Huawei makes divorce from Android official with HarmonyOS NEXT launch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

OS Architecture & Technical Aspects

  • HarmonyOS NEXT is described as a microkernel, multiserver OS, apparently distinct from Linux and traditional Android.
  • Kernel reported as ~90k LOC in a restricted C subset, with >1M LOC of decoupled services assembled per-device.
  • Uses mechanisms like SELinux, seccomp, namespaces and a custom “capability system” for IPC and access control.
  • Some discussion whether it’s derived from Minix 3 or greenfield; links to Huawei’s OSDI slides suggest a non-Minix, non-Unix-like design.
  • App languages include C/C++, Java, ArkTS, Rust, and Huawei’s own languages, but it’s unclear which are implementation vs app SDK languages.

Break from Android & Comparison to Fuchsia

  • HarmonyOS NEXT drops Android app support, making it more than an Android skin.
  • Several see this as existential for Huawei after US sanctions and loss of Google Play/Services.
  • Comparisons to Google’s Fuchsia: some argue Fuchsia stalled as an internal career project with limited deployment; others say it has no strong business case yet.
  • Some think Harmony could end up “better than Linux” for certain devices; others expect shortcuts and security holes due to single-vendor hardware+OS pressure.

China-First Strategy & App Ecosystem

  • Huawei currently targets China only; outside China, lack of local apps, language barriers, and banking/government apps are seen as blockers.
  • In China, super-apps (WeChat, Douyin, etc.) and state promotion are expected to drive adoption; some claim most domestic firms will adapt.
  • Outside China, many doubt smaller market share justifies ports, especially for critical apps like payments and IDs.

Security, Surveillance & Trust

  • Strong concern that a closed, state-aligned Chinese OS deepens surveillance; others counter that Western OSes and US-aligned corporations also surveil heavily.
  • Some argue users can at least “choose their spyware,” preferring to avoid Chinese vendors; others say everyone spies, distinctions are marginal.

Developer Experience & Openness

  • OpenHarmony exists as an open-source base, but HarmonyOS NEXT itself is seen as more proprietary. Relationship between them is somewhat unclear.
  • Multiple comments criticize Huawei’s onboarding, documentation, and dev portals as painful, especially for non-Chinese speakers.

Wider Impact & Geopolitics

  • Sanctions are framed as having forced Huawei (and China broadly) to innovate toward self-sufficiency in OSes, chips, and PCs.
  • Some welcome a third major mobile/desktop platform and more global OS competition; others stress this mainly benefits China and has uncertain impact on US interests.