HermitCore: A Highly Scalable Rust-Based Operating System
This article will introduce a new paradigm in the operational efficiency of kernels, the HermitCore, an open-source project hosted on GitHub. HermitCore is an innovative Rust-based kernel, exposing a highly scalable and lightweight unikernel, intending to maximize the efficiency of application-oriented operating systems. The purpose of this project is to meet the ever-growing needs for high-performance, efficient computing, which is key in a wide array of technological and scientific domains.
Project Overview:
HermitCore's goals focus on optimizing and enhancing the functionality of modern multicore and manycore processors by reducing general-purpose overheads and maximizing the utilization of computing resources. It safely balances between shared kernel and single address space OS, offering an unadorned and lightweight interface to take full advantage of the hardware’s computing power. The relevance of this project lies in its ability to increase crucial high-performance computing in numerous technical fields ranging from data science, machine learning, to simulation and scientific computing.
Project Features:
HermitCore's high-speed communication layer offers ultra-low latency data transfers, crucial for the seamless integration of complex computational tasks. Its green-threading feature handles multitasking with exceptional proficiency and minimal overheads, enhancing scalability. Alongside, it provides a highly efficient interface designed to simplify programming, offering a hybrid start-up allowing stand-alone and Linux application use-cases.
Technology Stack:
Written primarily in Rust, HermitCore utilizes the safety and concurrency features of Rust. This language's choice is due to its guarantee of memory and thread safety without a Garbage Collector, making it perfect for writing an Operating System. It also uses Assembly for its Bootstrap, MMU, CPU exception handling, and context switching features. Also, the project uses technologies like QEMU for simulation and Docker for containerization.
Project Structure and Architecture:
HermitCore's project structure is well-organized, classifying components into separate directories, each serving a specific purpose. The core components include 'kernel', 'apps', and 'tests'. 'Kernel' contains the main code for the HermitCore kernel, while 'apps' host application examples, illustrating the kernel functionality. The 'tests' directory conveys the validation and bug-detection framework.
