China Launches OpenKylin 1.0, an Open-Source Desktop Operating System

China has taken a significant stride towards achieving technological independence with the launch of OpenKylin 1.0, the nation’s inaugural open-source desktop operating system. OpenKylin 1.0 aims to reduce China’s dependence on US technology while fostering the development of a homegrown software ecosystem. The collaborative effort, led by China Electronic Corp and supported by various companies and organizations, underscores the country’s commitment to creating a self-reliant software infrastructure. As part of this initiative, Union Tech Software Technology Co. Ltd. is also actively working on its own operating system, known as ‘Unity,’ as China endeavors to replace Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s MacOS. Spearheaded by the China Industrial Control System Emergency Response Team, overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, OpenKylin enjoys the support of over ten software companies. By providing users with access to its source code, OpenKylin empowers individuals to modify and enhance the system according to their requirements—an openness that sets it apart from the closed systems of Microsoft and Apple. The introduction of OpenKylin is a significant milestone in China’s pursuit of developing indigenous software, which not only drives the construction of new infrastructure but also fuels the growth of the digital economy. With its iterative improvements, OpenKylin aims to strengthen the domestic operating system landscape, guarantee security in critical sectors such as government affairs, communications, energy, and transportation, and deliver reliable fundamental software services to bolster the country’s IT industrial chain.