Redox (operating system) explained

Redox
Developer:	Jeremy Soller, Redox Developers^[1]
Programmed In:	Rust, assembly
Family:	Unix-like
Working State:	Current
Source Model:	Free software
Latest Preview Version:	0.8.0
Marketing Target:	Desktop, workstation, server
Language:	English
Package Manager:	pkgutils
Supported Platforms:	x86-64 ARM64 in development^[2]
Kernel Type:	Microkernel
Userland:	Custom
Ui:	Command-line, Orbital
License:	MIT
Influenced By:	POSIX^[3]

Redox is a Unix-like microkernel operating system written in the programming language Rust, which has a focus on safety, stability, and performance.^{[4] [5] [6]} Redox aims to be secure, usable, and free. Redox is inspired by prior kernels and operating systems, such as SeL4, MINIX, Plan 9, and BSD. It is free and open-source software distributed under an MIT License.

Redox gets its name from the reduction-oxidation reactions in chemistry; one redox reaction is the corrosion of iron, also called rust.

Design

The Redox operating system is designed to be secure. This is reflected in two design decisions:

1. Using the programming language Rust for implementation
2. Using a microkernel design, similar to MINIX

Components

Redox provides packages (memory allocator, file system, display manager, core utilities, etc.) that together make up a functional operating system. Redox relies on an ecosystem of software written in Rust by members of the project.

• Redox kernel – derives from the concept of microkernels, with inspiration from MINIX
• Ralloc – memory allocator
• RedoxFS (file system) – inspired by the ZFS file system
• Ion shell – the underlying library for shells and command execution in Redox, and the default shell
• pkgutils – package manager
• Orbital windowing system – display and window manager, sets up the orbital: scheme, manages the display, and handles requests for window creation, redraws, and event polling
• relibc – C standard library

Command-line applications

Redox supports command-line interface (CLI) programs, including:

• Sodium – vi-like editor that provides syntax highlighting

Graphical applications

Redox supports graphical user interface (GUI) programs, including:

• NetSurf – a lightweight web browser which uses its own layout engine
• Calculator – a software calculator which provides functions similar to the Windows Calculator program
• Editor – simple text editor, similar to Microsoft Notepad
• File Browser – a file manager that displays icons, names, sizes, and details for files; uses the launcher command to open files when they are clicked
• Image Viewer – Image viewer for simple file types
• Pixelcannon – 3D renderer, can be used to benchmark the Orbital desktop
• Orbterm – ANSI type terminal emulator

History

Redox was created by Jeremy Soller and was first published on 20 April 2015 on GitHub.^[7] As of July 2021, the Redox repository had a total of 79 contributors.^[8]

External links

• • Official GitLab instance

Notes and References

1. Web site: Redox Contributors. GitLab. 24 March 2019.
2. Web site: Porting Redox to ARM (AArch64). 6 August 2018.
3. Web site: What is Redox?. 16 May 2020. 24 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524084835/https://doc.redox-os.org/book/ch01-02-what-is-redox.html. dead.
4. Web site: Redox - Your Next(Gen) OS - Redox - Your Next(Gen) OS. www.redox-os.org.
5. Web site: Operating Systems: Rust Redox – An Next-Generation Attempt to Plug Linux OS Gaps. Weisinger. Dick. 4 May 2016 . Formtek. Formtek, Inc.. 17 January 2017.
6. . News: Yegulalp. Serdar. 21 March 2016. Rust's Redox OS could show Linux a few new tricks. InfoWorld. IDG Communications, Inc.. San Francisco. 17 January 2017.
7. Web site: Initial commit of Rustboot-based OS. Soller. Jeremy (jackpot51). 20 April 2015. GitHub. GitHub, Inc.. 17 January 2017.
8. Web site: Redox Repository. GitHub. 2016-03-26.