FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions we hear most. If yours is not here, ask in the forum.
The basics
What is Orbit OS?
Orbit OS is a platform for building connected products on embedded Linux. It runs on the device, on top of Linux, where it runs and isolates your applications and gives them one API for the hardware. Around it you get SDKs, a VS Code extension, an app store and over-the-air updates, so you write the application and not the infrastructure.
Is Orbit OS a Linux distribution?
No. Orbit OS installs on top of a Linux system you already have, such as Debian on a Raspberry Pi. You keep your Linux; Orbit OS adds the application platform.
Is it free?
Yes. The Orbit OS Community Edition is free, for any use and on any number of devices, including commercial products. See the Community Edition License.
Is it open source?
The SDKs are open source under the Apache-2.0 license, and so are several of the apps we publish. Orbit OS itself is not open source.
Who is behind Orbit OS?
Orbit OS is developed by ZeroOneTech, a technology company based in San Jose, California, USA. See the About page.
Hardware and installation
Which boards are supported?
The Community Edition supports ARM64 boards: Raspberry Pi 3, 4, 5 and Zero 2 W, the Arduino UNO Q and other ARM64 boards running a supported Linux. On the Arduino UNO Q, GPIO is not fully supported yet.
Do I need to reflash my device?
No. Orbit OS is a single installer of about 30 MB that you run on your existing Linux. The first run downloads its dependencies, so the device needs internet access for the installation.
What does the device need?
A 64-bit ARM board with a supported Linux (Debian 13 Lite is recommended) and at least 256 MB of available RAM. The steps are in Getting Started.
Can I use my own hardware?
Yes. If you build dedicated hardware for a product, the Hardware Certification Program is how it becomes an Orbit OS Certified device.
Building apps
Which languages can I use?
Go, Java and Python. A C++ SDK is planned for Q4 2026.
What is an .orb file?
It is the package format for Orbit OS apps: your application plus a manifest with its name, version and the permissions it needs, signed so the device can verify it before installing.
Do I need Docker or containers?
No. Orbit OS runs apps directly, each one isolated and without elevated privileges. There are no container images to build.
How do I develop an app?
With Orbit Studio, the VS Code extension. In Developer Mode you run your code on your laptop against the real hardware of the device, see the logs live, and build the signed .orb only when you are ready to deploy.
How does my app use the hardware?
Through the Orbit OS API: GPIO, PWM, I²C, SPI, UART, camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and on-device AI, among others. The SDK gives you the same calls in every language. An app only gets access to the services it declares in its manifest.
Can I run AI models on the device?
Yes. The TensorFlow Lite and ONNX runtimes are part of Orbit OS, so an app loads a model and runs inference on the device through the API.
Can I publish my app in the Orbit OS Store?
Yes. You submit your app through the developer area of the Store, and it is reviewed before it is published.
Store, updates and cloud services
Does a device need the internet or an account to work?
No. The Orbit OS Cloud Services — the Store, over-the-air updates, mobile notifications and remote access — are optional. A device runs its apps without them, and you can install apps and system updates locally from the Settings app.
How do system updates work?
A system update is installed as a whole: it either completes or the device goes back to the previous version. You can receive updates over the air or install an update file locally.
Can my app send notifications to a phone?
Yes, with API 26.1. An app asks Orbit OS to send a notification and it arrives in the Orbit OS mobile app of the device's owner. The mobile app is available for Android today; an iOS app is planned.
Can I reach my device from outside its network?
Yes, with Orbit Connect, a free app in the Store. It gives the device a private web address, with no VPN and no changes to your router.
Versions and compatibility
How do I read the version numbers?
Take 26.1.0. "26" is the Orbit OS version. "26.1" is the API version, the set of services a device offers to apps. "26.1.0" is the revision of the SDK for that API; the third number only counts changes to the SDK itself.
Will my app keep working on newer versions?
Yes. A method that exists in one API version stays in the next, so an app built for API 26.0 runs on a device with API 26.1. The reverse is not true: an app that uses 26.1 features needs a device with API 26.1.
What happens when a method is replaced?
The old method keeps working and is marked as deprecated in the documentation, which points to the new one. Developers get advance notice before anything deprecated is removed.
Support
Where can I get help?
Ask in the Orbit OS Forum, or write to info@orbit-os.org.
Where is the documentation?
Getting Started covers installation and your first app, Platform explains how Orbit OS works, and the SDK reference lists every service and method.