# ReactOS

> free software Windows NT-like operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q234025](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q234025)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReactOS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/reactos

## Summary

ReactOS is a thing originating from Germany.

## Summary
ReactOS is a free software operating system designed to be like Windows NT. It is classified as a free operating system and free and open-source software. Its primary goal is to provide an open-source alternative that is binary-compatible with Windows NT-based systems.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception:** ReactOS was first conceived on July 20, 1998.
*   **Classification:** It is a free software, Windows NT-like operating system, and free and open-source software.
*   **Licenses:** ReactOS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License.
*   **Headquarters:** The project is headquartered in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany.
*   **Programming Languages:** The primary programming languages used are C (preferred) and C++.
*   **First Version:** Version 0.1.0 was released on February 1 or 2, 2003.
*   **Latest Listed Alpha Version:** Version 0.4.4, an alpha version, was released on February 16, 2017.
*   **Developers:** Key developers include Amine Khaldi, Timo Kreuzer, Eric Kohl, Hermès Bélusca-Maïto, and Cameron Gutman.
*   **Use Case:** ReactOS is used for retrocomputing.

## FAQs
### Q: What is ReactOS?
A: ReactOS is a free software operating system that aims to be like Windows NT. It is also categorized as free and open-source software, providing an alternative to proprietary operating systems.

### Q: What is ReactOS designed to be compatible with?
A: ReactOS is designed to be a free and open-source alternative to Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems, aiming for binary compatibility. It also includes legacy support for software originally targeting environments like Windows 3.x.

### Q: Is ReactOS open-source?
A: Yes, ReactOS is free and open-source software. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License.

### Q: Who develops ReactOS?
A: The development of ReactOS involves a team of developers, including Amine Khaldi, Timo Kreuzer, Eric Kohl, Hermès Bélusca-Maïto, and Cameron Gutman. Aleksey Bragin is listed as a director/manager.

### Q: Where is ReactOS developed?
A: The project's headquarters are located in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany.

## Why It Matters
ReactOS holds significance as a unique open-source project aiming to replicate the functionality and compatibility of Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems. In a landscape dominated by proprietary systems like Windows and macOS, and alternative open-source systems like Linux distributions, ReactOS carves out a niche by offering a free and open-source alternative that strives for binary compatibility with Windows applications and drivers. This makes it particularly relevant for users seeking to run legacy Windows software without a proprietary Windows license, or for those interested in exploring an open-source implementation of the Windows NT architecture. Its focus on retrocomputing and compatibility with older Windows environments addresses a specific need for preserving and utilizing older software and hardware. By providing a functional replacement for Windows NT systems, ReactOS contributes to the diversity of the operating system market and offers a valuable platform for research, education, and alternative computing.

## Notable For
*   Being a free software operating system designed to be Windows NT-like.
*   Its primary goal of achieving binary compatibility with Windows NT-based operating systems.
*   Serving as an open-source alternative to Microsoft Windows, including support for legacy Windows 3.x software.
*   Its use in retrocomputing scenarios due to its compatibility goals.

## Body

### Overview
ReactOS is a free software operating system that aims to be a functional replacement for Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems. It is classified as a free operating system and free and open-source software, operating as a nonprofit organization. The project's inception dates back to July 20, 1998.

### Development and Licensing
The development of ReactOS is a collaborative effort, with key developers including Amine Khaldi, Timo Kreuzer, Eric Kohl, Hermès Bélusca-Maïto, and Cameron Gutman. Aleksey Bragin is noted as a director/manager. The project is headquartered in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany. ReactOS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and the GNU Lesser General Public License, ensuring its free and open-source nature.

### Version History
ReactOS has undergone continuous development, releasing various alpha versions:
*   **0.1.0:** Released on February 1 or 2, 2003.
*   **0.2.0:** Released on January 25, 2004.
*   **0.3.0:** Released on August 27, 2006.
*   **0.3.16 (alpha):** Released on February 6, 2014.
*   **0.3.17 (alpha):** Released on November 5, 2014.
*   **0.4.0 (alpha):** Released on February 16, 2016.
*   **0.4.1 (alpha):** Released on May 17, 2016.
*   **0.4.2 (alpha):** Released on August 16, 2016.
*   **0.4.3 (alpha):** Released on November 16, 2016.
*   **0.4.4 (alpha):** Released on February 16, 2017.

### Compatibility and Alternatives
ReactOS is designed to be a direct functional replacement for Windows NT-based systems. It aims for binary compatibility with Microsoft Windows NT-based operating systems, including versions like Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows NT 4.0, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. It also supports legacy software originally targeting environments like Windows 3.x and Windows 95.

Indirect competitors and alternatives in the desktop operating system market include:
*   **Linux distributions:** elementary OS, Fedora Linux, Arch Linux, Gentoo Linux, FreeDOS, Linux Mint, Puppy Linux, Xubuntu, Deepin, Mandriva Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, Slackware.
*   **Other free operating systems:** OpenBSD, FreeBSD, Hurd.
*   **Proprietary operating systems:** macOS, Microsoft Windows.

### Technical Specifications
ReactOS is primarily programmed in C (preferred) and C++. It supports file systems like Btrfs and can run drivers such as Ext2Fsd.

### Supported Applications and Drivers
ReactOS can run specific applications and drivers, including:
*   Ext2Fsd (Open Source Filesystem driver)
*   SimulaBeta (Continuous simulation program for insulin-glucose feedback control)
*   SPINA Thyr (Software for calculating structure parameters of thyroid homeostasis)
*   GNU Midnight Commander (free cross-platform orthodox file manager)

### Online Presence
ReactOS maintains a comprehensive online presence:
*   **Official Website:** https://reactos.org (English)
*   **Official Wiki:** https://reactos.org/wiki (English)
*   **Official Blog:** https://reactos.org/blogs/ (English)
*   **Official Forum:** https://reactos.org/forum
*   **Source Code Repository:** https://github.com/reactos/reactos (preferred), https://git.reactos.org/?p=reactos.git
*   **Issue Tracker:** https://jira.reactos.org/projects/CORE/
*   **Social Media:**
    *   Twitter: @reactos (English, worldwide, started 2009-02-07)
    *   Facebook: ReactOS-19143619259 (English, worldwide, started 2008-07-21)
    *   YouTube Channel ID: UCMo8NP-2oP35rauon-Duc9Q (English, started 2014-02-24)
    *   Telegram: @reactos
    *   VK: @reactos_ru
    *   LiveJournal: ru_reactos
*   **Other IDs:** open_hub_id: reactos, quora_topic: ReactOS, framalibre_id: reactos, distrowatch_id: reactos, alternativeto_software_id: reactos, crunchbase_organization_id: reactos, sourceforge_project: reactos.

### Images and Logos
*   **Logo:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ReactOS_logo.svg
*   **Image:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ReactOS_0.4.14_desktop_screenshot.png (Screenshot of ReactOS 0.4.14 desktop with Mizu theme)

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "OperatingSystem",
  "name": "ReactOS",
  "description": "free software Windows NT-like operating system",
  "url": "https://reactos.org",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReactOS"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/SoftwareApplication"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://reactos.org/legal/)
2. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/)
3. [Source](https://www.openhub.net/p/reactos/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
4. [2025](https://github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv)
5. [Source](https://reactos.org/wiki/0.1.0)
6. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/files/ReactOS/0.1.0/)
7. [Source](https://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/files/ReactOS/)
8. [Source](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-030-released//)
9. [Source](https://www.reactos.org/node/773)
10. [Source](https://reactos.org/node/911)
11. [ReactOS 0.4.0 Released](http://www.reactos.org/ru/project-news/reactos-040-released)
12. [Source](http://sourceforge.net/projects/reactos/files/ReactOS/0.4.1/)
13. [ReactOS 0.4.2 Released](http://reactos.com/project-news/reactos-042-released)
14. [ReactOS 0.4.3 Released](http://www.reactos.org/ru/project-news/reactos-043-released)
15. [ReactOS 0.4.4 Released](https://www.reactos.org/project-news/reactos-044-released)
16. [ReactOS 0.4.5 Released. 2017](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-045-released)
17. [ReactOS 0.4.6 Released. 2017](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-046-released)
18. [Source](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-047-released)
19. [Release 0.4.7. 2017](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.7-release)
20. [Source](https://www.reactos.org/project-news/reactos-048-released)
21. [Release 0.4.8. 2018](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.8-release)
22. [Release 0.4.9. 2018](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.9-release)
23. [Release 0.4.10. 2018](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.10-release)
24. [Source](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-0411-released)
25. [Release 0.4.11. 2019](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.11-release)
26. [Release 0.4.12. 2019](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.12-release)
27. [Release 0.4.13. 2020](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.13-release)
28. [ReactOS 0.4.14 released](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-0414-released/)
29. [2021](https://github.com/reactos/reactos/releases/tag/0.4.14-release)
30. [ReactOS 0.4.15 released. 2025](https://reactos.org/project-news/reactos-0415-released/)
31. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
32. [ReactOS Repository migrated to GitHub. 2017](https://www.reactos.org/project-news/reactos-repository-migrated-github)
33. [Source](https://github.com/reactos/reactos)
34. [Source](https://reactos.org/)
35. [Source](https://reactos.org/download/)
36. [Source](https://www.reactos.org/project-news/hello-telegram-new-reactos-channel)
37. YouTube API
38. [Source](https://reactos.org)