Merge branch 'master' of 192.168.10.50:hurd-web

1 files changed, 33 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/faq/which_microkernel/discussion.mdwn b/faq/which_microkernel/discussion.mdwn
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ef3b915
--- /dev/null
+++ b/faq/which_microkernel/discussion.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+This version mixes up three distinct phases: rewrite from scratch; redesign;
+own microkernel.
+
+While Okuji initially might have intended a direct port of the existing Hurd
+code, by the time I started following Hurd development (2004 IIRC), it has been
+long clear that Hurd/L4 is a rewrite from scratch.
+
+The next phase was the desire of Neal and especially Macrus to completely
+reinvent the design of the Hurd. This was mostly fueled by Shapiro's influence,
+resulting in a security-above-everything rage. It was in this phase that not
+only the original L4 has been abandonend, but also all thoughts about using
+newer L4 variants (which might have been suitable) were forsaken in favor of
+Shapiro's Coyotos.
+
+The whole idea of redesigning the Hurd -- especially for security concerns --
+is highly controversial: I always strongly objected to it; and Marcus later
+admitted himself that he got carried away and lost sight of what really matters
+for the Hurd. (But only after realising that Shapiro's notion of high security
+is fundamentally incompatible with the GNU philosophy.) I opted for not
+explicitely mentioning this aspect in the FAQ at all, as it's impossible to
+explain properly in a compact form, and probably impossible at all to do it in
+an objective fashion.
+
+The final phase -- following the realisation of incompatibility with
+Shapiro/Coyotos -- was the attempt to create new microkernels specifically for
+Hurd's needs. Marcus abandonned his pretty soon, and never made it public, so I
+didn't mention it at all; but Viengoos is still relevant in certain ways.
+
+BTW, my original text also more explicitely answers the question what happened
+to the Coyotos port -- which after all is what the title promises...
+
+All in all, I still think my text was better. If you have any conerns with it,
+please discuss them...