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Re: off off topic: Unix lives or dies?
On Tue, 15 Apr 1997, Ariel Nowersztern wrote:
> Last time I heard Plan9 development was discontinued, and a small group
> inside AT&T, that developed a variant called Eclipse, took the leading
> role. This is unconfirmed.
>
> What should be nice is Inferno from Lucent Technologies (also developed
> in Bell Labs). A few excerpts (See http://inferno.lucent.com/inferno/):
>
> What is Inferno?
>
> Inferno(tm) is a new network operating system and programming
> environment to deliver content in a rich environment of
> heterogenous networks, clients and servers.
>
> Inferno's definitive strength lies in its portability and versatility
> across several dimensions:
>
> Portability across processors: it currently runs on Intel, Sparc,
> MIPS, ARM, HP-PA, and AMD 29K architectures and is readily portable to
> others.
> Portability across environments: it runs as a stand-alone operating
> system on small terminals, and also as a user application under Windows
> NT, Windows 95, Unix (Irix, Solaris, Linux, AIX, HP/UX) and Plan 9. In all
> of these environments, Inferno applications see an identical interface.
> Distributed design: the identical environment is established at the
> user's terminal and at the server, and each may import the resources of
> the other; aided by the communications facilities of the run-time system,
> applications may be split easily (and even dynamically) between client and
> server.
> Minimal hardware requirements: it runs useful applications
> stand-alone on machines with as little as 1 MB of memory, and does not
> require memory-mapping hardware.
> Portable applications: Inferno applications are written in the
> type-safe language Limbo(tm), whose binary representation is identical
> over all platforms.
ooooh.... sounds like Java bytecode.
> Dynamic adaptability: applications may, depending on the hardware or
> other resources available, load different program modules to perform a
> specific function. For example, a video player application might use any
> of several different decoder modules.
Using Ariel's pointer:
"Inferno is available for licensing
"On May 6, 1996 Lucent Technologies announced that Inferno is available
for licensing. A newly created Inferno Network Software Business
Unit is managing the business.
"Because the system supports a variety of networks including
telecommunications networks, cable TV, private data networks, and the
Internet, network service providers will want to evaluate and license
Inferno technology for use in their networks. Inferno will also add value
for the manufacturers of a wide array of devices, including computers,
set-top boxes, game consoles, screen phones, personal digital assistants,
and Internet terminals. We also expect to license the technology to
manufacturers of servers, routers, bridges, and hubs, as well as to
server software companies.
---------------------
A scheme similar to Unix' licensing. Which probably implies that no
source code for the whole shebang will be available from Lucent.
---------------------
"The Developers
"Sean Dorward, Rob Pike, Phil Winterbottom
"with Eric Grosse, Jim McKie, Dave Presotto, Dennis Ritchie, Ken
Thompson, Howard Trickey.
---------------------
The usual suspects.
alex
References: