Extend and add a new section ``Hurd on a modern microkernel''.

1 files changed, 45 insertions, 9 deletions

diff --git a/contributing.mdwn b/contributing.mdwn
index 0d66980e..a1ef2496 100644
--- a/contributing.mdwn
+++ b/contributing.mdwn
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license
 is included in the section entitled
 [[GNU_Free_Documentation_License|/fdl]]."]]"""]]
 
-So, you are interested in contributing to the GNU/Hurd effort?
+So, you are interested in contributing to the GNU Hurd effort?
 
 Welcome!  Every single contribution is very much encouraged!
 
@@ -21,22 +21,58 @@ Please read about [[how_to_contribute_to_this_wiki|wiki]].
 
 # The system itself
 
-First thing to do then is to get access to a GNU/Hurd system.  Installing
+There are essential two kinds of Hurd system designs.
+
+
+## Hurd on Mach
+
+For one there's the implementation of the *[[Hurd]] running on the
+[[GNU_Mach_microkernel|microkernel/mach/gnumach]]*.  This is what is commonly
+meant when people are talking about GNU/Hurd systems.
+
+This system has mostly been designed and implemented [in the
+'90s](http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/history.html).  It works and is usable.
+For example, this wiki system [is running on a GNU/Hurd
+system](http://www.bddebian.com/cgi-bin/uptime).
+
+You can try it out for yourself: for getting access, installing
 [[Debian_GNU/Hurd|hurd/running/debian]] will probably be the easiest and most
 feature-complete solution.  If you don't have spare hardware to use for doing
 so, you can also get a
 [[shell_account_on_a_public_Hurd_machine|public_hurd_boxen]].  Depending on the
 things you're going to work on (and on your internet connection), this may be
-an easy way of getting used to Hurd systems.
+an easy way of getting used to Hurd systems.  Installing in a virtual machine
+is another possibility, see the page about
+[[running_a_Hurd_system|hurd/running]] for the full story.
 
 Then you can either play around and eventually strive to do something
 useful or -- if you want -- ask us to assign something to you, depending
 on the skills you have and the resources you intend to invest.
 
-See <http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/devel.html> for details,
-<http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/docs.html> for documents,
-<http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/> in general and also this whole wiki, of
-course.
+Please spend some time with thinking about the items in this [[questionnaire]].
+
+For more reading resources, please see this whole wiki, and also
+<http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/devel.html>,
+<http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/docs.html> for links to a bunch of documents,
+and <http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/> in general.
+
+
+## Hurd on a modern microkernel
+
+Developers [[have_identified|critique]] a number of problem with the *Hurd on
+Mach* system.  Problems, that can not easily be fixed by bug-fixing the
+existing code base, but which require design changes -- deep going ones
+actually.
+
+As such systems (as the desired one) are not in common use, but are -- if at
+all -- research projects, this new *Hurd on a modern microkernel* project
+itself is more a research project than a *sit down and implement/code/hack*
+project.
+
+If you're interested in contributing in this area, knowing the *Hurd on Mach*
+system nevertheless is a prerequisite.  At least have a deep look at the
+documentation pointers given in the previous section.  Also read through the
+[[HurdNG|hurd/ng]] section of this wiki.
 
-Also, please spend some time with thinking about the items in this
-[[questionnaire]].
+Please send email to the [[mailing_lists/l4-hurd]] mailing list for discussing
+this post-Mach system design.