Genode OS Framework release 15.11 Nov 30, 2015The primary focus of version 15.11 is the use of Genode as a desktop OS. It vastly improves the GUI and audio stacks, features the port of Intel KMS from Linux, extends the support for the USB Armory and Xilinx Zynq-7000, and introduces new file-system infrastructure such as a VFS server. Whereas the previous release marked the point where the very first user adopted Genode as day-to-day OS, we maintained the direction to create a Genode-based desktop OS. Most improvements of the new version are related to this goal: The GUI and audio stacks have become much more modular, dynamic, and flexible. With a new copy-and-paste mechanism, we added a universally expected desktop-integration feature in a unique way that mitigates the misuse of the clipboard as a covert communication mechanism. Those higher-level features are complemented with profound low-level device-driver improvements, most noteworthy the addition of the Intel KMS driver. This driver allows us to drive multiple displays and switch screen resolutions on the fly. What high- and low-level components have in common, is the use of Genode's uniform configuration concept, which solves a variety of configuration problems with a single low-complexity mechanism. It allows us to modify all kinds of system configurations - ranging from the wireless driver to the style of window decoration - live by merely editing and saving text files. Even though the majority of improvements are attributed to the use of Genode as desktop OS, the release also covers other areas. Xilinx Zynq-7000 has been added to the supported platforms, TrustZone on the USB Armory received a lot of attention, and a new VFS server makes Genode's file-system infrastructure much more flexible. These and many more topics are covered in detail by the release documentation of version 15.11... |
