# Harvey OS

> distributed operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q47523069](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47523069)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/harvey-os

## Summary
Harvey OS is a distributed operating system based on Plan 9 from Bell Labs, with its source code hosted on GitHub and an official website.

## Key Facts
- Harvey OS is classified as a distributed operating system
- It is based on Plan 9 from Bell Labs
- The project is licensed under both GNU General Public License v2.0 and Lucent Public License
- It is part of the Software Freedom Conservancy organization
- The project has a GitHub repository at https://github.com/Harvey-OS/harvey
- Harvey OS has a website at https://harvey-os.org/
- The project was dissolved on April 23, 2023
- It has a Facebook page named "harvey.operatingsystem"
- It has a Twitter account with the handle "harvey_os"

## FAQs
### Q: What is Harvey OS?
A: Harvey OS is a distributed operating system based on Plan 9 from Bell Labs, designed to operate on multiple systems over a network.

### Q: What is it based on?
A: Harvey OS is most directly descended from Plan 9, with its distributed application architecture and much of its code originating from this Bell Labs system.

### Q: What license is it under?
A: Harvey OS is licensed under both the GNU General Public License version 2.0 and the Lucent Public License.

### Q: Is Harvey OS still maintained?
A: No, the project was dissolved on April 23, 2023, as indicated on its official website.

## Why It Matters
Harvey OS represents an attempt to continue the legacy of distributed operating systems, particularly building upon the principles established by Plan 9. As a derivative work, it aimed to advance the concept of distributed computing by providing a modern implementation of the Plan 9 architecture. The project's significance lies in its contribution to the open source community's exploration of distributed systems, offering an alternative to traditional monolithic operating systems. Its approach to networked computing could potentially influence future developments in cloud computing and distributed infrastructure.

## Notable For
- Harvey OS is a direct descendant of Plan 9 from Bell Labs, maintaining much of its distributed application architecture and code
- It was developed as an open source project with its source code hosted on GitHub
- The project was maintained by the Software Freedom Conservancy organization
- It was licensed under both GPL v2.0 and Lucent Public License
- Harvey OS served as the basis for the Jehanne operating system, which is considered a derivative work

## Body
### Technical Foundation
Harvey OS is fundamentally a distributed operating system designed to operate on multiple systems over a network. The project was explicitly based on Plan 9, maintaining much of its distributed application architecture and code structure. This heritage spans from its distributed application model down to significant portions of its implementation.

### Development and Organization
The Harvey OS project was maintained under the Software Freedom Conservancy, indicating it was organized as a professional open source project. The project's GitHub repository provided access to its source code, with the repository URL being https://github.com/Harvey-OS/harvey. The project maintained social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, with the Twitter handle being "harvey_os" and the Facebook page named "harvey.operatingsystem".

### Licensing and Legal Status
Harvey OS was licensed under two different licenses: the GNU General Public License version 2.0 and the Lucent Public License. This dual licensing approach was documented in the project's repository. The project was copyrighted, as indicated by its copyright status.

### Project Timeline and Closure
The Harvey OS project was dissolved on April 23, 2023, as announced on its official website. This closure marked the end of active development and maintenance of the operating system. The project's retirement page provided information about the termination of the project.

### Relationship to Other Systems
Harvey OS was positioned as a derivative work of Plan 9, maintaining its distributed computing principles while potentially incorporating modern improvements. The project also served as the basis for Jehanne, which is explicitly identified as a derivative work of Harvey OS. This relationship indicates Harvey OS as an intermediate step in the development of distributed operating systems.

## References

1. [GitHub](https://github.com/Harvey-OS/harvey)
2. [GitHub](https://github.com/Harvey-OS/harvey/blob/master/LICENSE)
3. [Source](https://sfconservancy.org/projects/current/)
4. [Source](https://harvey-os.org/2023/04/23/retirement.html)
5. [Source](http://jehanne.io/2016/01/06/jehanne-operating-system.html)