On Thu, Sep 10, 2015, at 18:40, Gernot Heiser wrote:
> IIUC, this doesn’t change our existing kernel or libsel4 code, does it?
> If it doesn’t, then it clearly should be maintained as a separate project.
> 

Right. I hand-ported the syscall interface for x86 and then noticed that a 
bunch of it was generated from the XML with some Python, so I'm writing some 
Python to also generate the Rust syscall interface and other APIs.

> Our preferred mode for such projects is that where we think they add valuable 
> pieces to the seL4 ecosystem (both in terms of functionality as well as 
> quality) we’ll either package with or refer from our “contributed” directory, 
> but have them independently maintained. It’s great to see that this is 
> starting to happen.
> 
> However, you’re not the only one working on Rust on seL4, specifically there 
> is a group of students in my Advanced OS class that are building their OS in 
> Rust. I’ll point them to this, maybe we can integrate the result.
> 

The syscall interface will certainly be portable, at least. I can also get a 
seL4 target into Rust upstream, which should make it somewhat easier to use, 
for example, Cargo unmodified. I've worked with and on Rust a lot (including 
working for Mozilla on it two summers ago), so if you have any Rust-related 
questions or requests feel free to go to me either through email or on IRC (cmr 
on irc.mozilla.org).

> We’ve also been debating internally with project partners on whether Rust 
> should be a recommended user-level language (which would mean that some of 
> our toolchains would be re-targeted for Rust). No decision has been made yet, 
> but the size and liveness of the Rust community is an important 
> consideration, and your work is an indication that this is definitely worth 
> considering.
> 

I've been stirring up a fair amount of interest in seL4 in the Rust community 
(especially the #rust-crypto IRC channel) as well as in the open source labs at 
my university (http://cslabs.clarkson.edu/pages/cosi/). There's five of us 
right now with varying levels of knowledge with the intent to implement a POSIX 
compliant userland directly on seL4 (instead of eg paravirtualizing Linux). I 
can send a formal introduction to the project at a later date if you wish, with 
the project timeline and scope.

-- 
/cmr

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