Redox microkernel written in rust

Tuba

Hello, i have been wondering lately. If i remember correctly, graphene os project planned on moving to microkernel design in the future. I have been following the development of Redox microkernel written fully in rust, i didnt think much of it until i saw something https://www.redox-os.org/news/rsoc-2023-eny-1/ it looks impressive and also would mean that redox would have a linux compatibility while still maintaining a microkernel design. Maybe should graphene os project show interest in redox? People working on seem rather friendly which is another plus.

Elk9877

Tuba

Linux compatibility is not Android compatibility though. I mean, not even Linux* is compatible with Android.

*To clarify: I mean GNU/Linux distributions, not the Linux kernel.

Ganipote

Yes, it's still in their roadmap to move away from Linux , and I agree that Redox OS looks impressive.

The fact that is it written in Rust, a safe langage, that eliminate a whole class of bugs (There are still some necessary unsafe, but they are a small known portion of the code) and the fact that it's an microkernel shows that security is an important value for the redox team unlike for Linux,

Globally they are open to discuss how to implement better security, and IMO GrapheneOS can help them in that. For exemple, they are right now thinking about how to implement better permission system and better Filesystem sandbox system. In return, Redox OS can be used by GrapheneOS instead of Linux, knowing that it's worth it.

One of the dev of Redox tried to invite the GrapheneOS creator to Redox in the past, so they are interested by GrapheneOS.

Redox OS is not mature at all right now, but in the long terme it will be incredible IMO. All the documentations of Redox
is here.

Tuba

Elk9877 That actually was kind of a point, let me explain, if i understand properly android is a modyfied linux (or an extension? in sorry in not that sure), redox is still not mature enough to be used daily by many, redox developers know that. They are in my opinion very talented so if graphene os project showed a sign of interest in them, i could see a future of those two projects working together (kinda like tor x firefox relationship?), as of right now they focus on servers/desktops, but so was linux at the start. @matchboxbananasynergy What is your opinion about that?

Ganipote

Elk9877 The kernel of Redox OS could replace the Kernel of Linux used by Android.

As said on the roadmap of GrapheneOS :

In the long term, GrapheneOS aims to move beyond a hardened fork of the Android Open Source Project. Achieving the goals requires moving away from relying on the Linux kernel as the core of the OS and foundation of the security model. It needs to move towards a microkernel-based model with a Linux compatibility layer, with many stepping stones leading towards that goal including adopting virtualization-based isolation.

Ganipote

Tuba Here you can see the architecture of android :
https://developer.android.com/guide/platform

AFAIK Android uses a Linux kernel (not the standard Linux kernel, but one adapted to the mobile), and that's it. There are missing libraries and GNU software compared to Linux distributions.