Something I've been hoping for for years now[1], is a good "istance os". By this I mean a super-stripped down linux or bsd kernel + userland, or alternately a f

Something I've been hoping for for years now[1], is a good "istance os". By this I mean a super-stripped down linux or bsd kernel + userland, or alternately a few heavily customized task based OS (or both). Instead of a full OS for each application instance, you use and Instance OS. This will have the bare minimum functionality to do the task it was intended for (caching, database, app server, pub/sub broker, whatever), and the actual app itself. OS and app tuning parameters can be passed via the kernel command line, and the instance just does its job. Instances get launched and live in VMs - and you can log/console, etc via VM manager utilities, and combined with a decent tool-chain, it should be easy to just build/launch a new instance as needed just like you would with an app anyway[2]. I see this sort of paradigm as a huge benefit to PaaS vendors, anyone running their own platforms/server clouds, and even just IT shops trying to keep Biff from doing stupid things. [1] unfortunately I don't have the time to focus on this, nor do I have the skillset required (yet). [2] Or use good development practices, and run your app in a regular OS instance for most development/debugging and then do final stages in the limited environment before deployment in that env... just like you should be doing anyway :)