Genode OS release 26.02 Mar 30, 2026

With version 26.02, the framework switches over to Genode's custom designed human-inclined data configuration format.

End of February, we published the first of the four framework releases scheduled for the year. Version 26.02 has prominently replaced the use of XML by our custom designed human-inclined data (HID) format. Structurally, the new format mirrors the time-tested concepts of XML. Data is expressed as a hierarchy of nodes where each node can have attributes. Like XML, data can be validated against schema definitions. Syntactically, however, HID promotes calmness and clarity, and specifically fosters the joyful use of text as an interactive user interface of Sculpt OS.

With the current release, the entirety of the Genode OS framework, including configurations, tests, and packages, has been converted to the new format whereas compatibility to XML will be upheld until autumn. The adaptation of the framework's documentation will follow in the upcoming May release.

Besides the HID format, the highlights of the release are the gradual update of our Linux device-driver environment to kernel version 6.18, new input-processing capabilities, and continuous improvements of the Goa SDK. More details and wealth of background information are provided by the official release documentation.