head to head · open source
homebridge vs operating-system
homebridge has 25,503 GitHub stars, 2,011 forks, 21 open issues and last shipped 26 days ago. operating-system has 7,492 stars, 1,293 forks, 95 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. homebridge leads on adoption by 240% (25,503 vs 7,492 stars). homebridge is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; operating-system is written in Python under Apache-2.0. homebridge has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, operating-system 17%. operating-system was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| homebridge | operating-system | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 26K | ★ 7.5K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Python |
| Last push | 2026-08-30 | 2026-09-23 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.0K | ⑂ 1.3K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick homebridge if
- You weight community size — 26K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick operating-system if
- You want the operating-system feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and operating-system fits your workflow better
About homebridge
Homebridge is a lightweight, free and open source Node.js server that emulates the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP) on a home network, so that smart home devices without native HomeKit support can be controlled through Apple's Home app and Siri.
read the full homebridge overview →
About operating-system
The Home Assistant Operating System is a Linux based operating system built specifically to host Home Assistant and its Apps, intended for people running Home Assistant on a single board computer such as a Raspberry Pi or ODROID, or on an x86 64 machine with UEFI firmware.
read the full operating-system overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is homebridge or operating-system more popular?
homebridge has 25,503 GitHub stars and operating-system has 7,492. homebridge has the larger community by that measure.
Are homebridge and operating-system free?
Both are open source. homebridge is licensed under Apache-2.0 and operating-system under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between homebridge and operating-system?
homebridge is written in TypeScript and operating-system in Python. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, homebridge or operating-system?
Choose homebridge if you want the larger community (25,503 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose operating-system if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.