Abstract

This talk presents an evaluation of the use of a high-level language (HLL) with garbage collection to implement a monolithic POSIX-style kernel. The goal is to explore if it is reasonable to use a HLL (Go specifically) instead of C for such kernels, by examining performance costs, implementation challenges, and programmability and safety benefits.

Joint work: Cody Cutler and Robert Morris

Bio

Frans Kaashoek is the Charles Piper Professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a member of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory since January 1993. He is the ACM fellow and a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Frans's research interest is computer systems: operating systems, networking, programming languages, compilers, and computer architecture for distributed, mobile, and parallel systems.