Qubes is an open-source operating system designed to provide strong security for desktop computing using **Security by Compartmentalization** approach. Qubes is based on Xen, the X Window System, and Linux, and can run most Linux applications and utilize most of the Linux drivers. Qubes **Release 1** was released in September 2012 and **Release 2** in September 2014. Qubes also supports Windows-based AppVMs beginning with Release 2 (currently in "Beta"). Qubes **Release 3** is coming soon and will introduce **Hypervisor Abstraction Layer (HAL)**, allowing easy porting to alternative virtualization systems.
- [Architecture Overview](/doc/QubesArchitecture/), and also the more recent: [Why Qubes OS is more than a bunch of VMs?](http://www.invisiblethingslab.com/resources/2014/Software_compartmentalization_vs_physical_separation.pdf)
-`Aug 10, 2015` Qubes OS 3.0 rc2 LiveUSB (alpha) has been released! [announcement](https://groups.google.com/d/msg/qubes-users/IQdCEpkooto/iyMh3LuzCAAJ)
-`Jul 31, 2015` Qubes OS 3.0 rc2 has been released! [announcement](https://groups.google.com/d/msg/qubes-users/jw9CdQepMPE/95HQDF6QBwAJ)
-`Oct 19, 2014` LinuxCon EU 2014 slides: [keynote](http://www.invisiblethingslab.com/resources/2014/LinuxCon_2014_Qubes_Keynote.pdf) and [tutorial](http://www.invisiblethingslab.com/resources/2014/LinuxCon_2014_Qubes_Tutorial.pdf)
-`Sep 26, 2014`**Qubes OS R2** has been released! [announcement](http://blog.invisiblethings.org/2014/09/26/announcing-qubes-os-release-2.html)
-`Aug 06, 2014` Qubes OS R2 rc2 has been released! [announcement](http://blog.invisiblethings.org/2014/08/06/qubes-os-r2-rc2-debian-template-ssled.html)
-`Jul 16, 2014` Qubes Wiki now uses a CA-signed SSL cert (but you might also want to [read](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/qubes-users/LsDpKnwN6w8) also why this is mostly irrelevant)
-`Jul 03, 2014` ITL to present on Qubes OS at LinuxCon Europe: a keynote by Joanna Rutkowska and hands-on training by the core dev team! [conference website](http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon-europe)
-`Apr 12, 2014` [Article about Qubes OS](https://pressfreedomfoundation.org/blog/2014/04/operating-system-can-protect-you-even-if-you-get-hacked) by the [Freedom of the Press Foundation](https://pressfreedomfoundation.org/about/board)
-`Mar 28, 2014` [Article about Qubes OS](http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2014/03/computer-security) in The Economist
-`Feb 16, 2014` Qubes OS selected as a finalist of Access Innovation Prize 2014 for Endpoint Security Solution [announcement](https://www.accessnow.org/blog/2014/02/13/endpoint-security-prize-finalists-announced?utm_content=buffere803e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
-`Dec 11, 2013` Qubes OS R2 Beta 3 has been released! [announcement](http://blog.invisiblethings.org/2013/12/10/qubes-r2-beta-3-has-been-released.html)
-`Nov 26, 2013` Windows 7 seamless GUI integration coming to Qubes OS! [article](http://blog.invisiblethings.org/2013/11/26/windows-7-seamless-gui-integration.html)
-`Jun 21, 2013` Qubes OS R3 Alpha preview: Odyssey HAL in action! [announcement](http://blog.invisiblethings.org/2013/06/21/qubes-os-r3-alpha-preview-odyssey-hal.html)
