MkLinux

MkLinux (Microkernel Linux) is a discontinued open-source experimental operating system for PowerPC Macintosh computers. It was launched in 1995 as a collaboration between the Open Software Foundation (OSF) and Apple Computer, as a critical pivot in Apple's technical and social history. MkLinux became Apple's first official free and open-source software community project, and the debut of Linux on the first Power Macintosh.

Key facts

OS.name: MkLinux
OS.developer: OSF Research Institute, Apple Computer, MkLinux Developers Association, volunteer community
OS.family: Macintosh, Linux (Unix-like)
OS.working state: Discontinued, legacy
OS.source model: Open source
OS.discontinued: Yes
OS.latest release version: Pre-R2
OS.kernel type: Microkernel (Mach 3.0)
OS.license: GNU General Public License
OS.marketing target: Researchers, hobbyists
OS.programmed in: C
OS.package manager: RPM
OS.language: English
OS.supported platforms: PowerPC
OS.userland: Red Hat Linux
OS.ui: Console, X11
OS.preceded by: Mach, Linux
OS.succeeded by: macOS, Darwin, Linux

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website: mklinux.org

Show 1 more fact

inception: 1996-02-01

Sources (1)

wikidata.org

via Wikidata · CC0

~7 min read

Article

8 sections

Contents

Architecture
History
Reception
Legacy
Releases
See also
References
External links

MkLinux's key feature is its microkernel architecture. Most Linux distributions have a monolithic kernel, but MkLinux is distinguished by its architecture which adapted the Linux kernel to run as a user-space server hosted on top of the Mach microkernel version 3.0. This "single server" architecture makes the system stable and easier to debug, but the overhead of communicating with the microkernel reduced performance.