Project

Built for people who want to watch the machine become a desktop.

CopperOS v1.0 Copperhead is intentionally compact: a BIOS boot sector written in NASM hands off to a freestanding 32-bit C kernel linked with an x86 cross-toolchain.

The release focuses on the full first-run arc. It boots, draws staged startup screens, collects setup details, plays a welcome animation, and lands on a black desktop with a taskbar, Start menu, windows, and pointer.

Release

Copperhead is small on purpose

This is a hobby OS for inspection, boot demos, and kernel-rendered UI experiments. Apps are built into the kernel, not separate user-space programs yet.

The experience

Small enough to inspect, rich enough to explore.

Clean first start

A tiny NASM boot path loads a freestanding 32-bit C kernel built for BIOS-era x86 graphics modes.

Bright display

The framebuffer targets HD 1280x720x8 first, then falls through broadly supported VESA modes.

Smoother windows

Off-screen frame composition reduces full-screen blinking and prepares the interface for smoother animation.

Desktop

A tiny GUI with real things to open.

CopperOS presents a Windows 95-inspired workspace with a black desktop, keyboard-driven pointer, taskbar, Start menu, window chrome, and setup-created login passcode.

Eight built-in apps ship with the release: File Explorer, Internet Explorer, Activity Manager, Paint, System Settings, System Updates, Calculator, and TXT Editor.

File Explorer Internet Explorer Activity Manager Paint System Settings System Updates Calculator TXT Editor

First boot

Setup is part of the release, not a placeholder.

Identity

The wizard collects a username and creates a 4-digit passcode for the login screen.

Install choices

The setup flow walks through install or try mode, disk target selection, desktop theme, and network choice.

After setup

A welcome animation plays before the desktop becomes available with the created passcode.

Preview

Kernel-rendered visuals.

CopperOS screenshot showing the operating system interface

CopperOS screenshot showing another operating system screen

Downloads

Get the current Copperhead artifacts.

CopperOS v1.5 Waterfall

The next major update is in development, with security, recovery, MIWIN, CopperTable, and refined UI work planned for release on August 1, 2026 at 9:00 PM CEST.

View update

Release archive

Complete packaged release for offline use.

Download tar.gz

ISO image

Use this with QEMU, VirtualBox, or the browser emulator page.

Download ISO

VirtualBox VDI

Attach this image as a disk in a VirtualBox VM.

Download VDI

Run locally

Commands that are easy to read.

qemu

# Download the ISO from the release page, then run:
qemu-system-x86_64 -cdrom copperos.iso -m 256M -boot d

# From source:
make
make run