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Lucent brews Inferno

New combination language/OS has designs on network communications

By George Lawton, JavaWorld.com, 10/01/96

The same folks that brought us Unix and C are promising something even better for network communication: Inferno, a networkable OS that runs on a variety of platforms ranging from palmtop organizers to mission-critical telephone switches. In May, Lucent Technologies made the first public announcement about the technology. In early September, Lucent announced the distribution of a free early version of Inferno for Plan 9, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5 and 4.0, Irix 5.3, and Solaris 2.5. This software, which can be downloaded from Lucent's Web site at http://inferno.lucent.com/inferno, contains the Inferno operating system, the Limbo programming language, a developer's toolkit, documentation and sample applications, including a World Wide Web browser and an electronic mail package. A commercial version of Inferno is due by the end of 1996.

Inferno has been compared to Java by many in the press. Lucent, however, says Inferno will not necessarily replace Java, and will be able to work with Java to simplify network computing.

At this point, both technologies are a combination of language and OS. Inferno was designed from the ground up as an OS, whereas JavaOS was designed after the programming language. Some feel that this gives Inferno an edge since many of the functions such as security are built right into the operating system at the most basic level.

Comparison between Inferno/Limbo and JavaOS/Java

Both technologies employ a virtual machine, support threads, and
are designed to be platform-independent.

	Inferno/Limbo:	JavaOS/Java:

Security

Built-in authentication and encryption at OS level, but not automatic machine protection security.

Machine protection security is built-in. Encryption is being added.

Resource access

One file system accesses everything from data to network resources.

File system accesses local data. Network data must be accessed through the server.

Minimum Sized Machine to Run applications

512 kilobytes of RAM and 512 kilobytes of ROM.

512 kilobytes of ROM and 128 kilobytes of RAM

Object-oriented

No

Yes

Virtual Machine

Dis

Java Virtual Machine

Comparing the two environments, Peter Bernstein, president of Infonautics Consulting in Ramsey, NJ, noted, "I am not sure this is an apples-to-apples comparison. Inferno does have a full-blown operating system and a virtual machine and a protocol stack, and in a lot of respects is something Java would like to be when it grows up. It is also a complement to Java because you will be able to run Java applications within Inferno. There is extraordinary value if Lucent is successful in positioning Java with the telephone companies as a platform for allowing the reality of write it once and play it anywhere on anything."

"Inferno is a unique network operating system that adapts to whatever you plug into it -- from a high-end workstation to an inexpensive hand-held device," noted Dennis Ritchie, one of the developers of C and currently head of system software research at Lucent. "Imagine the ease and flexibility of a world in which you can get your e-mail virtually anywhere, from any machine -- on your PC at the office, from a screen phone in an airport, on your TV at home, or on a hotel room TV if you are traveling."

 

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