If one were to create a custom OS for a DIY microcontroller-based device (for example a cyberdeck or a feature phone), what unorthodox design decisions could they take to make to make the OS interesting from a computer-theoretical standpoint? Two examples that come to my mind are: designing the OS to be used on a heterogeneous set of cores, each having different performance and capabilities; and making all executables sandboxed via WebAssembly, with configurable privileges.
Creating a custom OS for a DIY microcontroller-based device with unique and theoretically interesting design decisions can lead to fascinating and innovative results. Here are several unorthodox ideas you might consider:
As you mentioned, using a heterogeneous set of cores with different performance and capabilities can lead to interesting challenges and solutions:
- Dynamic Task Allocation: Develop algorithms for dynamically allocating tasks to the most appropriate core based on current workload, task priority, and core capabilities.
- Energy Efficiency: Implement power management strategies that exploit the heterogeneous nature of the cores to minimize energy consumption, possibly by offloading less critical tasks to lower-power cores.
Using WebAssembly (Wasm) for all executables and providing configurable privileges adds an extra layer of security and portability:
- Fine-Grained Security: Implement a capabilities-based security model where each Wasm module is granted specific capabilities based on its role and requirements.
- Cross-Platform Execution: Leverage the portability of Wasm to allow applications to run on different hardware architectures without modification.
Adopt an event-driven architecture, which can be particularly effective for resource-constrained environments:
- Event Loops: Use an event loop to handle all asynchronous events, such as I/O operations, sensor inputs, and user interactions.
- Reactive Programming: Incorporate reactive programming paradigms, where the flow of data and changes propagate automatically through the system.
Implement a microkernel architecture to enhance modularity and security:
- Minimal Kernel: Keep the kernel minimal, handling only the most essential functions like inter-process communication (IPC) and basic scheduling.
- User-Space Services: Move device drivers, file systems, and other services to user space to increase system stability and security.
Implement a capability-based security model instead of traditional user/group-based permissions:
- Capabilities as Tokens: Use tokens (capabilities) to represent the rights to perform operations on objects, such as files or devices.
- Fine-Grained Control: Provide fine-grained control over what each process can do, reducing the risk of security breaches.
Design the OS to function as a distributed system across multiple microcontrollers:
- Distributed Scheduling: Implement algorithms to schedule tasks across multiple nodes, optimizing for load balancing and redundancy.
- Fault Tolerance: Develop mechanisms for fault detection and recovery, ensuring the system remains functional even if some nodes fail.
Incorporate concepts from persistent memory and transactional systems:
- Persistent Storage: Use non-volatile memory to maintain state across reboots and power cycles, enabling quick recovery.
- Transactional Memory: Implement transactional memory to simplify concurrency control and ensure consistency in the face of failures.
Explore innovative HCI methods suitable for microcontroller-based devices:
- Minimalistic Interfaces: Develop extremely minimalistic yet efficient user interfaces tailored to limited input/output capabilities.
- Gesture-Based Input: Integrate support for gesture-based inputs using sensors, making interaction more intuitive.
Implement strong temporal and spatial isolation mechanisms to ensure predictability and security:
- Time-Triggered Execution: Adopt a time-triggered execution model where tasks are scheduled to run at specific times, providing deterministic behavior.
- Memory Isolation: Use hardware features like memory protection units (MPUs) to enforce strict memory isolation between processes.
Apply formal methods to verify the correctness of critical OS components:
- Mathematical Proofs: Use mathematical proofs to ensure the correctness of the scheduler, IPC mechanisms, and security protocols.
- Model Checking: Employ model checking techniques to verify that the system adheres to its specifications under all possible scenarios.
Design the OS to be adaptive and self-optimizing:
- Machine Learning: Use machine learning algorithms to optimize performance, energy consumption, and resource utilization based on usage patterns.
- Self-Tuning Parameters: Implement mechanisms for the OS to automatically tune its parameters to optimize for the current operating conditions.
By incorporating these unorthodox design decisions, you can create a custom OS that not only meets the functional requirements of a DIY microcontroller-based device but also explores new frontiers in OS design and computer theory.