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Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

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Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#31

Post by spenczar5 »

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #26
spenczar5 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, but that doesn't seem to really be using Plan9, at least to me. Networked access seems so fundamental to Plan9 that running it in a sandbox seems like trying out a car with all the tires removed. I'm interested in hearing what it's like to use it more seriously; my biggest doubts are around collaborating with people on conventional OSes.

Qemu allows full network access. It's a very porous "sandbox"

Maybe I misunderstood Plan9, but I figured that if remote services aren't speaking 9P then everything would be a bit kludgey. Like, using Acme on local files which you push up to Github seems to be somehow against the spirit of Plan9. I suppose you could just use it like any other Unix-like OS, but what's the point?

I think I'm convincing myself in this thread that it's not for me - but of course I think it's great that others are using it, I don't want to sound too negative.

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#32

Post by pjmlp »

bitwize wrote: post #30
pjmlp wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed, we need more such projects to clean our industry from non believers. Alef for Plan 9 was going to be GC based, and even though it went in another way, Inferno and Limbo clearly fix that error.

Go itself is pretty much Alef 2.0

It could have kept dynamic loading and pick types from Limbo, though.

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#35

Post by exitb »

spenczar5 wrote: post #21
exitb wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That question makes no sense really. It’s like asking whether camping can be as practical as living in a proper house - maybe for some people, but generally, that’s just not the point.

If that's the analogy, then I think the question is certainly answered for me! "Practical isn't the point" seems pretty similar to "no, it's not generally practical."

I think there’s an interesting clue in the fact that the entire 9front has less lines of code than Go, which this browser depends on. And that includes two web browsers already shipped with the system! Yes, there are ways to force Plan 9 into something it isn’t, but fundamentally starting from the assumption that you want it replace your daily driver is not going to work out.

If you’re interested in it, set it up on a Raspberry Pi, connect to it with drawterm from your daily driver. Experiment with adding a second machine, netbooting it as a CPU server etc. That way you’ll look at Plan 9 from the point of its strengths, not weaknesses.

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#36

Post by nurettin »

spenczar5 wrote: post #6

I fully acknowledge that Plan9 had a cool vision, maybe a superior one to the world we’ve got. But is it practical as an operating system for day to day use, particularly when working with other people using conventional Linux/Mac/Windows?

I have witnessed dozens of people making vague statements about how awestruck they are with plan9's vision, and I've always wondered what exactly they mean.

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#37

Post by ghostly_s »

johnnyjeans wrote: post #11
spenczar5 wrote: post #6

I fully acknowledge that Plan9 had a cool vision, maybe a superior one to the world we’ve got. But is it practical as an operating system for day to day use, particularly when working with other people using conventional Linux/Mac/Windows?

As with everything else, it depends on who you are and what you do. Email, typesetting, remote shells are all well within the bounds of what workflows work great out of the box.

Typesetting? the linux-centric FOSS world has failed to produce a serious type-setting application for going on 30 years now, what's the offering here?

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#38

Post by prmoustache »

spenczar5 wrote: post #24
pram wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's trivial to get running in qemu if you're really curious.

Sure, but that doesn't seem to really be using Plan9, at least to me. Networked access seems so fundamental to Plan9 that running it in a sandbox seems like trying out a car with all the tires removed. I'm interested in hearing what it's like to use it more seriously; my biggest doubts are around collaborating with people on conventional OSes.

There is an image for raspberry pi. I guess that can be a good way to force yourself into it. Just make sure to have vnc access to a linux, mac or windows computer if you need it for work too.

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#39

Post by SllX »

eshack94 wrote: post #33

Serious question: What is Plan 9? Can someone explain or send me some docs to read? Thank you!

Someone already answered, but as some follow up reading I recommend this collection of documents: http://doc.cat-v.org/plan_9/

Re: Opossum: Cross-platform web browser written in Golang, optimized for Plan 9

#40

Post by euclaise »

ghostly_s wrote: post #37
johnnyjeans wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As with everything else, it depends on who you are and what you do. Email, typesetting, remote shells are all well within the bounds of what workflows work great out of the box.

Typesetting ? the linux-centric FOSS world has failed to produce a serious type-setting application for going on 30 years now, what's the offering here?

Just troff and TeX
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