What OpenAtom openKylin does

OpenAtom openKylin (开放麒麟) is an open-source desktop operating system community incubated and operated by the OpenAtom Foundation (开放原子开源基金会), a non-profit organization headquartered in Beijing, China. Founded on June 24, 2022, the community develops and maintains the openKylin desktop Linux distribution under the Mulan Permissive Software License v2, with a native multi-architecture footprint spanning x86, ARM, RISC-V (including RVA23 profile), and LoongArch (龙架构). The project bundles the proprietary UKUI desktop environment, supports Wayland and tablet mode, and integrates the KART AI subsystem for system-level AI capabilities including AI file search, OCR, and intelligent clipboard. Deployment scale includes 2.4M+ users and 24M+ installations across 188 countries, supported by 2,100+ member organizations, 155 Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and 20,000+ contributors, with active partnership involvement from National University of Defense Technology, Kirin Software, Lenovo Kaitian, Loongson, Hygon, Phytium, and Tsinghua University.

The community does not generate direct revenue: the OS is distributed free of charge via openkylin.top, and commercial derivatives, support services, and pre-installed OEM distributions are operated by member companies (notably Kirin Software and Lenovo Kaitian). The go-to-market is community-led, with contributor acquisition through university outreach, the annual graduate OS open-source competition (1M+ RMB prize pool), developer conferences (FOSSASIA Summit 2026 platinum sponsorship), and academic training pipelines that have engaged 130+ universities. In 2026 the community expanded its AI-native posture with the openKylin Intelligent Agent Operating System (launched June 2026 with NUDT, HIT-Shenzhen, and Kirin Software), the Kaiming (KaiMing) cross-system package format, the openKylin-skills AI skill library, the FlagOS unified AI chip stack, and built-in post-quantum cryptography via the PQCTransition SIG. Named deployments at National Power Investment Corporation, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Shenzhen Metro, China National Coal Group, Tianjin University, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications indicate traction across government, finance, transportation, energy, and education verticals.

From a revenue mechanics perspective, openKylin is a non-profit foundation project; commercial value accrues to member companies rather than the community itself. No funding rounds, ARR, or revenue figures are disclosed. The investor-relevant question is therefore the implied equity or commercial value of the companies monetizing the openKylin stack (Kirin Software, Lenovo Kaitian, hardware partners) and the strategic optionality of the upstream community as a national OS sovereignty asset.

Name

OpenAtom openKylin

Legal name

OpenAtom openKylin (开放麒麟) Community

Website

https://openkylin.top

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

OpenAtom openKylin is a non-profit open-source desktop Linux OS community under the OpenAtom Foundation, supporting x86, ARM, RISC-V, and LoongArch with AI-native capabilities, serving 2,100+ member organizations and government/enterprise deployments across 188 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Desktop Operating System

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

Keywords

• Open-source operating system
• Desktop Linux distribution
• AI-native operating system
• RISC-V architecture support
• Open-source community

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Community Contribution Model: OpenAtom openKylin operates as an open-source community project under the OpenAtom Foundation. It does not directly generate revenue. The community is sustained through member contributions, donations from corporate sponsors, and volunteer developer participation. Commercial distributions and derivative products are created by member companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OpenAtom openKylin is an open-source desktop operating system community that develops and distributes the openKylin Linux-based OS with AI-native capabilities. The platform includes the UKUI desktop environment, supports multiple CPU architectures (x86, ARM, RISC-V, LoongArch), and provides a KART AI subsystem for system-level AI integration. The community also maintains a software store, an automated developer platform, and agent-based AI extensions.

Product overview

openKylin (开放麒麟) is an open-source desktop operating system community under the OpenAtom Foundation. The community develops and maintains the openKylin desktop OS with AI-native capabilities, built on Linux kernel with UKUI desktop environment. The product portfolio centers on the openKylin desktop operating system (supporting x86, ARM, RISC-V, LoongArch architectures), complemented by the KART AI subsystem for system-level AI capabilities. The ecosystem includes AI-powered tools like Goose programming assistant and OpenClaw AI agent platform available through the openKylin software store, the Kaiming cross-system package format for application portability, the openKylin-skills AI skill library, and the automated developer platform for community contributions. The community also develops the openKylin intelligent agent operating system based on version 2.0, featuring unified model inference, multi-agent collaboration, and 300+ system operation APIs for reliable AI task execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KaiMing (开明): An application packaging format developed by the KaiMing SIG that decouples applications from the system, enabling one package to run across multiple distributions with high security, flexibility, and usability.

Products and services

• openKylin Desktop Operating System Open-source desktop Linux distribution community managed by OpenAtom Foundation, supporting x86, ARM, RISC-V, and LoongArch architectures. Features the UKUI desktop environment, Wayland, tablet mode, and AI integration.
• openKylin Intelligent Agent Operating System AI-native intelligent agent operating system based on openKylin 2.0. Integrates system agents, CUA agents, unified model inference service, and desktop application ecosystem for reliable complex task execution in real OS environments, exposing 300+ system operations and 900+ app operations via API.
• KART AI Subsystem AI subsystem providing system-level AI capabilities for openKylin OS. Enables AI file search, intelligent clipboard, desktop automation, and OCR text recognition integrated with the UKUI desktop environment.
• Kaiming Package Format (开明包) Cross-system software package format developed by the KaiMing SIG that decouples applications from OS dependencies, enabling single packaging for multiple platform deployment.
• openKylin Automated Developer Platform Integrated development infrastructure platform comprising CLA signing, source code management via Gitee, translation via Weblate, package build service, and version factory for full lifecycle automation.
• openkylin-contrib-helper (okcontrib) CLI tool for new openKylin contributors providing auth configuration, interactive onboarding, SIG information, issue recommendation, repository management, PR submission, and contribution statistics.
• Goose AI Programming Assistant Open-source AI programming assistant (Agent by Block/Square, donated to Linux Foundation) available in the openKylin software store, supporting autonomous task execution across project setup, coding, testing, and debugging with multiple AI model backends.
• OpenClaw (小龙虾) AI Agent Open-source AI agent platform for openKylin with WeChat integration enabling remote system control. Supports natural language commands for system operations and desktop automation.
• openKylin Software Store (软件商店) Software distribution platform for openKylin OS providing software download, updates, uninstallation, and optimization. Hosts AI applications including Goose, OpenClaw, and agent frameworks.
• FlagOS AI Software Stack Unified AI chip system software stack integrated into openKylin providing cross-chip operating system capabilities with FlagScale (distributed training/inference), FlagTree (AI compiler), FlagGems (operator library), and FlagCX (communication) supporting multiple AI accelerators.
• openKylin 2.0 SP2 Service pack 2 for openKylin 2.0 featuring SDK V3.0, expanded AI model support, improved AI assistant, 'Panshi' architecture for system stability, Kaiming cross-system packaging, and enhanced desktop environment.
• openKylin 3.0 Next-generation openKylin OS featuring Linux 7.0 kernel, 180+ core component upgrades, post-quantum cryptography (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA), and enhanced RISC-V AI computing support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Model switching reduced by 75%, task waiting time reduced by 73.6% with unified model inference service
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Shenzhen Xunlong Software (深圳市迅龙软件有限公司)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2026Silver-level donor and Orange Pi brand operator. 600万+ development boards sold globally. OrangePi OS adapting mainstream open-source operating systems. Deep involvement in RISC-V ecosystem with openKylin adaptation on OrangePi Nova mainboard for UIL-AI2K3000 AI agent terminal.
• National University of Defense Technology (国防科技大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Special donor and core technical contributor. Operating system team has established China's first 'open source community-internship training-innovation competition' integrated OS talent cultivation system through the community. Cultivated 2,000+ innovative graduate students and trained 100,000+ professionals.
• Kirin Software (麒麟软件有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Diamond-level donor and major commercial supporter. Jointly develops commercial distributions based on openKylin. Co-maintains UKUI desktop environment and X-kernel Rust-based operating system. Collaborates on AgentOS and RISC-V ecosystem.
• Lenovo Kaitian (联想开天科技有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Diamond-level donor. Deep partnership on AI PC integration, intelligent agent 'Xiaotian' development, and commercial AI terminal deployment. Achieved deep compatibility between openKylin OS and Kaitian AI PC, Xiaotian agent, and Kaitian browser.
• Loongson Technology (龙芯中科技术股份有限公司)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026Silver-level donor. Deep collaboration on LoongArch (龙架构) architecture support including 2K3000 chip adaptation, Electron application packaging for loong64 new world architecture, and LongU Agent intelligent agent platform.
• Hygon Information Technology (海光信息技术有限公司)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026Core member participating in technical committee. Collaboration on Hygon Dhyana processor support and AI acceleration integration for openKylin ecosystem.
• Phytium Technology (飞腾信息技术有限公司)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026Core member providing Phytium processor support. Collaborates on ARM64 architecture optimization and AI chip adaptation including domestic ARM-based AI development boards.
• Sup瑞科技 (超睿科技UR-Tech)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026UR-DP1000 RISC-V chip provider. Successfully ported OpenStack full stack to RISC-V architecture. Participated in RISC-V embodied intelligent humanoid robot adaptation project.
• Shanghai Kuya Technology (上海苦芽科技有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Initiated FlagOS SIG for multi-chip AI unified system software stack. Collaborates on embodied intelligent robot motion control and interaction algorithm optimization. RISC-V humanoid robot adaptation project participant.
• InfiniTensor Community (九源统一智能计算平台)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026InfiniTensor open source AI computing framework fully adapted to openKylin. Six core open source projects (NineToothed, InfiniLM, InfiniTensor, InfiniTrain, InfiniCore, InfiniBench) adapted for programming language, model inference, training, cross-platform tools, and performance evaluation.
• National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center (国家工业信息安全发展研究中心)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Jointly launches 'Xinhuo Cup' open source community application case collection with the center. Cooperates on identifying leading application practices in the openKylin ecosystem across industries.
• Advanced Computing and Key Software Haihe Laboratory (先进计算与关键软件海河实验室)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Co-organizer of community events. RISC-V humanoid robot adaptation project participant. Provides openKylin RISC-V OS optimization for robot scenarios.
• OpenLoong Open Source Community (OpenLoong开源社区)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Provides 'Linglong' embodied intelligent humanoid robot hardware. Core participant in RISC-V humanoid robot adaptation project. Technical source and collaborative innovation platform for robot system.
• T-Head (平头哥半导体/阿里巴巴)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026T-Head T-Head RISC-V processors (XuanTie series) supported in openKylin ecosystem. Xuantie RISC-V Ecosystem Conference participant.
• China Coal Information (中煤信息技术有限公司)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Leads SmartCoal SIG for coal industry intelligence. First coal industry open-source SIG focused on intelligent fusion of coal industry with openKylin OS.
• Metax (沐曦)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025MetaX GPU support for openKylin. Participates in Hello openKylin international developer exchange. FlagOS backend support for MetaX AI accelerators.
• Phytium (飞腾)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025ARM architecture AI chip support including Phytium AI development board adaptation. Participates in Paddle Hackathon partner track. Kernel bug fixes for Phytium startup issues.
• CIX (芯盛智能/TrustKernel)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025PQCTransition SIG initiator (silver-level donor). Implements NIST post-quantum cryptography standards (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA) for quantum-era security on openKylin.
• Moore Threads (摩尔线程)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025FlagOS backend support for Moore Threads AI accelerators. Multi-GPU computing capability integration with openKylin ecosystem.
• Cambricon (寒武纪)majorTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025FlagOS backend support for Cambricon AI accelerators. Integration into unified AI software stack ecosystem.
• CIPC (Beijing Zhihui Artificial Intelligence Research Institute) (北京智源人工智能研究院)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2025Initiated FlagOS open source community with CIPC for unified AI chip system software stack. FlagOS provides PyTorch, vLLM framework interfaces while shielding hardware differences across accelerators.
• Tsinghua University (清华大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Collaboration on Rust kernel research. Co-organizes RUST kernel + TEE themed Meetup. Professor Chen Yu participates as speaker. Joint exploration of Rust for Linux (RFL SIG) kernel development.
• Kylin Software (麒麟软件)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025openHiTLS password suite introduction to openKylin by KyLink Software. Integration of post-quantum cryptography and international crypto algorithms (SM2/SM3/SM4).

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ubuntu (Canonical): One of the most widely deployed Linux desktop distributions globally. openKylin competes in the same desktop OS category with similar open-source community model, multi-architecture support, and AI integration ambitions, but Ubuntu has a substantially larger international user base.
• HarmonyOS NEXT: Huawei's proprietary multi-device operating system. Competes for the same Chinese sovereign desktop/mobile OS market with substantially greater commercial backing, app ecosystem investment, and consumer brand recognition.
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Leading commercial enterprise Linux distribution from Red Hat/IBM. openKylin targets similar enterprise and government customers with free open-source positioning, though Red Hat has a vastly more mature ecosystem, commercial support infrastructure, and international enterprise footprint.

Others

• RISC-V International: Nonprofit foundation governing the RISC-V instruction set architecture. Relevant as openKylin has built significant RISC-V support and partnerships with RISC-V chip vendors, making RISC-V International an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Fedora: Community-driven Linux distribution sponsored by Red Hat. Comparable as an open-source community OS with contributor-driven development model, SIG structure, and enterprise derivatives, though with a more international footprint and Western governance.
• Deepin: Chinese Linux desktop distribution developed by Wuhan Deepin Technology. Most direct competitor in the Chinese desktop OS market with similar target audience (government, enterprise, individual users) and overlapping member ecosystems in the Chinese open-source community.
• Debian: One of the largest community-driven Linux distributions. openKylin influences and contributes back to Debian as an upstream distribution; both share a pure community model, focus on free/open-source software, and target developers and enterprise users.
• Rocky Linux: Community-driven enterprise Linux distribution. Comparable as a foundation-governed open-source OS community with strong enterprise focus, contributor-driven development, and absence of VC funding, though with a smaller community and Western orientation.
• openEuler: Huawei-led open-source Linux distribution and community under OpenAtom Foundation. Directly comparable as a Chinese open-source OS community with similar governance, multi-architecture focus, and government/enterprise target market, though oriented toward server/cloud rather than desktop.
• Kirin Software (银河麒麟): Commercial Chinese desktop OS vendor and diamond-level openKylin member. Most direct commercial peer; builds commercial derivatives of openKylin and operates competing commercial desktop OS, making it both a partner and competitor in the government/enterprise market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/openKylin
• GitHubgitee.com/openkylin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChS8VuKObyh_xAv3BXX1VlQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100080938728955
• TikToktiktok.com/@openkylinofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/openkylin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenAtom openKylin