Torvalds on the Microkernel Debate

diegocgteleline.es writes "Linus Torvalds has chimed in on the recently flamed-up (again) micro vs monolithic kernel, but this time with an interesting and unexpected point of view. From the article: 'The real issue, and it's really fundamental, is the issue of sharing address spaces. Nothing else really matters. Everything else ends up flowing from that fundamental question: do you share the address space with the caller or put in slightly different terms: can the callee look at and change the callers state as if it were its own (and the other way around)?'"

pfff

[Umbral Blot]

pfff, Linus, what would he know?

Now that would be nice

[Bombula]

can the callee look at and change the callers state as if it were its own

Any chance we could do this with my long distance phone service?

This really wouldn't be an argument

[Anonymous Coward]

If the Linux kernel had have been coded using Forth.

Just saying.

Re:Windows is monolithic

[Mostly a lurker]

So, are Microsoft's problems with Windows Vista because it is based on a micro, a monolithic, or a hybrid kernel?

Re:Windows is monolithic

[Vo0k]

Because it's based on a huge, monstrous monolithic microkernel.

Linus?

[Anonymous Coward]

Who the hell is Linus Torvalds and why should I care what he has to say about kernal programming? Does he even have a degree in computer science?

Monoliths are eminently marketable

[Frodo420024]

What's the problem with monoliths, that they are supposed to be less marketable? Ever since 1968, Monoliths [imdb.com] have been doing great!

Re:Windows is monolithic

[maxwell demon]

But do they have a monolithic management or micromanagement?

Re:Linus Quote - "not arguing against it at all"

[mgessner]

Only a really, *really* incompetent idiot would write such a server which blocked until the read was finished.

This sounds like a veiled reference to something; would you care to name it?

Re:Obvious

[Slashcrap]

While neither NT nor Mac OS X are true microkernels, the architecture of both is strongly inspired by microkernel ideas.

What exactly does "inspired" mean in this case? I am "inspired" by John Holmes but that doesn't mean I have a 12" cock does it?

If you talk to kernel programmers, most will express a high degree of respect for the NT kernel, which is based on the DEC VMS kernel. It mostly the poor design of systems that sit on top of the kernel that has earned Windows its reputation.

So, did VMS have a graphics subsystem in the kernel as well? Also can you provide some examples of kernel experts praising the NT kernel for its microkernel properties? Thanks in advance.

Re:Multiple-processes: micro vs monolithic

[Intron]

I see you are also a fan of monolithic posts.

This micro-post shows a division into seperable units.

Using message passing, I can efficiently communicate this to you.

Note that other readers may be reading different sections of my post while you read this one.

This section of my post never has to access internal structures of the other sections. In fact, I could have written each section in any order. Feel free to reorder them yourself.

Re:Code talks

[Anonymous Coward]

You say it's pointless to argue semantics, yet you go on to argue semantics. Good show!

Re:Linus Quote - "not arguing against it at all"

[ticklemeozmo]

NFS.

1) [root@compy1 /mnt/]$ mount compy2:/share /mnt/compy2
2) Unplug cable (power or network) to COMPY2
3) [root@compy1 /mnt/compy2]$ ls -la

It will be done right when Duke Nukem: Forever finishes installing.

Sigh...

[nomego]

I don't really give a fork.

Re:Multiple-processes: micro vs monolithic

[Hal_Porter]

Q) Why did the multithreaded chicken cross the road?
A) the other side. To get to

Q) Why did the multithreaded chicken cross the road?
A) get to the other side. To