Exploring GNU/Hurd – The lost operating system
A Road Not Taken
Debian GNU/Hurd is not ready for everyday use. Several years are probably needed for it to reach that moving goal post technically, assuming it ever does. Meanwhile, the Hurd's instability and incomplete documentation mean that trying it can be challenging even for experienced users. You have to persevere to get to the interesting aspects.
Still, if you have any interest in kernels and operating systems, exploring Debian GNU/Hurd might be worth your effort. You probably won't come away with any strong opinion on the microkernel vs. monolithic debate, simply because the painfully basic and only tentatively stable Hurd is going to suffer in any comparison with the sophistication of a recent Linux Kernel. But, if nothing else, you should come away with a useful sense of other possibilities.
Infos
- GNU Hurd: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/
- Minix: http://www.minix3.org/
- Debian GNU/Hurd: http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/
- Debian GNU Hurd 2013 Release: http://bits.debian.org/2013/05/debian-gnu-hurd-wheezy.html
- Torvalds, Linus, and David Diamond. Just for Fun. HarperBusiness, 2001
- Hybrid Kernel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_kernel
- Haiku: http://www.haiku-os.org/
- Dragonfly BSD: http://www.dragonflybsd.org/
- GNU Mach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Mach
- DDE Toolkit: http://wiki.tudos.org/DDE/DDEKit
- GNU Hurd FAQ: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/faq/software.html
- Debian Installer CD:http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/hurd-cd
- Hurd Help: http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/help-hurd/
- Debian GNU/Hurd 2013 Threads: http://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/2013/07/threads.html
- Hurd Documentation: https://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/documentation.html
- Hurd Translators: http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/hurd-doc-translator
- settrans command: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/users-guide/using_gnuhurd.html#Invoking-settrans
- showtrans command: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/users-guide/using_gnuhurd.html#Invoking-showtrans
- fsysopts command: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/users-guide/using_gnuhurd.html#Invoking-fsysopts
- Translator Examples: http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/hurd-doc-translator#examples
- sub-Hurd: http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd/subhurd.html
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Endless OS 6 has Arrived
After more than a year since the last update, the latest release of Endless OS is now available for general usage.
-
Fedora Asahi 40 Remix Available for Macs with Apple Silicon
If you've been anticipating KDE's Plasma 6 for your Apple Silicon-powered Mac, then you're in luck.
-
Red Hat Adds New Deployment Option for Enterprise Linux Platforms
Red Hat has re-imagined enterprise Linux for an AI future with Image Mode.
-
OSJH and LPI Release 2024 Open Source Pros Job Survey Results
See what open source professionals look for in a new role.
-
Proton 9.0-1 Released to Improve Gaming with Steam
The latest release of Proton 9 adds several improvements and fixes an issue that has been problematic for Linux users.
-
So Long Neofetch and Thanks for the Info
Today is a day that every Linux user who enjoys bragging about their system(s) will mourn, as Neofetch has come to an end.
-
Ubuntu 24.04 Comes with a “Flaw"
If you're thinking you might want to upgrade from your current Ubuntu release to the latest, there's something you might want to consider before doing so.
-
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 24.04
After a brief pause because of the XZ vulnerability, Ubuntu 24.04 is now available for install.
-
Linux Servers Targeted by Akira Ransomware
A group of bad actors who have already extorted $42 million have their sights set on the Linux platform.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.