Genode 13.08 Has Qt5, Multi-Processor Support

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Genode 13.08 Has Qt5, Multi-Processor Support

Version 13.08 of the Genode OS Framework is now available to mark the fifth anniversary of this open-source operating system framework project...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTQzNzc

[jayrulez]

Phoronix: Genode 13.08 Has Qt5, Multi-Processor Support

Version 13.08 of the Genode OS Framework is now available to mark the fifth anniversary of this open-source operating system framework project...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTQzNzc

Genode just keeps getting better with each release.

[doom_Oo7]

Benchmarks! Benchmarks!

[uid313]

So it is not an OS, it is an OS framework?
Well, who is using or will be using the framework?
It's not like everyone is making their OS and therefor need a framework for it, and those who do develop their own OS did it without any OS frameworks.

[Norman Feske]

So it is not an OS, it is an OS framework?
Well, who is using or will be using the framework?
It's not like everyone is making their OS and therefor need a framework for it, and those who do develop their own OS did it without any OS frameworks.

Genode is not an "OS" because it does not address end users directly. It is a technology that can be used as the fundament of an OS. If it were based on a monolithic OS architecture, you would probably call it "the kernel". But since it has a componentized architecture (i.e., following the microkernel approach), calling it "kernel" would be misleading as "kernel" would refer to the microkernel.

So how is the term "framework" justified? Well, an OS in a traditional sense is based on a particular kernel plus a set of userlevel abstractions. In Genode, the choice of the kernel and the userlevel abstractions is up to the user of the framework. For example, there are 7 different kernels to choose from, each with different pros and cons. Another example is that the use of POSIX is just an option, not a fundamental concept.

Regarding your questions about users: As of today, it is mainly used as a platform by industrial research groups. This includes the company behind its development, which uses it for conducting research consulting projects.

[doom_Oo7]

Is there any project for making a Debian/Genode ?

[uid313]

In Genode, the choice of the kernel and the userlevel abstractions is up to the user of the framework. For example, there are 7 different kernels to choose from, each with different pros and cons.

So can you run the Linux kernel?

I remember Apple had a project called MkLinux to run the Linux kernel on top of a Mach microkernel.

[Norman Feske]

Is there any project for making a Debian/Genode ?

Admittedely, it is intriguing to pursue such a project using Genode's Unix runtime (called Noux). I even had the chance to meet Samuel Tiebaut (who made Debian available to GNU Hurd) at FOSDEM this year. He kindly explained the steps he took, which sounded quite reasonable to apply for Genode as well. So far, however, nobody has kicked off real work in this direction.

[Norman Feske]

So can you run the Linux kernel?

I remember Apple had a project called MkLinux to run the Linux kernel on top of a Mach microkernel.

There are actually several way to combine Genode with Linux:

* Running Genode directly on the raw Linux kernel
* Running Genode on the Fiasco.OC microkernel and L4Linux as a user-level process on top (similar to MkLinux for the Mach kernel)
* Running Genode on the NOVA hypervisor, spawning a user-level VMM (called Seoul), which, in turn, executes an unmodified Linux kernel as guest OS

[Norman Feske]

There are actually several way to combine Genode with Linux:

* Running Genode directly on the raw Linux kernel
* Running Genode on the Fiasco.OC microkernel and L4Linux as a user-level process on top (similar to MkLinux for the Mach kernel)
* Running Genode on the NOVA hypervisor, spawning a user-level VMM (called Seoul), which, in turn, executes an unmodified Linux kernel as guest OS

I forgot to mention a 4th option (for ARM-based platforms):

* Running Genode on the "secure world" of ARM TrustZone, while running Linux in the normal world (this currently works for Freescale i.MX SoCs)