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Torvalds on the Microkernel Debate

diegocgteleline.es writes "Linus Torvalds has chimed in on the recently flamed-up (again) micro vs monolithic kernel, but this time with an interesting and unexpected point of view. From the article: 'The real issue, and it's really fundamental, is the issue of sharing address spaces. Nothing else really matters. Everything else ends up flowing from that fundamental question: do you share the address space with the caller or put in slightly different terms: can the callee look at and change the callers state as if it were its own (and the other way around)?'"

15 of 607 comments (clear)

  1. pfff by Umbral+Blot · · Score: 4, Funny

    pfff, Linus, what would he know?

  2. Now that would be nice by Bombula · · Score: 2, Funny
    can the callee look at and change the callers state as if it were its own

    Any chance we could do this with my long distance phone service?

    --
    A-Bomb
  3. This really wouldn't be an argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny


    If the Linux kernel had have been coded using Forth.

    Just saying.

  4. Re:Windows is monolithic by Mostly+a+lurker · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, are Microsoft's problems with Windows Vista because it is based on a micro, a monolithic, or a hybrid kernel?

  5. Re:Windows is monolithic by Vo0k · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because it's based on a huge, monstrous monolithic microkernel.

    --
    Anagram("United States of America") == "Dine out, taste a Mac, fries"
  6. Linus? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Who the hell is Linus Torvalds and why should I care what he has to say about kernal programming? Does he even have a degree in computer science?

  7. Monoliths are eminently marketable by Frodo420024 · · Score: 2, Funny

    What's the problem with monoliths, that they are supposed to be less marketable? Ever since 1968, Monoliths have been doing great!

    --
    I'm in a Unix state of mind.
  8. Re:Windows is monolithic by maxwell+demon · · Score: 2, Funny

    But do they have a monolithic management or micromanagement?

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  9. Re:Linus Quote - "not arguing against it at all" by mgessner · · Score: 3, Funny

    Only a really, *really* incompetent idiot would write such a server which blocked until the read was finished.

    This sounds like a veiled reference to something; would you care to name it?

    --
    "Sometimes the truth is stupid." - Lawrence, creator of Prime Intellect
  10. Re:Obvious by Slashcrap · · Score: 4, Funny

    While neither NT nor Mac OS X are true microkernels, the architecture of both is strongly inspired by microkernel ideas.

    What exactly does "inspired" mean in this case? I am "inspired" by John Holmes but that doesn't mean I have a 12" cock does it?

    If you talk to kernel programmers, most will express a high degree of respect for the NT kernel, which is based on the DEC VMS kernel. It mostly the poor design of systems that sit on top of the kernel that has earned Windows its reputation.

    So, did VMS have a graphics subsystem in the kernel as well? Also can you provide some examples of kernel experts praising the NT kernel for its microkernel properties? Thanks in advance.

  11. Re:Multiple-processes: micro vs monolithic by Intron · · Score: 5, Funny

    I see you are also a fan of monolithic posts.

    This micro-post shows a division into seperable units.

    Using message passing, I can efficiently communicate this to you.

    Note that other readers may be reading different sections of my post while you read this one.

    This section of my post never has to access internal structures of the other sections. In fact, I could have written each section in any order. Feel free to reorder them yourself.

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  12. Re:Code talks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    You say it's pointless to argue semantics, yet you go on to argue semantics. Good show!

  13. Re:Linus Quote - "not arguing against it at all" by ticklemeozmo · · Score: 2, Funny

    NFS.

    1) [root@compy1 /mnt/]$ mount compy2:/share /mnt/compy2
    2) Unplug cable (power or network) to COMPY2
    3) [root@compy1 /mnt/compy2]$ ls -la

    It will be done right when Duke Nukem: Forever finishes installing.

    --
    When modding "Informative", please make sure it both has a source and IS actually informative.
  14. Sigh... by nomego · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't really give a fork.

  15. Re:Multiple-processes: micro vs monolithic by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2, Funny

    Q) Why did the multithreaded chicken cross the road?
    A) the other side. To get to

    Q) Why did the multithreaded chicken cross the road?
    A) get to the other side. To

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;