Published on : 2026-08-27 12:43
       
       I love reusing stuff - especially gadgets and computers. I am now 
       listening to my music library from my Tiny server at home as well 
       as from my iPod classic using wired headphones.
       
       A while ago I wrote a tutorial about installing Arch Linux on 
       old computers:
       
 (DIR)  🐧 Arch Linux Installation
       
       The idea was simple: don't throw away an old laptop just because 
       Windows has decided that it is now a decorative object. 
       Install Linux, put something lightweight like dwm on it, and 
       suddenly that 10 years old machine has a purpose again.
       
       There is, however, a small problem. That tutorial is followed by 
       another tutorial on how to install a window manager called DWM. 
       Not everyone wants to learn dwm. And honestly, I can't blame them.
       
       DWM is great. I use it. I like the fact that I can spend an 
       unreasonable amount of time configuring how windows behave 
       instead of actually doing anything with those windows.
       
       But if you're trying to rescue an old computer for someone who 
       isn't particularly technical, handing them a bare window manager 
       and saying "don't worry, you'll get used to it" probably isn't 
       the best strategy.
       
       This is where Haiku OS comes in:
       
 (HTM)  Haiku Project [https]
       
       A different kind of lightweight
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       Haiku is an operating system inspired by BeOS, built around the 
       idea that a desktop operating system can be lightweight, 
       responsive and pleasant to use without requiring a terminal for 
       everything.
       
       And that's the important part. You get an actual graphical 
       desktop: there is a taskbar, there are menus. 
       There is a file manager. There are settings panels. 
       Applications have windows. Things generally behave like things 
       on a normal desktop computer.
       
       You don't have to explain $mod + shift + something. You don't 
       have to explain why the application you just opened is now 
       occupying exactly one sixth of the screen. You can simply give 
       someone the computer and that person can do quite a lot of things.
       
       You get the usual desktop applications, a file manager, text 
       editors, media players and various utilities. HaikuOS features 
       HaikuDepot for installing additional software.
       
       Screenshots
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 (IMG)  HaikuOS - App Depot
 (IMG)  HaikuOS - Email compose
 (IMG)  HaikuOS - Lagrange (for gemini:// and gopher://)
 (IMG)  HaikuOS - Terminal
 (IMG)  HaikuOS - Browse the web with Web Positive
       
       And yes, there is a web browser.
       
       WebPositive is included and is perfectly capable of browsing a 
       reasonable portion of the modern web. There are also alternative 
       browsers available through Haiku's software depot.
       
       Who is this for?
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       I'd recommend trying Haiku on an old computer if you want to use 
       it for things like:
       
        * writing
        * reading
        * basic web browsing - online shopping, paying bills, etc.
        * email
        * playing local music and videos
        * experimenting with a different operating system
        * giving an old laptop to someone who doesn't need a modern 
       Windows machine
       
       It is also a wonderfully weird way of getting a computer back 
       into service.
       
       And sometimes that's the entire point.
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       That old computer doesn't need to become a server. 
       It doesn't need to run Kubernetes. 
       It doesn't need to host your personal Gitea instance. 
       
       Sometimes it just needs to boot, show a desktop, and be useful 
       again for basic everyday tasks.
       
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