Kernelin

Kernelin is a modular operating system kernel designed for reliability and portability across embedded and general-purpose hardware. It emphasizes modularity, safety, and extensibility, enabling systems to tailor the kernel to their needs without sacrificing core guarantees. The Kernelin project was initiated in 2018 by a consortium of research labs and volunteers and is distributed as open-source software.

Architecturally, Kernelin uses a microkernel-inspired core that handles inter-process communication, scheduling, and low-level resource management, while most device drivers and services run in user space. The design relies on capability-based security, strong isolation, and message passing to reduce kernel surface area. The core is primarily written in Rust, with legacy subsystems implemented in C for compatibility across architectures including x86_64, ARMv8, and RISC-V.

Key features include a real-time capable scheduler, fine-grained memory protection, and flexible virtualization options. Kernelin supports a POSIX compatibility layer, a modular driver framework, and support for common file systems and networking stacks through user-space services. The project also provides tooling for formal verification and safety audits, with a focus on determinism and traceability.

Adoption has grown in embedded automotive, aerospace, and research platforms, where its modularity and safety focus are valued. The project is governed by a community council and maintained by an international set of maintainers. It is released under an open-source license to encourage collaboration and reuse.

Reception has highlighted Kernelin's clear separation of concerns and robust security model, while critics note the learning curve and the added complexity of splitting drivers into user space. As of the latest release, Kernelin continues active development with ongoing work on broader hardware support and improved tooling.