On Monday 10. December 2018 09.02.57 Adam Van Ymeren wrote:
On December 10, 2018 8:48:56 AM EST, Hendrik Boom hendrik@topoi.pooq.com
wrote:
Just curious -- what microkernel systems are available to run on modern home computers just in case one is tired of Linux and wanting to try something else?
MINIX and GNU Hurd both exist and work. Hardware support isn't great however, might not work on the specific machine you have.
Dave may have mentioned this previously on this list, but here are his articles about trying out the Hurd:
"Exploring Alternative Operating Systems – GNU/Hurd" http://www.boddie.org.uk/david/www-repo/Personal/Updates/2016/2016-08-08.htm...
"Back to the Hurd" http://www.boddie.org.uk/david/www-repo/Personal/Updates/2017/2017-06-30.htm...
He also looked at Inferno, which isn't a microkernel-based system as far as I know, but it has some interesting characteristics:
"Exploring Alternative Operating Systems – Inferno" http://www.boddie.org.uk/david/www-repo/Personal/Updates/2016/2016-09-01.htm...
Another interesting general-purpose system is HelenOS:
This is apparently microkernel-based and should work on modern home computers.
My mini-rant a few days ago discussed a tentative revival of the Hurd using L4-related technologies. Although the Hurd eventually got going by using the Mach microkernel (also seen in OSF/1, IBM Workplace OS, NeXTSTEP, Mac OS X, and so on), there have always been things in it that have been regarded as less than satisfactory. As far as I know now, there are certain limitations that conspire to produce pathological system behaviour, and this appears to have been difficult to remedy:
https://www.sceen.net/the-end-of-the-thundering-hurd/
The principal reason given for no longer pursuing things like Hurd-on-L4 seems to be that "we already have GNU/Linux" and that device drivers would need writing, alongside the suggestion that people could instead be working on other, supposedly more urgent things. The latter suggestion should be ignored: if someone wants to work on operating system fundamentals, they aren't necessarily going to find working on PDF reader software satisfying, especially if no-one is likely to be paying them for their volunteering, anyway.
I'm not going to claim that writing device drivers, driver frameworks, filesystems, and all the other things are easy enough. However, they do seem to get written over and over again, in alternative operating systems (of which there are many if you start looking) and in the Linux world itself. Moreover, it should be a more approachable activity in the microkernel world precisely because drivers are normal programs, not glued-in parts of the kernel framework that are subject to continual churn.
My current perception of the weaknesses of various microkernel technologies is that their developers mostly seem to be chasing niches, not general-purpose computing. That may be making some people good money, but it doesn't necessarily help the average computer user. Indeed, with things like Intel Management Engine, it can actually be harmful to users instead.
Paul