Due to the Linux kernel rapidly proceeding down an unstable path, we are planning on implementing a completely new OS derived from several BSD implementations.
This was not an easy decision to make, but we wish to use our time and resources to create a viable alternative to the current operating system trends which are actively seeking to undermine user choice and freedom.
This will not be a "distro", but a hard fork of the OpenBSD kernel and userspace including new code written under GPLv3 and LGPLv3 to replace GPL-incompatible parts and non-free ones.
Reasons for this include:
- Linux kernel forcing adaption of DRM, including HDCP.
- Linux kernel proposed usage of Rust (which contains freedom flaws and a centralized code repository that is more prone to cyber attack and generally requires internet access to use.)
- Linux kernel being written without security and in mind. (KSPP is basically a dead project and Grsec is no longer free software)
- Many GNU userspace and core utils are all forcing adaption of features without build time options to disable them. E.g. (PulseAudio / SystemD / Rust / Java as forced dependencies)
As such, we will continue to support the Milky Way branch until 2022 when our legacy Linux-libre kernel reaches End of Life.
Future versions of Hyperbola will be using HyperbolaBSD which will have the new kernel, userspace and not be ABI compatible with previous versions.
HyperbolaBSD is intended to be modular and minimalist so other projects will be able to re-use the code under free license.
Now that we have released Milky Way v0.3, users are strongly advised to use only the stable repository. There may be breaking changes and instability during upcoming developments on White Hole (aka the testing release).
Debug users which are not afraid of a broken system may continue to use this bleeding edge version to report bugs, but it is not to be considered stable for daily use.
We are currently working on the following tasks:
We hereby announce a new release of Hyperbola live image and HyperTalking for Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre. It is the first release with LibreSSL support and adherence to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard.
This version contains various bugfixes and improved stability.
Download information can be found here.
After several months of development, we are happy to announce a new release of Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre. This is a major milestone and we have fixed many bugs, so that this release is now stable. It includes Xenocara as the default display server for the X Window System and LibreSSL as the default provider of SSL and TLS protocols. Additionally, All packages adhere to the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard.
Since it is a major change, there is a migration guide available for users that come from Milky Way v0.2.
It is no longer recommended to migrate from any Arch-based distro ...
We are currently cleaning our server from old and outdated packages. Milky Way v0.3 has been in testing for some weeks and is nearly stable. Expected release date is September 23rd.
Users of Milky Way v0.2 are advised to read the migration guide and migrate or prepare to migrate within 7 days by making appropriate backups.
After this time, v0.3 will become the new stable and it will not be possible to safely update the existing v0.2 operating system due to the new milestone.
