Just about every piece of technology has some form of an operating system – desktops, laptops, mobile phones, and servers, to name just a few. The Merriam-Webster definition of an operating system?

Calling something an operating system can sound like marketing fluff. But in enterprise software, an operating system plays a specific role: It coordinates complexity. A true operating system doesn't ...

Looking for non-Linux open-source options? From ghosts of past operating systems to fascinating works in progress, here are my top picks.