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The Great Microkernel Debate Continues

Posted by Zonk on from the tiny-issues dept.

ficken writes "The great conversation about micro vs. monolithic kernel is still alive and well. Andy Tanenbaum weighs in with another article about the virtues of microkernels. From the article: 'Over the years there have been endless postings on forums such as Slashdot about how microkernels are slow, how microkernels are hard to program, how they aren't in use commercially, and a lot of other nonsense. Virtually all of these postings have come from people who don't have a clue what a microkernel is or what one can do. I think it would raise the level of discussion if people making such postings would first try a microkernel-based operating system and then make postings like "I tried an OS based on a microkernel and I observed X, Y, and Z first hand." Has a lot more credibility.'"

18 of 405 comments (clear)

  1. crickets by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Funny

    And now, cue thousands of replies from people who have personally created microkernels and have sensible observations to make on their validity as a base for an OS...

    (crickets)

    --
    stuff |
    1. Re:crickets by trolltalk.com · · Score: 3, Funny

      And now, cue thousands of replies from people who have personally created microkernels and have sensible observations to make on their validity as a base for an OS...
      ... Linus Torvalds ...
      --
      Kevin Smith on Prince
    2. Re:crickets by Dancindan84 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah. Slashdotters are being asked to:
      1) RTFA
      2) Have first hand knowledge of the subject
      3) Make a reasoned, non-biased post/article on the subject

      Talk about a dead end.

      --
      "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde
    3. Re:crickets by Dread+Roberts · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, the Linux kernel used to be smaller...

  2. And another debate goes on. by AltGrendel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Haven't we dealt with this before?

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

  3. hmmmm... by William+Robinson · · Score: 4, Funny
    Over the years there have been endless postings on forums such as Slashdot about how microkernels are slow, how microkernels are hard to program, how they aren't in use commercially, and a lot of other nonsense. Virtually all of these postings have come from people who don't have a clue what a microkernel is

    Hmmm....he must be new here ;)

    --
    hilarious
  4. Old News by j_kenpo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thats great.... the article is dated May 12, 2006. Is it still "news" if its "old news"?

    1. Re:Old News by Random+BedHead+Ed · · Score: 4, Funny

      Old articles for nerds. Stuff that mattered.

  5. Re:Which one? by metamatic · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm guessing that Andy Tannenbaum might want you to take a look at MINIX 3.

    That's just a wild stab in the dark, though.

    --
    GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
  6. Re:Tag this article... by mouko · · Score: 5, Funny

    only a matter of time before someone puts a vi vs emacs spin on it, since we haven't had that shoutfest for a while either. Not a chance. Everyone knows that emacs is for little girls, anyway.
  7. Linus is right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I am with Linus on this one. Of course.
    I firmly believe not to be on Linus' side of the debate is treacherous

  8. Ok, here is my experience... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I tried an OS (QNX) based on a microkernel and I observed first hand that it would not run my windows-based games (not even Solitaire!).

  9. Re:Tag this article... by Ricochet · · Score: 2, Funny

    only a matter of time before someone puts a vi vs emacs spin on it, since we haven't had that shoutfest for a while either. Not a chance. Everyone knows that emacs is for little girls, anyway. (Yeah it's flame bait, but I'd like a little fun ...)

    Yeah emacs may be for little girls but this 'little girl' can kick you're butt. Let's take this outside ... owie, owie, bright thing in the sky burns the eyes, it burns the eyes. ;-)
    --
    Neil Cherry - Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
  10. Like jump-rope by Tony · · Score: 4, Funny

    For little girls, and big fuck-off boxers.

    (With pardons to Eddie Izzard.)

    --
    Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
  11. Re:Which one? by jonas_jonas · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm gonna get tarred and feathered for this but...
    no, but tarred and gzipped? ;-)
  12. Re:Tag this article... by HexaByte · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, I think that writing complaints about Slashdot dupes is best done on emacs when your OS has a monolithic kernel, and on vi when using a micro kernel.

    --
    HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
  13. Re:Tag this article... by fbartho · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you had used emacs you wouldn't have messed up that quote block!

    --
    Gravity Sucks
  14. Can he stick the landing? by Bluesman · · Score: 4, Funny

    And he tries for the flame war trifecta...NO GOOD! Oh, you hate to see that when they work so hard to prepare for the big game.

    Still, two flame wars in one sentence is nothing to scoff at, which is why the artistic score will be high. However, the judges really wanted to see some sort of garbage collection vs. malloc/free or even an Intel/AMD mention. That could cost him the gold.

    Let's see what the rest of the competitors have to offer.

    --
    If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.