Hurd/L4 Developer Marcus Brinkmann Interviewed

wikinerd writes "A few years ago when the GNU OS was almost complete, the kernel was the last missing piece, and most distributors combined GNU with the Linux kernel. But the GNU developers continued their efforts and unveiled the Hurd in 1990s, which is currently a functioning prototype. After the Mach microkernel was considered insufficient, some developers decided to start a new project porting the Hurd on the more advanced L4 microkernel using cutting-edge operating system design, thus creating the Hurd/L4. Last February one of the main developers, Marcus Brinkmann, completed the process initialization code and showed a screenshot of the first program executed on Hurd/L4 saying 'The dinner is prepared!' Now he has granted an interview about Hurd/L4, explaining the advantages of microkernels, the Hurd/L4 architecture, the project's goals and how he started the Debian port to Hurd."

Comments

Ho ho

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sorry, but I find this funny.

1. "the GNU OS was almost complete, the kernel was the last missing piece" -- what?! The operating system is almost complete, oh, apart from the whole thing that does the operating of your computer of course.

2. "unveiled the Hurd in 1990s, which is currently a functioning prototype" -- so, ~15 years (fifteen years!) later, it's still a "functioning" prototype!?

I really hope that they have the last laugh.

Does anyone else think it's funny...

[xanatos367]

Does anyone else think its funny that every time he mentions linux he says "GNU/Linux", but he never once says "GNU/Hurd"?

Re:And how long have they been working on this?

[HawkingMattress]

I for one tend to think that Unix needs a major revamp if it wants to stay there in the years to come. It still works, it's clearly stuck in the past, and will die if it doesn't evolve. And as it is, it can hardly evolve... A microkernel is one step in the good direction.
But imho what is highly needed is to totally rethink Unix, remake it with the knowledge and insights we've gained in all those years. For example, it needs a real OO paradigm at the bottom of it. You can say what you want about OOP, but it's totally crazy to think having an OS today which isn't based on it. It is so much needed that C programmers reinvent it to make their software extensible, without realizing it. Anf of course, each one reinvent his own wheel. Then they go out and bitch about OOP...

Let's keep Unix simplicity, but have the simplicity be a layer on top of an extensible OOP paradigm. Or just let it die while others easily evolve...

Re:Yes but...

[rbarreira]

I bet that many dogs have already sniffed Uranus...