Redox (operating system) explained

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, BSD, and Linux. 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 September 2024, the Redox repository had a total of 97 contributors.^[8]

See also

• Rust for Linux
• LynxOS

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.