The
GNU project's replacement for the
Unix kernel. The Hurd is a collection of
servers that
run on the
Mach microkernel to implement file systems,
network protocols, file access control, and other features
that are implemented by the Unix kernel or similar kernels
such as
Linux. The GNU C Library provides the
Unix
system call interface, and calls the Hurd for services it
can't provide itself.
The Hurd aims to establish a framework for shared development
and maintenance, allowing a broad range of users to share
projects without knowing much about the internal workings of
the system - projects that might never have been attempted
without freely available source, a well-designed interface,
and a multi-server-based design.
Currently there are free ports of the
Mach kernel to the
Intel 80386 IBM PC, the
DEC PMAX
workstation, the
Luna 88k, with more in progress, including the
Amiga and
DEC Alpha-3000 machines.
According to Thomas Bushnell, BSG, the primary architect of
the Hurd: 'Hurd' stands for 'Hird of Unix-Replacing Daemons'
and 'Hird' stands for 'Hurd of Interfaces Representing Depth'.
Possibly the first software to be named by a pair of
mutually recursive acronyms.
The Hurd Home.
[June 1994 GNU's Bulletin].