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🏛️ NexusOS Architecture Overview
"Freedom does not begin with GPL. Sometimes it begins with understanding."
— NexusOS Manifest
📌 Purpose
NexusOS is not just a Linux distribution. It is a declarative operating system architecture, designed for:
- developer sovereignty
- runtime reproducibility
- and strategic modularity
...without compromising commercial usability or ideological clarity.
This document outlines the strategic multi-core foundation of the NexusOS ecosystem, including its variant roles, licensing philosophy, and system layering model.
🧱 Primary Pillar: NexusOS (Mainline)
Codename: NexusOS
Foundation: Hardened Linux Kernel + musl + jemalloc
Userspace: GNU-free (Toybox, sbase, etc.)
Tooling: nip + .npk + NimPak (Nim DSL for package/build/runtime)
Target: Workstations, modern desktops, servers, developer clouds
Why This Path?
- ✅ Full hardware support (GPU, peripherals, drivers)
- ✅ Seamless Wayland & Cosmic Desktop integration
- ✅ Maximum compatibility with containers and cloud runtimes
- ✅ Complete control of userspace and package/runtime layering
This is the "flagship" system — pragmatic, reproducible, fast, and modular.
⚫ Variant 1: NexusBSD
Codename: NexusBSD
Foundation: DragonflyBSD Kernel
Userspace: musl + Toybox + NimPak
Target: Proprietary appliances, hardened edge devices, low-IO cloud clusters
License Model: Fully BSD-compatible + ACUL dual-license
Why DragonflyBSD?
- 💡 Linux binary compatibility (via Linuxulator)
- 🧊 Superior SMP and filesystem (HAMMER2)
- 🚫 No GPL contamination at the kernel level
- 🔒 Ideal for commercial closed-box systems needing GPL-free stack
This is the "pure BSD" variant — designed for deterministic, licensed appliance deployment.
🔴 Variant 2: NexusSafe-Core
Codename: NexusSafeCore
Foundation: Redox OS, Theseus OS, or custom Rust kernel
Userspace: Nim-only or custom microprofile
Target: Formal verification, medical/industrial systems, academic security research
Why Explore This?
- 🦀 Memory-safe kernel and driver model
- ✨ Compile-time system understanding (Theseus-style)
- 🔬 Ideal for long-term evolution of verifiable infrastructure
This is the "research kernel" — not for MVP, but a beacon for the future.
🟣 Variant 3: NexusUnikernel
Codename: NexusUnikernel
Foundation: Unikernel toolchain (e.g., rumpkernel, OSv)
Tooling: nip build <pkg> --target=unikernel
Target: Cloud functions, edge microservices, serverless workloads
What Makes This Strategic?
- ⚡ Generates bootable, single-purpose artifacts
- 🔐 Minimal attack surface, no userspace
- 🤖 Fully automated reproducible builds (via
.npk+ runtime logs)
This is the "application-as-OS" path — built entirely via Nexus tooling for next-gen cloud runtimes.
🔐 License Philosophy: MIT + ACUL
NexusOS is dual-licensed:
- MIT License: for open-source, educational, and non-commercial use
- ACUL (Anomaly Commercial Use License): for proprietary or closed-source usage
ACUL requires:
- Attribution
- Reproducibility via
.npklogs - Active Nexus Foundation membership (Bronze/Silver/Gold)
This dual license strategy enables wide adoption without copyleft lock-in, while preserving build-time accountability and ecosystem funding.
🧩 NexusOS Layering Model
| Layer | libc | Allocator | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🧱 Core/Base | musl | internal | Init, shell, recovery tools |
| 🧰 App Layer | musl | jemalloc | CLI apps, system tools, servers |
| 🖥 Desktop Layer | glibc | glibc malloc | KDE, Wayland, Cosmic, GUI apps |
| ⚙️ systemd Layer | glibc | jemalloc | systemd, journald, services |
Control of these layers is done declaratively via .npk.yaml recipes and enforced during build/install with the nip engine.
📦 Variant Summary Table
| Variant | Kernel | License Model | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NexusOS | Linux | MIT + ACUL | Mainline Desktop/Server OS | MVP Target ✅ |
| NexusBSD | DragonflyBSD | BSD + ACUL | Proprietary edge/server variant | Planned |
| NexusSafeCore | Redox/Theseus | Apache/MIT | Verified secure kernel R&D | Research Phase |
| NexusUnikernel | Any (via toolchain) | Embedded via ACUL | App-as-OS build target | Phase 4–5 |
🚀 Strategic Direction
We are not building "just another distro."
We are designing:
- A verifiable OS
- A programmable system
- A modular foundation
- A reproducibility-driven ecosystem
- A licensing and packaging architecture fit for open infrastructure and commercial clarity
📜 Appendix: Licensing Badge for ACUL
[](https://nexus.foundation/membership)