Ask HN: What would justify writting an OS kernel in 2026?
4 points
8 hours ago
| 3 comments
| HN
I am making my own systems programming language, called Tig. I want to write an OS kernel with it in the future. But i've been wondering why would I do that? Linux won, it seems there are no blue oceans left. Any ideas?
worldsavior
1 hour ago
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A kernel that it's primary language is a memory safe one? But other than that there aren't many reasons that would justify writing from scratch.
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RetroTechie
8 hours ago
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Fun, primarily. Or to learn. Or perhaps to show that something never done before (some unique combination of features) can be done. "Because the mountain is there".

Imho: if that doesn't do, don't even start. Or find existing project & contribute to that.

Myself, I've been wanting to dive into Forth systems. And get some hands-on experience with RISC-V assembly. So, over the past winter I've put together lots of bits & pieces of a small Forth-like system, targeting RV32I (eyeing the RP2350pc as a target device).

> Linux won

No, my Forth is much better! It'll be able to run on devices that Linux couldn't possibly ever run on (~10 KB ROM, similar size RAM), easier to understand, easier to change, doesn't need multi-GB software install to develop, should boot in milliseconds. And I wrote it myself - no AI.

Just saying... Linux is great for many things. Other OSes (or -kernels) good for other things.

> I am making my own systems programming language, called Tig.

Link?

Edit: same question posted 17 days ago? Hmm...

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alonsovm44
7 hours ago
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Yeah i made the same question 17 days ago, i reposted it because i was bored. Here is the link, the lang is still very green, i am working on version 1.3.2

the DOCUMENTATION/ folder has the roadmap and useful docs https://github.com/alonsovm44/tc-lang

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wmf
8 hours ago
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There are a lot of things that could be fixed like (off the top of my head) fork() and making filesystems async. A new kernel probably won't be adopted but there's still technical work to do.
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bediger4000
8 hours ago
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There's already rfork() and clone() that generalize fork().
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