QEMU
QEMU (Quick Emulator) is an open-source machine emulator and virtualizer that allows users to run operating systems and programs for one machine on a different machine. It supports full system emulation for various CPU architectures (e.g., x86, ARM, RISC-V) and hardware virtualization using KVM on Linux hosts for near-native performance. QEMU is widely used for development, testing, and running virtual machines in cloud and embedded environments.
Developers should learn QEMU when they need to emulate or virtualize different hardware architectures, such as for cross-platform development, testing software on multiple systems, or running legacy operating systems. It is essential for embedded systems work, kernel development, and cloud infrastructure where virtual machines are deployed, as it provides flexibility and isolation without requiring physical hardware.