Re: L4Hurd at Sourceforge

[Farid Hajji]

> > I have created a new project at sourceforge called "l4hurd" aimed at
> > getting the Hurd to run using the L4 microkernel.
> 
> IMHO we should use savannah (savannah.gnu.org) instead of sourceforge.
IIRC, Hurd developers used sourceforge.net to avoid legal hassle w.r.t.
FSF documents. Before sources can be merged to savannah, the should be
legally transferred to the FSF with real papers. Using sourceforge was
just an anti-burocratic measure. But ask Marcus or others who set up
the sourceforge hurd project for exact reasons. I'm no expert here.

> I really dislike fiaco because it is written in C++, IMHO C is better for
> a microkernel and the GNU Coding Standards also recommends using C. Hazelnut
> uses a few bytes of C++ which are easy to remove AFAICS, so it's a
> better choice if you ask me. Writing an own L4 variant is also option.
I disagree here. Wether L4 uses C++, C or assembler(s) is IMHO irrelevant,
as long as we keep using the C-Bindings of its public API. There will be
quite a few L4 implementations on a wide range of CPU architectures,
maintained by different research groups. IMHO it would be best to use
their experience with L4 and that we keep using the common API (w.r.t.
C-bindings).

I don't think that spawning a GnuL4 right now would be a good idea.
L4 itself has not stabilized yet, and we can expect a new API soon,
that will take into account SMP and other environments. Changes regarding
user-level scheduling, real-time aspects etc. are also being worked on.
It would be impossible for us to keep GnuL4 in-sync with those new
environments/developments.

People at Karlsruhe (L4Ka/Hazelnut) have shown interest to closely cooperate
with l4-hurd developers, and Michael Hohmuth (Dresden/Fiasco) is also
making (or willing to make) very useful contributions concerning the
device driver framework. I see no reason why we should fork off
something here that we don't have the expertise to maintain (don't
even think about evolving).

Please don't be offended by this. I'm not trying to put that idea down.
I'm just realistic enough to believe in distributed development here,
especially since members of the Karlsruhe and Dresden teams are showing
interest in the l4-hurd effort and are certainly willing to closely
cooperate with us here.

> Jeroen Dekkers

-Farid.

-- 
Farid Hajji -- Unix Systems and Network Admin | Phone: +49-2131-67-555
Broicherdorfstr. 83, D-41564 Kaarst, Germany  | address@hidden
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