> Has anyone tried GNU-Mach and GNU-Hurd?

At a version level of 0.2? 

> I didn't have time to have a look myself, but I am willing to see a 
> replacement of Linux kernel where one does not have to recompile, for 
> example, to activate the FrameBuffer, to add devices or to many other 
> things (I admit I haven't read much about the PAMs).

Me too. And I bet Stallman would like to too. But currently Hurs is just
still not up to the task...

Interprocess communication in a true microkernel architecture is a drag
though (simply a question of overhead you generate if you send messages
instead of directy talking to the hardware).

> NT is microkernel too, in my understanding it's a little advantage over 
> Linux at this moment (?).

Woah, hang on: NT uses a modified microkernel. Process Manager and Virtual
Memory Manager for example are not seperate processes (as they should be in
a "true" microkernel architecture) and communicate using function calls
instead of messages. 

Advantage: better performance (pretty relative value if you look at NT
though...). 
Disadvantages: when last did you have your blue screen of death? There you
go. Shouldn't happen if it really was a microkernel...

NT showcases that while the microkernel architecture sounds good with its
modularised design, overhead leads to a lack of performace, so in all
practical ways you probably are not exactly going conform to the microkernel
architecture.

And as that introduces back the problems you wanted to avoid, question is
how far you will get with a pure microkernel architecture for your OS?

Look at it this way: although Hurd has been developed since 1983, we are at
a yet not very usefull version 0.2 now. Linux is being worked on since 1991
in comparison...

To me this looks as if the microkernel architecture is an idealistic dream
that just lacks that knack of practicality. But you're right, it *WOULD* be
cool, if it'd work fast enough to be practical.

> Aitor

Gerard

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