microkernel
Noun
Meaning
microkernel (plural microkernels)
(operating systems) A minimal operating system kernel offering basic mechanisms rather than abstract services.
Coordinate term: unikernel
Examples
A key component of a microkernel is a good IPC system and virtual-memory-manager design that allows implementing page-fault handling and swapping in usermode servers in a safe way.
AIX v3 also scrapped the microkernel of AIX v2, a contentious move that resulted in v3 containing no PL/I code and being somewhat more "pure" than v2.
Any policy built into the kernel cannot be overwritten at user level and therefore limits the generality of the microkernel.
Although doing little of practical value, the goal of making a microkernel was realized.
Both nanokernel and picokernel have subsequently come to have the same meaning expressed by the term microkernel.
Despite this, third-party manufacturers designed upgrades featuring a combination of 68000 series and PowerPC processors along with a PowerPC native microkernel and software.