A Linux alternative? Debian/Hurd shows microkernel Unix dream is alive

Before Linux, GNU was working on its own Mach-based Unix compatible OS. Now, in the footsteps of Debian 13, there is a new release.

Debian GNU/Hurd 2025 is the latest release of the other GNU operating system. The announcement email from developer Samuel Thibault says this release includes a working x86-64 edition, thanks to NetBSD disk drivers in a Rump layer – which also means it can now use USB disks and CD drives. Hurd has a port of the Rust language, plus "quite working" SMP support, and it can run "about 72% of the Debian archive, and more to come!" It's the first news update from the project since June 2024, and clearly significant progress is happening. The activity trend line looks good.

This is not exactly a review, because this is not exactly an alternative Unix OS. The Hurd is not any form of Linux, nor is ...