Sailfish OS

Sailfish OS
Company type	Commercial
Industry	Mobile operating system, Software
Founded	2013
Founder	Jolla
Headquarters	Finland
Products	Sailfish OS

Sailfish OS is a commercial Linux-based operating system created by the Finnish firm Jolla. It merges open source components like Mer with a proprietary graphical interface.

The operating system first appeared on the initial Jolla Phone in 2013. Although production of the handset ceased in 2016, software maintenance continued until 2020. Sailfish OS was also launched on the Jolla Tablet in 2015 and has been licensed to other manufacturers, such as India's Intex Technologies. Furthermore, members of the community have adapted Sailfish OS for various third-party smartphones and tablets. The platform supports multiple device categories, aiming at both mobile and general computing markets.

History and development

Sailfish OS represents an advanced evolution of the Linux-based MeeGo platform, which was originally developed through a collaboration between Nokia and Intel, merging the Maemo and Moblin projects. Approximately 80% of MeeGo's source code comprises the Mer core—where Mer stands for MEego Reconstructed. Jolla builds upon this foundation by adding a unique user interface and default apps. Both Jolla and MERproject.org operate under a meritocratic governance model to prevent challenges that contributed to MeeGo’s discontinuation.

Notable attributes of Sailfish OS include:

A more robust operating system core
Enhanced compatibility with Android applications
Support for ARM and Intel architectures, including Intel Atom x3, or any platform compatible with the MER core stack
User interface designed to integrate digital content providers and facilitate mobile commerce
Sophisticated multitasking capabilities, regarded as a competitive advantage
Wide-ranging customization options
Improved UI/UX featuring intuitive swipe navigation, better notifications, and event overview

Software architecture

Sailfish OS and its SDK are constructed on the Linux kernel and Mer. It incorporates a multitasking graphical shell named "Lipstick," developed by Jolla using Qt atop the Wayland display server. While Jolla utilizes open-source graphics drivers, it also employs the Hybris library to enable support for proprietary Android drivers.

Although Jolla mentioned intentions in 2015 to eventually make Sailfish OS fully open source, critical components have remained proprietary since its launch, including as of version 4.5.0.24 (September 2023).

The operating system supports running selected Android applications through a proprietary compatibility layer, broadening its application ecosystem and enhancing market appeal.

Targeted device classes

While primarily aimed at mobile devices, Sailfish OS inherits roughly 80% of MeeGo’s codebase, enabling it to function as a versatile Linux OS across numerous platforms such as in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), navigation systems, smart televisions, desktops, laptops, yachts, automotive electronics, e-commerce solutions, household appliances, measurement and control devices, and smart building technologies. Refer to the Devices section for detailed Sailfish OS implementations.

Sailfish OS SDK

The Sailfish OS SDK was introduced at the 2012 Slush Helsinki event with an alpha version released in February 2013. Despite the operating system not being fully open source, the SDK along with installation guides and programming tutorials is freely accessible via the Sailfish OS website.

This SDK utilizes Qt combined with VirtualBox to allow development, compilation, and full emulation—not mere simulation—of Sailfish OS inside a virtual machine. This setup enables developers to test their applications safely without affecting their host environment. Jolla asserts that software created using this SDK behaves identically when deployed on actual Sailfish OS hardware.

The SDK’s source code availability permits businesses and developers to modify and rebuild it according to specific requirements, enabling customized development environments ready from device startup. The SDK supports installation across Android devices as well as 32- and 64-bit Linux systems, macOS 64-bit editions, and Microsoft Windows platforms. It compiles software from Linux sources while supporting standard terminal operations with compatible binaries and libraries.

Application programming interfaces

Sailfish OS integrates open source Qt APIs (Qt 5, QtQuick 2) in conjunction with its exclusive Sailfish Silica UI framework. The Mer Core provides access to conventional Linux APIs.

To enhance cross-platform compatibility at the API level, Sailfish OS collaborates with Ubuntu and Plasma Active to standardize common APIs.

The default browser in Sailfish OS is built on Mozilla’s Gecko engine and utilizes embedlite (IPCLiteAPI), a streamlined embedding API, combined with proprietary elements.

Supported human languages in the UI

Jolla officially offers 14 user interface languages: Danish, German, English (UK), Spanish, French, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Chinese (mainland), and Chinese (Hong Kong). Each language is accompanied by a dedicated keyboard layout. Community efforts have expanded language support to over 20 languages overall. Thanks to the underlying Linux system, technically proficient users can install additional languages as needed.

Public "Early access" program for developers and beta testers

Following earlier limited preview releases, Jolla provides an "Early access" initiative that permits developers and experienced users to trial new versions 1–2 weeks prior to official release. This program encourages community participation in the development cycle, aids in detecting critical bugs on various devices, and allows developers to test their applications against forthcoming OS updates.

Highlights of the early access program include:

Designed for developers and advanced users.
Enrollment is managed through a checkbox within Jolla account settings.
Once opted out, reverting from early access builds requires a factory reset.
Builds are considered "reasonably stable," with known issues clearly documented.
Participation does not affect device warranty status.

This initiative aligns with Jolla’s strategic objective to cultivate a developer ecosystem by granting early release candidate access and facilitating enhanced feedback collection.

Release history

Sailfish OS employs three naming schemes: version number, update number, and a version name.

Version 1.0 releases were named after Finnish lakes.
Version 2.0 introduced support for the Jolla Tablet on x86 platforms along with a redesigned touch interface; names were derived from Finnish rivers.
Versions 3.0 and 4.0 featured a slightly refreshed UI and used names based on Finnish national parks.
Versions 4.1 through 4.5 incorporated 64-bit support for the Sony Xperia 10 II and introduced a new sharing mechanism; these releases were named after Finnish UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Software version	Initial release date	Name
v0.99.5	13 November 2013	Haaganlampi (developer release)
v0.99.6	11 November 2013	Idörpottarna (developer release)
v1.0.0	16 November 2013	Kaajanlampi (public launch)
v1.0.1	2 December 2013	Laadunjärvi ("Update 1")
v1.0.2	27 December 2013	Maadajärvi ("Update 2")
v1.0.3	27 January 2014	Naamankajärvi ("Update 3")
v1.0.4	11 March 2014	Ohijärvi ("Update 4")
v1.0.5	7 April 2014	Paarlampi ("Update 5")
v1.0.7	3 June 2014	Saapunki ("Update 7")
v1.0.8	3 July 2014	Tahkalampi ("Update 8")
v1.1.0	16 September 2014	Uitukka ("Update 9", opt-in upgrade)
v1.1.1	14 December 2014	Vaarainjärvi ("Update 10")
v1.1.2	1 February 2015	Yliaavanlampi ("Update 11")
v1.1.4	24 March 2015	Äijänpäivänjärvi ("Update 13")
v1.1.6	27 May 2015	Aaslakkajärvi ("Update 15")
v1.1.7	24 June 2015	Björnträsket ("Update 16")
v1.1.9	18 August 2015	Eineheminlampi ("Update 17")
v2.0.0	19 October 2015	Saimaa ("Update 18")
v2.0.1	12 January 2016	Taalojärvi ("Update 19")
v2.0.2	13 May 2016	Aurajoki ("Update 20")
v2.0.3	6 July 2016	Espoonjoki (Turing Phone exclusive)
v2.0.4	4 November 2016	Fiskarsinjoki ("Update 22")
v2.0.5	14 December2016	Haapajoki ("Update23")
v2.1.0	3 February2017	Iijoki ("Update24")
v2.1.1	15 May2017	Jämsänjoki
v2.1.2	20 September2017	Kiiminkijoki
v2.1.3	6 October2017	Kymijoki
v2.1.4	12 February2018	Lapuanjoki
v2.2.0	30 May2018	Mouhijoki
v2.2.1	31 August2018	Nurmonjoki
v3.0.0	29 October2018	Lemmenjoki
v3.0.1	2 January2019	Sipoonkorpi
v3..0..2	13 March2019	Oulanka
v3..0..3	23 April2019	Hossa
v3..1..0	15 July2019	Seitseminen
v3..2..0	24 October2019	Torronsuo
v3..2..1	5 December2019	Nuuksio
v3..3..0	1 April2020	Rokua
v3..4..0	22 September2020	Pallas-Yllästunturi (final Jolla Phone release)
v4..0..1	3 February2021	Koli
v4..1..0	10 May2021	Kvarken
v4..2..0	25 August2021	Verla
v4..3..0	28 October2021	Suomenlinna
v4..4..0	15 March2022	Vanha Rauma
v4..5..0	2 February2023	Struven Ketju
v4..6..0	20 May2024	Sauna
v5..0..0	24 February2025	Tampella

Stop releases

When upgrading Sailfish OS from earlier iterations, it is essential to install specific stop releases in the correct order to maintain system stability. These updates introduce critical features that are incompatible with older versions and must be applied before moving on to subsequent upgrades.

Software version	Release date	Name
v1.0.2.5	27 December 2013	Maadajärvi
v1.1.2.16	25 February 2015	Yliaavanlampi
v1.1.7.28	31 August 2015	Björnträsket
v1.1.9.30	22 October 2015	Eineheminlampi
v2.0.0.10	3 November 2015	Saimaa
v2.0.5.6	22 November 2016	Haapajoki (stop release for certain devices, such as Jolla C / Intex Aquafish)
v2.2.0.29	7 June 2018	Mouhijoki
v3.0.0.8	11 November 2018	Lemmenjoki
v3.2.0.12	5 November 2019	Torronsuo
v3.4.0.24	13 October 2020	Pallas-Yllästunturi
v4.0.1.48	16 February 2021	Koli
v4.1.0.24	27 May 2021	Kvarken
v4.2.0.21	16 September 2021	Verla
v4.3.0.15	16 February 2022	Suomenlinna
v4.4.0.72	30 September 2022	Vanha Rauma
v4.5.0.25	29 February 2024	Struven ketju
v4.6.0.15	20 September 2024	Sauna (final update for Jolla Tablet, Jolla C, Xperia X, Gemini PDA)

Porting

The official Sailfish website provides a comprehensive online repository featuring detailed instructions and support materials for porting the operating system onto a variety of hardware, facilitating expansion into new device categories and markets.

Running Android applications on Sailfish OS

Sailfish OS enables the execution of certain Android apps by installing them through app stores or directly via APK files, thereby broadening its software offerings and enhancing its competitive position.

The supported Android versions differ depending on the device:

Android 4.1.2 "Jelly Bean" on the original Jolla handset
Android 4.4.4 "Kit-Kat" on Jolla C, Jolla Tablet, Xperia X
Android versions 8.1 "Oreo," 9 "Pie," and 10 on Xperia XA2, Xperia 10, and Xperia 10 II

Some Android applications may encounter compatibility challenges if they do not adhere to standard control schemes.

Sailfish OS utilizes Alien Dalvik, a proprietary compatibility layer that adapts Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code to deliver native-speed app performance without emulation overhead, allowing smooth transitions between native Sailfish and Android applications.

Since the introduction of Alien Dalvik version 8.1 (marketed as "Android App Support"), security enhancements have been implemented through LXC-based containerization, similar to methods used by open-source projects like Anbox, thereby strengthening the platform’s security posture for both enterprise users and developers.

Mer standard benefits

operates seamlessly on any hardware compatible with Linux kernels that support the middleware layer provided by the Mer core. The community has successfully ported to numerous devices across different manufacturers and models. Instead of depending solely on dedicated reference hardware, development is also facilitated via a VirtualBox virtual machine integrated with the SDK, compatible with Linux, OS X, and Windows environments. This virtualization approach isolates from host system resources, allowing efficient testing and evaluation of software prior to deployment onto physical devices.

Jolla devices

Jolla Community Phone (software updates necessitate a paid subscription after 12 months on the C2 model):
- Jolla C – A special edition released in 2016 aimed at the Sailfish community and developers; support has since been discontinued.
- Jolla C2 – Serves as the Sailfish community’s reference device, with shipments commencing in 2024.
Jolla Tablet – A crowdfunded initiative that ultimately was not fulfilled.
Jolla Phone – The inaugural smartphone running Sailfish OS.

Third-party devices licensed with Sailfish OS

Device manufacturers may obtain licenses for either the open source or proprietary versions of Sailfish OS, often integrating their own or carrier-specific customizations and branding tailored to particular markets.

Sony Xperia 10 V – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia 10 IV – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia 10 III – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia 10 II – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia 10 Plus – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia 10 – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra – available through Sailfish X
Sony Xperia XA2 – available through Sailfish X
Planet Computers Gemini PDA – via Sailfish X (no longer receiving updates)
Sony Xperia X – via Sailfish X (no longer maintained)

Community-driven ports on devices from other manufacturers

Owing to its open source licensing and straightforward porting process, Sailfish OS has been unofficially adapted to a wide range of third-party hardware. The free Hardware Adaptation Development Kit facilitates these community efforts. Most of these ports are documented on forums such as Maemo and XDA Developers, with comprehensive listings maintained on the Mer wiki. Proprietary elements like the Alien Dalvik Android compatibility layer are excluded due to licensing restrictions but may be incorporated by manufacturers for official releases. Out of more than 80 original ports, approximately 19 continue active development as of March 2019, updated to Sailfish version 3, including:

Jolla has presented both official and community-developed ports at prominent industry events such as the Mobile World Congress, Slush, and FOSDEM. These demonstrations underscore Sailfish OS's versatility across various devices including:

The Nokia N950 and Nokia N9
Google Nexus lineup: Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 4, Nexus 5
Samsung Galaxy S3
Xiaomi Mi 2
TCL Idol X950
Fairphone 2
Sony Xperia X and XA2 series
Jolla Sailfish Watch
Planet Computers’ Gemini PDA
A feature phone resembling the Nokia 3310, likely the Chinese Kingsun EF33

These enthusiast-driven adaptations emphasize the strategic flexibility of Sailfish OS in broadening its presence beyond Jolla’s own hardware offerings.

OS development status

Sailfish OS is championed by Jolla and backed by the open Sailfish Alliance, which was established in 2011 to bring together OEMs, ODMs, chipset manufacturers, network operators, developers, and retailers. On 16 August 2012, Jolla's CEO Jussi Hurmola declared the user interface ready for launch as the platform made significant progress.

The next day, CEO Marc Dillon confirmed the achievement of the initial development milestone. Sailfish OS made its public debut at the Slush conference in Helsinki from 21 to 22 November 2012, where the operating system, user interface, and SDK were demonstrated via a worldwide internet broadcast. The alpha version of the Sailfish OS SDK became available for free download in February 2013.

On 16 September 2013, Jolla revealed that Sailfish OS would support Android applications and hardware compatibility. The first smartphone running Sailfish was released on 27 November 2013 through a temporary DNA Kauppa store in Helsinki, selling 450 units immediately with further shipments fulfilling preorders.

August 2015 saw the release of version 1.1.9 "Eineheminlampi," which introduced essential features of the revamped Sailfish OS 2.0 user interface. The official launch of Sailfish OS 2.0.0 coincided with the release of the Jolla Tablet, with updates made available for existing devices via official channels.

In May 2016, Jolla launched the Sailfish Community Device Program aimed at supporting developers and fostering growth within the Sailfish OS ecosystem.

Aurora OS

As part of its BRICS engagement strategy, Jolla collaborated with the Russian technology sector to promote Sailfish OS. On 18 May 2015, Russian Communications Minister Nikolai Nikiforov announced intentions to replace iOS and Android with a Sailfish-based operating system, aiming for domestic platforms to cover half of the market within ten years compared to the then-prevailing 95% dependency on Western systems. Initially named "Sailfish Mobile OS RUS," this Russian variant was renamed before 2019 to Mobile OS "Aurora" (мобильная ОС «Аврора»). Huawei entered negotiations with Russia’s Ministry of Communications to implement Aurora OS on tablets for use in the 2020 national census. However, Jolla ceased its business activities in Russia in 2021.

Sailfish Alliance

Founded by Jolla in 2011, the Sailfish Alliance was created to nurture the MeeGo ecosystem by encouraging development of products, services, and commercial opportunities centered on Sailfish OS—a Linux-based platform combining Mer with proprietary elements from Jolla and its partners. Positioned as an alternative to Android’s Open Handset Alliance, this alliance brings together OEMs, ODMs, chipset suppliers, network operators, developers, and retailers.

The alliance traces its roots to former Nokia employees supported by Nokia’s "Bridge" program who pursued innovative projects beyond Nokia’s scope. Its efforts have concentrated on collaboration between Finnish software developers and handset manufacturers abroad, especially in markets like China and India where there is demand for alternatives to Android. These regions serve as strategic grounds for expanding Sailfish’s ecosystem and device adoption.

Business strategy

The Alliance’s objective is to deliver distinctive value propositions and sustainable competitive advantages for OEMs, ODMs, chipset makers, operators, application developers, retailers, and other involved parties.

Sailfish Secure

Sailfish Secure represents a secure and open mobile platform built upon Sailfish OS, introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 2, 2015. Created through a collaboration between Jolla and SSH Communications Security, this platform integrates a security-enhanced version of Sailfish OS with SSH's advanced encryption and key management solutions.

Promoted as hardware-agnostic, Sailfish Secure enables governmental bodies and large enterprises to implement the platform on their chosen hardware while meeting specific security standards. This adaptability fosters partnerships with diverse security providers and permits extensive customization without dependence on particular devices or setups.

External links