More precisely, the framework for building operating systems—this is the terminology preferred by the authors from Genode Labs.
This microkernel OS constructor supports several microkernels from the L4 family, the Muen kernel, and its own minimalist kernel, base-hw.
The developments are available under the AGPLv3 license and, upon request, a commercial license: https://genode.org/about/licenses
An attempt to create a version that can be used by someone other than microkernel development enthusiasts is called SculptOS: https://genode.org/download/sculpt
In this release:
- a complete overhaul of the graphical stack (which will allow for seamless driver restarts in case of failure in the future)
- improvements in Qt integration, allowing for partial porting of the Falkon browser (which clearly illustrates the degree of readiness of the OS for use by ordinary users)
- updates to the encryption subsystem (written in SPARK/Ada!)
- updates to VFS
- and many other enhancements
The features of this project can be summed up as follows:
- widespread use of XML as a configuration format—which may cause some idiosyncrasies among certain commentators
- a benchmark level of writing release notes and documentation—if all open projects adhered to such standards, life would be easy and wonderful
Overall, the project delights with regular releases, is actively and systematically developing, and looks very promising as an alternative to GNU/Linux in the bright microkernel future. Unfortunately, the absence of an Emacs port demotivates the author of the news from trying to delve deeper into the project's developments than just reading the documentation.
Source: linux.org.ru
