expect to release R1?
What platform(s) is Haiku targeted to run on?
What about x86-64 support? Will there be a 64-bit version of Haiku available?
Where can I download Haiku from? Is there a live CD available?
What license is Haiku released under?
What is Haiku Inc.?

What is Haiku?

Haiku is a project to develop and promote a desktop operating system inspired by the Be Operating System. [top]

Is Haiku based on Linux?

Haiku is not a Linux distribution. To achieve our goals for Haiku, we decided not to use the Linux kernel, nor to rely on the X Window System or toolkits such as GTK+ or Qt. Instead, Haiku is a self-contained operating system that includes a graphical user interface tightly tied to a unique graphics system, all configuration applications, development tools, the GNU tool chain, and a bash terminal. [top]

Why not Linux?

Linux-based distributions are a collection of numerous software that do not necessarily follow the same development guidelines and/or goals. This lack of overall vision often results in increased complexity, insufficient integration, and sometimes inefficient solutions, making the use of your computer more complicated than it should actually be. [top]

Instead, Haiku aims to be developed under a single unified vision for the whole OS. That, we believe, will enable us to provide a better user experience that is simple and uniform throughout. [top]

I’ve never seen Haiku. What does it look like?

Check out our Screenshot Gallery and the Movies page. [top]

Do you have a roadmap?

Our key goal for the Haiku 1.0 release (or R1 as we call it) is to achieve binary compatibility with and functionality that is at least equivalent to that of BeOS R5. For versions 2.0 and beyond, we have a project called Glass Elevator that was created as a venue for the community to openly discuss and exchange ideas about the future of Haiku. [top]

When do you expect to release R1?

We do not have a firm target release date. Haiku development is advancing steadily and we will make announcements as major milestones are achieved. When a stage is reached where the development team feels confident about setting a target release date, we will then make an official announcement to that effect. [top]

What platform(s) is Haiku targeted to run on?

For R1, Haiku is being developed for the x86 (Intel, AMD, and compatible) platform; there is a PowerPC port underway, but it is not clear whether it will be supported or not. We may support other platforms in the future, but this will depend mainly on the availability of development resources to support such ports.[top]

What about x86-64 support? Will there be a 64-bit version of Haiku available?

Currently Haiku R1 is targeting x86-32 (i586 and newer). Support for x86-64 will likely come in the future, but there are no firm plans yet.[top]

Where can I download Haiku from? Is there a live CD available?

Haiku is still under development and therefore not ready for end users yet. If you want test the current development builds, there are raw HDD and VMWare images available; check out the Downloads page. There is no live CD available at this time. [top]