Plan 9: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:Operating Systems]]'''Plan 9''' is an operating system from AT&T's Bell Labs. It was created by the same group which developed UNIX. Their intent was to design a new operating system that incorporated new developments since UNIX's creation, such as networking and graphical user interfaces. |
[[Category:Operating Systems]]'''Plan 9''' is an operating system from AT&T's [[Bell Labs]]. It was created by the same group which developed [[UNIX]]. Their intent was to design a new operating system that incorporated new developments since UNIX's creation, such as networking and [[GUI|graphical user interfaces]]. |
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==Programming== |
==Programming== |
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The kernel is written primarily in [[C]], with a minimum of assembly for greater portability. The user-level applications are mostly in |
The kernel is written primarily in [[C]], with a minimum of assembly for greater portability. The user-level applications are mostly in C or the [[rc]] shell. |
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Plan 9 is designed in such a way that the "everything is a file" metaphor extends very well. Network connections can be accessed through /net/tcp, for example, and mouse events are written in plain text to /dev/mouse. Every process has a separate namespace. |
Plan 9 is designed in such a way that the "everything is a file" metaphor extends very well. Network connections can be accessed through /net/tcp, for example, and mouse events are written in plain text to /dev/mouse. Every [[process]] has a separate namespace. |
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Available languages include: |
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*C (Plan 9 dialect) |
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*rc |
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*[[sh]] ([[POSIX]] emulation) |
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*[[Perl]] |
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*[[Python]] |
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*[[Haskell]] |
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*[[Assembly]] (all platforms share the same syntax; less machine-specific) |
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==GUI== |
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The creators of Plan 9 took the opportunity to build graphics capabilities into the system from the ground up, unlike UNIX. The most frequently-used "window manager" for Plan 9 is called rio, as seen in [http://csplan9.rit.edu/users/john/rosettacode.png this image]. |
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==Compatibility== |
==Compatibility== |
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Plan 9 is not POSIX-compliant, although it shares similarities with POSIX systems. The architects decided to create a new operating system without backwards-compatibility baggage, which allowed them greater freedom in implementing whatever they thought was important. There is, however, a POSIX emulation layer which allows compilation of some POSIX programs. |
Plan 9 is not POSIX-compliant, although it shares similarities with POSIX systems. The architects decided to create a new operating system without backwards-compatibility baggage, which allowed them greater freedom in implementing whatever they thought was important. There is, however, a POSIX emulation layer which allows compilation of some POSIX programs. |
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==External Links== |
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_9_from_Bell_Labs Wikipedia: Plan 9 from Bell Labs] |
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* [http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9/ Plan 9 homepage] |
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Latest revision as of 19:29, 21 June 2008
Plan 9 is an operating system from AT&T's Bell Labs. It was created by the same group which developed UNIX. Their intent was to design a new operating system that incorporated new developments since UNIX's creation, such as networking and graphical user interfaces.
Programming
The kernel is written primarily in C, with a minimum of assembly for greater portability. The user-level applications are mostly in C or the rc shell.
Plan 9 is designed in such a way that the "everything is a file" metaphor extends very well. Network connections can be accessed through /net/tcp, for example, and mouse events are written in plain text to /dev/mouse. Every process has a separate namespace.
Available languages include:
- C (Plan 9 dialect)
- rc
- sh (POSIX emulation)
- Perl
- Python
- Haskell
- Assembly (all platforms share the same syntax; less machine-specific)
GUI
The creators of Plan 9 took the opportunity to build graphics capabilities into the system from the ground up, unlike UNIX. The most frequently-used "window manager" for Plan 9 is called rio, as seen in this image.
Compatibility
Plan 9 is not POSIX-compliant, although it shares similarities with POSIX systems. The architects decided to create a new operating system without backwards-compatibility baggage, which allowed them greater freedom in implementing whatever they thought was important. There is, however, a POSIX emulation layer which allows compilation of some POSIX programs.