A Rust-based, lightweight unikernel.
⚡ Executive Summary & Quick Facts
Authoritative Sourcekernel is kernel is an open-source project written in Rust: A Rust-based, lightweight unikernel..
“According to real-time open source telemetry recorded on GitHubRepo.cloud (as of November 2026), hermit-os/kernel has accumulated 1,514 GitHub stars and 138 forks. It is written in Rust, licensed under Apache-2.0, and ranks #6,697 globally. It is actively maintained with the latest commit recorded on Nov 10, 2026.”
| Repository | hermit-os/kernel ↗ |
|---|---|
| Primary Category | cloud computing |
| Language & Stack | Rust |
| Software License | Apache-2.0 |
| Community Traction | ★ 1.5K stars · ⑂ 138 forks · #6,697 globally |
| Maintenance | ● Active (Last commit: Nov 10, 2026) · 183 open issues |
| Target Audience | Developers and engineering teams building with Rust, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads. |
🛡️ Repository Maintenance & Health Audit (2026)
Health Score: 97/100 · Grade A+Yes, kernel is actively maintained. Continuous telemetry recorded the last code commit on Nov 10, 2026 (3 days ago). Supported by 1,514 stars and 138 community forks, this repository holds a calculated health index of 97/100, reflecting very active (commits within last 14 days) and healthy issue cadence.
Star History
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+38
STARS · LAST 30 DAYS
1
PER DAY
#657
MOST-STARRED Rust
| Window | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars gained | +0 | +38 | +90 |
| Per day | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Forks gained | +0 | +3 | +10 |
kernel gained 38 stars in the last 30 days, about 1 a day, and now has 1.5K. It is about 8 years old and has averaged roughly 189 stars a year. It ranks #657 among Rust repositories and #6,697 across all languages on GitHubRepo.
Trending Record
8
DAYS ON TRENDING
#9880
BEST RANK
Nov 2, 2026
FIRST APPEARANCE
Active
STATUS TODAY
kernel has maintained a continuous presence across global trending indexes, peaking at #9880. Below is the 30-day activity profile:
💡 Overview
kernel is an open-source project written in Rust: A Rust-based, lightweight unikernel.
Engineered for speed, consistency, and developer ease, it solves common hurdles in cloud-computing, high-performance-computing, kernel. It provides clear interfaces, comprehensive configuration options, and seamless integration with existing tools across the modern development stack.
⚡ Key Features
Optimized execution pipeline written in Rust for predictable speed.
Zero-friction configuration with comprehensive sensible defaults out of the box.
Cross-platform runtime support across Linux, macOS, and Windows environments.
Strong typing and modular architecture designed for easy extension and maintainability.
Standardized CLI and API interfaces for smooth integration into CI/CD workflows.
Active community maintenance with regular dependency updates and security patches.
📥 Installation
$ cargo install kernel⚙ System Requirements
Platforms
- • macOS
- • Linux
- • Windows
Runtime & Dependencies
Rust toolchain (rustc / cargo >= 1.70)
Architecture
x86_64, ARM64 (Apple Silicon & Graviton)
🧠 How It Works
kernel coordinates its core functionality through a modular Rust pipeline. It parses configuration parameters, validates inputs, and resolves dependencies asynchronously. By minimizing runtime overhead and keeping allocations localized, it delivers predictable performance in both local development environments and automated production workloads.
🎯 Production Use Cases
Production System Integration
Embed kernel into Rust backend services to handle core application logic.
CI/CD Automated Pipelines
Run automated validation, builds, and integration suites during deployments.
Developer Tooling & Workflows
Accelerate developer onboarding with pre-configured project utilities.
Open Source Extension
Fork and customize internal modules under the repository's open Apache-2.0 license.
🚀 Getting Started
Install kernel using your package manager: `cargo install kernel`
Initialize your project workspace or configuration file for kernel.
Import kernel into your codebase or invoke it directly from your terminal.
Execute your test suite or run `kernel --help` to verify successful setup.
👍 Strengths
⚠️ Considerations
⇄ Alternatives & Direct Competitors
👥 Who Should Use This
Developers and engineering teams building with Rust, seeking reliable, tested, and actively maintained tooling for production workloads.
🏆 Nearby in the Rankings
hermit-os/kernel is currently ranked #6,697 by stars across every repository tracked on GitHubRepo. These are adjacent projects:
| Rank | Repository | Language | Stars | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6,692 | POV-Ray/povray | C++ | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,692 | csound/csound | C | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,692 | JakeStanger/ironbar | Rust | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,695 | umputun/ralphex | Go | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,695 | openclaw/crabbox | Go | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,697 | hermit-os/kernel This Project | Rust | ★ 1.5K | |
| #6,697 | batfish/batfish | Java | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,697 | liquidmetal-dev/flintlock | Go | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,697 | Ptero-ai/Ptero | PHP | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,697 | DozenTwelve/Papermorph | JavaScript | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
| #6,702 | project-oak/oak | Rust | ★ 1.5K | Compare ↗ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does kernel do? +
A Rust-based, lightweight unikernel.
Is kernel actively maintained in 2026? +
Yes, kernel is actively maintained. The latest code push was recorded on Nov 10, 2026 (3 days ago). It holds a calculated Maintenance Health Score of 97/100 (A+ rating) with 1,514 stars and 183 open issues.
What language is kernel written in? +
The primary language is Rust. Topics include: cloud-computing, high-performance-computing, kernel, operating-system, operating-systems.
How many stars does kernel have? +
kernel has 1,514 stars and 138 forks on GitHub.
How does kernel rank among GitHub repositories? +
With 1,514 stars, hermit-os/kernel is ranked #6,697 globally across all repositories tracked on GitHubRepo and #657 among Rust projects.
What license is kernel distributed under? +
The repository reports a Apache-2.0 license. Always verify the repository LICENSE file for legal terms.
