GNU Hurd Makes Significant Progress in 2026 With 64-bit Support, SMP Improvements, and Growing Debian Compatibility
GNU Hurd, the long-standing microkernel-based operating system of the GNU Project, has reached an important milestone in its development, according to a status update presented at FOSDEM 2026 by developer Samuel Thibault. The presentation highlighted tangible progress that makes the system more usable and relevant than in previous years, particularly in areas where Hurd has historically lagged behind Linux and other modern kernels.
One of the most notable achievements is the near-completion of the x86_64 port. For many years, GNU Hurd was largely limited to 32-bit x86 systems, which severely constrained its practicality on modern hardware. With 64-bit support now essentially complete, Hurd can better target contemporary PCs and servers. In addition, there are early discussions and interest in extending support to AArch64, which would further broaden its hardware reach.
Another critical area of improvement is symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). Hurd has traditionally struggled to effectively utilize multi-core processors, a major drawback in an era where multi-core systems are the norm. Recent development work has improved SMP support, marking an important step toward better performance and scalability.
Driver support, while still behind Linux, is also improving. Much of this progress comes from leveraging NetBSD’s rump kernel infrastructure, which allows Hurd to reuse mature drivers and expand hardware compatibility more quickly than developing drivers from scratch.
From a software ecosystem perspective, the situation is increasingly encouraging. Approximately 75% of the Debian package archive now builds successfully for Debian GNU/Hurd, including major desktop environments and a wide range of applications. Alongside Debian GNU/Hurd, other distributions such as Guix/Hurd and Alpine/Hurd have emerged, providing more opportunities for testing and community involvement.
The overall message from FOSDEM 2026 was cautiously optimistic. While GNU Hurd is not yet a mainstream alternative to Linux, its developers believe it is ‘almost there’ in terms of core functionality. Continued progress will depend heavily on additional contributors and sustained community support.