News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily driver(Desktop/Laptop)?.

Re:Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily dri... by a-zA-Z on Tuesday April 11, 2017 @03:21PM (#14091493)
I think the point of a microkernel is that it strips away all but the barest elements needed to run a program. For example, if you're running a single program, you could possibly get rid of user permissions, the task scheduler and maybe everything to do with the file system. I don't think anyone would really want to lose those features in a desktop environment.

Although I think it would be very interesting if I were wrong :)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily dri... by davelnewton on Tuesday April 11, 2017 @03:28PM (#14091569)
The point of a microkernel is to keep the underlying structure small and uniform. What you put on top of the microkernel is what defines your operating environment--not whether or not it's a microkernel underneath.

For example, Gnu Hurd and Mach microkernel systems run a microkernel. OS X is a Mach-derived system, in fact, IIRC. NeXTSTEP was a microkernel, also Mach-based. Minix 3 is largely microkernel in nature.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Microkernel-based_ope...

(I ran QNX on a desktop for awhile, in fact, as well as more-normal ones.)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily dri... by a-zA-Z on Tuesday April 11, 2017 @08:17PM (#14093700)
Wow brain fart. I was thinking of a Unikernel, not a microkernel.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily dri... by davelnewton on Wednesday April 12, 2017 @07:41AM (#14096690)
Ah, yeah, that'd be different ;)
[ Parent | on HN ]