NetBSD is often overshadowed by its cousins, FreeBSD and OpenBSD, but what it lacks in publicity, it makes up for in sheer portability and reliability. It is the operating system that quietly runs behind the scenes, often in places you least expect—on spacecraft, in industrial machines, and in legacy systems where uptime and stability are non-negotiable.
Portability Above All
“Of course it runs NetBSD”—this isn’t just a slogan; it’s a testament. NetBSD has been ported to over 60 architectures, from VAX and Alpha to modern ARM and RISC-V boards. This breadth enables NetBSD to be used in:
- Scientific instruments
- Industrial control systems
- Satellites and spacecraft (e.g., NASA experiments)
- Legacy hardware where modern OSes fail to boot
Case Study: NetBSD in Space
In 2014, NetBSD was chosen for experiments on the International Space Station due to its lightweight footprint, predictable performance, and minimal need for maintenance. It proved that NetBSD isn’t just for hobbyists—it’s mission-grade.
Long-Term Stability
NetBSD’s conservative approach to updates and its modular kernel allow system integrators to deploy and forget. Some factories still run NetBSD systems from the early 2000s with no reboots, no crashes.
Embedded and IoT
Because of its small memory requirements and deterministic behavior, NetBSD is a top choice for embedded projects. Developers appreciate its clean design and excellent documentation.
Conclusion
NetBSD might not be in your headlines, but it could very well be in your microwave, on a satellite orbiting Earth, or managing a nuclear power plant’s sensor array. It is the quiet hero of the operating system world.