diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | contributing.mdwn | 54 |
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. |