Design operating systems where stability is paramount. Master the Microkernel philosophy of moving drivers, filesystems, and stacks to user space.
Monolithic kernels (like Linux) are fast but prone to crashes if a driver fails. Microkernels (like Minix, L4, or QNX) prioritize stability by running only the bare minimum in privileged mode. This course explores the architecture of Inter-Process Communication (IPC), message passing, and fault isolation. You will learn to design systems where a crashing video driver doesn't take down the whole OS, a concept critical for high-assurance systems in aerospace and medical devices.
Estimated completion time: 21 lessons • Self-paced learning • Lifetime access
Linux is Monolithic; we contrast it with Microkernels.
Critical systems (Satellites, Pacemakers, Cars).
Extremely theoretical and low-level.
Yes, modifying Minix or educational kernels.