China unveils first open-source desktop operating system

China rolled out its first open-source desktop operating system, called openKylin 1.0, on Wednesday, a key move that indicates the country has the ability to build its own self-developed operating system and fill the gaps in this field.

The openKylin 1.0 was developed by a group of Chinese companies led by China Electronics Corp, the country's largest State-owned comprehensive electronic information enterprise group. Other participants include the China Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team, Kylinsec Technology and more than 10 other software companies.

The launch of openKylin 1.0 will help bolster the iteration and upgrade of the domestic operating system; guarantee the security in key fields such as government affairs, finance, communications, energy and transportation; and provide reliable basic software services for the country's IT industrial chain.

Currently, China's software operating system industry is dominated by foreign labels, such as Microsoft Windows, Google Android and Apple Mac OS. The openKylin system can be applied in some hardware devices, including computers and mobile phones. Last year, CEC unveiled China's first desktop operating system developers' platform openKylin.