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ABSTRACT
Applications often require functionality that is implemented in the
kernel, but is not directly available to the user level. While
extensible operating systems allow kernel functionality to be
augmented, we believe that the emphasis on extensibility is misplaced.
Applications should be able to reuse kernel code directly and the
emphasis should be placed on designing a kernel with that reuse in
mind. The advantage of structuring the kernel as a set of reusable,
extensible tools is that applications can avoid re-implementing
functionality that is already present in the kernel. This will
lead to smaller applications, fewer lines of total code, and a more
unified computing environment that will be easier to maintain and
perform better.
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