users December 2024

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10 discussions

Roadmap 2025
by Norman Feske 20 Jan '25

20 Jan '25

Hello everyone, the turn of years is approaching, which prompts me to pick up our fine tradition of jointly brainstorming the topics of the year to come. Below, I'm not speaking for the project but share my personal perspective. Let me start with a brief reflection on 2024, followed by my ambitions for 2025. Review of 2024 Following our past year's discussion, we settled on "Sculpt OS usability" as the primary focus for 2024. The items on the roadmap envisioned a broad variety of topics, ranging from challenging low-level mechanisms to end-user conveniences. From my perspective, the two biggest breakthroughs had been suspend/resume on x86 (added in May) and multi-monitor support (added in October). Both topics were not merely approached as singular features but as architectural enhancements. Suspend/resume challenged our perspective on driver life-cycles, externalizing state, device re-acquisition, up to the dynamic driver management by Sculpt OS. Our desire for multi-monitor support culminated in a largely redesigned GUI stack, as a system-holistic endeavor. Both lines of work made the architecture of Sculpt OS much stronger. Regarding my original plans for user conveniences (file browser etc.), I must declare defeat. Instead of working on these user-visible features, I turned a significant part of my attention to consolidation work: Gradually removing the use of C++ exceptions, cultivating C++20, improving code safety, and accelerating our workflows be refining our build system and tools. Outside my own working topics, I vastly enjoyed watching our team embracing DDE-Linux to full extent. Reflecting upon our small team's ability to track the current Linux kernel for our large driver base with such an agility makes me more than happy. A similar source of happiness is the way of how the Goa SDK and the new Applications book evolved. It reveals plainly and clearly how all the parts of the machinery fit super nicely together. Any regrets? Two things come into mind. First, my over-promising to deliver user conveniences. Topics like the on-target docs view or a file manager are user-visible and fun to build. But I was not able to justify prioritizing those over the work on framework internals as my core expertise. I somewhat regret having promised too much. Second, the PinePhone hasn't become a regular part of my life. That's not the fault of the PinePhone. But I came to terms that I may simply not be a phone person, never having owned a smart phone after all. Once I called the exciting ride of bringing Genode to the PinePhone a success, my personal motivation to push things further forward plummeted somewhat. My plans for 2025 I want to focus my Genode work on rigidity, clarity, and performance. 1. Following my consolidation work of 2024, I long for getting the C++ runtime removed from the base framework. Another tempting idea for simplification is the merging of core's CPU service into the PD service. This work will make Genode more simple and thereby more trustworthy. 2. I'm very curious to explore the idea of replacing XML, outlined at https://genodians.org/nfeske/2024-12-20-moving-on-from-xml If this goes as intended, Genode and Sculpt OS will gain in terms of interactive ergonomics, clarity, and joy to develop for. 3. Given how easy the porting of software has become, thanks to Goa, I'd strive for moving more of my work outside a Linux VM. For this, libraries like the libc and VFS require further optimization. This goes hand in hand with the need for better tools for analysing performance bottlenecks of complex dynamic workloads. As an iconic goal, it would be fantastic to have a simple version of Goa running directly on Sculpt OS by the end of 2025. In addition, I'd like to catch up on my plans of 2024 regarding user-visible Sculpt OS features, introducing a documentation view, a simple file manager, and a convenient way to save settings. I will also definitely wrap up the multi-monitor window management that I have built during the past two months. My wishes for 2025 Outside the realm of my own working topics, I'd love to eventually switch to the base-hw kernel on my Framework laptop. I'd also highly appreciate an update of the Chromium engine for the Falkon web browser. Don't we all want to participate in https://genode.discourse.group using a browser directly on Sculpt OS? ;-) What is your perspective on Genode in 2024 and for 2025? - Has Genode's development during 2024 been in your interest? - Or do you find important aspects neglected? - How was your practical experience with Genode in 2024? - Which directions would you regard as most exciting or pressing? - What are your personal interests and plans for 2025? I'm looking forward to learn about your experiences, plans, and ideas. Like every year, I'll do my best to distill a rough plan for 2025 out from our joint discussion. The road map will be finalized around mid of January. Cheers Norman Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com · https://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Minimal Goa Nitpicker / Dialog API Projects
by John J. Karcher 06 Jan '25

06 Jan '25

Hello, I have been trying to create a Goa project from the Dialog Test component, but I'm bumping into the limits of my Genode abilities. I'm trying to use "dialog.run" as a template for what to include, using the "import_from_depot" section as a rough guide to "used_apis" and the config for the "runtime" file. 1. Is this the right basic idea? 2. Is there already a minimal example of a Goa project for a Nitpicker and/or Dialog API component, so I don't have to reinvent the wheel? 3. I have tried various combinations of depot packages, but the compiler can't find "dialog/runtime.h". Is the Dialog API exposed in a depot package, and if so, which one? I have tried various potential candidates (e.g., "pkg/gems", "pkg/nitpicker_session", "src/nitpicker", etc. ), but without success. Thanks and Happy Sculpting! -- John J. Karcher devuser(a)alternateapproach.com

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Screen Rotation
by John J. Karcher 30 Dec '24

30 Dec '24

Hello All, Just a curiosity question: Does the redesign of the display system make it easier to add support for screen rotation? And what (if any) is the level of interest within Genode Labs for this feature? It would be a very nice feature for phones and tablets, but it would also be useful in a multi-monitor situation for the desktop. From the outside perspective, it looks like it would fit seamlessly into the overall design, but that is without any insight into the low-level details. Happy Sculpting! John J. Karcher devuser(a)alternateapproach.com

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Goa Unable to Verify, Wrong Pubkey
by Rumen Mitov 20 Dec '24

20 Dec '24

Hello, I ran into a problem after updating Goa with the command goa update-goa master Now whenever I try to build my project now I get the following error: ``` Error: could not verify 'genodelabs/api/base/2024-10-07', signature does not match public key '/home/rumen/Coding/phantomuserland/var/depot/genodelabs/pubkey' ``` I have tried: * removing and re-cloning goa, * removing the "var" directory * removing and re-cloning genode * setting genode to branches: master, 24.11., 24.05., 24.02. * the steps here: https://github.com/genodelabs/goa/issues/1 * goa update-goa to versions 24.10, 24.04., 23.10 None of these approaches worked. Does anyone know how to resolve the issue? Best, Rumen

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Announcement: Sculpt OS version 24.10 released
by Norman Feske 11 Dec '24

11 Dec '24

[again, now with the correct subject] Hello everyone, it's my great pleasure to announce today's release of Sculpt OS 24.10: https://genode.org/news/sculpt-os-release-24.10 The new version features the highly anticipated support for multiple monitors, which was quite a challenging feat. In fact, it required a far-reaching redesign of Genode's GUI stack to make applications multi-monitor-aware, ensure the visibility of the pointer at all times, avoid increased CPU load on account of serving multiple output devices, and propagate DPI information from each monitor's EDID information right down to the applications. With these technical questions cleared, the remaining challenge was making the new abilities available to the user via both a convenient interactive user interface - nicely embedded in Sculpt's component graph - as well as text-driven configuration. You can find the new facilities covered in the updated documentation: https://genode.org/documentation/articles/sculpt-24-10#Multi-monitor_support Besides the added multi-monitor support, the new version benefits from all advancements of the Genode OS Framework since April, specifically the updated arsenal of Linux-based drivers (Wifi, Ethernet, Intel display, USB) to version 6.6.47, and the uncountable new niceties of the Goa SDK. We just made the new version simultaneously available for Intel PCs, the PinePhone, and the MNT Reform laptop. Seasoned Sculpt OS users can readily switch to version 2024-10-30 using the system-update dialog. New users are invited to fetch a bootable system image from our download page. https://genode.org/download/sculpt Thanks to everyone of our team for having developed, stress-tested, and polished the release as a concerted effort! For feedback, questions, or discussion about the release, let me point you to our user forum: https://genode.discourse.group Happy Sculpting! Norman -- Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske Genode Labs https://www.genode-labs.com · https://genode.org Genode Labs GmbH · Amtsgericht Dresden · HRB 28424 · Sitz Dresden Geschäftsführer: Dr.-Ing. Norman Feske, Christian Helmuth

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Terminal session raw and unbuffered
by Stefan Thöni 04 Dec '24

04 Dec '24

Hi Genodians I'm trying to use a Terminal session to provide access to a character device (TPM) under base-linux. The reason I'm not using a vfs it that implementing a File_system session server in my lx_chardev component would be unnessecarily complicated for this usage. The problem I encountered it that the vfs_terminal even in raw mode buffers read data thereby issuing longer reads than requested by the application. While this is fine for other more terminal-like usages it doesn't play well inbetween a character device and it's driver. I would suggest either not buffering reads in raw mode or adding an additional "unbuffered" config option. Which would be the preferred option? Whould such a change have the potential to be accepted upstream? Kind regards Stefan

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Foundations book, try to write an .iso on an usb stick, won't work
by Paul Dufresne 03 Dec '24

03 Dec '24

2.4, page 28: As suggested by the arguments, the scenario is supplied to Qemu as an ISO image re- siding at var/run/demo.iso. The ISO image can not only be used with Qemu but also with a real machine. For example, creating a bootable USB stick with the system scenario is as simple as writing the ISO image onto a USB stick: sudo dd if=var/run/demo.iso of=/dev/ bs=8M conv=fsync I am pretty sure it will not work... iso are for DVD, not USB sticks. Guess build.conf need to be edited a bit to make it easier to select a .img by just choosing between two comments lines.

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Still using Python2?
by Paul Dufresne 02 Dec '24

02 Dec '24

Was following https://genode.org/documentation/developer-resources/getting_started [paul@betakard genode]$ LANG=C make -C build/x86_32 KERNEL=okl4 BOARD=pc run/demo make: Entering directory '/home/paul/genode/build/x86_32' including /home/paul/genode/tool/run/power_on/qemu including /home/paul/genode/tool/run/log/qemu including /home/paul/genode/tool/run/image/iso including /home/paul/genode/tool/run/boot_dir/okl4 including /home/paul/genode/repos/os/run/demo.run building targets: app/status_bar test/nitpicker spawn make app/status_bar test/nitpicker make[1]: Entering directory '/home/paul/genode/build/x86_32' Library ld.abi.so Library base.lib.a Program app/status_bar/status_bar Program test/nitpicker/testnit make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/paul/genode/build/x86_32' genode build completed checking configuration syntax CHECK init using 'core-okl4.a' as 'core.a' /usr/bin/env: 'python2': No such file or directory while executing "exec [elfweaver] merge --output "[run_dir]/image.elf" "[run_dir].weaver.xml"" (procedure "run_boot_dir" line 37) invoked from within "run_boot_dir $binaries" (procedure "build_boot_image" line 43) invoked from within "build_boot_image [list {*}[build_artifacts] launchpad.config]" (file "/home/paul/genode/repos/os/run/demo.run" line 218) invoked from within "source $include_name" ("foreach" body line 6) invoked from within "foreach include_name [get_cmd_arg --include ""] { # first check if the include name is absolute if {[string first "/" $include_name] == 0} { puts ..." (file "/home/paul/genode/tool/run/run" line 1209) make: *** [Makefile:446: run/demo] Error 1 make: Leaving directory '/home/paul/genode/build/x86_32' [paul@betakard genode]$ It is becoming hard to install python2. I am using Arch BTW! :-) I tried to insall: https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/python2 but: makepkg ... ==> Validating source files with sha512sums... Python-2.7.18.tar.xz ... Passed Python-2.7.18.tar.xz.asc ... Skipped mtime-workaround.patch ... Passed python-gentoo-patches-2.7.18_p16.tar.xz ... Passed ==> Verifying source file signatures with gpg... Python-2.7.18.tar.xz ... FAILED (unknown public key 04C367C218ADD4FF) ==> ERROR: One or more PGP signatures could not be verified! [paul@betakard python2]$

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compiling got me a sculpt.iso file, wanted a scult.img file
by Paul Dufresne 01 Dec '24

01 Dec '24

make -C build/x86_64 run/sculpt KERNEL=nova BOARD=pc got me: [paul@betakard genode]$ ls -lh build/x86_64/var/run total 614M drwxr-xr-x 1 paul paul 8 1 déc 11:19 sculpt -rw-r--r-- 1 paul paul 452M 1 déc 11:19 sculpt.boot_modules.o -rw-r--r-- 1 paul paul 20K 1 déc 11:19 sculpt.config -rw-r--r-- 1 paul paul 163M 1 déc 11:20 sculpt.iso [paul@betakard genode]$ was expecting a sculpt.img file... to put on my USB key. Tried to write the sculpt.iso file on my USB key but it did not boot. What am I missing?

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ports/libc.port:40: *** Need to have 'rpcgen' installed
by Paul Dufresne 01 Dec '24

01 Dec '24

make run/sculpt asked me to prepare libc (among many) but: libarchive install include/libarchive /home/paul/genodemy/genode/repos/libports/ports/libc.port:40: *** Need to have 'rpcgen' installed.. Arrêt. make[1]: *** [/home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/mk/prepare_single_port.mk:43: _install_in_port_dir] Error 2 make: *** [/home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/prepare_port:47: libc] Error 2 After that, I cannot return there because: make run/sculpt: Error: Ports not prepared or outdated: dde_rump libc libgcrypt libnl libpng libssh linux linux-firmware ncurses nova openssl stb ttf-bitstream-vera vim wpa_supplicant x86emu xz zlib /home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/prepare_port dde_rump libc libgcrypt libnl libpng libssh linux linux-firmware ncurses nova openssl stb ttf-bitstream-vera vim wpa_supplicant x86emu xz zlib dde_rump update src/lib/dde_rump dde_rump apply patches/rump.patch dde_rump apply patches/aarch64.patch Reversed (or previously applied) patch detected! Assume -R? [n] Apply anyway? [n] 2 out of 2 hunks ignored -- saving rejects to file src/lib/dde_rump_backport/arm/arm32/kobj_machdep.c.rej make[2]: *** [/home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/mk/install.mk:128: phony/patches/patches/aarch64.patch] Error 1 make[1]: *** [/home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/mk/prepare_single_port.mk:43: _install_in_port_dir] Error 2 make: *** [/home/paul/genodemy/genode/tool/ports/prepare_port:47: dde_rump] Error 2 [paul@betakard x86_64]$ Is there a way to unprepare everything to begn to new, after fixing rpcgen not installed (don't know how, asking here)?

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