Kernels have been around for a very long time and have evolved over the centuries to become the powerful, complex, and versatile tools we know today. From the early days of computers to the current operating systems, the kernel has served as the backbone of the whole system, providing the basic infrastructure necessary for it to function. This article will look at the timeline of kernels, from the early days of computers to modern times, to gain a better understanding of how they have evolved.
Early Days of Kernels (1964-1970s)
The history of kernels begins in 1964 with the first operating system, named MULTICS. Developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) by a team of researchers, MULTICS was designed to be the first comprehensive and sophisticated operating system. It was written in the high-level programming language PL/1 and featured a hierarchical file system, segmentation, and protection.
In 1969, the first Unix kernel, named V1, was released. Developed by Bell Labs as an open source project, V1 was the first kernel to combine many of the features of MULTICS in a single, portable operating system. It was written in the C programming language and featured a hierarchical file system, virtual memory, and process management.
1970s-1980s
In 1971, the first commercial operating system, UNIX, was released. Developed by AT&T Bell Labs, UNIX featured the same kernel as V1 but with many additional features, such as multitasking and a graphical user interface. The kernel was written in the C programming language and featured an improved hierarchical file system, virtual memory, and process management.
In 1976, the first microprocessor-based operating system, CP/M, was released. Developed by Gary Kildall, CP/M featured a micro-kernel design, which enabled it to be more efficient and cost-effective than the traditional monolithic kernel. It was written in the assembly language and featured a hierarchical file system, multitasking, and memory management.
In 1983, the first commercial version of Unix, System V, was released. Developed by AT&T Bell Labs, System V was the first Unix operating system to include a microkernel as well as many other features, such as multitasking and a graphical user interface. The kernel was written in the C programming language and featured an improved hierarchical file system, virtual memory, and process management.
Modern Times (1990-Present)
In 1991, the first version of the Linux kernel, named 0.12, was released. Developed by Linus Torvalds as an open source project, the Linux kernel was written in the C programming language and featured a monolithic kernel design. It featured an improved hierarchical file system, virtual memory, and process management, as well as support for the POSIX standard.
In 1996, the first version of the Microsoft Windows NT kernel, named Windows NT 3.1, was released. Developed by Microsoft, Windows NT featured a hybrid kernel design, which combined the features of a microkernel and a monolithic kernel. It was written in the C programming language and featured an improved hierarchical file system, virtual memory, and process management.
Conclusion
Kernels have come a long way since their inception in the 1960s. From the early days of MULTICS to modern-day operating systems such as Windows NT, kernels have evolved and adapted to the changing needs of computer systems and users. With each iteration, kernels have become more powerful, efficient, and versatile, providing the necessary infrastructure for computers to function. The history of kernels has been an interesting one, and it is sure to continue to evolve as technology advances.
