LXer: GNU HURD

LXer · 06-30-2010, 03:40 PM

Published at LXer:

The HURD was meant to be the true kernel at the heart of the GNU operating system. The promise behind the HURD was revolutionary – a set of daemons on top of a microkernel that was intended to surpass the performance of the monolithic kernels of traditional Unix systems and in doing so, give greater security, freedom and flexibility to the users – but it has yet to come down to earth.

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H_TeXMeX_H · 07-01-2010, 02:53 AM

HURD was doomed ever since RMS decided to use the Mach microkernel as a starting point, even he admits it. Just let HURD die, and let us never hear of this failure again. Let HURD never be hurd of again !

pr_deltoid · 07-01-2010, 03:35 AM

I don't know much about it, but I've hurd of it.

rkelsen · 07-01-2010, 05:50 AM

With the hi-po hardware you can get these days, is the whole, "monolithic vs. micro kernel," debate still worth arguing?

H_TeXMeX_H · 07-01-2010, 06:03 AM

The line between them is no longer as distinct, newer kernels can have userspace I/O drivers:

Code:

  ┌───────────────────────── Userspace I/O drivers ─────────────────────────┐
  │ CONFIG_UIO:                                                             │  
  │                                                                         │  
  │ Enable this to allow the userspace driver core code to be               │  
  │ built.  This code allows userspace programs easy access to              │  
  │ kernel interrupts and memory locations, allowing some drivers           │  
  │ to be written in userspace.  Note that a small kernel driver            │  
  │ is also required for interrupt handling to work properly.               │

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...-structure.svg

Jeebizz · 07-01-2010, 08:28 AM

I agree with H_TeX, why are we even still talking about HURD? If people still want microkernel then see Minix. HURD is just too far behind and deprecated to be worth working on. Let it die already.

brianL · 07-01-2010, 08:32 AM

This thread has exceeded its pun limit.

pr_deltoid · 07-01-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

The GNU Hurd is under active development. Because of that, there is no stable version. We distribute the Hurd sources only through CVS at present.

I've never hurd of anyone calling a project under active development dead without winking.

H_TeXMeX_H · 07-01-2010, 08:52 AM

It's not dead, it's undead.

easuter · 07-01-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

It's not dead, it's undead.

Well if movies have taught us anything it's that the undead, although slow and stupid, can still be a force to reckon with.
Especially if you're up against a hurd of them. (sorry brianL, couldn't resist it

).

brianL · 07-01-2010, 10:45 AM

I've hurd...uh, read enough puns now, thank you very much! If I was a Mod I'd ban you all!!!

brianL · 07-01-2010, 10:52 AM

Forgive them, St IGNUcius,, they know not what they do.

XavierP · 07-01-2010, 10:53 AM

Could still happen!

pr_deltoid · 07-02-2010, 04:19 AM

I've read enough about it to know that it's been some kind of effort for years now and the effort hasn't led anywhere yet, but maybe there's a chance of something being made out of it. It seems pretty likely that I'd end up using Linux or something else anyways, though.