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Point one is valid, I guess, even though OpenBSD and even Linux are or can be made pretty secure.
Not sure what value point two has, it sounds more like preference than technical advantage.
An operating system can have its advantages and cool features, but you also need software and hardware support. A game console without games is pretty useless.
Linux, to pick one, has hardware support, software, documentation, "community" and a bunch of qualified experts. A company can implement Linux and be pretty sure it will work and if it breaks can find someone to fix it.
If Hurd comes alive my feeling is it will be much more difficult to make it useful and find experts on it. The ones you can find will probably be pretty expensive.
Is it worth all that trouble for the extra security and not being a UNIX clone? Organizations that require above average security usually have a lot of money. Why spend that on a "hobby" project and not get some hardcore Linux guru's and use Linux, which has proven itself over the years.
MOS6510,
"Why spend that on a 'hobby' project and not get some hardcore Linux guru's and use Linux, which has proven itself over the years."
Yes, the majority do choose that path, which reinforces the linux platform. Isn't it true that your criticisms of hurd would apply equally to any independent projects as well? Let me ask you, why does anyone bother building something different when there's already technology on the market that's been proven for years?
For me, the answer is that a technology landscape with the same players infinitum is boring... This is more of a mind exercise than a serious proposal, but I'd be extremely interested to see what we could build next if everyone just dropped linux and started from scratch with the benefit of the past 20 years of computers under our belts. What would be different?
Member since:
2005-07-08
Because Hurd is another approach to design micro-kernel operating systems:
- More security
- Not another UNIX clone
These two points alone are worth the further work some people might be willing to invest into Hurd.