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In computer science, a microkernel (often abbreviated as μ-kernel) is the near-minimum amount of software that can provide the mechanisms needed to implement an operating system (OS). These mechanisms include low-level address space management, thread management, and inter-process communication (IPC).
Graphic of a monolithic kernel running kernel space entirely in supervisor mode Microkernel architecture relies on user-space server programs. While the debate initially started out as relatively moderate, with both parties involved making only banal statements about kernel design, it grew progressively more detailed and sophisticated with every round of posts.
Mach is often considered one of the earliest examples of a microkernel. However, not all versions of Mach are microkernels. However, not all versions of Mach are microkernels. Mach's derivatives are the basis of the operating system kernel in GNU Hurd and of Apple 's XNU kernel used in macOS , iOS , iPadOS , tvOS , and watchOS .
A microkernel is a minimal computer operating system kernel which, in its purest form, provides no operating system services at all, only the mechanisms needed to implement such services, such as low-level address space management, thread management, and inter-process communication (IPC).
RTLinux is a hard realtime real-time operating system (RTOS) microkernel that runs the entire Linux operating system as a fully preemptive process. The hard real-time property makes it possible to control robots, data acquisition systems, manufacturing plants, and other time-sensitive instruments and machines from RTLinux applications.
See comparison of Linux distributions for a detailed comparison. Linux distributions that have highly modified kernels — for example, real-time computing kernels — should be listed separately. There are also a wide variety of minor BSD operating systems, many of which can be found at comparison of BSD operating systems .
MINIX 3 is a notable example of microkernel design. The Linux kernel is both monolithic and modular, since it can insert and remove loadable kernel modules at runtime. This central component of a computer system is responsible for executing programs.
An operating system based on a microkernel like L4 provides services as servers in user space that monolithic kernels like Linux or older generation microkernels include internally. For example, to implement a secure Unix-like system, servers must provide the rights management that Mach included inside the kernel.