Comment by monopoledance

5 years ago

Thanks for checking in. Makes me happy to see your excitement for learning the inner workings of things.

What do you think about other Rust OS projects like Redox?

https://www.redox-os.org/

10 comments

monopoledance

Reply
nuta  5 years ago

In addition to its huge contribution to OS development in Rust, as a microkernel enthusiast, it sounds exciting to writing a microkernel in Rust, in the "Everything is a URL" principle. Moreover, it can run a good-looking GUI on a real machines [1]! I know it's very hard to be realized.

Aside from Redox, I'd mention Tock [2], an embedded operating system. It introduces a novel components isolation using Rust's power. I believe this field is where Rust shines and am looking forward to seeing it in production.

[1]: https://www.redox-os.org/screens/ [2]: https://www.tockos.org

  • panick21_  5 years ago

    There are more good efforts, the BeTrusted guys are working on Xous, its a microkernel for a phone like device called the Precurser.

    https://github.com/betrusted-io/xous-core

    As a embedded service processor OS for a big server rack, Oxide Computer is working on 'HubrisOS'. They seem to have not released it yet, but that will be open sourced.

    https://github.com/oxidecomputer

    Those are two efforts where I know real resources are going into.

  • monopoledance  5 years ago

    Thanks for sharing!

    I have to say, I feel a bit “dirty” carrying so much unused and legacy code around with Linux, so I like people trying to reinvent the wheel just for the pleasure of a fresh start. For the aesthetics. Even if it’s merely a fantasy and not replacing anything soon, realistically. They are also keeping OS development accessible to new generations of geeks. The unfriendliness of C, the gigantic codebase and seemingly distinct culture make the Linux kernel quite off putting, filtering possible engagement by unfortunate parameters IMO. Novel OS development in Rust takes away at least some of those barriers and some of the gained knowledge may be applicable with the Linux kernel later.