Is Genode a microkernel OS?
The Genode OS architecture is designed for minimal trusted computing bases (TCBs?), which can be achieved with microkernel and/or hypervisor-based operating systems. In other words: Yes, the Genode OS framework naturally bases on a microkernel. Currently, it only runs on L4ka::Pistachio and L4/Fiasco.
What has libsdl to do with operating systems? How is it used by the Genode OS Framework?
Our chosen development platform for Genode was Linux. So why don't facilitate Linux as our first target platform?
Genode runs on the Linux kernel and facilitates libsdl as device backend in the fb_sdl driver. All components beside core and the drivers only depend on platform-independent interfaces (e.g., Framebuffer) and, hence, are a priori portable.
Furthermore, the port of libSDL to Genode is work in progress.
Is Genode POSIX compliant?
No, currently Genode does not provide POSIX interfaces. This is a future challenge.
Does Genode have a Linux or BSD compatibility layer?
The current release of Genode does not include any compatibility libraries, virtualized or para-virtualized machines for BSD or Linux. Our Challenges wiki page and the roadmap provide more more information about our ideas and plans.
Are drivers in Genode user-space processes?
Yes, the Genode OS architecture recommends user-level device drivers for robustness and fault isolation reasons. The Genode OS framework provides an I/O API to support this.
Is Genode supposed to be like Hurd and do they share common code?
Indeed, GNU Hurd and Genode share some ideas, but have completely different system designs and do not share any source code.
