Subj : Re: OS Programmers
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Jeff Silverman
Date : Thu Aug 19 2004 07:04 am

On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 19:11:09 +0200, Wolfbyte wrote:

> So what are you saying ? Are you saying I could better
> try to make a good linux distro unless I know what I am doing ?

What I am saying is that unless you have an idea that makes your proposed
OS significantly better than anything else around, you should probably
direct your efforts to other projects which need help.  However, if you do
have an idea that you think is significantly better, then all of us would
really like to know what that idea is, how it would work, and why you
think it is better than anything hitherto available.  Remember that there
are a gadzillion person-hours invested in the Linux kernel.

Our next question, of course, would be something like "Gee, that's a great
idea - can we implement it in Linux?".

Now, there are some great ideas that just can't be implemented in Linux. 
For example, OpenVMS has a component of the OS called Record Management
Services, which allows record locking in the OS.  That can't be done in
Linux because Linux doesn't know what a record is.  Record locking in the
OS solves a whole bunch of problems, but it just ain't ever gonna happen
in Linux.


Sincerely yours,


Jeff Silverman



> 
> @STOPSPAMNOW.commercialventvac .com > wrote:
> 
>> Wolfbyte wrote:
>> 
>>> Are there any C/C++/Assembler programmers here ?
>>> Because i'm looking for programmers who are interested
>>> in writing a new OS. I don't have a name for it yet.
>>> So if there are any suggestions for a name give it a shot
>> 
>> 
>> I'm a C and assembler programmer.
>> 
>> Let me give you some advice.  Unless you have a pretty good idea about 
>> how to make an OS that is better than Linux, don't bother.  To be sure, 
>> linux has some faults (compatibility with the NTFS file system leaps to 
>> mind), but those can be fixed.   Work on Linux, instead.  Unless you 
>> have an idea for an OS that is significantly better - in which case we'd 
>> like to know what your idea is and why it is significantly better.
>> 
>> How will your OS be better than linux?  Will it run on platforms Linux 
>> doesn't run on (seems unlikely)?  Will it be more efficient (efficiency 
>> is the measure of how much RAM and CPU cycles are consumed by the OS to 
>> support running the applications).  Will it be easier to install?  Look 
>> at Hurd.  Hurd's been around for a while, and nobody uses it.
>> 
>> Remember that it isn't enough to build an OS; you also have to find 
>> applications to run under it.  Probably the easiest way to do that is to 
>> ensure that your OS is POSIX compliant.  But that isn't very 
>> challenging: Windows/NT is POSIX compliant.
>> 
>> Sorry to rain on your parade - I just think you are wasting time.
>> 
>> 
>> Jeff
>> 
>>

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