I'm a middle aged +, amateur user/enthusiast. So, I'm really asking. Lastly, I wonder if the Linux kernel is like the Weasley house in Harry Potter i.e. kind of a monster with parts on top of parts , with the whole being more unruly and although functional is a bit of an unruly mess at this point that doesn't resemble anything like a good overall design like a good "new" house could be. Again, just asking. Most of this is well beyond my understanding.
Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
1–10 of 15 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#2More seriously, I believe the historical challenge with microkernels for Unix(-like) operating systems was the performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel.
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#3Maybe it could be called Mach ( https://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/mach/public/www/mach.h... ) :) More seriously, I believe the historical challenge with microkernels for Unix(-like) operating systems was the performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel.
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#4Maybe it could be called Mach ( https://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/mach/public/www/mach.h... ) :) More seriously, I believe the historical challenge with microkernels for Unix(-like) operating systems was the performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel.
"performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel" is this still a large issue from the point of view of a desktop/laptop i.e. less embedded or other low power systems?
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#5Maybe it could be called Mach ( https://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/mach/public/www/mach.h... ) :) More seriously, I believe the historical challenge with microkernels for Unix(-like) operating systems was the performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel.
or SeL4 https://sel4.systems/ or Sculpt https://genode.org/download/sculpt
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
or SeL4 https://sel4.systems/ or Sculpt https://genode.org/download/sculpt
I had to look and skim to re-familiarize myself with SeL4. It's and older project that really never made it, from just a quick glance. It seems to basis or at least inspirational to more modern kernels. From the wiki, that seems to include Redox. I couldn't find much about sculpt, but it was submitted to distrowatch in 2018 and is still under the "not ready" section of their waiting list. I don't think there is reall…
I'm not using it more, because I didn't want to touch my installation, because it flies like a mad bat out of hell :-)
But having a look, clicking around, while having the documentation available, trying things, enjoying it, can be done easily by live-booting it from USB.
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#7Maybe it could be called Mach ( https://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/mach/public/www/mach.h... ) :) More seriously, I believe the historical challenge with microkernels for Unix(-like) operating systems was the performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel.
First thanks for the response. "performance hit taken when transitioning from the user processes to the microkernel" is this still a large issue from the point of view of a desktop/laptop i.e. less embedded or other low power systems?
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
or SeL4 https://sel4.systems/ or Sculpt https://genode.org/download/sculpt
I had to look and skim to re-familiarize myself with SeL4. It's and older project that really never made it, from just a quick glance. It seems to basis or at least inspirational to more modern kernels. From the wiki, that seems to include Redox. I couldn't find much about sculpt, but it was submitted to distrowatch in 2018 and is still under the "not ready" section of their waiting list. I don't think there is reall…
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
or SeL4 https://sel4.systems/ or Sculpt https://genode.org/download/sculpt
I had to look and skim to re-familiarize myself with SeL4. It's and older project that really never made it, from just a quick glance. It seems to basis or at least inspirational to more modern kernels. From the wiki, that seems to include Redox. I couldn't find much about sculpt, but it was submitted to distrowatch in 2018 and is still under the "not ready" section of their waiting list. I don't think there is reall…
Re: Ask HN: Is it a good time for microkernel *nix OS
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
or SeL4 https://sel4.systems/ or Sculpt https://genode.org/download/sculpt
I had to look and skim to re-familiarize myself with SeL4. It's and older project that really never made it, from just a quick glance. It seems to basis or at least inspirational to more modern kernels. From the wiki, that seems to include Redox. I couldn't find much about sculpt, but it was submitted to distrowatch in 2018 and is still under the "not ready" section of their waiting list. I don't think there is reall…