[asveikau]

You can use GNU HURD. I did so something like 20 years ago for kicks, then went back to Linux.

The reason stuff doesn't take off is that it never takes off. Implementing an OS is actually not hard. You can get pretty far as a 1-person project provided you have the time. Real world use and other people adopting your stuff is harder.

[viraptor]

You can even use gnu/hurd, the way gnu/Linux naming was trying to be specific about. https://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/

[scruffyherder]

I recently found the archives for oskit and gnumach on oskit, but imagine my surprise that it won’t bootstrap lites...

I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been to get support in 94, but 2020?!