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Release tracker

The road to WillowOS 1.0

WillowOS has been in the works since late 2025. Here is everything built so far, what's left before the first public release, and how far along it is.

54%

169 of 313 sprints complete

  • Foundation 120
  • Release plan 49 of 193
  • 144 sprints left
  • Estimated launch March 2027
  • Updated October 8, 2026

Built so far

  1. Planning begins: a private, secure desktop OS written from scratch in Rust.

  2. A fully working hybrid kernel written in Rust, with a custom bootloader, memory management, scheduler, system calls, file system, desktop and first apps.

  3. Desktop hardening: input, search, shortcuts, clipboard and text editing.

  4. Real programs run in user mode, and files persist to disk.

  5. The WillowOS file system, TCP and TLS 1.3 networking, a firewall and VPN, disk encryption, the installer, signed updates with rollback, USB, power and sleep, multi-core scheduling, a built-in database, and the Settings, Files, Editor and Terminal apps.

  6. Groundwork for running Linux apps, secure connections moved toward their own service, and a full security audit with fixes.

  7. The sprint plan to 1.0 begins: the new desktop design, security reviews, clean-room driver tools, and the work tracked below.

Stages

  1. Now

    Build

    Finish the desktop, apps, security and app compatibility.

  2. Next

    Alpha

    Testers install on their own PCs. Their reports drive hardware support, and fixes ship automatically.

  3. Then

    Beta

    A wider test shortly before launch.

  4. March 2027 (est.)

    Release

    Version 1.0 passes every release check on tested hardware.

Launch is estimated for March 2027. Alpha and beta dates will be announced when they're scheduled, and waitlist members hear first.

Release plan by area

  • Desktop and the WillowOS look

    In progress

    15 of 29 complete52%

  • Security and privacy

    In progress

    9 of 26 complete35%

  • Windows and Linux apps, and the web browser

    In progress

    2 of 12 complete17%

  • Games, Steam and the app store

    In progress

    1 of 11 complete9%

  • Widgets and living wallpapers

    Planned

    0 of 5 complete0%

  • Core system: speed, stability, networking and storage

    In progress

    10 of 20 complete50%

  • Built-in apps

    In progress

    1 of 32 complete3%

  • Graphics drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA

    In progress

    1 of 6 complete17%

  • Backup and recovery

    In progress

    0 of 9 complete0%

  • Hardware: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, audio, USB

    In progress

    7 of 28 complete25%

  • Installer, updates and alpha testing

    In progress

    3 of 16 complete19%

Recently completed

  • Better copy and paste (images, files, history) and drag-and-drop between apps
  • Glowing group circles and connection lines on the desktop, with 'shared items' labels
  • Developer tools checked end to end: build on a PC, deploy and run on the OS
  • Glass look, smooth motion, text styles and consistent app windows
  • Security hardening of the core system, app messaging and user sessions
  • Groundwork for running Linux apps: signals and crash reporting
  • Saved window arrangements, virtual desktops and an overview of all windows
  • Groundwork for modern apps and games: full support for advanced CPU instructions
  • All secure web connections moved into a separate, restartable service
  • Faster, safer encryption using the processor's built-in hardware

Up next

  1. Photo wallpapers: a bundled set and a picker
  2. Protection against core-system stack overflows
  3. Window title bars show only the wallpaper through their glass
  4. Protection against processor side-channel attacks
  5. The WillowOS rebrand: name, tree logo, Green and Blue looks
  6. Standard system calls Linux programs expect
  7. A full icon set for apps, files, dock and settings
  8. Wayland display support for Linux apps
  9. Dock status button with time, Wi-Fi, volume and weather
  10. Software 3D graphics (Vulkan and OpenGL) for apps and games

Also planned

  • Grove social network

    Planned

    0 of 16 complete0%

Grove isn't required for 1.0 and is tracked separately. Foundation counts the work finished before the sprint plan began on September 17, 2026, measured in sprint-sized pieces. Sprints vary in size, so the bar isn't a time estimate, and new sprints are added as testing turns up work.