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Asterinas: a rust kernel with a linux ABI (asterinas.github.io)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Linux maintainers are unwilling to get rust into the kernel, so some rust folks decided to start writing a new kernel with same ABI. This allows them to make new architectural decisions. An example being their "frame kernel" (something between a monolithic kernel and a microkernel).

If I may say, it's more legible and the tooling is way better, right off the bat.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

What's ABI? API compatible with linux kernel? EDIT: Never mind, Application binary interface

And what's TCB?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

I'm not an expert, but this is what I gather

What’s ABI? API compatible with linux kernel?

Application Binary Interface is the equivalent of an API but at binary level. An API defines for example the functions with their parameters, types, order, and output. An ABI defines how functions are called, how parameters are passed, how output is pass and retrieved, and so on but at a binary level.

An example of an ABI would be for example the Linux Standard Base which makes compiled binaries compatible with linux (how binaries are constructed, where to find data like constants, where to find instructions, and so on). The internal ABI is also important for example how drivers communicate with the kernel.

And what’s TCB?

That, I don't know, unfortunately :/ We need a tech glossary. If I had to guess, it's the Trusted Computing Base?

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