Darrell Blake <dazblake [at] btinternet.com> writes: > Hi, > > I was reading linux format today and reading up about the GNU Hurd (which > Richard Stallman hopes to get sorted by the end of the year). It bothered me > a little, maybe just because I know so little about it, but is this going to > be a whole different unix-like kernel or is there gonna be only slight > differences like the difference between the BSD and Linux kernels? Whole different unix-like kernel. Well, not all that unix-like, it's got some... pretty unusual stuff under the hood. There will be a unix-like layer on top of it. In basic architecture, it's noticeably more different than the difference between the BSD and Linux kernels. > Linux does have a head start but is a micro kernel better than a > monolithic kernel? A question that has plagued mankind since god > knows when. For what the hurd is trying to do, a micro kernel is necessary. For what Linux is trying to do, a monolithic kernel is better. > I read about Stallman's dreams about the Hurd in Rebel Code (amazing > book btw) but I though he gave up work on it after Linus got in > first. I mean, he's been working on the Hurd for quite some time now > for it to be the first release before the end of the year. Linux does seem to capture more kernel hackers, possibly due to it's first-mover advantage. > My fears are that Linux will be forgotten, Hurd will be used by the > best of the best (just because it's Stallman's work) and anyone that > uses Linux will be classed as "lame". Unlikely.... There's as many people out there who hate Stallman as admire him. Generally, if you're looking for, well, a unix clone, you'll be better served with Linux. The Hurd will (hopefully) have more gee-whiz features. Which one people will prefer in the long run's an open question. > I guess only time will tell this. I suppose in the end, it can only > be a good thing that there are more unix clones (as long as they > don't do what HP, Sun and the rest did and make their own > "standards"). Given that both are using the GNU C library, it's unlikely too much incompatibility will arise :) -- Eric E. Moore
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