Sailfish OS

The Sailfish OS is based on the Linux Kernel and Mer. Additionally Sailfish OS includes a partially or completely proprietary multi-tasking user interface programmed by Jolla. This user interface differentiate Jolla smartphones from others. Sailfis OS is intended to be a system made by many of the MeeGo team, which left Nokia to form Jolla, utilizing funding from Nokia's "Bridge" program which helps establish and support start-up companies formed by ex-Nokia employees.

Sailfish OS (also styled as Sailfish OS or abbreviated to SFOS) is a mobile operating system combining the Linux kernel for a particular hardware platform use, the open-source Mer Core middleware, a proprietary UI contributed by Jolla, and other third-party components.

Sailfish is being developed by Jolla, the Sailfish and Mer project communities, corporate members of the Sailfish Alliance and various open community members. The Sailfish community makes development requests and decides development priorities by voting. The Mer project receives contributions from the Jolla and its community, and Mer is the source of middleware for Jolla, thereby continuous development and compatibility of both projects is maintained.

The OS is shipped with the Jolla smartphone and tablet (discontinued) and from other vendors licensing the OS. More or less unofficially the OS is being ported by community enthusiasts to third-party mobile devices including smartphones and tablets.

History and Development

The OS is an evolved continuation of the Linux MeeGo OS previously developed by alliance of Nokia and Intel which itself relies on Maemo. The MeeGo legacy is contained in the Mer core in about 80% of its code; the Mer name thus expands to MEego Reconstructed. This base is extended by Jolla with a custom user interface and default applications. Jolla and MERproject.org follow a meritocratic system to avoid the mistakes that lead to the MeeGo project's then-unanticipated discontinuation.

• Sailfish 1.0 Ohijarvi-released 17.2.2014
• Sailfish 2.0 Eineheminlampi-released 24.09.2015 supporting the Jolla Tablet with x86 platform and full touch based UI.

The main elements for Sailfish OS 2.0 include:

• Technically stronger OS core
• Improved Android application compatibility
• Support for Intel architecture, including the Intel Atom x3 processor
• Design to provide visibility in the UI for digital content providers and to enable OS level integration for mobile commerce
• Strong multitasking 
• Strong privacy and personalization features
• Enhanced user interface with new UI/UX features, including simpler swipe access to main functions, enhanced notifications and events views.