Redox OS just got a new release! I’m quite surprised how far they managed to get, given that only a handful of people are working on this project (compared to the Linux kernel).
Now, I’m curious what it would take to get bigger players to focus on this project. Given the recent Linux + Rust drama, it would surprise me if the backers of Rust for Linux would not give this project some attention.
leisesprecher@feddit.org 2 months ago
None of this drama affects those people who could reasonably be expected to support any OS.
Maybe a handful disgruntled devs will look into Redox, but ultimately, it’s a toy project without any real use case. Not that that’s bad, but it’s not exactly the best motivation to invest your free time into.
dinckelman@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Linux was a toy project without any use. Anything starts as a project without any use.
People want to work on it, and they’re putting effort in. If it’s not for you, that’s great. Just move on then
leisesprecher@feddit.org 2 months ago
Linux filled a gap. There was hardly any way to get something unixy running on commodity hardware.
What gap does Redox fill? What’s its USP? Just being written in rust can’t be it.
andrew0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I see your point. However, integrating Rust properly in the Linux kernel is an uphill battle. Redox OS is not at all close to being stable, but it showcases that you can build a Rust kernel from scratch, and integrate it into an OS that meets some of the requirements of a modern one. Of course, considering it a toy project and glancing over its potential doesn’t help with adoption. They even mention in their description that currently they can only support a community manager and a student developer with the current donations. When you compare that to the amount of money and developers involved in the Linux kernel, it’s insignificant.
I was not suggesting that the Rust For Linux devs jump ship, but it could be beneficial for the investors behind the project to look at alternatives. Heck, the Linux kernel started as a toy project itself. I believe that a team focused solely on such a Rust-only kernel could spearhead needed changes to reach something stable, as opposed to investing time and money into fighting established C developers to integrate a memory-safe language in the kernel fully.
leisesprecher@feddit.org 2 months ago
But why?
Which company can justify the expense for an esoteric OS with probably just philosophical benefits?
Google maybe, they have Fuchsia, but that’s also completely in their control.
Linux is not perfect, but for most companies and products, absolutely fine.