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The Great Microkernel Debate Continues

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.'"

10 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)

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    stuff |
    1. 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
    2. 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
    --
    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 ;)

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

    Old articles for nerds. Stuff that mattered.

  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

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    HexaByte - he's a square and a half!
  8. 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.

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    If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.