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Unity Operating System
View on Wikipedia| Unity Operating System Unified Operating System | |
|---|---|
UOS desktop screenshot | |
| Developer | UnionTech (Tongxin) |
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Initial release | 14 January 2020 |
| Marketing target | Desktop, Server |
| Supported platforms | x86-64, Sunway, MIPS64, ARM64[1] |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| License | GNU |
| Official website | www |
Unity Operating System (also known as Unified Operating System[2] or UOS, Chinese: 统一操作系统) is a Linux distribution developed by UnionTech (Chinese: 统信软件, Tǒngxìn) based on Deepin,[3] which is based on Debian. It is used in China as part of a government initiative beginning in 2019 to replace foreign-made software such as Microsoft Windows with domestic products.[4][5]
Development
[edit]Three versions are currently under development, a desktop for regular users (Deepin), another for enterprises (UOS) and a server version (UOS).[6] A first beta version was released in December 2019 and can be downloaded from the official website.[7][8] A first stable version was released on 14 January 2020.[3][9]
Support
[edit]The operating system is primarily aimed at the Chinese market and was intended to replace Microsoft Windows in the country by 2022,[10][11][12] also known as the "3-5-2 policy", however Microsoft Windows is still heavily used in the country.[13] So far, the focus has therefore been primarily on in house hardware such as that from the semiconductor company Zhaoxin. The whole KX-6000 series is already supported by the desktop version as well as the KH-30000 series for server version.[2]
Broad support is planned, so platforms such as Loongson, Sunway or ARM are also to be supported.[14][1]
See also
[edit]- Ubuntu Kylin
- Kylin OS
- Deepin
- Astra Linux – a similar project by the Russian government
- Canaima (operating system) – a similar project by the Venezuelan computer manufacturer VIT, C.A. and Chinese information technology company Inspur
- GendBuntu – a similar project used by Gendarmerie in France
- LiMux – a similar project of the city council of Munich
- Nova (operating system) – a similar project by the Cuban government
- Red Star OS – a similar project by the North Korean government
- Pardus (operating system)
- List of Debian-based Linux distributions
References
[edit]- ^ a b "资源中心 | 统信UOS生态社区". UOS (in Simplified Chinese). UnionTech. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
- ^ a b Köpf, Alexander (2019-12-27). "Chinas Windows-Ersatz: CPUs laufen auf chinesischem Betriebssystem". GameStar (in German). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ a b cnTech (2020-01-15). "Explained: What's the difference between UOS and Deepin OS?". cnTechPost. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- ^ Liu, Zhiye (2019-12-24). "Chinese CPUs Now Work On Domestically-Produced Operating System". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ Ye, Josh (2020-03-18). "Meet the Chinese operating system that's trying to shift the country off Windows". The South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ "China-made UOS completes adaptation for domestic cloud desktop provider". cntechpost.com. 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ "China-made operating system UOS releases first version". cntechpost.com. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ "China software designers ready UOS for end-of-2019 release". DigiTimes. 2019-11-22. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ "UOS 20 正式版面向合作伙伴发布". www.chinauos.com (in Chinese). 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
- ^ Liu, Nian; Yang, Yuan (2019-12-08). "Beijing orders state offices to replace foreign PCs and software". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ Petzold, Sara (2019-12-13). "Intel, AMD & Co: China will westliche Hard- und Software aussortieren". GameStar (in German). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ Kohlick, Robert (2019-12-17). "Konkurrenz für Intel und AMD? China-Prozessoren versprechen großen Leistungssprung". GIGA.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
- ^ Khan, Faisal (2019-12-24). "Chinese "3–5–2" Policy is a major move towards Tech independence". Medium. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ Kohlick, Robert (2020-01-02). "Windows-Alternative aus China: Neues Betriebssystem soll Microsofts OS ersetzen". GIGA.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-01-04.
External links
[edit]Unity Operating System
View on GrokipediaHistory and Development
Origins and Government Initiative
The Unity Operating System (UOS), developed by UnionTech Software Technology Co., Ltd., originated in 2019 as a Linux distribution derived from Deepin, itself based on Debian.[8][6] UnionTech, a Chinese software firm, adapted the Deepin codebase to create variants tailored for domestic use, including desktop, server, professional, and education editions, emphasizing compatibility with existing hardware and software ecosystems.[6] This development leveraged open-source foundations to build a unified platform, initially focused on government and enterprise deployment rather than broad consumer adoption.[5] The OS emerged amid China's national strategy for technological self-reliance, formalized through policies like the 2017 Cybersecurity Law and subsequent directives to reduce dependence on foreign operating systems such as Microsoft Windows.[9] In 2019, the government initiated a push to replace imported software in public sectors, prompting UnionTech's UOS as a compliant alternative certified for secure information infrastructure.[8][10] This effort aligned with broader "indigenous innovation" campaigns, accelerated by U.S. export restrictions on technology, aiming to foster domestic alternatives amid escalating trade tensions.[4] By 2021, UOS was pre-installed on devices like Huawei's Qingyun L410 laptop for government procurement, marking early integration into state-approved hardware.[8] Government endorsement extended to mandates for Linux-based systems in sensitive sectors, with UOS gaining traction in education and administration; for instance, by 2024, it powered pilot deployments of locally made PCs in schools running on RISC-V architecture.[11] These initiatives prioritized data sovereignty and cybersecurity, requiring OS vendors to meet standards set by bodies like the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee, though critics note potential challenges in achieving full equivalence to proprietary systems without compromising performance or global interoperability.[5] UnionTech's role was supported by state-backed funding and partnerships, positioning UOS as a cornerstone of China's "Made in China 2025" industrial plan for software independence.[12]Key Milestones and Versions
The Unity Operating System (UOS), developed by UnionTech Software Technology Co., Ltd., emerged from China's initiative to foster domestic operating systems and reduce dependence on foreign software, building on the Deepin Linux distribution. Initial public testing commenced with a beta release in December 2019, enabling early evaluation for commercial and government applications.[13] The first stable release, UOS 20 Professional edition, followed on January 15, 2020, marking a key advancement in compatibility with domestic hardware such as Loongson processors.[13] [14] Subsequent releases expanded editions for personal and home use. The UOS 20 Personal edition was issued on August 27, 2020, broadening accessibility beyond enterprise deployments.[13] By late 2021, UnionTech introduced UOS 21 Home edition in December, following public previews earlier that year, with enhancements in user interface and application ecosystem support.[13] [15] UOS 22 Home edition launched on January 15, 2023, incorporating further optimizations for desktop performance and integration with national chip architectures.[13] [16]| Version | Edition | Release Date | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UOS 20 | Professional | January 15, 2020 | Initial stable release; focused on enterprise security and hardware compatibility.[13] |
| UOS 20 | Personal | August 27, 2020 | Expanded consumer variant with broader app support.[13] |
| UOS 21 | Home | December 2021 | Public preview in October 2021; improved desktop features.[13] [15] |
| UOS 22 | Home | January 15, 2023 | Enhanced performance for domestic architectures; announced December 2022.[13] [16] |
Technical Architecture
Base Distribution and Kernel
The Unity Operating System (UOS), developed by UnionTech, is a Linux distribution primarily derived from Deepin, a desktop-oriented system that itself builds upon Debian GNU/Linux as its upstream base. This lineage enables UOS to leverage Debian's APT package manager, vast repository ecosystem, and stable release model, while incorporating Deepin's customizations for enhanced user interface components and Chinese-language support. UnionTech adapts this foundation to meet domestic regulatory standards, including data sovereignty and compatibility with indigenous hardware ecosystems, resulting in variants tailored for government and enterprise deployment.[1][13] At its core, UOS employs the Linux kernel in a monolithic configuration, emphasizing reliability for server and desktop workloads. Recent professional editions have shipped with Linux kernel version 5.10, selected for its balance of long-term support and hardware compatibility, though the professional variant reportedly uses an earlier iteration within the same series for enterprise stability. Initial public releases in 2020 utilized Linux kernel 5.3, providing foundational support for x86_64 architectures and early integration with ARM-based systems. Kernel customizations include patches for native Chinese processors, such as Loongson (LoongArch64) and Zhaoxin, alongside standard architectures like aarch64, ppc64el, and x86_64, to align with national self-reliance initiatives in computing infrastructure.[6][21][1]Supported Architectures and Hardware
The Unity Operating System (UOS), developed by UnionTech, supports a range of processor architectures to accommodate both international and domestic Chinese hardware ecosystems, reflecting China's push for technological self-reliance in computing infrastructure. Primary architectures include x86_64 for standard Intel and AMD processors, aarch64 for ARM-based systems such as Huawei's Kunpeng series, loongarch64 for Loongson CPUs, and ppc64el for PowerPC-compatible hardware.[1] Additional support extends to MIPS64 and SW64 (ShenWei) architectures, enabling deployment on specialized domestic chips designed for high-performance computing and secure government applications.[21]| Architecture | Example Hardware | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| x86_64 | Intel/AMD CPUs | Broad compatibility with commodity PCs and servers; default for most desktop editions.[1] |
| aarch64 | ARM64 processors (e.g., Kunpeng) | Optimized for energy-efficient servers and embedded systems.[1] [21] |
| loongarch64 | Loongson CPUs | Supports indigenous RISC-V-derived architecture for secure, localized computing.[1] |
| ppc64el | PowerPC 64 LE | Used in certain high-reliability server environments.[1] |
| MIPS64/SW64 | Phytium/ShenWei | Targeted at supercomputing and specialized national projects.[21] |
