# Limine > boot loader **Wikidata**: [Q106536220](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106536220) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limine_(bootloader)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/limine ## Summary Limine is a modern, free and open-source bootloader designed for x86_64 systems, primarily targeting hobbyist operating system development. It supports multiboot2 and provides a clean, modular interface for loading custom kernels. Limine is released under the permissive 2-clause BSD License. ## Key Facts - **Instance Of**: Bootloader, free and open-source software, software - **License**: 2-clause BSD License - **Initial Release**: Version 0.1 published on April 17, 2020 - **Programming Language**: Assembly (x86_64) - **Official Website**: [https://limine-bootloader.org/](https://limine-bootloader.org/) - **Source Code Repository**: [https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine) - **Documentation**: Available via ArchWiki and Gentoo Wiki - **Package Availability**: SlackBuilds package under `system/limine` ## FAQs ### Q: What is Limine used for? A: Limine is used as a bootloader to load custom operating system kernels, especially in hobbyist and educational OS development environments. It supports multiboot2 and offers a simple interface for kernel initialization. ### Q: Is Limine free to use? A: Yes, Limine is free and open-source software distributed under the 2-clause BSD License, which allows for modification and redistribution with minimal restrictions. ### Q: Where can I find the source code for Limine? A: The source code for Limine is hosted on GitHub at [https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine). ## Why It Matters Limine plays a crucial role in the ecosystem of experimental and custom operating system development. As a modern bootloader, it simplifies the process of loading kernels by providing a clean, well-documented interface compatible with multiboot2. Its permissive licensing and active maintenance make it an attractive option for developers creating new operating systems from scratch. By abstracting away much of the complexity involved in early boot processes, Limine enables developers to focus more on core OS functionality rather than low-level boot mechanics. ## Notable For - Being one of the few actively maintained FOSS bootloaders targeting modern x86_64 systems - Supporting multiboot2, making it compatible with a wide range of custom kernels - Using the permissive 2-clause BSD License - Having detailed documentation and community support through platforms like ArchWiki and Gentoo Wiki - Receiving regular updates and feature enhancements since its initial release in 2020 ## Body ### Overview Limine is a bootloader specifically developed for x86_64 architectures. It is aimed at developers working on custom or hobbyist operating systems who require a lightweight, standards-compliant boot solution. ### Development & Licensing - **License**: 2-clause BSD License - Reference: [LICENSE.md](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/blob/trunk/LICENSE.md) - **Source Code Repository**: Hosted on GitHub - URL: [https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine) - **Language**: Primarily written in assembly for performance and control over hardware initialization ### Releases Below are selected releases with their publication dates: - **v0.1** – Released April 17, 2020 - Reference: [GitHub Release v0.1](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.1) - **v0.2** – Released April 23, 2020 - Reference: [GitHub Release v0.2](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2) - **v0.3** – Released August 5, 2020 - Reference: [GitHub Release v0.3](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.3) - **v0.4** – Released September 4, 2020 - Reference: [GitHub Release v0.4](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.4) Additional patch releases were made throughout 2020 to address bugs and improve stability. ### Documentation & Community Support Limine benefits from strong documentation presence across major Linux wikis: - **ArchWiki Article**: [Limine](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Limine) - **Gentoo Wiki Article**: [Limine](https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Limine) These resources provide installation instructions, configuration examples, and troubleshooting tips. ### Distribution Packaging The bootloader is packaged for various distributions including Slackware via SlackBuilds: - **SlackBuilds Package**: `system/limine` This facilitates easy integration into build systems and distribution repositories. ### Official Presence - **Website**: [https://limine-bootloader.org/](https://limine-bootloader.org/) - **Wikipedia Coverage**: Articles exist in English, Japanese, and Korean editions - Title: *Limine (bootloader)* Limine continues to evolve as part of the growing movement toward accessible, open-source infrastructure for systems-level programming education and experimentation. ## References 1. [Source](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/blob/trunk/LICENSE.md) 2. [Source](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine) 3. [Release 0.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.1) 4. [Release 0.2. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2) 5. [Release 0.2.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.1) 6. [Release 0.2.2. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.2) 7. [Release 0.2.3. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.3) 8. [Release 0.2.4. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.4) 9. [Release 0.2.5. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.5) 10. [Release 0.2.6. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.2.6) 11. [Release 0.3. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.3) 12. [Release 0.4. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.4) 13. [Release 0.4.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.4.1) 14. [Release 0.5. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5) 15. [Release 0.5.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.1) 16. [Release 0.5.2. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.2) 17. [Release 0.5.3. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.3) 18. [Release 0.5.4. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.4) 19. [Release 0.5.5. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.5) 20. [Release 0.5.6. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.6) 21. [Release 0.5.7. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.7) 22. [Release 0.5.8. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.8) 23. [Release 0.5.9. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.5.9) 24. [Release 0.6. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6) 25. [Release 0.6.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.1) 26. [Release 0.6.2. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.2) 27. [Release 0.6.3. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.3) 28. [Release 0.6.4. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.4) 29. [Release 0.6.5. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.5) 30. [Release 0.6.6. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.6.6) 31. [Release 0.7. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.7) 32. [Release 0.7.1. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.7.1) 33. [Release 0.7.2. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.7.2) 34. [Release 0.7.3. 2020](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v0.7.3) 35. [Release 1.0. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0) 36. [Release 1.0.1. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.1) 37. [Release 1.0.2. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.2) 38. [Release 1.0.3. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.3) 39. [Release 1.0.4. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.4) 40. [Release 1.0.5. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.5) 41. [Release 1.0.6. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.6) 42. [Release 1.0.7. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.7) 43. [Release 1.0.8. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.8) 44. [Release 1.0.9. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.9) 45. [Release 1.0.10. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v1.0.10) 46. [Release 2.0. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v2.0) 47. [Release 2.0.1. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v2.0.1) 48. [Release 2.1. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v2.1) 49. [Release 2.1.1. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v2.1.1) 50. [Release 2.1.2. 2021](https://github.com/limine-bootloader/limine/releases/tag/v2.1.2)