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Schemix - A Scheme In The Linux Kernel
Phs2501 writes "Schemix is a Scheme running in the Linux kernel. It presents /dev/schemix to send Scheme forms to, and has extensions to read and set (C) kernel variables, call kernel functions, and make devices. If you've wanted to prototype your drivers in a high-level language that's 100% in the kernel, here you go."
Long have C people rallied behing it for all uses simply because it can (and usually should) be used for writing drivers or kernels, even when the application in question is a desktop GUI app.
No longer does that argument apply- Schemix could be a great tool for those without a prejudice against Lispish languages who want to develop drivers or learn about the kernel. The value of an interactive environment cannot be understaed in the realm of learning, debugging, and development. I imagine this could be especially useful with kernel development, where debugging can be a bit harder than the usual user-space app.
Naturally, for most drivers, you'll end up converting or compiling the code to C from Scheme, but I imagine there are some situations where straight-up Scheme would perform fine. From what I can tell, Schemix itself doesn't include an implementation of a Scheme->C compiler, but I bet some wrappers for one of the many Scheme compilers could be written to allow folks to write, develop and debug drivers/kmods in in Scheme, and when you're all ready to deploy, compile to C.
Let's hope this sort of thing is the future of development- the lucky of us out there have been doing this for desktop development with Smalltalk and Lisp systems for quite a while.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
Intriguing. I bet this could be useful for making a nice active firewall, instead of using iptables or a kernel module for the netfilter hooks. It should be interesting to see what ideas come of this.
The ocean parts and the meteors come down
Laid out in amber, baby.
When will the python version be released or the perl version and don't forget ruby? This reminds me of Script-Fu for Gimp. Lots of people didn't want to work in Scheme so a number of other scripting languages were plugged in. Most didn't do very much but Gimp:Perl is now quite robust. I wonder if this will fire up a flame war over scripting languages for interfacing with the Linux kernel.
Now all we need is for RMS to reimplement Emacs in Scheme, then we can put Emacs in the kernel, and then finally the UNIX-HATERS people might be happy!
-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
Then, some other people implement a shell and several command line utilities in Emacs Lisp (EShell).
Then some other people implement a Scheme system inside the Linux kernel.
Secret long-term goal: create a self-sufficient Emacs (codename Emax) that boots, thus obtaining the One True OS! :-)
"Between strong and weak, between rich and poor [...], it is freedom which oppresses and the law which sets free"
Yes, and to counter the Emax movement, we'll have VIMIX!
Thus the inevitable debate continues...
...reimplement Emacs in Scheme...
Been done: Edwin.
It came with TI PC-Scheme in the mid-80s.
Google it, you might find a copy in the wild.
-I like my women like I like my tea: green-
..I know you guys think the developer section is secure, just wanted you to know you got at least one non coder lurker. I usually have NO IDEA whatsoever is being talked about, but after around a year now (didn't register for a long time)at least some of the jargon is comprehensible. Not much, but some.
So this is a good idea, huh?
OK, lamer question. If you had never coded anything before, what language would you start with, and why?