What happens to our digital tools if society breaks down? A small group of forward-thinking programmers is working on an answer. According to a recent Wired article by Tiffany Ng, Canadian programmer Virgil Dupras has been developing special operating systems that could keep technology alive after a global collapse.
Dupras started a project called Collapse OS in 2019. This special computer system is designed to run on salvaged electronics that people might find in a post-apocalyptic world. Later, in 2022, he began work on an improved version called Dusk OS.
What is Forth? The Tiny but Mighty Programming Language
Both systems use a special programming language called Forth. Chuck H. Moore created Forth back in the late 1950s. Unlike the complex programming languages used today, Forth is extremely simple and efficient.
Forth is what’s called a “stack-based” programming language. Think of it like a stack of plates – you can only add or remove from the top. This might sound limiting, but it makes the language incredibly efficient with very little memory. It’s like cooking a feast with just a few basic ingredients and tools.
The language was first used at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to make star calculations run faster. Today, programmers like Dupras see it as the perfect tool for a world with limited resources.
Collapse OS: Computing After the Fall
Collapse OS is designed for one main purpose: to help people program microcontrollers after society breaks down. Microcontrollers are like tiny computers that run specific devices – they’re in everything from toys to washing machines.
The system has less than 10,000 lines of code – that’s like a short book compared to the 30 million lines in the Linux operating system many computers use today. This small size means it can run on very simple, old hardware that might still work after a collapse.
Most importantly, Collapse OS can “self-replicate” – meaning it can copy itself to other computers. This feature would help preserve computing knowledge even if most technology stops working.
Dusk OS: The Next Evolution
In 2022, Dupras started working on Dusk OS, which takes the ideas from Collapse OS even further. This newer system focuses on “permacomputing” – a way of using computers that’s sustainable for the long term.
Permacomputing means using technology mindfully, with less waste and more respect for resources. It’s like the difference between fast food and growing your own garden – one is convenient but wasteful, the other takes more care but can last much longer.
Dusk OS works on more types of hardware and aims to create a healthier relationship with technology, even in a post-apocalyptic world.
Modern Computing vs. Apocalypse-Ready Systems
The difference between today’s computers and these survival systems is enormous:
| Characteristic | Today’s Computers |
|---|---|
| Energy Use | Modern computing eats up 1-2% of all global electricity – about 200-300 terawatt-hours yearly (a terawatt-hour is enough power to run millions of homes for an hour) |
| Hardware Needs | Today’s programs need powerful processors and gigabytes of memory |
| Complexity | Modern operating systems have millions of lines of code |
| Supply Chains | Our current technology depends on complex global manufacturing that would collapse in a crisis |
By contrast, Collapse OS can run on 8-bit microcontrollers (simple chips similar to those in 1980s computers) with less than 1 kilobyte of RAM (about 1/1,000,000th of the memory in today’s smartphones).
The People Behind Post-Apocalyptic Computing
Virgil Dupras isn’t alone in this work. Devine and Rek, a pair of programmers who live on a boat in the Northern Pacific, are also exploring these ideas.
These programmers see that our modern technology is extremely vulnerable. It depends on complex supply chains, massive energy use, and specialized knowledge that could be lost in a major crisis.
By creating systems that can run on scavenged parts and teaching low-level programming skills, they hope to preserve humanity’s technological knowledge through whatever challenges might come.
Why This Matters for Everyone
Even if you never write a line of code, these projects highlight something important: our digital world is more fragile than we think. The complex technology we depend on daily requires a stable society to maintain it.
The work of Dupras and others reminds us to think about technological resilience. What skills and tools would still be useful if our complex systems stopped working? How can we build technology that lasts and serves human needs without consuming so many resources?
Whether or not the apocalypse comes, these questions about simpler, more sustainable computing might help us build better technology for our future.
