this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2024
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Linux
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Not buying it. The colossal attack surface of a giant monolithic kernel should not be controlling an automobile. No offense to Linux or anyone who works on it, it's great, you just can't rely on it with your life. It was never designed to be.
then remove that "colossal attack surface" by compiling a custom kernel and utilities that only includes the features the product needs. create a system tuned to the exact product to make it extremely reliable. almost everything electronic you see in commercial use is Linux because of this very fact.
Many medical devices run Linux.
Toyota, Tesla, Audi, Mercedes, and Hyundai vehicles use Linux.
you certainly can rely on it for your life and nearly every electronic device you use will use some derivative of it.
Can you please name at least one product that directly uses and relies on Linux for a safety-critical system? Those vehicles only use Linux for the ICE and not the ECU. And those medical devices are not directly controlling patient-facing instruments via Linux as far as I know.
I'll gladly provide 2 examples that I know of :
The entirety of the Tesla OS is based on Linux, meaning that their proprietary autopilot program running on their OS is directly dependent on the Linux kernel for its core functionality.
Lastly, NASA's Mars helicopter.