3 ms·

> However on the N64 you don’t need any of the benefits that a micro kernel offers while you do need to preserve as many clock cycles as you can. So a micro ker

> However on the N64 you don’t need any of the benefits that a micro kernel offers while you do need to preserve as many clock cycles as you can. So a micro kernel isn’t well suited for that specific domain How come that Nintendo decided to use them (according to reverse engeneering finds)? If they are not suited, then Nintendo should know that right?

laumars 6y ago
I’ve answered this question probably half a dozen times already now.... The N64 doesn’t run any OS. It’s just firmware that invokes a ROM which runs bare metal. The Switch, however, does have an operating system. There is around 20 years difference between the two games consoles. That’s 20 years of Moore’s law. 20 years of consumer expectations of fast processors and fancier graphics. And 20 years of evolution with developer tooling and thus their expectations. You cannot compare the two consoles in the way you’re trying to. It’s like comparing a 1920s racing car to a 2020s F1 car and asking why they are so different. Simply put: because technology has advanced so much in that time it’s now possible to do stuff that wasn’t dreamt of before.
- tutfbhuf 6y ago
  Ah okay, I somehow thought that Nintendo had used microkernels on other devices too, not just the Switch. The Nintendo Switch is certainly not a constrained device.
  - laumars 6y ago
    It’s theoretically possible they may have done on other devices too. It’s believed the Switch system software is derived from the DS system software. I’ve not seen any breakdowns on what kernels are running in the DS nor on the Wii family of devices either. But there still orders of magnitude more powerful than the N64 too. I don’t think there’s much to be gained in speculation about proprietary operating systems running on newer hardware though.

3 ms·

> However on the N64 you don’t need any of the benefits that a micro kernel offers while you do need to preserve as many clock cycles as you can. So a micro ker

by tutfbhuf 6y ago

laumars 6y ago
I’ve answered this question probably half a dozen times already now.... The N64 doesn’t run any OS. It’s just firmware that invokes a ROM which runs bare metal. The Switch, however, does have an operating system. There is around 20 years difference between the two games consoles. That’s 20 years of Moore’s law. 20 years of consumer expectations of fast processors and fancier graphics. And 20 years of evolution with developer tooling and thus their expectations. You cannot compare the two consoles in the way you’re trying to. It’s like comparing a 1920s racing car to a 2020s F1 car and asking why they are so different. Simply put: because technology has advanced so much in that time it’s now possible to do stuff that wasn’t dreamt of before.
- tutfbhuf 6y ago
  Ah okay, I somehow thought that Nintendo had used microkernels on other devices too, not just the Switch. The Nintendo Switch is certainly not a constrained device.
  - laumars 6y ago
    It’s theoretically possible they may have done on other devices too. It’s believed the Switch system software is derived from the DS system software. I’ve not seen any breakdowns on what kernels are running in the DS nor on the Wii family of devices either. But there still orders of magnitude more powerful than the N64 too. I don’t think there’s much to be gained in speculation about proprietary operating systems running on newer hardware though.