perkernel

Perkernel is a term used in computing to describe a design principle that emphasizes organizing software around discrete kernel units. The term does not refer to a single, standardized technology; its exact meaning depends on context and author. In general, it signals a move toward strong separation between core kernel functionality and ancillary components, or toward customizing behavior per kernel unit.

In operating system design, perkernel may refer to per-kernel isolation, where functionality is implemented as small, independent kernel modules or per-context kernel environments rather than a monolithic kernel. This can improve fault isolation, security, and configurability, at the cost of increased inter-module communication overhead and design complexity.

In the context of GPU computing or data processing pipelines, perkernel might describe optimizations or resource management that are applied on a per-kernel basis; for example, a computation defined as a kernel with its own memory space, thread groups, and scheduling policy.

Implementation considerations include module interfaces, memory protection boundaries, and tooling for development and debugging.

The term appears in academic writings and some vendor documentation, but it is not a standard industry term. Related concepts include microkernel architecture, kernel modules, and per-process isolation.