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Ask HN: Anyone here using a microkernel OS as a daily driver(Desktop/Laptop)?
- a-zA-Z 9y agoI think the point of a microkernel is that it strips away all but the barest elements needed to run a program. For example, if you're running a single program, you could possibly get rid of user permissions, the task scheduler and maybe everything to do with the file system. I don't think anyone would really want to lose those features in a desktop environment. Although I think it would be very interesting if I were wrong :)
- davelnewton 9y agoThe point of a microkernel is to keep the underlying structure small and uniform. What you put on top of the microkernel is what defines your operating environment--not whether or not it's a microkernel underneath. For example, Gnu Hurd and Mach microkernel systems run a microkernel. OS X is a Mach-derived system, in fact, IIRC. NeXTSTEP was a microkernel, also Mach-based. Minix 3 is largely microkernel in nature. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Microkernel-based_operating_systems https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Microkernel-based_ope... (I ran QNX on a desktop for awhile, in fact, as well as more-normal ones.)
- a-zA-Z 9y agoWow brain fart. I was thinking of a Unikernel, not a microkernel.
- davelnewton 9y agoAh, yeah, that'd be different ;)