# ghaerr/elks

Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset - Linux for 8086

Repository: https://github.com/ghaerr/elks
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/elks
Language: C
License: NOASSERTION
License Family: other
Topics: linux, embedded, embedded-linux, 8086, 8086-architecture, 8088, 80186, x86-16, ia-16, kernel, embeddable, elks
Last push: 2026-08-13T23:25:26+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 88/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 97, release rhythm 70, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 4675, "days_push": 20, "days_rel": 120, "gap_med": 46, "n_releases_24m": 4}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1692, forks 166 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:22.740522+00:00)

## What it is
ELKS is an embeddable subset of the Linux operating system targeting 16-bit Intel IA16 processors (8086, 8088, 80186, 80286, NEC V20/V30). It runs on vintage PCs, SBCs, SoCs, and FPGAs with as little as 128-512k RAM and no MMU, supporting networking, graphics, and MINIX/FAT filesystems.

## Use cases
- run Linux on an 8086 or 80286 vintage PC
- boot a tiny Linux from floppy on old hardware
- build an embedded Linux system without an MMU
- run Linux on a microcontroller or FPGA-based SBC
- experiment with a minimal Linux kernel in an emulator
- set up networking on an ancient IBM PC XT

## When to choose
- you need Linux on 16-bit x86 hardware with very limited RAM
- you want a no-MMU Linux for retro or embedded x86 systems

## When to avoid
- you need modern 32/64-bit Linux features or current kernel drivers
- you need a production-grade OS for modern hardware

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: embedded, networking, graphics
- domain: operating-systems, embedded-systems, hardware
- platform: cross-platform
- tags: linux-kernel, 8086, 16-bit, no-mmu, retro-computing, ia16, kernel, operating-system, linux

## Member repositories
- ghaerr/elks (main) score 88

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:22.740522+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:38:13.687907+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/ghaerr/elks (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:22.740522+00:00, sha be3662a3c5e7)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.