High Performance Linux Kernel Project — LinuxDNA 173
Thaidog submits word of a high-performance Linux kernel project called "LinuxDNA," writing "I am heading up a project to get a current kernel version to compile with the Intel ICC compiler and we have finally had success in creating a kernel! All the instructions to compile the kernel are there (geared towards Gentoo, but obviously it can work on any Linux) and it is relatively easy for anyone with the skills to compile a kernel to get it working. We see this as a great project for high performance clusters, gaming and scientific computing. The hopes are to maintain a kernel source along side the current kernel ... the mirror has 2.6.22 on it currently, because there are a few changes after .22 that make compiling a little harder for the average Joe (but not impossible). Here is our first story in Linux Journal."
It's a Bad Idea. (Score:4, Funny)
You see, I'm a consultant and am paid by the hour.
Re:GCC compatibility - Time to move to Java? (Score:5, Funny)
They should think about moving to a Java kernel. They could just bootstrap one of the new, clever "Just-In-Time" Virtual Machines at powerup.
These JVMs are able to dynamically optimize the running code in real-time, far beyond what could be achieved by C or C++ compilers, without any performance degradation.
A Java kernel would likely run at least 50 times faster then the very best hand coded assembler - and since the language is completely type-safe and doesn't implement dangerous legacy language features such as pointers or multiple-inheritance then it would be unlikely to ever crash.
Re:It's a Bad Idea. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:GCC compatibility (Score:3, Funny)
GCC itself is rather prolific... Is there any noteworthy platform that it doesn't already support?
Commodore 64?
Re:GCC compatibility (Score:3, Funny)
Re:GCC compatibility - Time to move to Java? (Score:4, Funny)
A Java kernel would likely run at least 50 times faster then the very best hand coded assembler
I'm going to have to agree with you here. However with all the major browser producers concentrating on JavaScript speed recently, I'd say it's much better to use JavaScript instead of plain Java. Think about it, JavaScript is where the speediness is. Also, since almost every browser supports it, you could just boot the kernel using any browser. This could potentially get the kernel out of the hands of that bunch of self-righteous, elitist Linux hackers who are currently totally disconnected from users like you and I.~